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Currently, the purity of hybrid seed is a crucial limiting factor when developing hybrid japonica rice (Oryza sativa L.). To chemically control hybrid seed purity, we transferred an improved atrazine chlorohydrolase gene (atzA) from Pseudomonas ADP into hybrid japonica parental lines (two maintainers, one restorer), and Nipponbare, by using Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. We subsequently selected several transgenic lines from each genotype by using PCR, RT-PCR, and germination analysis. In the presence of the investigated atrazine concentrations, particularly 150 µM atrazine, almost all of the transgenic lines produced significantly larger seedlings, with similar or higher germination percentages, than did the respective controls. Although the seedlings of transgenic lines were taller and gained more root biomass compared to the respective control plants, their growth was nevertheless inhibited by atrazine treatment compared to that without treatment. When grown in soil containing 2 mg/kg or 5 mg/kg atrazine, the transgenic lines were taller, and had higher total chlorophyll contents than did the respective controls; moreover, three of the strongest transgenic lines completely recovered after 45 days of growth. After treatment with 2 mg/kg or 5 mg/kg of atrazine, the atrazine residue remaining in the soil was 2.9–7.0% or 0.8–8.7% respectively, for transgenic lines, and 44.0–59.2% or 28.1–30.8%, respectively, for control plants. Spraying plants at the vegetative growth stage with 0.15% atrazine effectively killed control plants, but not transgenic lines. Our results indicate that transgenic atzA rice plants show tolerance to atrazine, and may be used as parental lines in future hybrid seed production.

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This paper presents a case of subway station construction under an existing prestressed concrete bridge with a three-span continuous beam located at the intersection of the 3rd Ring Road, Beijing. The Huayuan Subway Station of line 6, constructed crossing between #7 and the #8 piers of the bridge by the shallow tunneling method, is approximately perpendicular to the existing Huayuan Bridge. The minimum horizontal distance between the pile foundation and the subway station is only 0.08 m. The “Pile-Beam-Arc” construction sequence was used to ensure the safety of both the subway station and the bridge. Moreover, a series of reinforcement measures were adopted to safeguard the project, including deep grouting reinforcement surrounding the pile foundation from ground surface, temporary inverted arch in the middle of No. 5 drift, and the lateral steel support. Even though some cracks were observed on the bridge deck surface by the on-site deformation monitoring, the results were still within the proposed control standard. To prevent the further development of the cracks, jacking protection measure and bonded steel constructed under the box girder were performed. The related measures proposed in this research can provide useful references for future similar projects.