ECONOMIC EVALUATION OF A BREEDING PROGRAMME FOR SETTING UP TWO HIGH PERFORMANCES BEE LINES
This study aimed to evaluate costs, incomes and financial results related to the creation of two Apis Mellifica Carpatica lines, based on a specific Breeding Programme within a closed population. The two beelines have been carefully selected for the bee populations living in two areas of Romania: North Moldavia and South Muntenia. A new selection technology is set up in order to produce high performance queen bees, well adapted to the environmental conditions mainly to picking. Genetic gain will be get by selling the mated selected queens belonging to the two lines to various beekeepers interested to obtain more and high quality bee products.
Laboratory measurement of honey production in the honeybee. 3. Pupal weight of the worker.
SummaryThe relationship between the pupal weight of workers and honey production by their colony was examined for 14 honeybee colonies headed by instrumentally inseminated queens. The mean weight of pink-eyed pupae and colony weight gain during a 19-week test period were significantly correlated (r = 0·680, P<0·01). An analysis of variance on individual pupal weights from progeny of groups of 7 and 9 queens revealed highly significant differences between source colonies (P<0·001). The results support the feasibility of selection of honeybees for increased colony honey production based on the pupal weight of the worker.
Effect of antioxidants, on deterioration by partial discharge in LDPE and XLPE [insulation materials]
The effect of antioxidants in low-density polyethylene (LDPE) and cross-linked polyethylene (XLPE) on deterioration by partial discharge (PD) was investigated. Experiments were conducted using LDPE and XLPE samples containing phenolic antioxidants. Samples subjected to the PD were analyzed using atomic force microscopy and Fourier transform infrared analysis (AFM and FTIR). AFM images demonstrated that the magnitude of pits created in the sample containing antioxidants was smaller than that in samples containing no antioxidant. FTIR showed that oxidative degradation occurred on LDPE and XLPE surfaces when they were subjected to PD. These results confirmed that the amount of oxidized substances was smaller in samples containing phenolic antioxidants than in those containing no antioxidant. This report elucidates the mechanism of antioxidant action on deterioration by PD.