中国毛竹林碳氮磷生态化学计量特征

碳(C)、氮(N)、磷(P)生态化学计量比是生态系统过程与功能的重要特征, 开展种群生态化学计量学研究可以细化植物种群化学计量学内容, 确定限制植物生长的元素类型, 同时为大尺度模型的发展提供数据基础。为阐明我国毛竹(Phyllostachys edulis)林C、N、P化学计量学特征, 通过对毛竹主要产区文献数据的搜集整理与分析, 探索我国毛竹林“植物-土壤-凋落物”系统C、N、P及C:N、C:P、N:P生态化学计量特征, 以及不同组分生态化学计量特征与经纬度之间的关系。结果表明: 1)我国毛竹林叶片C含量为478.30 mg·g^-1, N含量为22.20 mg·g^-1, P含量为1.90 mg·g^-1, C:N为26.80, C:P为299.60, N:P为14.40; 毛竹林0-20 cm土层C含量为21.53 mg·g^-1, N含量为1.66 mg·g^-1, P含量0.41 mg·g^-1, C:N为14.20, C:P为66.74, N:P为4.28; 毛竹凋落物C含量为438.49 mg·g^-1, N含量为13.39 mg·g^-1, P含量为0.86 mg·g^-1, C:N为22.53, C:P为665.67, N:P为22.55。2)毛竹林“植物-土壤-凋落物”系统中, C:N表现为: 叶片>凋落物>土壤, C:P和N:P均表现为: 凋落物>叶片>土壤, 叶片N、P再吸收率分别为39.68%和54.74%, 我国毛竹林生长发育总体上可能受到P限制或者N和P两种元素的双重限制。3)纬度梯度: 叶片N含量、N:P随纬度增加而增加, C:N随纬度增加而降低。经度梯度: 叶片N:P随经度增加而增加, P含量、C:N随经度增加而降低; 土壤C:N随经度增加而增加, N含量随经度增加而降低; 凋落物N含量随经度增加而降低。4)叶片N含量与年平均气温和年降水量均存在明显负相关关系, 但对温度的响应比降水更敏感, 叶片N含量与纬度呈正相关关系, 支持“温度-植物生理假说”, 反映了植物对自然环境的适应。     

桂西北喀斯特森林植物-凋落物-土壤生态化学计量特征

探明我国西南喀斯特生态脆弱区植被恢复重建背景下, 森林植物、凋落物与土壤碳(C)、氮(N)、磷(P)化学计量特征有助于深入地认识喀斯特森林生态系统养分循环规律和系统稳定机制。该文选取桂西北典型喀斯特地区域3个原生林群落和3个自然恢复28年的次生林群落, 研究其“植物-凋落物-土壤”连续体的C、N、P化学计量学特征及其内在关联。结果表明: 1)圆果化香树(Platycarya longipes)、伞花木(Eurycorymbus cavaleriei)和青檀(Pteroceltis tatarinowii)以及圆叶乌桕(Sapium rotundifolium)、八角枫(Alangium chinense)和黄荆(Vitex negundo) 6种植物的C、N、P平均含量分别为427.5、21.2、1.2 mg·g^-1; 凋落物C、N、P平均含量分别为396.2、12.7、0.9 mg·g^-1, 而表层土壤(0-10 cm) C、N、P平均含量分别为92.0、6.35和1.5 mg·g^-1。2)原生林N再吸收率(平均值为42.7%)高于次生林(平均值为36.5%), P再吸收率(20.4%)显著低于次生林(32.3%) (p < 0.05); 6个森林群落N的再吸收率均大于P的再吸收率。3)不同群落凋落物的C:N值差异不显著, 原生林植物的C:N值小于次生林、土壤C:N显著大于次生林; 原生林土壤C:P与次生林无显著差异, 植物与凋落物C:P小于次生林; 原生林凋落物与土壤N:P值小于次生林, 植物N:P比平均值均为17.4。4)研究区典型森林群落植物中N和P含量呈显著的正相关关系, 植物C:N与N:P、C:P与N:P比值均无明显相关关系; 经过对数变换后的土壤C:N与N:P呈显著负相关关系, 凋落物的C:P与N:P值呈极显著正相关关系。研究结果可为我国西南典型喀斯特脆弱生态区的生态功能恢复与植被重建提供科学依据。     

