Archivio istituzionale della ricerca - Università dell'Insubria
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Reducing Food Waste Through Sharing Platforms: Unveiling the Rebound Effect
No full textFood-sharing platforms are nowadays recognised as a powerful tool to increase food saving. However, little is known about the key determinants fostering its usage. We propose testing the psychosocial determinants of food-sharing app usage and its impact on post consumption behaviour by combining the technology acceptance model (TAM) with the theory of planned behaviour (TPB). A survey was conducted involving 1077 participants from Gen Z. By adopting covariance-based structural equation modeling, the findings support all the hypotheses proposed within TPB. Contrary to our prediction, we found that food-sharing app usage is positively associated with food waste behaviours. This unexpected result suggests a rebound effect, whereby the more frequently the app is used, the greater the amount of food wasted. This paradoxical dynamic opens up important theoretical implications, which challenge the assumption that food-sharing platforms and prosocial behaviours always lead to desirable environmental outcomes. It calls for a more nuanced understanding of the interplay between app usage and negative spillovers, particularly in the context of sustainability-oriented digital platforms, which may ultimately result in a rebound effect. From a managerial perspective, the study provides insights for improving the design of food-sharing platforms, emphasising the importance of not only facilitating access to surplus food but also fostering responsible consumption behaviours
A Systematic Review on Life Cycle Assessment of Prefabricated Buildings
Full text linkThe construction sector has a significant impact on the environment, highlighting the need for sustainable building practices to decrease the emissions and propose alternative construction solutions. In this framework, prefabricated construction methods offer a promising solution, providing benefits such as reduced material waste, improved energy efficiency, and alignment with net-zero principles. The Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) approach represents a key tool for evaluating the environmental performance of buildings throughout their entire life cycle, enabling a direct comparison between prefabricated and traditional construction methods. This systematic review examines the application of LCA methodologies to assess the environmental impacts of modular and prefabricated buildings. By analysing recent peer-reviewed articles, this study investigates the use of key LCA elements, including software, databases, System Boundaries, Functional Unit, and environmental impact categories. The impact categories analysis indicates that, in terms of global warming potential, 1 m2 of structure impacts an average of 325, 327, and 389 kg CO2 eq for steel, wood, and concrete, respectively, for phases A and C. Furthermore, this review highlights and discusses the main limitations and the research gaps of the current studies of LCA methodology applied to modular construction, emphasising the need to intervene on five potential improvement areas: (i) methodological development, (ii) policy implications, (iii) stakeholder engagement and awareness, (iv) digital tools and innovation and (v) Circular Economy (CE) integration
From wheat bran to 4-vinylguaiacol: A green bioprocess featuring in situ product recovery
Full text linkValorizing agro-industrial byproducts such as wheat bran (WB) through microbial and enzymatic processing offers a sustainable route to high-value aromatic compounds like 4-vinylguaiacol (4VG). This study reports a novel one-pot biocatalytic system that couples the enzymatic hydrolysis of WB (UltrafloXL) - releasing ferulic acid (FA) and sugars – with the microbial conversion of FA into 4VG by an engineered E. coli strain expressing ferulic acid decarboxylase (Fdc) under a phenol-inducible promoter. The process is self-sustaining: FA acts both as the enzymatic substrate and as the inducer for Fdc expression, while glucose released from WB sustains microbial growth. Integrated in situ product recovery (ISPR) using a tea-bag resin system enhances yields while streamlining purification. The system achieved a 4VG yield of approximately 2.0 mg/g of WB, corresponding to an overall conversion efficiency of ∼88 %. Proof-of-concept experiments at 0.5 L scale showed efficient extraction (96 ± 1.5 %) and purification (76 ± 1.2 %) yields, together with a low materials-based cost, supporting the techno-economic viability of 4VG production from renewable feedstocks. To our knowledge, this is the first report of a WB-based 4VG biosynthesis using an engineered E. coli in a system where FA acts both as substrate and activator. This integrated, autoinductive platform represents a green alternative for aromatic compounds production in alignment with bioeconomy principles
