2000—2010年我国重点生态功能区生态系统变化状况

分析了2000—2010年我国水源涵养型、水土保持型、防风固沙型、生物多样性维护型重点生态功能区的生态系统结构、质量与核心服务的变化.结果表明: 近11年来,水源涵养型重点生态功能区的森林、草地面积减少,水体与湿的面积增加,森林、草地、湿地生态系统水源涵养总量增加了2.9%,该类区域需要遏制森林、草地的减少趋势.水土保持型重点生态功能区的农田面积减少,而森林、草地、水体与湿地的面积增加,土壤侵蚀总量减少了28.2%,生态系统土壤保持总量增加了38.1%.防风固沙型重点生态功能区的农田、森林面积增加,草地、水体与湿地的面积减少,单位面积土壤风蚀量下降,单位面积防风固沙服务量有所提升,该类区域多位于干旱半干旱区,需要减少农田面积,优先保护原有生态系统.生物多样性维护型重点生态功能区的草地、荒漠面积减少,其他类型的面积有所增加,人类扰动呈现微弱的上升趋势,该类区域需要减少人类干扰.重点生态功能区应该针对核心服务和保护目标,分类分区开展生态系统保护、改善及其效果的定量综合评估.     

辽宁省生物多样性保护优先区识别

生物多样性保护优先区是我国为加强生物多样性保护划定的重要区域,辽宁省境内目前并无此类优先区,弥补相关缺失具有重要意义。本研究通过对生态系统保护、人类影响和生物多样性保护区划3个准则层7个指标进行计算,依次获得辽宁省生物多样性保护优先区指标值、准则层值和优先区识别综合值,结合辽宁省县(市)行政边界和自然保护区边界数据,确定了辽宁西部和东部生物多样性保护优先区的建议地域范围。其中,辽宁西部生物多样性保护优先区面积为12951 km²,森林覆盖率为53.6%,包括9个省级以上自然保护区,以水土保持作为区域重要生态功能;辽宁东部生物多样性保护优先区面积为20057 km²,森林覆盖率为78.9%,包括8个省级以上自然保护区,以水源涵养作为区域重要生态功能。上述优先区是国家和省级保护物种的集中分布区,也是辽宁省重要生态系统的分布区,亟待开展生物多样性保护工作。     

中国森林生物多样性监测: 科学基础与执行计划

中国森林生物多样性保护和恢复措施的制订依赖于生物多样性的监测信息。设计一个有效的生物多样性监测网络是一项复杂的系统工程。监测网络的设计框架可分为监测目标、监测对象、监测指标、取样策略、数据采集和处理、网络维护以及组织工作等几个部分。目前, 国际上已有5个得到广泛认可的生物多样性监测网络, 包括地球观测组织-生物多样性监测网络、全球森林监测网络、热带生态评估与监测网络、泛欧洲森林监测网络和亚马逊森林清查网络, 它们的监测目标、监测内容和方法、样地布局及部分监测成果各有特色。我们试图在全国生物多样性监测、森林资源清查和森林生态系统定位研究的基础上, 通过网络布局、建设和运行, 形成中国森林生物多样性监测网(Chinese Forest Biodiversity Monitoring Network, Sino BON-CForBio)及其监测规范体系。该网络的科学目标是, 在全国尺度上研究不同典型地带性森林的生物多样性维持机制、监测森林生物多样性变化并阐明其机理、研究生物多样性变化的效应。该网络布局以《中国植被区划》中的森林植被区划成果作为顶层设计和监测样地选择的核心依据, 设计了4个层级的监测系统; 其监测指标体系以生物多样性核心指标为主, 并结合我国传统森林群落调查方法进行拓展; 预期建成国家水平上的森林生物多样性监测网络, 阐明森林生物多样性维持机制和生物多样性变化的效应, 同时对重大生态保护工程的生物多样性保护效果进行有效性监测和验证型监测。     