杭州湾滨海湿地3种草本植物叶片N、P化学计量学的季节变化

动态平衡理论是生态化学计量学的理论基础, 各种有机体是否存在一个固定的化学计量比是生态学研究的热点问题。该文研究了杭州湾滨海湿地3种优势物种海三棱藨草(Scirpus mariqueter)、糙叶薹草(Carex scabrifolia)和芦苇(Phragmites australis)叶片N、P生态化学计量特征的季节变化。结果发现, 3种植物叶片N含量范围分别是7.41-17.12、7.47-13.15和6.03-18.09 mg·g^-1, 平均值(±标准差)分别为(11.69 ± 2.66)、(10.17 ± 1.53)和(11.56 ± 3.19) mg·g^-1; 叶片P范围分别是0.34-2.60、0.41-1.10和0.35-2.04 mg·g^-1, 平均值为(0.93 ± 0.62)、(0.74 ± 0.23)和(0.82 ± 0.53) mg·g^-1; N:P范围分别是7.19-30.63、11.58-16.81和8.62-21.86, 平均值为16.83 ± 8.31、14.53 ± 3.91和16.49 ± 5.51, 可见不同植物其生态化学计量值范围存在一定差异, 但经方差分析发现3种草本植物间生长季节内N、P元素含量差异并不显著(p > 0.05)。各物种叶片N、P含量均表现出在生长初期显著大于其他生长季节(p < 0.05), 生长旺季(6、7月)随着叶片生物量的持续增加, N、P含量逐渐降低并达到最小值, 随后8-9月叶片不再生长而N、P含量逐渐回升, 在10月叶片衰老时N、P含量再次下降; 叶片N:P则在生长初期较小, 在生长旺季先升高后降低, 随后叶片成熟不再生长时又逐渐增加并趋于稳定。     

陕西省森林各生态系统组分氮磷化学计量特征

研究森林植被、枯落物和土壤的氮(N)磷(P)化学计量关系对于理解生态系统各组分的相互作用和养分循环具有重要意义。该研究对陕西省不同类型森林生态系统植被、枯落物和土壤的N和P含量及其化学计量关系进行了研究分析。结果表明: 1)森林生态系统各组分的N、P化学计量特征存在显著差异(p < 0.05), N、P含量均以林下灌草层植物和枯落物层较高, 乔木层植物和土壤层较低; N:P值则稍有不同, 以枯落物层最高, 土壤层最低, 其他各层差异不显著; 各组分N、P含量和N:P值分别为0.72-11.99 mg·g^-1、0.47-1.07 mg·g^-1和1.86-14.84。0-1 m土层内N含量、N:P值均随土层加深而降低(p < 0.05), P含量则不随土层发生明显变化。2)各组分N、P含量和N:P值多表现为阔叶林高于针叶林, 但其差异不显著。3)生态系统同一组分内, N、P含量间极显著正相关, N、P含量与N:P值分别呈极显著正相关、负相关关系, 但是土壤层内N、P含量无显著相关关系。各组分间, 枯落物层与乔木层、草本层和土壤层的N、P含量和N:P值也均极显著正相关, 而枯落物层与灌木层植物无显著相关关系。4)生态系统各组分N、P含量和N:P值随空间变化表现不尽一致, 总体上呈稳态。该文通过对N、P化学计量特征的研究, 揭示了森林生态系统植被、枯落物和土壤组分间所存在的养分循环联系, 这些联系中也表现出分异特征, 而分异可能由各自所执行的不同生态功能所致。     

