A Coverage Monitoring algorithm based on Learning Automata for Wireless Sensor Networks

To cover a set of targets with known locations within an area with limited or prohibited ground access using a wireless sensor network, one approach is to deploy the sensors remotely, from an aircraft. In this approach, the lack of precise sensor placement is compensated by redundant de-ployment of sensor nodes. This redundancy can also be used for extending the lifetime of the network, if a proper scheduling mechanism is available for scheduling the active and sleep times of sensor nodes in such a way that each node is in active mode only if it is required to. In this pa-per, we propose an efficient scheduling method based on learning automata and we called it LAML, in which each node is equipped with a learning automaton, which helps the node to select its proper state (active or sleep), at any given time. To study the performance of the proposed method, computer simulations are conducted. Results of these simulations show that the pro-posed scheduling method can better prolong the lifetime of the network in comparison to similar existing method

Uncovering the Molecular Link Between miR156.SPL15 and Carotenoid Accumulation in Arabidopsis

Carotenoid Cleavage Dioxygenases (CCDs) are an enzyme family that cleaves specific double bonds in carotenoids. MicroR156 in Arabidopsis regulates a network of genes by repressing 10 SPL genes, among which, SPL15 was found to regulate shoot branching and carotenoid accumulation. The expression of CCD1, CCD4, CCD7, CCD8, NCED2, NCED3, NCED5, NCED6, NCED9 and SPL15 was evaluated in siliques at 10 days post anthesis and in 10-day-old roots in Arabidopsis wild type, sk156 (miR156 overexpression mutant), RS105 (miR156 overexpression line), spl15 (SPL15 knockout mutant) and two 35S:SPL15 lines. Results showed that most of CCD/NCED genes were affected both in the roots and siliques by function of miR156. In addition transcript levels of four CCD/NCED genes were up regulated in 35S:SPL15 lines. To test binding of SPL15 to affected CCD/NCED genes, 35S:SPL15-GFP transgenic lines were generated and three independent lines were subjected to ChIP-qPCR. The results revealed strong and selective occupancy of SPL15 on the promoter regions of candidate CCD/NCED genes. In addition, sk156 and RS105 had larger size of elaioplasts and plastoglobules compared to wild type. My results indicate that miR156/SPL15 control carotenoid accumulation by regulating expression of CCD/NCED genes and by increasing the cell’s capacity to store carotenoids