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Satellite imagery is critical for understanding land-surface change in the rapidly warming Arctic. Since the 1980s, studies have found positive trends in the normalised difference vegetation index (NDVI) derived from satellite imagery over the Arctic—commonly referred to as ‘Arctic greening’ and assumed to represent increased vegetation productivity. However, greening analyses use satellite imagery with pixel sizes ranging from tens to hundreds of metres and do not account for the integration of abiotic phenomena such as snow within vegetation indices. Here, we use high-resolution drone data from one Arctic and one sub-Arctic site to show that fine-scale snow persistence within satellite pixels is associated with both reduced magnitude and delayed timing of annual peak NDVI, the base metric of Arctic greening analyses. We found higher snow persistence within Sentinel-2 pixels is associated with a lower magnitude and later peak NDVI, with a mean difference in NDVI of 0.1 and seven days between high and low snow persistence pixels. These effects were stronger in NASA HLSS30 data, representative of Landsat data commonly used in greening analyses. Our findings indicate that unaccounted changes in fine-scale snow persistence may contribute to Arctic spectral greening and browning trends through either biotic responses of vegetation to snow cover or abiotic integration of snow within the estimated peak NDVI. In order to improve our understanding of Arctic land-surface change, studies should integrate very-high-resolution data to estimate the dynamics of late-season snow within coarser satellite pixels.

The ultimate methyl donor for methylation reactions is the folate-methylation cycle and feeding pregnant dams diets deficient in methyl donors results in altered regulation of specific genes in the offspring which are under imprinting control(2).

Key Points It has been well established that the work patterns of male and female dentists differ. 95% of respondents felt that a postgraduate qualification would assist their career prospects. Over 91% considered childcare should be shared equally between both parents. 34% of males and 56% of females stated they would take time out of their careers when their children were of pre-school age. 3% of those intending to enter general dental practice would work exclusively in the NHS. Purpose To investigate the career plans of prospective dental students and how they foresee their work life balance. Method Applicants to Dundee and Manchester dental schools completed anonymous questionnaires when they attended for interview. Results The useable response rate was 94% (n=436). The majority of the respondents (91.3%) intended working full time when they enter the workforce, with no significant variation detected between males and females. The cohort anticipated their mean salary to be just over £28,000 five years into their career, although the males felt they would be earning £5,000 more than the females. Individuals of Pakistani and Indian origin thought they would earn most, and Asians least. Sixty-five per cent would enter general dental practice and, of these, only 2.8% expected to work exclusively within the NHS. Fifteen per cent intended to go into the hospital dental service, with orthodontics the most popular choice of subspecialty (43.7%), followed by oral surgery (31.1%). Significant variation was seen between ethnic groups, with the hospital and community dental services being more popular with those who identified themselves as of non-white ethnic origin, although the majority would still plan on entering general dental practice. Almost half (44.5%) would take time out of their career to concentrate on childcare when children were of pre-school age, with a further 11% taking longer. Ninety per cent of females and 70% of males anticipated taking time out, of a varying duration. Half of the respondents indicated that they felt a child would affect their career to a moderate extent. Conclusions The dental profession will be severely affected if both males and females take time out of their careers in the future. As well as a work force shortage, the problems of accessibility to NHS dental services will be exacerbated if fewer dentists choose to provide NHS care.

Key Points Over 45% of the applicants surveyed had relatives who were either dentists or doctors. A total of 43% came from comprehensive schools. This compares to over 86% of the population of England who attend comprehensive schools. Dentistry had not been selected as the first choice career for 9.2%. Over half of this group had chosen medicine. Careers advice should be given early and directed towards the target audience. The representation of ethnic minorities is rising in dentistry, but it is important to work alongside the widening participation agenda to broaden the social and cultural intake. Purpose To gather background information about applicants to the dental undergraduate course, and ascertain the factors involved in their decision to study dentistry. Method Applicants attending for interview at Dundee and Manchester Dental Schools completed anonymous questionnaires. The useable response rate was 94% (n = 436). Results There were equal numbers of male and female applicants to the two schools as a whole. Although there was a much broader ethnic mix in the applicants to Manchester, the overall proportion of minority ethnic groups was considerably greater than in the UK population as a whole. Seventy-five per cent came from professional backgrounds, although marked differences were apparent between ethnic groups. A quarter had family relations who were dentists, and 30% were related to doctors. Over half (53%) decided to apply within the last year, with popular motivating factors including a general interest in dentistry, a desire to help people and to work with their hands. Dentistry was the first choice of career of 89%, with medicine the most popular alternative. Conclusion Valuable information was gathered from these prospective dental students regarding their backgrounds and the decision process involved in their career selection. This will prove beneficial when developing the recruitment process and allow appropriate tailoring to the target audience.

Key Points This paper discusses the possible integration of counselling into general dental practice. The reasons behind the public perception of dentistry need to be understood as they relate to fear and anxiety in the surgery: historical, pain related, developmental and childhood experiences, and in the older generations. Patient–dentist relationships focussing on the interpersonal relationship in the surgery are described together with case scenarios demonstrating where counselling might have assisted the patient. The appropriate use of counselling skills v face-to-face counselling is outlined. It is recommended that a counsellor be integrated into the dental team as advisor, educator and for direct referrals. This article attempts to explain reasons behind the general public's fear of dentistry by examining the historical perspective and, using case scenarios, demonstrates areas where patients' dental treatment might have been helped by the use of counselling. Distinguishing between the use of counselling skills vis-à-vis professional counselling, the wider issues for the dental profession — education, boundaries and the need for referrals — are explored. It is suggested that if a counsellor were included as part of the dental team, patients and professionals would benefit. The counsellor could act as an advisor and educator for the team in addition to undertaking professional counselling on referral. Patients with anxiety or phobias could be recognised and helped appropriately and occupational stress experienced by practitioners would be reduced.

Inoculations of winter wheat with Septoria nodorum (Berk.) Berk. at either the three or six leaf stage in the glasshouse identified possible mechanisms of changes in the growth of winter wheat to compensate for the damaging effects of infection. Following inoculations at the three leaf stage there was increased photosynthesis in healthy fourth leaves on inoculated plants; no equivalent increase was shown for later inoculations. There was some indication that, after third leaf inoculation, photosynthesis was stimulated in healthy areas on infected leaves but depressed in infected areas. After inoculations at the third leaf stage, the shoot/root dry weight ratio increased compared with that of controls. No significant changes in dry matter production, at anthesis or during grain-growth, followed inoculation at the six leaf stage. At anthesis there was an increase in the proportion of dry weight partitioned to stems, and tiller and leaf area of infected plants was greater than in the control plants.

Abscisic acid (ABA) was identified by combined gas liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry in sieve-tube exudate collected from the cut stylar ends of white lupin fruit. Water stress caused an increase in ABA levels in leaf, seed and pod tissues and phloem exudate. When compared with levels in extracts of these tissues, the concentration of ABA in sieve-tube sap was very high. It is suggested that ABA is actively transported out of mature leaves in the phloem and this finding is discussed in terms of the ABA balance of the plant.

Addition of an osmoticum (-12 bars) to the rooting medium of sunflowers (Helianthus annuus L.) caused an increase in the level of abscisic acid (ABA) present in xylem exudate subsequently collected from cut shoots. Using tall and dwarf plants it was shown that there was a time lag in the appearance of increased levels of ABA in tall plants when compared with dwarf plants. The results indicate that the leaves, rather than the roots are the site of synthesis of ABA present in the xylem sap of osmotically stressed sunflower plants.