国家重点生态功能区2010-2015年生态系统服务价值变化评估

国家重点生态功能区是国家重要的生态安全屏障,其生态保护价值对维护国家生态安全具有重要意义。基于单位面积价值当量因子的生态系统服务价值化方法,采用模型运算和地理信息空间分析,定量分析了25个国家重点生态功能区在实施转移支付后（2010-2015年）生态系统服务价值的时空分布格局及其变化特征。研究结果表明：（1）2015年,全国重点生态功能区生态系统服务价值呈现明显的"西北低,东南高"的分布格局。从25个重点生态功能区来看,中高值区的面积占比31.60%,个数占比60%。4类自然生态功能区的生态系统服务价值大小排序为水土保持型功能区 > 生物多样性维护型功能区 > 水源涵养型功能区 > 防风固沙型功能区。（2）2010-2015年,全国重点生态功能区的生态系统服务价值整体呈明显增加趋势,增幅为16.46%。从空间分布来看,80.14%面积的生态系统服务价值基本持衡;从分级变化特征来看,高值区、较高值区的面积增加,中值区面积减少,较低值区面积增加,低值区面积减少。（3）近5年来,25个重点生态功能区的生态系统服务价值呈增加的有21个,占比84%,而生态系统服务价值出现减少区域的变化幅度均小于1%;4类自然生态功能区生态系统服务价值均呈增加趋势,其变化幅度从高到低依次为水土保持生态功能区（1.44%） > 水源涵养生态功能区（0.22%） > 防风固沙生态功能区（0.21%） > 生物多样性生态功能区（0.08%）。生态系统服务价值整体呈上升趋势,反映出生态保护与工程建设成效明显。本文研究成果可为分类分区开展生态系统保护、改善及其效果的定量综合评估提供科学依据,为重点生态功能区管理和国家生态安全格局的构建提供有效参考依据。     

泰山森林生态系统服务功能及其价值评估

森林在给人类带来经济效益的同时,也带来了巨大的生态效益。随着经济社会的发展,人们越来越多地关注森林的生态效益。以泰山森林生态系统为研究对象,依据林业行业标准《森林生态系统服务功能评估规范》,从涵养水源、保育土壤、林木营养物质积累、固碳制氧、保护生物多样性、净化大气环境及森林防护7个方面对泰山森林生态系统的生态服务功能进行了定量评估,得出泰山森林生态系统每年的生态服务价值量为18214.97万元,以涵养水源(10376.84万元/a)、生物多样性保护(3796万元/a)和固碳制氧(2736.38万元/a)价值为主;泰山森林生态系统中松栎林的生态服务价值相对高于其他林种的,尤其是以侧柏林为最高;从不同林龄的角度进行评估,泰山森林生态服务价值以中龄林为主,占到生态服务价值总量的35%,过熟林的生态价值总量虽然排在最后,但其单位面积的价值量最高。     

湖北省优先保护森林生态系统的分布及其保护空缺分析

基于湖北省生物多样性数据调查,以湖北省优势生态系统、特殊生态系统、特有生态系统、物种丰富度高的生态系统和特殊生境等5项指标作为评价准则,在咨询专家的基础上,借助GIS分析工具,综合分析了湖北省森林生态系统类型及分布特点。结果表明,湖北省共有261类森林生态系统类型(以群系为单位),其中有75类需要优先保护,并据此提出了湖北省优先保护森林生态系统的优先保护地区;另外,通过综合分析湖北省自然保护区的分布特点,得出湖北省优先保护森林生态系统目前所存在的保护空缺。优先保护地区可作为湖北省森林生态系统优先保护的重点地区,而空缺分析研究结果对于合理布局湖北省森林生态系统自然保护区、提高湖北省生物多样性保护的有效性具有重要参考价值。     

