https://hdl.handle.net/10807/41 Tue, 21 Apr 2026 22:24:25 GMT 2026-04-21T22:24:25Z https://hdl.handle.net/10807/334168 Titolo: Balancing the carbon budget in maize using hairy vetch and black oat cover crops Autori: Ben Hassine M.; Radicetti E.; Ardenti F.; Ferretti G.; Fiorini A.; Borgatti D. Abstract: A two-year field experiment (2022-2024) was conducted in Ferrara (Italy) to evaluate the carbon (C) budget and agronomic performance of silage maize (Zea mays L.) cultivated following CCs under conservation agriculture. Three CCs [hairy vetch (HV), black oat (BO), and their 1:1 mixture (HV + BO)] were compared with a conventional maize (Conv). All CCs were terminated with a roller-crimper and maize was sown under no-till and unfertilized, while in Conv maize was sown in conventional tillage and received N fertilization. HV + BO mixture achieved the highest CC biomass (7.0 t DM m(-)2) and C input (2.80 t C ha(-)1), combining high biomass production with intermediate C:N ratio. Maize biomass was highest under Conv, followed by HV, HV + BO, while BO showed the lowest biomass values (18.1, 15.7, 14.4 and 10.8 t DM ha(-)1, respectively), mainly due to reduced soil N availability. Soil CO2 emissions peaked between 30 and 60 days after sowing and were influenced by soil temperature and moisture. HV and HV+BO exhibited higher cumulative CO2 fluxes than BO and Conv. The CO2 emission-to-yield ratio was low under Conv (0.82) similar to HV (0.91). The HV+BO mixture improved the input/output C ratio (0.297), suggesting a favorable balance between carbon inputs and outputs. CCs enhanced soil water retention and reduced soil compaction, particularly in HV plots. Integration of HV, either alone or in mixture with BO, under conservation agriculture emerged as a viable strategy to optimize C dynamics and enhance soil health for sustainable intensification of agroecosystems. Thu, 01 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/10807/334168 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/10807/334167 Titolo: First-person perspective gesture observation in virtual reality: A novel approach for anomia rehabilitation in post-stroke aphasia Autori: Cancer A.; Maietti A.; Caldana M.; Repetto C. Abstract: According to the embodied cognition framework, language is closely linked to the motor system and rehabilitation programs should stimulate language processing through the activation of motor and perceptual systems. In this study, we present an innovative training program based on the embodied cognition framework, using immersive technology to stimulate the perceptual-motor system through gesture observation from a first-person perspective. Post-stroke aphasic patients, in the post-acute phase and presenting with naming deficits, were assigned to one of two training conditions. The experimental group (EG) viewed videos of everyday gestures (i.e., pouring water, cutting carrots) from a first-person perspective, enhancing motor resonance, while the active control group (AC) viewed the same gestures from a third-person perspective. During video playback, the action was named by a female voice and the patient had to repeat it after video completion. The training was administered three times per week for four weeks. Naming abilities, along with other language and quality of life measures, were assessed pre-and post-intervention. Bayesian analysis of the primary outcome-percentage of rehabilitated items-yielded a Bayes factor BF+0 = 2.86, providing anecdotal-to-moderate evidence in favour of the first-person perspective group. The EG showed a higher mean percentage of rehabilitated items (M = 85.5%, SD = 22.5%) compared to the AC group (M = 50.5%, SD = 33.4%). No between-group differences were observed for broader language or quality-of-life measures. These preliminary, hypothesis-generating findings suggest greater efficacy of immersive, embodied gesture observation in promoting word retrieval recovery, and warrant replication in larger, adequately powered studies. Thu, 01 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/10807/334167 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/10807/334164 Titolo: Consumer Acceptance of New Sustainable Food Technologies: Upcycling Technology, Biostimulants, and Artificial Intelligence Autori: Castellini G.; Graffigna G. Abstract: Food systems have a significant impact on environmental sustainability, underscoring the need for innovative technologies to support more sustainable agricultural methods. However, the adoption of these technologies hinges on consumer acceptance, making the analysis of consumer perceptions essential. This study examines consumer acceptance of three sustainable food technologies, namely upcycling technologies, biostimulants, and artificial intelligence (AI), in agriculture through a cross-sectional online survey involving 2416 Italian adults representative of the population. It explores participants' knowledge, consumers' beliefs, and purchase intentions regarding these technologies and the novel foods treated with them. Findings indicate limited consumer knowledge, with AI applied in agriculture being relatively better known but perceived as less natural and riskier. Upcycled foods, while seen as sustainable, are associated with low levels of pleasantness. Biostimulants occupy a middle ground, being perceived as more innovative than Upcycling Technology but less artificial, risky, and reassuring compared to AI. Notably, the observed differences between technologies are small, despite statistical significance. Psychological and attitudinal factors, such as variety-seeking in food choices, food technology neophobia and food involvement, have a stronger association with purchase intentions than socio-demographic variables. Trust in actors within the agribusiness system, knowledge of new technologies, and consumers' beliefs about new foods are also positively associated with the purchase intention of foods treated with these technologies. The study emphasizes the importance of tailored communication strategies to overcome barriers, highlighting sustainability and quality while addressing perceived risks and unconscious fears. These insights are critical for advancing the adoption of innovative and sustainable food technologies in agriculture. Thu, 01 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/10807/334164 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/10807/334161 Titolo: Intention of Italians to buy upcycled food: application of the Health Belief Model Autori: Castellini G.; Savarese M.; Graffigna G. Abstract: Purpose – Food waste is a significant global issue with serious environmental, economic, and public health implications. This topic is particularly important in Italy, as it is among the countries that generate the highest levels of food waste. Upcycled foods, made from by-products, offer a solution to reduce it. However, consumer acceptance of these products is influenced by various psychological factors. This study applies the Health Belief Model (HBM) to explore how psychological and contextual variables impact the intention to purchase upcycled foods. Design/methodology/approach – Through an online survey of 806 Italian consumers, representative of the Italian population and the use of a structural equation model, the study, carried out in 2024, examines the role of perceived susceptibility, severity, benefits, barriers, cues to action, self-efficacy and health motivation in predicting purchase intention. Findings – The study suggests that HBM is a valid model for understanding consumer behavior towards upcycled foods, highlighting the importance of perceived benefits, barriers, cues to action, health motivation and self-efficacy in driving purchase intentions. Originality/value – These findings provide useful insights for policymakers and food companies to promote the consumption of upcycled food through clear communication of benefits and the necessary information to reduce perceived consumer barriers. Thu, 01 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/10807/334161 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z