中亚热带植被恢复阶段植物叶片、凋落物、土壤碳氮磷化学计量特征

为揭示植被恢复过程中生态系统的养分循环机制及植物的生存策略, 根据亚热带森林群落演替过程, 采用空间代替时间方法, 以湘中丘陵区地域相邻、环境条件基本一致的檵木(Loropetalum chinensis) +南烛(Vaccinium bracteatu) +杜鹃(Rhododendron mariesii)灌草丛(LVR)、檵木+杉木(Cunninghamia lanceolata) +白栎(Quercus fabri)灌木林(LCQ)、马尾松(Pinus massoniana) +柯(Lithocarpus glaber) +檵木针阔混交林(PLL)、柯+红淡比(Cleyera japonica) +青冈(Cyclobalanopsis Glauca)常绿阔叶林(LCC)作为一个恢复系列, 设置固定样地, 采集植物叶片、未分解层凋落物和0-30 cm土壤样品, 测定有机碳(C)、全氮(N)、全磷(P)含量及其化学计量比, 运用异速生长关系、养分利用效率和再吸收效率分析植物对环境变化的响应和养分利用策略。结果表明: (1)随着植被恢复, 叶片C:N、C:P、N:P显著下降, 而叶片C、N、P含量和土壤C、N含量、C:P、N:P显著增加, 其中LCC植物叶片C、N含量, 土壤C、N含量及其N:P, PLL植物叶片P含量, 土壤C:P显著高于其他3个恢复阶段, 各恢复阶段植物叶片N:P > 20, 植物生长受P限制; 凋落物C、N、P含量及其化学计量比波动较大。(2)凋落物与叶片、土壤的化学计量特征之间的相关关系较弱, 叶片与土壤的化学计量特征之间具有显著相关关系, 其中叶片C、N、P含量与土壤C、N含量、C:N (除叶片C、N含量外)、C:P、N:P呈显著正相关关系; 叶片C:N与土壤C、N含量、C:P、N:P, 叶片C:P与土壤C含量、C:N、C:P, 叶片N:P与土壤C:N呈显著负相关关系。(3)植被恢复过程中, 叶片N、P之间具有显著异速生长关系, 异速生长指数为1.45, 叶片N、P的利用效率下降, 对N、P的再吸收效率增加, LCC叶片N利用效率最低, PLL叶片P利用效率最低而N、P再吸收效率最高。(4)叶片N含量内稳态弱, 而P含量具有较高的内稳态, 在土壤低P限制下植物能保持P平衡。植被恢复显著影响叶片、凋落物、土壤C、N、P含量及其化学计量比, 叶片与土壤之间C、N、P含量及化学计量比呈显著相关关系, 植物通过降低养分利用效率和提高养分再吸收效率适应土壤养分的变化, 叶片-凋落物-土壤系统的N、P循环随着植被恢复逐渐达到“化学计量平衡”。     

三种植物对土壤磷吸收和富集能力的比较

筛选磷富集植物是磷矿废弃地土壤与植被修复的关键。该文以向日葵(Helianthus annuus)、苏丹草(Sorghum sudanense)、南瓜(Cucurbita moschata)为研究对象, 采用盆栽试验, 设置5个磷浓度(0、100、300、500和700 mg·kg^-1), 分别在3个不同生长时段(4周、7周、10周)内采样, 对这3种植物的磷吸收和富集能力进行了比较。结果表明: (1)在相同生长时间内, 向日葵、苏丹草、南瓜的地上部磷含量均随磷处理浓度的升高而增大, 最大值分别为9.67 g·kg^-1、4.86 g·kg^-1、6.32 g·kg^-1; 相同浓度下, 向日葵地上部磷含量随着生长时间的延长呈上升趋势, 苏丹草则呈下降趋势, 南瓜无显著变化; (2) 3种植物的地上部磷累积量均在磷处理浓度为700 mg·kg^-1时, 生长10周后达到最大值, 分别为217.83 mg·plant^-1、93.92 mg·plant^-1、135.82 mg·plant^-1; (3)各浓度处理下, 向日葵、苏丹草的地上部磷富集系数和转移系数均大于1.00, 南瓜的地上部磷富集系数和转移系数波动较大; 向日葵的富集系数和转移系数最大值分别达11.39和4.09。综合比较可知, 3种植物磷吸收和富集能力的大小顺序为: 向日葵>南瓜>苏丹草。向日葵各项富磷特征基本符合磷富集植物的筛选标准, 可作为磷矿废弃地土壤与植被修复的备选物种。     

