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Currently, the control of rhizosphere selection on farms has been applied to achieve enhancements in phenotype, extending from improvements in single root characteristics to the dynamic nature of entire crop systems. Several specific signals, regulatory elements, and mechanisms that regulate the initiation, morphogenesis, and growth of new lateral or adventitious root species have been identified, but much more work remains. Today, phenotyping technology drives the development of root traits. Available models for simulation can support all phenotyping decisions (root trait improvement). The detection and use of markers for quantitative trait loci (QTLs) are effective for enhancing selection efficiency and increasing reproductive genetic gains. Furthermore, QTLs may help wheat breeders select the appropriate roots for efficient nutrient acquisition. Single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) or alignment of sequences can only be helpful when they are associated with phenotypic variation for root development and elongation. Here, we focus on major root development processes and detail important new insights recently generated regarding the wheat genome. The first part of this review paper discusses the root morphology, apical meristem, transcriptional control, auxin distribution, phenotyping of the root system, and simulation models. In the second part, the molecular genetics of the wheat root system, SNPs, TFs, and QTLs related to root development as well as genome editing (GE) techniques for the improvement of root traits in wheat are discussed. Finally, we address the effect of omics strategies on root biomass production and summarize existing knowledge of the main molecular mechanisms involved in wheat root development and elongation., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Alrajhi, Alharbi, Beecham and Alotaibi.)

Semantic memory (SM) is a type of long-term memory associated with the storage of general information about the world. Here we assessed the characteristics of the SM battery, developed by Catricalà et al. (2013), in a sample of Colombian children. This battery was originally conceived to evaluate adults, and features six subtests that assess SM in different modalities, using a common set of 48 stimuli in both living and nonliving categories. The design of the current study is of a cross-sectional and exploratory type. The sample was composed of 111 children, 57 boys (51%) and 54 girls (49%), who were 6 ( n = 68) and 7 ( n = 43) years old and had no intellectual disability. Robust linear regression models and correlation networks were used. We found an effect of age on general intelligence after correcting for gender, and no differences on the six subtest scores after corrections for gender and age were performed. Furthermore, age was found to be positively associated with the naming of colored photographs ( β = . 75, p = . 039), naming in response to an oral description ( β = 1 . 81, p = . 039), picture sorting at four levels ( β = 7 . 22, p = . 029), and sentence verification ( β = 26 . 66, p = . 01). In addition, there were differences between the results obtained in adults in the original study and in the children of our study. This exploratory study supports the feasibility of the Spanish translation of the Catricalà et al. (2013) battery to assess SM in children with a nonclinical condition. Future studies are needed to evaluate the psychometric properties of this SM battery, and to corroborate and expand our findings in a larger sample of control children, and in children with some degree of intellectual disability or suffering of some neurodegenerative or psychiatric conditions.

User fees are used to recover costs and discourage unnecessary attendance at primary care clinics in many developing countries. In South Africa, user fees for children aged under 6 years and pregnant women were removed in 1994, and in 1997 all user fees at all primary health care clinics were abolished. The intention of these policy changes was to improve access to health services for previously disadvantaged communities. We investigated the impact of these changes on clinic attendance patterns in Hlabisa health district. Average quarterly new registrations and total attendances for preventive services (antenatal care, immunization, growth monitoring) and curative services (treatment of ailments) at a mobile primary health care unit were studied from 1992 to 1998. Regression analysis was undertaken to assess whether trends were statistically significant. There was a sustained increase in new registrations (P = 0.0001) and total attendances (P = 0.0001) for curative services, and a fall in new registrations (P = 0.01) and total attendances for immunization and growth monitoring (P = 0.0002) over the study period. The upturn in demand for curative services started at the time of the first policy change. The decreases in antenatal registrations (P = 0.07) and attendances (P = 0.09) were not statistically significant. The number of new registrations for immunization and growth monitoring increased following the first policy change but declined thereafter. We found no evidence that the second policy change influenced underlying trends. The removal of user fees improved access to curative services but this may have happened at the expense of some preventive services. Governments should remain vigilant about the effects of new health policies in order to ensure that objectives are being met.