The analysis on the limiting behavior of solution is pivotal for equations in geometric analysis, mathematical physics and application in optimization. In 80s, Rene Thom conjectured that if an analytic gradient flow has a limit, then it approaches to the limit along a unique asymptotic direction. This represents a next-order question following the seminal works by Lojasiewicz and L. Simon. In 2000, Thom's conjecture was affirmatively proved by Kurdyka, Mostowski, and Parusinski for finite dimensional gradient flows. In this first part, we will discuss about the basics about theory of Lojasiewicz concerning the uniqueness of limits. Then we explore vast applications in PDEs which were initiated by Leon Simon.

Following the brief introduction to Lojasiewicz's theory in the first part, in the second part we discuss Thom's gradient conjecture and our recent joint work with Pei-Ken Hung where we generalized this conjecture to the class of PDEs. The result classifies the next-order asymptotics by revealing both the rate and the direction of convergence to the limit. Finally we talk about possible future applications and working directions.