海三棱藨草的组织培养与快繁体系

以海三棱藨草(Scirpus × mariqueter)成熟种子为外植体, 通过无菌萌发、丛生芽诱导、增殖、壮苗、生根和移栽等过程, 建立了海三棱藨草的无菌快繁体系。结果表明: 丛生芽诱导和增殖的最适培养基为MS+2.0 mg·L^-1 6-BA+0.002 mg·L^-1 TDZ+0.2 mg·L^-1 IBA; 壮苗最适培养基为1/2MS+0.05 mg·L^-1 6-BA+0.01 mg·L^-1 IBA; 生根最适培养基为1/2 MS+0.2 mg·L^-1 IBA; 最适培养温度为30°C; 再生苗移入珍珠岩:草炭:蛭石=1:1:1 (体积比)的混合基质中, 移栽成活率可达85%以上。生根培养阶段选用容积较大的塑料容器育苗, 可以降低生产成本和提高生产效率。     

大兴安岭泥炭地植物叶片碳氮磷含量及其化学计量学特征

叶片碳(C)、氮(N)、磷(P)含量及其化学计量特征为植物养分状况和元素限制性提供依据。为了解不同生活型植物叶片C、N、P化学计量特征的变化,该研究测定、分析了大兴安岭地区18个泥炭地常见的3种草本植物——白毛羊胡子草(Eriophorum vaginatum)、玉簪薹草(Carex globularis)、小叶章(Deyeuxia angustifolia), 5种落叶灌木——柴桦(Betula fruticosa)、越桔柳(Salix myrtilloides)、细叶沼柳(Salix rosmarinifolia)、笃斯越桔(Vaccinium uliginosum)、越桔(Vaccinium vitis-idaea)和3种常绿灌木——杜香(Ledum palustre)、地桂(Chamaedaphne calyculata)、头花杜鹃(Rhododendron capitatum)的叶片C、N、P含量。结果表明: (1)落叶和常绿灌木叶片C、N、P含量总体高于草本植物而C:N、C:P、N:P低于草本植物, 说明不同生活型植物具有不同的养分利用策略,灌木叶片C、N、P储存高于草本植物而N、P利用效率低于草本植物; (2)小叶章和头花杜鹃叶片N:P小于10, 同时其N含量小于全球植物叶片平均N含量, 相比其他植物来说更易受N限制; (3)采样地点解释了叶片C、N、P指标变异的12.8%-40.8%, 植物种类对叶片C、N、P指标变异的解释量占9.3%-25.5%; (4)草本植物C、N、P指标的地点间变异系数高于落叶和常绿灌木, 草本植物C、N、P指标对地点因素变化的响应较灌木敏感; (5)草本植物N含量种间变异系数高于落叶和常绿灌木, 落叶灌木P含量种间变异系数高于草本植物和常绿灌木, 草本植物和落叶灌木N、P吸收的种间生理分化较常绿灌木高。     

Leaf C,N, and P concentrations and their stoichiometry in peatland plants of Da Hinggan Ling,China

叶片碳(C)、氮(N)、磷(P)含量及其化学计量特征为植物养分状况和元素限制性提供依据。为了解不同生活型植物叶片C、N、P化学计量特征的变化,该研究测定、分析了大兴安岭地区18个泥炭地常见的3种草本植物——白毛羊胡子草(Eriophorum vaginatum)、玉簪薹草(Carex globularis)、小叶章(Deyeuxia angustifolia), 5种落叶灌木——柴桦(Betula fruticosa)、越桔柳(Salix myrtilloides)、细叶沼柳(Salix rosmarinifolia)、笃斯越桔(Vaccinium uliginosum)、越桔(Vaccinium vitis-idaea)和3种常绿灌木——杜香(Ledum palustre)、地桂(Chamaedaphne calyculata)、头花杜鹃(Rhododendron capitatum)的叶片C、N、P含量。结果表明: (1)落叶和常绿灌木叶片C、N、P含量总体高于草本植物而C:N、C:P、N:P低于草本植物, 说明不同生活型植物具有不同的养分利用策略,灌木叶片C、N、P储存高于草本植物而N、P利用效率低于草本植物; (2)小叶章和头花杜鹃叶片N:P小于10, 同时其N含量小于全球植物叶片平均N含量, 相比其他植物来说更易受N限制; (3)采样地点解释了叶片C、N、P指标变异的12.8%-40.8%, 植物种类对叶片C、N、P指标变异的解释量占9.3%-25.5%; (4)草本植物C、N、P指标的地点间变异系数高于落叶和常绿灌木, 草本植物C、N、P指标对地点因素变化的响应较灌木敏感; (5)草本植物N含量种间变异系数高于落叶和常绿灌木, 落叶灌木P含量种间变异系数高于草本植物和常绿灌木, 草本植物和落叶灌木N、P吸收的种间生理分化较常绿灌木高。     

