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Summary: Soil is a non‐renewable resource that requires constant monitoring to prevent its degradation and promote its sustainable management. The ‘Land Use/Cover Area frame statistical Survey Soil’ (LUCAS Soil) is an extensive and regular topsoil survey that is carried out across the European Union to derive policy‐relevant statistics on the effect of land management on soil characteristics. Approximately 45 000 soil samples have been collected from two time‐periods, 2009–2012 and 2015. A new sampling series will be undertaken in 2018, with new measurements included. The organization for the 2018 sampling campaign represents an opportunity to summarize past LUCAS Soil achievements and present its future objectives. In 2009–2012 and 2015, LUCAS Soil surveys targeted physicochemical properties, including pH, organic carbon, nutrient concentrations and cation exchange capacity. Data from 2009–2012 (ca. 22 000 points) and derived output (more than 20 maps) are available freely from the European Soil Data Centre website. Analyses of samples collected during 2015 are ongoing and data will be available at the end of 2017. In the 2018 LUCAS Soil sampling campaign, additional properties, including bulk density, soil biodiversity, specific measurements for organic‐rich soil and soil erosion will be measured. Here we present the current dataset (LUCAS Soil 2009–2012 and 2015), its potential for reuse and future development plans (LUCAS Soil 2018 and over). LUCAS Soil represents the largest harmonized open‐access dataset of topsoil properties available for the European Union at the global scale. It was developed as an expandable resource, with the possibility to add new properties and sampling locations during successive sampling campaigns. Data are available to the scientific community and decision makers, thus contributing to both research and the development of the land‐focused policy agenda. Highlights: LUCAS Soil consists of soil physicochemical and biological properties data from Europe. Harmonized and open‐access dataset allowing inclusion of soil in large‐scale inter‐disciplinary assessments. LUCAS Soil has a broad pool of users from scientists to policy makers, and applications from map validation to modelling. LUCAS Soil confirms the need for open‐access and a large‐scale dataset for soil properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is an increasing demand for up-to-date soil organic carbon (OC) data for global environmental and climatic modelling. The aim of this study was to create a map of topsoil OC content at the European scale by applying digital soil mapping techniques to the first European harmonized geo-referenced topsoil (0-20 cm) database, which arises from the Land use/Cover Area frame statistical Survey (LUCAS). A map of the associated uncertainty was also produced to support careful use of the predicted OC contents. A generalized additive model (GAM)was fitted on 85% of the dataset (R2 =0.29), using OC content as dependent variable; a backward stepwise approach selected slope, land cover, temperature, net primary productivity, latitude and longitude as suitable covariates. The validation of the model (performed on 15% of the data-set) gave an overall R2 of 0.27 and an R2 of 0.21 for mineral soils and 0.06 for organic soils. Organic C content in most organic soils was under-predicted, probably because of the imposed unimodal distribution of our model, whose mean is tilted towards the prevalent mineral soils. This was also confirmed by the poor prediction in Scandinavia (where organic soils are more frequent), which gave an R2 of 0.09, whilst the prediction performance (R2) in non-Scandinavian countries was 0.28. Themap of predicted OC content had the smallest values in Mediterranean countries and in croplands across Europe, whereas largest OC contents were predicted in wetlands, woodlands and mountainous areas. The map of the predictions' standard error had large uncertainty in northern latitudes, wetlands, moors and heathlands, whereas small uncertainty was mostly found in croplands. The map produced gives the most updated general picture of topsoil OC content at the European Union scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Coeliac disease (CD) is a chronic intolerance to gluten, contained mainly in wheat, rye and barley. The only therapy at present is the lifelong exclusion of gluten from the diet. Whether oats can be considered safe for CD patients has long been debated, and oats have been included among gluten-free ingredients only recently (EU Regulation 41/2009), provided the gluten content does not exceed 20 ppm. The aim of this study was to evaluate the suitability of 36 different oat cultivars for CD patients using biochemical and immunochemical approaches. The cross-reactivity between avenins and gliadins was evaluated by both SDS-PAGE/Immunoblotting and ELISA. The protein pattern of each oat cultivar showed both qualitative and quantitative differences that correlated with different binding affinity for specific anti-gliadin antibodies in immunoblotting. In most oat samples, the content of cross-reactive proteins measured by ELISA was below 20 ppm, but in a few varieties was above 80 ppm. Although the taxonomic and biochemical characteristics of oats allow to conclude that their use could be safe for CD patients, it is essential to select those cultivars having the lowest level of gluten-like proteins. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The aim of the study is to assess the degree of spatial agreement among different patterns of landslide susceptibility maps with almost similar success and prediction rate curves, obtained using different combinations of predictive factors. Our approach was tested in an alpine environment (Italian Alps) where debris flows represent one of the most frequent dangerous processes. A data-driven Bayesian method (the Weights of Evidence modelling technique) was successfully applied, and success and prediction rate curves were computed for supporting the modelling results and assessing the robustness of the models. The values of the area under curves were very similar for different models, ranging from 84.36% to 86.49% for the success rate curves and from 82.46% to 85.66% for the prediction rate curves. Then, the post-probability output maps were classified into rank-based maps, by using an equal-area criterion, to compare the predicted results. Afterwards, appropriate statistical techniques (kappa statistic, principal component analysis, and distance weighted entropy) were applied. Kappa statistic and principal component analysis outcomes called for significant differences within the output spatial patterns of the predicted maps as well as within the highest susceptibility classes. Moreover, the estimated distance weighted entropy values showed a very low overall entropy at the valley bottom, as all models predicted this area equally as low susceptible. In contrast, areas characterised by the highest values of entropy were more concentrated in the northern and southern slopes of the study site, lying in zones where landslide density was higher. Consequently, susceptibility maps with similar predictive power may not have the same meaning in terms of spatial pattern of predicted results. It is for this reason that landslide susceptibility maps should be distributed together with map documents aimed at defining the level of accuracy of the predicted results to provide the end-users with informative selection criteria. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This review provides updated information on conformational and sequential epitopes identified in bovine serum albumin (BSA) and summarizes available data about the role of structural modifications on BSA antigenicity/allergenicity. Data on beef allergy and BSA antigenicity are reported, with reference both to the basic literature and to clinical results obtained by our group. BSA is an important allergen involved in milk and beef allergy. The presence of conformational epitopes has been suggested by indirect evidence, while at least one sequential epitope has been experimentally identified. The role of structural modifications on BSA antigenicity is discussed as well as the increased tolerance observed in allergic subjects consuming beef as strained (homogenized) and freeze-dried derivatives. Study of the molecular characteristics of a known major allergen allows the identification of technological processes that may be capable of improving the tolerance of allergic subjects to a specific food. Even though any hoped for reduced allergenicity must be verified under medical supervision, the use of new products could obviate the need to avoid important foods such as meat in childhood. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Reports of allergy to lupine derivatives (as de novo sensitization or cross-reactivity in subjects allergic to peanut) are increasing as their use in food products increases. Objectives The aim of this study was to assess: (1) lupine tolerance in a group of children allergic to peanut, using lupine enriched-pasta instead of raw flour as has been done in previous clinical studies; (2) whether technological treatments of lupine modify its cross-reactivity or co-sensitization with peanut; (3) the role of lupine seed proteins in sensitization, and (4) to identify the eliciting doses (EDs) by using double-blind, placebo-controlled food challenges (DBPCFC). Methods Twelve patients with a history of clinical allergic reactions to peanut were evaluated by skin prick tests (SPTs), the ImmunoCAP® test, immunoblotting, and DBPCFC. The 12 selected subjects were included in a trial where lupine-enriched pasta and placebo pasta were administered in a DBPCFC protocol. Results Positive clinical reactions were observed in two children, the EDs being 0.2 and 6.4 g of pasta, corresponding to 50 mg and 1.6 g of lupine proteins, respectively. β-conglutin was the protein most involved in SPT positivity. Conclusion Lupine-enriched pasta can be tolerated by most subjects suffering from peanut allergy, but a sizeable minority (2/12 of them in this case) can develop potentially dangerous clinical reactions. Information about possible reactions to lupine derivatives by those allergic to peanuts must be included in the labelling of lupine-enriched products to protect consumers at risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ochratoxin A is a mycotoxin produced mainly by Penicillium verrucosum and Aspergillus ochraceus. Although typically considered a cereal contaminant, it has also been detected in dried fruit, nuts, meat and derivatives. To estimate the quantity of ochratoxin A that might be ingested by Italian consumers from these foods, 211 cereal derivatives (flours and bakery products) were analysed by high-performance liquid chromatography. Products were from conventional and organic agriculture and from integrated pest management agriculture. All commercial flours and derivatives examined contained ochratoxin A at concentrations very much below the legal limit (3µgkg-1): the highest value, 0.816µgkg-1, was detected in a sample of spelt whole flour from organic agriculture. In many samples, the ochratoxin content was below the limit of detection; only rarely did values exceed 0.5µgkg-1. In baby foods, four samples were above the particularly restrictive Italian legal limit of 0.5µgkg-1. Although some significant differences were found between samples from conventional and organic agriculture when some product categories were examined (namely, baby foods as semolina and rice creams), no important difference was found between the two types of agricultural practice when all types of cereal derivatives were considered together. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ochratoxin A is a typical cereal contaminant with strong nephrotoxic activity. To estimate the quantity of ochratoxin A that can be taken in by a child in the weaning period, several samples of cereal-based baby foods were analysed. Although most samples analysed contained ochratoxin A in undetectable amounts or below the Italian legal limit of 0.5 μg kg[sub -1], some irregular products were found. In particular, the analyses of the 119 batches (338 samples) of baby foods considered indicated that: 20 batches (16.8%) contained detectable quantities of ochratoxin A and four of these (3.4% of the total) contained ochratoxin A above the Italian permitted value. All samples coming from agricultural practices based on integrated pest management contained undetectable amounts of ochratoxin A, while ∼5% of batches coming from conventional and organic agricultural practices were above the legal limit. On the basis of the established provisional tolerable weekly intake (PTWI), there is no significant toxicological risk for a child who occasionally consumes a formula with ochratoxin concentration slightly above the permitted level. However, stricter controls have to be applied to reject the batches containing irregular concentrations of ochratoxin A. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]