Impact of climate change on Helicoverpa armigera voltinism in different Agro-Climatic Zones of India.

The Gram pod borer, Helicoverpa armigera (Noctuidae: Lepidoptera) is a cosmopolitan agricultural insect pest that prefers to feed on plant's protein biomolecules. Out of different density-independent factors, surface air temperature majorly affects the incidence and damage of the H. armigera on the crops. Early prediction of H. armigera generations (voltinism) in future climate years perhaps prevent additional damage in various crops and improve the farmers preparedness. In this study, future climate data that is temperature obtained for eleven Agro-Climatic Zones (ACZs) of India under four Representative Concentration Pathways (RCPs) scenarios in different climate years (2010, 2030, 2050, 2070, 2090) using weather file generator MarkSim web application. The accumulation of Growing Degree-days (GDD) by H. armigera at eleven ACZs in each climate year under different RCP scenarios was estimated using temperature data. The mean surface air temperature is predicted to 0.51 °C, 1.03 °C, 1.57 °C and 2.1 °C in climate years 2030, 2050, 2070 and 2090, which escalated annual H. armigera Gen. to 12.88, 13.33, 13.79 and 14.23, respectively over the baseline climate year 2010. Likewise, under RCP 2.6, RCP 4.5, RCP 6.0 and RCP 8.5 scenarios H. armigera Gen. is predicted to 12.86, 13.29, 13.23 and 13.97 per annum with mean surface air temperatures 27.4 °C, 27.92 °C, 27.86 °C and 28.72 °C, respectively. The Eastern Coastal Plains and Hills Zone (ACZ 11) across climate years and RCPs has experienced a considerable increase in mean surface air temperature minimum (25.22 °C) and maximum (34.61 °C), which likely favor the GDD accumulation (6319.91) and the Genrations (14.97) in H. armigera. Therefore, the Eastern Coastal Plains and Hills Zone of India could be identified as H. armigera risk zone in near future. The present predictions in various ACZs of India may be significant in planning H. armigera management.

Retrospective study of asymmetric vs symmetric tibial plates and ultracongruent vs posterior stabilized inserts in Indian population: An Indian experience of Natural Knee II.

BACKGROUND: Results of asymmetric tibial base plates vs symmetric tibial base plates and ultracongruent insert vs posterior stabilized insert in Indian population. METHODS: A total of 47 knee replacements with mean age of 65.2 years in 38 patients (16 males and 22 females) between 2007-2011 were included. Natural Knee II (21 models) were compared with 26 models of other knees (12 PFC-Sigma, one PFC-RPF, 10 Nexgen and three Vanguard). RESULTS: The ultracongruent insert of NK II lead to creation of greater post-op mean flexion deformity of 18° (range 15-20°) as compared to 5.8° (range 5-8°) in other knees with PS insert (P < 0.001, confidence limit of 24.2-0.1). After 3 months NK II patients had a lower mean post-operative knee score of 87 as compared to mean post-operative knee score of 96 (P < 0.001, confidence limit of 17.9-0.1) in the non-NK II patients because of greater points deductions due to the creation of greater mean flexion deformity. When NO implant overhang is accepted on medial side, asymmetric tibial base plates leaves large portions of peripheral lateral tibial plateau uncovered by implant; decreasing the implant bone surface area ratio of Knee Society Radiographic Assessment Criteria. Similar problem is not encountered with symmetric tibial base plates. CONCLUSION: Symmetric and not asymmetric tibial base plates provide greater bone coverage in Indian (ethnic Punjabi) population when no implant overhang is accepted. Further use of NK II was discontinued after just 21 cases in the interest of the patients.