多效唑(PP333)对美洲商陆毛状根生长和商陆皂苷甲产生的影响

为了探究植物生长调节剂多效唑(PP333)调控药用植物美洲商陆(Phytolacca americana)毛状根生长和次生代谢的可能性, 设计实验并探讨PP333对美洲商陆毛状根生长及其商陆皂苷甲含量的影响。结果表明, 与对照相比, PP333使毛状根根尖及侧根表面呈浅红色, 侧根变得短而粗, 且随着培养基内PP333浓度的升高, 根表面颜色加深。培养基中添加0.5-5.0 mg·L^-1 PP333能促进毛状根中商陆皂苷甲的产生, 其中以1.0 mg·L^-1 PP333的效果最好, 其商陆皂苷甲含量达6.22 mg·g^-1 DW, 约为对照的1.94倍。PP333能提高毛状根苯丙氨酸裂解酶(PAL)的活性, 并可能通过对PAL酶活性的调节来促进毛状根中商陆皂苷甲的产生。     

Pollination in Bruguiera gymnorrhiza (Rhizophoraceae) in Miyara River, Ishigaki Island, Japan, and Phangnga, Thailand

Abstract The bird species Hypsipetes amaurotis and Zosterops palpebrosa var. yonakuni , but no insects, were recorded regularly feeding on flower-nectar of Bruguiera gymnorrhiza in the Miyara River Biological Preserve, Ishigaki Island, Japan, at 7:00-9:15 a.m. during the investigation from December 20, 1987, to January 19, 1988. In contrast, Anthreptes malacensis foraged for nectar from 7:00 a.m. to 17:00 p.m. Oriolus chinensis visited the flowers mainly between 6:30 and 7:30 a.m. in Phangnga, Thailand, during the investigation from November 30 to December 19, 1986. Pollen grains were sprayed onto the birds'faces and bills and into the air. The highest mean volume of 0.24 pollen grains/ l /minute was triggered in calm air by the most frequent nectarivore between 6:45 and 7:00 a.m. at a height of 1.5m under a tree-branch carrying 145 fresh flowers in the Miyara River population, Japan. The highest mean volume of 0.27 pollen grains/ l /minute under the same conditions in the Phangnga population, Thailand. Bruguiera gymnorrhiza is bird-pollinated but with the possibility of some pollination indirectly by wind.     

喀斯特区不同退化程度植被群落植物-凋落物-土壤-微生物生态化学计量特征

为摸清喀斯特植被退化对群落各组分C、N、P生态化学计量特征及内稳态特征的影响，为喀斯特退化生态系统植被恢复与重建提供科学依据，以桂西北喀斯特地区5种退化程度植被群落为研究对象，测定了不同退化程度植被群落植物叶片、凋落物、土壤和微生物生物量的C、N、P含量，分析其化学计量比特征、相互关系及植物内稳性特征。结果表明：(1)随着退化程度加剧，叶片C、N、P含量、N∶P和凋落物N∶P、微生物量C显著下降，而叶片C∶N、C∶P则显著增加，且植物叶片N∶P<14;随退化程度加剧，凋落物N、P含量、土壤C、N、P含量、微生物量N、P呈先略有增后显著降低的趋势，且不同退化程度群落土壤N∶P和微生物量C∶N无显著差异。(2)叶片N、P含量与土壤N、P含量，叶片C∶P与土壤C∶N、C∶P、N∶P,叶片N∶P与凋落物N、N∶P,叶片C、N、P含量与微生物量C呈显著或极显著正相关关系；叶片C∶N与土壤C、N,叶片C∶P与土壤N、P,叶片N∶P与土壤P呈显著或极显著负相关关系。(3)喀斯特地区植物叶片N、P元素的内稳性指数(H)平均值分别为2.74和2.31,属于弱稳态型，叶片N∶P的H值为5.14,为稳...     