A design of experiments approach to arsenic retention: Interactions between sediment properties and water chemistry
Full text linkThe mobility of arsenic (As) in groundwater is governed by dynamic interactions at the sediment-water interface, where both mineral reactivity and aqueous chemistry play key roles. In the Como aquifer (Northern Italy), As distribution is vertically heterogeneous: shallow horizons remain below the WHO limit of 10 mu g/L, whereas deeper zones reach concentrations up to 250 mu g/L. Although this variability is well documented, the underlying mechanisms remain only partially understood. To address this gap, we performed batch experiments on shallow and deep aquifer sediments with contrasting composition, systematically varying pH, electrical conductivity, and dissolved organic carbon in a full-factorial design of experiment. Results revealed nonlinear adsorption responses and sediment-specific behaviours. Shallow sediments exhibited stronger and more stable As retention, associated with higher contents of Fe-, Al-, and Mn-(hydr)oxides and greater cation exchange capacity. In contrast, deepaquifer sediments showed weaker and more variable adsorption, especially under acidic, DOC-enriched, and high-conductivity conditions. Response surface models confirmed that sediment composition governs As retention capacity, while water chemistry modulates its efficiency. This integrative approach links laboratory adsorption patterns with field-scale As distribution, providing a mechanistic explanation for the observed vertical heterogeneity in the Como aquifer and supporting predictive assessment of groundwater vulnerability
Detoxification of tuna from mercury through L-cysteine: a speciation-based study.
Full text linkMercury (Hg) contamination in tuna, especially as methylmercury (MeHg), remains a persistent food safety concern. This study assessed the effectiveness of l-cysteine in reducing total Hg (tHg) and MeHg in canned tuna and fresh fillets. Samples were treated with a 1.2% (w/w) cysteine solution and analysed by ICP-MS for tHg and frontal chromatography ICP-MS for MeHg. Untreated canned tuna contained 0.066-0.225 mg kg-1 tHg, whereas fresh fillets reached 1.036 mg kg-1. Cysteine treatment significantly reduced Hg levels, with mean removal of 48% in canned tuna and 64% in fillets. MeHg decreased proportionally with tHg, indicating cysteine binds both Hg and MeHg without species selectivity. Removal was more consistent in fillets than canned tuna, likely due to processing effects on protein binding. Overall, cysteine treatment represents a simple, low-cost, food-safe intervention that lowers Hg exposure and reduces concentrations below regulatory limits, providing additional protection for vulnerable consumers (pregnant women and infants)
Analysing the pace of the energy transition under different cumulative CO2 budgets
No full textUnder the pressing need for decarbonisation, most industrialized countries are targeting net-zero CO2 emissions by mid-century. The pathway to the net-zero configuration is as important as the final goal, since a lack of containment of the cumulative CO2 emissions may enhance climate impact effects and force larger efforts for negative emissions. The main objective of this article is to investigate the effects of cumulative CO2 emission budgets in shaping the long-term transformation of national energy systems, using Italy as a case study. By comparing three scenarios with different budgets, the analysis provides insights into their impact on technology deployment, infrastructure development, and timing of decarbonisation actions. The analysis is developed with the open-source model FENICE (Future Energy traNsition multI-seCtor model), which is here fully presented for the first time. It provides a comprehensive multi-period approach to analyse multi-vector energy systems with multi-node and multi-sector resolutions. Based on the oemof framework, FENICE considers the five main energy carriers (electricity, hydrogen, fossil and biogenic CH4, liquid fuels, biomass), detailing their transmission infrastructures and tracking the CO2 flows. Results confirm the expected surge of renewable energy sources in all scenarios, combined with programmable technologies (power generation or energy storage) as well as carbon capture. Energy infrastructures emerge as key enablers of decarbonisation, facilitating renewables installation and highlighting the relevance of their detailed modelling. Under low CO2 budgets, the system development is impacted by installation rate limits and the urgency of new measures forces large negative emission contributions, leading to diverse CO2 pipeline designs and transport dynamics
