Search

Traditional Chinese medicine is made from the rhizome of Atractylodes lancea (Thunb.) DC. (Compositae), known as Cangzhu. In this study, gas chromatography‐mass spectrometry was used to identify and quantify the volatile oils of different organs of A. lancea from four regions of China: Jiangsu, Anhui, Henan, and Hubei provinces. The volatile oils of A. lancea were qualitatively and quantitatively characterized using gas chromatography‐mass spectrometry combined with laser microdissection. The results identified 21 components in A. lancea, the majority of the components were found in the rhizomes, followed by the fibrous roots, flowers, leaves, and stems. According to the contents of volatile oils in A. lancea, it was divided into Dabieshan (mainly includes hinesol and β‐eudesmol) and Maoshan types (mainly includes atractylon and atractylodin), and the ratios of hinesol:β‐eudesmol:atractylon:atractylodin were 17.06:4.55:0:1, 12.66:11.71:0.99:1, 7.43:6.23:0:1, and 0.13:0.16:1.52:1 in A. lancea from AH, HN, HB, and JS, respectively. Tissue‐specific study indicated that Dabieshan type mainly includes elemol, hinesol, and β‐eudesmol in the periderm and secretory cavities of A. lancea, whereas Maoshan type mainly includes atractylon, atractylodin, little hinesol, and β‐eudesmol in the secretory cavities. Conversely, no volatile oils were detected in the cortex, phloem, xylem, vascular ray, or pith. This study provides a foundation for further evaluation and utilization of A. lancea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the era of global climate change, extreme weather events frequently occur. Many kinds of agro-meteorological disasters that are closely related to environmental conditions (such as sunshine hours, temperature, precipitation, etc.) are witnessed all over the word. However, which factor dominates winter wheat production in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River remains unresolved. Quantifying the key limiting meteorological factor could deepen our understanding of the impact of climate change on crops and then help us to formulate disaster prevention and mitigation measures. However, the relative role of precipitation, sunshine hours and maximum daily temperature in limiting winter wheat yield in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River is not clear and difficult to decouple. In this study, we used statistical methods to quantify the effect of precipitation, maximum temperature and sunshine hours extremes on winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) yield based on long time-series, county-level yield data and a daily meteorological dataset. According to the winter wheat growing season period (October of the sowing year to May of the following year), anomaly values of cumulative precipitation, average sunshine hours and average daily maximum temperature are calculated. With the range of −3 σ to 3 σ of anomaly and an interval of 0.5 σ (σ is the corresponding standard deviation of cumulative precipitation, mean maximum temperature and mean sunshine hours, respectively), the corresponding weighted yield loss ratio (WYLR) represents the impact of this kind of climate condition on yield. The results show that excessive rainfall is the key limiting meteorological factor that can reduce winter wheat yield to −18.4% in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River, while it is only −0.24% in extreme dry conditions. Moreover, yield loss under extreme temperature and sunshine hours are negligible (−0.66% for extremely long sunshine hours and −8.29% for extreme cold). More detailed analysis results show that the impact of excessive rainfall on winter wheat yield varies regionally, as it causes severe yield reductions in the Huai River basin and the middle to southern part with low elevation and rainy areas of the study area, while for drier areas in the Hubei province, there is even an increase in yield. Our results disclosed with observational evidence that excessive precipitation is the key meteorological limiting factor leading to the reduction in winter wheat yield in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River. The knowledge of the possible impact of climate change on winter wheat yield in the study area allows policy-makers, agronomists and economists to better forecast a plan that differs from the past. In addition, our results emphasized the need for better understanding and further process-based model simulation of the excessive rainfall impact on crop yield. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As an important part of China's strategic emerging industries, developing wind energy is key to improving the nation's energy structure, protecting the environment, ensuring energy security, and achieving sustainable economic development. This study uses complex network theory and social network analysis to investigate the collaboration network of China's wind energy industry based on the collaborative application data of patents from the China National Intellectual Property Administration. The results demonstrate that the State Grid Corporation of China plays an important role in the collaboration network. With the wind energy industry's development, the network's dominant force has changed from individuals to enterprises, and its collaboration frequency now differs across various technology fields and organizations. Furthermore, the maximal connected subnetwork was found to be important for knowledge dissemination. These results demonstrate a large difference in the network's spatial distribution. Thus, the government should invest more in technological innovation, strengthen the collaboration platform's construction, and formulate policies supporting the collaboration network's construction. • The State Grid Corporation of China is the core of the collaboration network. • The spatial distribution of the collaboration network differs greatly. • Enterprises have replaced individuals as the dominant force in the network. • The maximal connected subnetwork included most enterprises, while few individuals. • Beijing, Hubei and several coastal provinces have high degree and betweenness centrality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]