克里雅绿洲旱生芦苇根茎叶C、N、P化学计量特征的季节变化

旱生芦苇在水分限制、元素匮乏的环境条件下,经长期进化适应形成了自身独特的生理生态特征,研究其C、N、P化学计量特征随生长季节的变化规律有助于深入了解该植物生存和适应策略。系统分析了克里雅绿洲旱生芦苇根、茎、叶的C、N、P化学计量特征及其季节动态,深入探讨了不同生长季、不同器官以及两因素的交互作用对以上特征的影响。结果表明:旱生芦苇C、N、P含量均值分别为393.36、12.43、1.25 mg/g,C∶N、N∶P、C∶P均值分别为54.55、9.96、441.27。整个生长季内芦苇各器官间C、N、P平均含量的变化规律一致,为叶茎根,C、N、P化学计量比的变化规律不一致;芦苇C含量随生长季节的变化不断增加,N、P随季节的变化逐渐减少,C、N、P化学计量比随季节的变化规律也不尽相同。对芦苇C、N、P含量及其化学计量比整体变异来源分析显示,生长季节的变化对芦苇C、P、C∶N、C∶P变化的贡献大于器官间差异,器官间差异对芦苇N、N∶P变化的贡献大于生长季节的变化;说明芦苇生长发育过程中各生长季各器官对元素的吸收利用具有特异性。结合N、P元素含量及N∶P值的大小可知,研究区芦苇生长受到N、P共同限制,且更易受N元素的限制。     

Ethics, Economics, and Aids in Africa

AIDS in the Twenty-First Century: Disease and Globalization , by Tony Barnett and Alan Whiteside. New York: Palgrave Macmillan. 2002. 416 pp. US$19.95 (paperback)
The Moral Economy of AIDS in South Africa , by Nicoli Nattrass. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press. 2004. 222 pp. US$30.00 (paperback)     

Ontogeny, diet shifts, and nutrient stoichiometry in fish

Most stoichiometric models do not consider the importance of ontogenetic changes in body nutrient composition and excretion rates. We quantified ontogenetic variation in stoichiometry and diet in gizzard shad, Dorosoma cepedianum , an omnivorous fish with a pronounced ontogenetic diet shift; and zebrafish, Danio rerio, grown in the lab with a constant diet. In both species, body stoichiometry varied considerably along the life cycle. Larval gizzard shad and zebrafish had higher molar C:P and N:P ratios than larger fish. Variation in body nutrient ratios was driven mainly by body P, which increased with size. Gizzard shad body calcium content was highly correlated with P content, indicating that ontogenetic P variation is associated with bone formation. Similar trends in body stoichiometry of zebrafish, grown under constant diet in the laboratory, suggest that ontogeny (e.g. bone formation) and not diet shift is the main factor affecting fish body stoichiometry in larval and juvenile stages. The N:P ratio of nutrient excretion also varied ontogenetically in gizzard shad, but the decline from larvae to juveniles appears to be largely associated with variation in the N:P of alternative food resources (zooplankton vs detritus) rather than by fish body N:P. Furthermore, the N:P ratio of larval gizzard shad excretion appears to be driven more by the N:P ratio at which individuals allocate nutrients to growth, more so than static body N:P, further illustrating the need to consider ontogenetic variation. Our results thus show that fish exhibit considerable ontogenetic variation in body stoichiometry, driven by an inherent increase in the relative allocation of P to bones, whereas ontogenetic variation in excretion N:P ratio of gizzard shad is driven more by variation in food N:P than by body N:P.     

