Laboratory evaluation of the possibility of using the eggs of the chestnut moth Cameraria ohridella Deschka & Dimic, 1986 (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae) to feed the trichogram

Goal. Evaluation of the suitability and eggs of chestnut moth Cameraria ohridella for parasitism and development of trichogramma. Methods. Laboratory cultures of Trichogramma pintoi Voeg were used for research. and Trichogramma evanescens Westw., which were bred on the eggs of Sitotroga cerealella Oliv. The experiment was performed according to the following scheme: female trichogramma after mating was placed in a test tube in 5 replicates for each species. The tube was closed with a stopper and the sex of individuals under binoculars was checked. In test tubes with trichogram laid strips of paper with one-day eggs of chestnut moth (25 copies.). In 5 replicates and kept in a thermostat (temperature — 24—25°C; relative humidity — 65—67%). The percentage of trichogram revival and the ratio of males to females, life expectancy and fertility of females were determined. Trichogramma individuals, which were fed with grain moth eggs, served as controls. The experiment lasted until the complete death of the trichogram. The obtained results were processed statistically according to standard methods. Results. A small number of chestnut moth eggs pierced by trichogramma were detected, but embryonic development of the parasite’s eggs was not observed. Comparing the size of the eggs of the chestnut moth with the size of the eggs of the main squamous pests against which different species of trichogramma are effectively used, we can conclude that for the successful development of eggs T. pintoi and T. evanescens chestnut moth eggs are not suitable as feeders. Probably, in terms of size and biological quality, they do not correspond to the parameters of the ecological niche of the hosts of the family Trichogrammatidae. Conclusions. In the laboratory, it was found that the eggs of the chestnut moth are not suitable for parasitizing the trichogramma of T. pintoi and T. evanescens. The main pests of crops, which are effectively parasitized by different species of trichogramma, have an egg size in the range of 0.4—1.0 mm, while the size of chestnut moth eggs does not exceed 0.27—0.32 mm. It is possible that the size and biological quality of chestnut moth eggs do not meet the parameters of the ecological niche of entomophagous feeders of the family Trichogrammatidae. Further researches with use of various types of a trichogramma, first of all — T. dendrolimi Mats appear actual.

Evaluating the Effect of Different Base Temperatures to Calculate Degree-Days

Degree-days are used as a forecasting tool to predict energy demand and for normalizing energy consumption to be able to compare between different properties across different years. The base temperature is the main aspect to accurately calculate degree-days. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of different base temperatures and their impact on the correlation between energy consumption and degree-days. The base temperature was selected as the standard 15 °C for the region, the balance temperature calculated with dynamic building simulations and the thermostat temperature setting as collected by questionnaires. The methodology followed is based on the analysis of 20 properties located in the cities of Bilbao, San Sebastian and Vitoria in northern Spain. The properties are a combination of flats and houses, from different construction periods, tenancies, occupancy and sizes. This study had highlighted the effect and impact of selecting different base temperatures for the calculation of degree-days and the correlation between energy consumption and degree-days. While the use of the balance temperature as base temperature could generate very good correlation, they were not so dissimilar from using the standard 15 °C base temperature to justify the amount of extra work required to generate the balance temperature. The use of the thermostat setting as an indication of the base temperature was not as reliable as the other base temperature methods in generating a good correlation to explain the energy consumption on the 20 properties investigated in this study.

Preliminary Study on Energy Consumption at UiTMCPP library using IES simulation

The Universiti Teknologi MARA Cawangan Pulau Pinang (UiTMCPP) library building was consists of three-story including office, reading area, multi-media room, and meeting room. Based on the library record where the average number of students coming to the library is 257 students per day. In other words for an hour, only 17 students have come to the library. The occupant’s claimed that they feel uncomfortable because of the cold temperature in the building. Currently, the air conditioner’s setting temperature of the building is 17ºC and does not follow the requirement in the Malaysia Standard, MS1525. Therefore, the aim of this case study is to investigate the thermostat temperature in order to control the energy consumption and cost of saving in the library building. In this work, the set point was changed from 17ºC to 20ºC. This adjustment was referring to the MS1525. The IES<VE> software is used as the energy simulation tool to calculate and compare electricity cost and energy consumption. The finding from the simulation shows the annual energy consumption at 17°C and 20°C are 6.14Gwh per year and 5.03Gwh per year, respectively. Thus, the energy saving was increased by 1.11Gwh per year and cost of electricity was save by RM402 thousands per annum. Finally, it can be shown that the raising of the set point can minimize the energy consumption and electricity cost with 18% reduction per year.

The Circuit Design on Thermostat Control of Solar Water Heater's Water Temperature

This paper designs a new control scheme of solar water heater. The main designs are power supply circuit, water temperature display circuit, and mixed water temperature detection circuit. The system is simple and effective with low cost, which has accurate control of temperature and can show the actual temperature of the water heater. By automatically testing the temperature of the water heater, it has the self-check function of adjusting temperature, and keep thermostat temperature.

The mechanism of isothermal distillation in the porous-disk osmometer

This paper describes the theoretical investigations which have been made in an effort to clarify several well-established but unexplained observations by previous workers who have carried out experiments by the unusual osmotic-pressure technique known as isothermal distillation. The treatment is essentially thermodynamic, and leads to the derivation of equations which agree with the accumulated experimental evidence while showing how substantial improvements in performance can be achieved by designing the apparatus in accordance with the guidance given by the theoretical study. One of the derived equations stresses the importance of good thermal conduction between the solvent and solution inside the stillhead, while another gives a quantitative relationship between thermostat temperature fluctuations and osmoticpressure errors. A description is then given of the essential features of the experimental apparatus which has been built for the application of these theoretical advances to the measurement of the molecular weights of high polymers.