Rice Serine Hydroxymethyltransferases: Evolution, Subcellular Localization, Function and Perspectives.

In rice, there is a lack of comprehensive research on the functional aspects of the members of the () gene family. This study provides a comprehensive investigation of the gene family, covering phylogeny, gene structure, promoter analysis, expression analysis, subcellular localization, and protein interaction. Remarkably, we discovered a specific gene loss event occurred in the chloroplast-localized group IIa SHMTs in monocotyledons.

Purification effect and microbial community structure of bio filter on rural dispersed sewage.

Taking rural dispersed sewage for research objects, the treatment effect and microbial community structure characteristics of a bio filter (BF) reactor was studied. At fixed time and location, the removal efficiencies of common pollutants were investigated. By using high-throughput sequencing method, the heterogeneities of microbial community structure in fillers and plant roots were analyzed.

Optimization pilot scale study on ammonia nitrogen removal by bio filter.

In order to obtain the optimal conditions for ammonia nitrogen (AN) wastewater treatment by bio filter (BF), the effects of ratio of carbon to nitrogen (C/N), pH, and hydraulic load (HL) on the AN degradation were studied by Response Surface Methodology (RSM). Central Composite Design (CCD) experiments were conducted, and the response of the AN removal rates were fitted to a second-order polynomial model. The analysis of variance showed that the model was accurate and reliable.

Mineralization of phenanthrene sorbed on multiwalled carbon nanotubes.

Carbon nanotubes have attracted attention around the world because of their high sorption capacity for hydrophobic organic compounds (HOCs); however, the bioavailability of HOCs sorbed on carbon nanotubes to bacteria is not well known. In the present study, (14) C-labeled and unlabeled phenanthrene was spiked onto four kinds of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and aged for 60 d, and the mineralization of phenanthrene sorbed on MWCNTs was studied. The mineralization efficiencies of phenanthrene sorbed on the four kinds of MWCNTs were 2.

Levels of arsenic and heavy metals in the rural soils of Beijing and their changes over the last two decades (1985-2008).

Heavy metal levels in the rural soils are associated with the quality of agricultural products. In this study, soil samples were collected from the rural soils of Beijing; distribution of As, Co, Cr, Cu, Hg, Mn, Ni, Pb, V, Zn and their changes over the last two decades have been investigated. The results indicated that the concentrations of Co, Cr, Mn, Ni, and V were primarily controlled by the parent materials of soils, while concentrations of Hg, As, Cu, Pb, and Zn were affected by anthropogenic activities.