Gender, Death, and Memory in Greece

New Voices in the Nation: Women and the Greek Resistance, 1941-1964. Janet Hart
Fragments of Death, Fables of Identity: An Athenian Anthropography. Neni Panourgia. Madison     

The content of troponin, tropomyosin, actin, and myosin in rabbit skeletal muscle myofibrils

A stacking sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis system has been used to resolve and quantify all the major myofibrillar protein components (actin, myosin, tropomyosin, and troponin C, T, and I). Quantification was achieved by densitometry of the fast green-stained gels calibrated with the use of purified proteins. The approximate molar ratios of these proteins in rabbit muscle are: actin: myosin: tropomyosin: troponin T: troponin I: troponin C = 7:1:1:1:1:1. On the basis of these results and available structural information one obtains an estimate of 254 myosin molecules per thick filament.     

Time-Dependent Variations in the Coagulation Factors II, VII, IX, and X in Young and Elderly Volunteers

The existence of circadian (24-h) rhythms in the coagulation activity of vitamin K-dependent coagulation factors (Factors II, VII, IX, and X) were studied in six healthy young (18-30 years old) and six healthy elderly (69-75 years old) men. Aliquots of 5 ml of blood were obtained from each of the 12 subjects at six different time points over a 24-h period. Factors II, VII, and X were quantified by the prothrombin time test, whereas Factor IX was analyzed by the activated partial thromboplastin time test. Significant circadian variations were found for Factors II and VII in both age groups. The peak and trough values for Factor II were observed at 16: 00 and 00: 00 in young men and at 12: 00 and 16: 00 in elderly men. The amplitude of the rhythmic variation of Factor II was 3.3 ± 1.0 and 4.2 ± 0.9% in young and elderly volunteers, respectively. For Factor VII, the highest values were found during the activity period (08: 00-16: 00), while the lowest values occurred at night (00: 00) for both groups of subjects. The amplitude of the rhythms was twice as large in the young (6.2 ± 2.3%) as in the elderly (3.7 ± 0.8%). The data suggest that age does not alter significantly the chronobiology of Factors II and VII.     

Drugs, Violence, and Moral Panic in Urban America

Beggars and Thieves: Lives of Urban Street Criminals. Mark S. Pleisher. Madison: University of Wisconsin Press, 1995. 332 pp.
Life in the Gang: Family, Friends, and Violence. Scott H. Decker and Barrik Van Winkle. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1996. 303 pp.     

Comparison of estrogen concentrations, estrone sulfatase and aromatase activities in normal, and in cancerous, human breast tissues

In the present study, the concentrations of estrone (E(1)), estradiol (E(2)) and their sulfates (E(1)S and E(2)S), as well as the sulfatase and aromatase activities, were evaluated in post-menopausal patients with breast cancer. Comparative studies of the evaluation of these parameters were carried out in (a) tumor tissue, (b) areas surrounding the tumor, and (c) areas distant from the tumor (glandular tissue) which were considered as normal tissue. The levels (in pm/g; mean +/- SEM) were: for E(1) in the (a) area: 320+/-95; in (b): 232+/-86; and in (c): 203+/-71; for E(2) in the (a) area: 388+/-106; in (b): 224+/-48; and in (c): 172+/-80; for E(1)S in the (a) area: 454+/-110; in (b): 259+/-90; and in (c): 237+/-65; for E(2)S in the (a) area:318+/-67; in (b): 261+/-72; and in (c): 232+/-75, respectively. The values of E(1)S and E(2) were significantly higher in the tumor tissue than in the area considered as normal. In all the tissues studied, the sulfatase activity was much higher than aromatase (130-200). In addition, the sulfatase levels were significantly higher in the peripheral and in the tumor tissue than in the area considered as normal. The levels of aromatase were significantly higher in tumoral than in normal tissue. The present data extend the "intracrine concept" for breast cancer tumors. The physiopathology and clinical significance as promoter parameters in breast cancer is to be explored.