Scientific background and objectives The central scientific theme of this programme was the recent development of applications of ergodic theory to other areas of mathematics, in particular, the connections with geometry, group actions and rigidity, and number theory. The potential of ergodic theory as a tool in number theory was emphasized by Furstenberg’s proof of Szemerdi’s theorem on arithm...

T here is no denying that the recent papal encyclical, Laudato si’, represents a sea change in official Catholic social teaching.1 For one thing, it is addressed not simply to the bishops nor even to each member of the Catholic Church but to “every person living on this planet” (§3); for another, it speaks from the perspective of the global South and names the debts owed by the North to the Sou...

Sodium (Na) toxicity is one of the most formidable challenges for crop production world-wide. Nevertheless, despite decades of intensive research, the pathways of Na(+) entry into the roots of plants under high salinity are still not definitively known. Here, we review critically the current paradigms in this field. In particular, we explore the evidence supporting the role of nonselective cati...

BACKGROUND AND AIMS Formation of root cortical aerenchyma (RCA) can be induced by nutrient deficiency. In species adapted to aerobic soil conditions, this response is adaptive by reducing root maintenance requirements, thereby permitting greater soil exploration. One trade-off of RCA formation may be reduced radial transport of nutrients due to reduction in living cortical tissue. To test this ...

Maize forms a complex root system with structurally and functionally diverse root types that are formed at different developmental stages to extract water and mineral nutrients from soil. In recent years proteomics has been intensively applied to identify proteins involved in shaping the three-dimensional architecture and regulating the function of the maize root system. With the help of develo...

The maize (Zea mays L.) Aux/IAA protein RUM1 (ROOTLESS WITH UNDETECTABLE MERISTEMS 1) controls seminal and lateral root initiation. To identify RUM1-dependent gene expression patterns, RNA-Seq of the differentiation zone of primary roots of rum1 mutants and the wild type was performed in four biological replicates. In total, 2 801 high-confidence maize genes displayed differential gene expressi...

Maize (Zea mays L.) shows a high accumulation of silicon (Si), but transporters involved in the uptake and distribution have not been identified. In the present study, we isolated two genes (ZmLsi1 and ZmLsi6), which are homologous to rice influx Si transporter OsLsi1. Heterologous expression in Xenopus laevis oocytes showed that both ZmLsi1 and ZmLsi6 are permeable to silicic acid. ZmLsi1 was ...

Seedlings of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) were grown in special holders that permitted the coleoptile and early roots to develop in moist air. The orientation of the organs of seedlings erect to gravity was compared with that of organs produced on a horizontal clinostat. Orientation was described by the angular position of each organ tip with reference to the axis of the embryo. Comparative tes...

seminal vesicles (svs) are sex accessory organs and part of male genitourinary system. they play a critical role in male fertility. diseases of the svs, usually results in infertility. diseases of the svs are extremely rare and are infrequently reported in the literature. we address the current literature of sv pathologies, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment options. we review the clinical impo...