A biotechnological platform for the valorization of textile waste blend
No full textTextile waste is rapidly increasing worldwide due to rising clothing consumption and production. This study presents a novel, integrated green process for degrading and valorizing blended cotton-polyethylene terephthalate (PET) textile waste into value-added chemicals through enzymatic hydrolysis and microbial fermentation. To improve degradation efficiency, specific pretreatments were developed for both cotton and PET. The process begins with mechanical ball-milling, followed by enzymatic hydrolysis of cotton using a commercial cellulases/hemicellulases cocktail at 55 degrees C to yield glucose. Next, the material undergoes thermal treatment at 290 degrees C for 15 min to prepare PET for enzymatic hydrolysis, which is then carried out at 55 degrees C using the S101N/ F243T-Delta LCC PET-hydrolyzing enzyme variant. This approach resulted in complete conversion of cotton to glucose and >95 % conversion of PET to terephthalic acid (TPA) and ethylene glycol. TPA was further biotransformed with >90 % yield into protocatechuic acid (PCA)-a valuable aromatic compound-using an engineered E. coli strain expressing three enzymes from Comamonas sp. strain E6, namely the terephthalate dioxygenase TPADO alpha/beta, the reductase TPADO RED, and the dehydrogenase DCDDH. The strain also utilized glucose from cotton hydrolysis as a carbon source. In total, 217.3 mg of PCA were produced from 249.2 mg of TPA (94 % yield) in 50 mL of a 30 mM substrate solution. From 1 g of polycotton fabric (30 % cotton, 70 % PET), approximately 500 mg of PCA (92 % yield) were generated. This integrated biorefinery process highlights a promising strategy for sustainable textile waste valorization
INTEGRATING FNIRS AND INERTIAL SENSING TO ASSESS ATTENTIONAL FOCUS EFFECTS ON BALANCE
No full textPurpose: The investigation into the dynamics of external and internal
attentional focus within the context of maintaining balance reveals
critical insights into motor control. Numerous studies have shown that
adopting an external focus significantly enhances balance performance
[1]. The investigation into external and internal attention focus
concerning balance and brain activity may be notably enhanced by
portable neuroimaging techniques such as functional Near-Infrared
Spectroscopy (fNIRS) [2]. This study aims to evaluate the relationship
between the area of the center of pressure (CoP) during a static balance test and the fNIRS signals over the frontal, prefrontal, and
motor cortex.
Methods:: 21 healthy moderately-active participants (7 F, age:
25.3 ± 4.2 years) were enrolled in the study. The participants were
requested to maintain a static balance on a firm surface with their eyes
closed for 30 s under two conditions (i.e., internal and external
focuses). During the experiment, the brain activity was recorded
through the portable fNIRS Cortivision Photon cap device delivering
a montage with 35 channels and 4 short channels placed according to
the 10–20 system, covering the prefrontal, frontal and motor cortices.
The area of the CoP was evaluated through the Gyko device, a
wearable inertial sensor system developed by Microgate. The fNIRS
signals were converted into optical densities, motion artifacts were
corrected, filtered (3rd order Butterworth filter, cut-off frequencies
0.001–0.4 Hz), and converted into oxyhemoglobin (HbO) and
deoxyhemoglobin (HHb) concentrations. The mean values of the
changes of HbO and HHb signals were computed and the Pearson’s
correlation between them and the area of the CoP was computed.
A False Discovery rate correction was then applied.
Results: Regarding the external focus, moderate correlations between
the CoP area and the HbO and HHb variations on the prefrontal cortex
(r = -0.78, p = 2.69•10-5 and r = 0.68, p = 7.37•10-5 for HbO and
HHb, respectively) and motor cortex (r = -0.58, p = 0.006 and
r = 0.57, p = 0.007 for HbO and HHb, respectively) were revealed.
Conversely, reduced effects were assessed in response to the internal
focus.
Conclusions: This study provides preliminary evidence on the relationship
between the area of the CoP and brain activity during the
external focus condition, demonstrating the importance of the typology
of focus employed, and highlighting the role of brain control on
postural adjustment.
References:
1. Kim, T. el al., The Effect of Attentional Focus in Balancing
Tasks: A Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis. J. Hum. Sport
Exerc. 2017, 12, 463–479.
2. Li, T. et al., Longtime Driving Induced Cerebral Hemodynamic
Elevation and Behavior Degradation as Assessed by Functional
Near-infrared Spectroscopy and a Voluntary Attention Test. J.
Biophotonics 2018, 11, e201800160, https://doi.org/10.1002/jbio.
201800160