Addressing coverage problem in wireless sensor networks based on evolutionary algorithms

© 2017 University of Western Australia. Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) are the key part of Internet of Things, as they provide the physical interface between on-field information and backbone analytic engines. An important role of WSNs-when collecting vital information-is to provide a consistent and reliable coverage. To Achieve this, WSNs must implement a highly reliable and efficient coverage recovery algorithm. In this paper, we take a fresh new approach to coverage recovery based on evolutionary algorithms. We propose EMACB-SA, which introduces a new evolutionary algorithm that selects coverage sets using a fitness function that balances energy efficiency and redundancy. The proposed algorithm improves network's coverage and lifetime in areas with heterogeneous event rate in comparison to previous works and hence, it is suitable for using in disaster management

Service Failure-Recovery In Online Shops In Iran

Present article focuses on service failure and recovery in the online shops in Iran. The article investigates interaction between service failure and online shops readiness for service recovery and resulting impact on customer reaction. The data was collected by an e-questionnaire from 615 Iranian online shoppers. The findings suggest, although many online shops are severely breaching few fundamental business principles, defection is not happening as vast as in other similar studies. Furthermore, winning the customers back via service recovery seems to be depended rather on the process than the outcome of service recovery, which is very similar to the findings of another study in Chinese environment. Discussion of the findings suggests the researchers and managers to be conscious of the possible impact of the culture and environment on customer’s responses to service failure and service recovery states

Analysis of trehalose-6-phosphate control over carbon allocation and growth in plants

Trehalose is the non-reducing alpha-alpha-1, 1-linked glucose disaccharide. The biosynthesic precursor of trehalose, trehalose-6-phosphate (T6P), is essential for plant development, growth, carbon utilization and alters photosynthetic capacity but its mode of action is not underestood. This thesis describes a genetic approach to dissecting the pleiotropic effects of T6P in the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana. Trehalose supplied to the growth medium of Arabidopsis seedlings causes T6P accumulation that inhibits growth and allocation of carbon to the root and shoot apices. 19 trehalose resistant (trr) mutant that are resistant to 100 mM trehalose are identified from the Leclere and Bartle mutant collection. These mutants contain a T-DNA expressing randomly cloned cDNAs. The trr phenotype segregated as a dominant trait in 13 of the 19 trr mutants with over-expression of PS-I, GR-RBP2, TRR14 and repression of LHCB1 causing trehalose resistance. Mutatant analysis confirms that T6P control over starch and growth uses two separate pathways . TRR14 suppresses both the massive accumulation of starch in the cotyledons and the growth inhiition due to T6P accumulation on 100 mM trehalose. A model of interactions surrounding T6P is thus presented with TRR14 affecting immediate targets of T6P that are in common to both starch and growth control and with GR-RBP2 and LHCB1 affecting remote targets of T6P in pathway controlling growth

Met1 DNA Methyltransferase Controls TERT Gene Expression: A new insight to the role of telomerase in development

Objective: DNA methylation systems are essential for proper embryo development. Methylation defects lead to developmental abnormalities. Furthermore, changes in telomerase gene expression can affect stability of chromosomes and produces abnormal growth. Therefore, defects in both methylation and telomerase gene expression can lead to developmental abnormalities. We hypothesized that mutation in the methylation systems may induce developmental abnormalities through changing telomerase gene expression. Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, we used Arabidopsis thaliana (At) as a developmental model. DNA was extracted from seedlings leaves. The grown plants were screened using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) reactions. Total RNA was isolated from the mature leaves, stems and flowers of wild type and met1 mutants. For gene expression analysis, cDNA was synthesized and then quantitative reverse transcription PCR (qRT-PCR) was performed. Results: Telomerase gene expression level in homozygous met1 mutant plants showed ~14 fold increase compared to normal plants. Furthermore, TERT expression in met1 heterozygous was~ 2 fold higher than the wild type plants. Conclusion: Our results suggested that TERT is a methyltransferase-regulated gene which may be involved in developmental abnormities causing by mutation in met1 methyltransferase system. © 2020 Royan Institute (ACECR). All rights reserved

Germination and Seedling Growth of Silybum Marianum as a Medicinal Plant Under Salinity Stress

Milk thistle (Silybum marianum) is used as a medicinal plant in the treatment of liver diseases. In order to investigate germination and seedling growth in S. marianum subjected to NaCl, a three replicated experiment was carried out in a randomized complete block design in the laboratory of Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources. Treatments included seven salinity levels (50, 75, 100, 125, 150, 175 and 200 mM) and a control (distilled water). Germination percentage (GP), mean germination time (MGT), seed-ling vigour index (SVI), shoot, root and seedling weight were measured. The effect of salinity levels was significant on GP, SVI, MGT and seedling weight and length (p ≤ 0.01). However, the NaCl concentration effect was not significant on shoot : root length ratio and or shoot : root weight ratios. Results showed that germination decreased when salinity increased, while MGT increased. MGT was 1.75 times higher than in the control at the highest salt concentration. MGT difference was not significant between 75 mM NaCl and con-trol, while it dramatically increased by increasing the NaCl concentration from 150 to 200 mM NaCl. Reduc-tion slope and salt tolerance index (STI) were estimated for germination (0.54 and 231.9) and seedling stage (0.24 and 237.4). According to the results, milk thistle could be considered as a valuable medicinal plant in fairly salinized areas