国家生态保护重要区域植被长势遥感监测评估

国家生态保护重要区域植被长势对于维持区域生态系统结构和功能的稳定性至关重要.以国家重点生态功能区、国家重要生态功能区、国家生物多样性保护优先区和国家级自然保护区等四类生态保护重要区域为研究区,选取年累积NDVI作为指示因子,监测评估了1998-2007年间国家生态保护重要区域的植被长势特征.结果表明:(1)国家生态保护重要区域总面积为536.59万km2,占全国陆地国土面积的55.89％.国家生物多样性保护优先区与国家重点生态功能区、国家重要生态功能区的重叠面积较大,分别占到相应生态功能区总面积的53.36％和50.20％.国家级自然保护区与其他三种类型区域的空间叠加关系较好,尤其与国家重点生态功能区,重叠面积占国家级自然保护区总面积的75.10％.国家重点生态功能区和国家重要生态功能区的重叠面积分别占各自面积的63.73％和39.15％.(2)对于植被长势总体状况,国家生态保护重要区域中东部的植被状况好于西部.植被状况较差的区域面积为10.59％,植被状况一般的区域面积为29.59％,植被状况好的区域面积为23.44％,植被状况较好的区域面积为36.39％.国家级自然保护区和生物多样性保护优优先区的植被状况好于国家重要生态功能区和国家重点生态功能区.国家级自然保护区的空间分布差异最大.(3)对于植被长势变化趋势,国家生态保护重要区域的植被状况整体呈现出变好趋势.62.39％区域面积的植被状况较为稳定,22.69％区域面积的植被状况呈现出变好趋势,14.93％区域面积的植被状况呈现出变差趋势.国家重要生态功能区的植被变好趋势最为明显,其次为国家生物多样性保护优先区.国家生物多样性保护优先区的植被变化趋势空间差异最大,国家级自然保护区的植被变化趋势空间差异最小.     

海洋生物多样性保护优先区域的确定

为了有效利用资源和资金,合理保护海洋生物多样性,海洋生物多样性保护优先区域的确定成为目前保护生物学领域的热点之一.本文首先探讨了生物多样性保护优先区域的定义和内涵,认为海洋生物多样性保护优先区域是指生物多样性丰富、物种特有化程度高、珍稀濒危物种分布集中、具有重要生态功能和过程的海洋区域.其次对保护优先区域确定的内容和方法进行了总结,主要包括单元区划、指标体系的构建及保护优先区域评估3个方面.继而根据我国海洋生物多样性现状提出保护优先区域确定的基本思路,即在海洋生物地理分区的基础上,根据物种和生境的生物多样性指标确定保护优先区域.最后针对存在问题提出建议,包括运用生物地理学方法进行单元区划、基于物种和生态系统的方法构建生物学指标以及信息网络数据库的构建等.     

辽宁省森林生态系统服务价值评估

基于森林生态系统的长期、连续定位观测,采用辽宁省2006年森林资源清查数据,利用中华人民共和国林业行业标准《森林生态系统服务功能评估规范(LY/T1721—2008)》对辽宁省14个地市的主要植被类型生态系统功能进行了物质量和价值量评估.结果表明:2006年,辽宁省森林生态系统水源涵养、保育土壤、固碳制氧、营养物质积累、净化环境、生物多样性保护、森林游憩所提供的服务价值为2591.72亿元,分别为同年辽宁省林业总产值和同年辽宁省国内生产总值(GDP)的8.54倍和28.02%;涵养水源、生物多样性保护和固碳释氧价值合计占总服务价值的79.09%,是辽宁省森林主要的生态系统服务功能;经济林、灌木林的单位面积生态系统服务价值较小,但面积较大,其总生态系统服务价值不容忽视;冷杉林、水曲柳林、黄波罗林和核桃楸林是辽宁省典型地带性植被,具有较高的生物多样性价值;受气候等因素的影响,辽宁省西部森林面积及森林质量均低于东部.     

基于不可替代性的青海省三江源地区保护区功能区划研究

具有代表性、灵活性、综合性的保护区功能区划指标是决定区域划分合理与否的关键因素。不可替代性是近年来引入生物多样性保护规划的新概念,表达一个规划单元在实现整体保护目标中的重要性,能够反映生物多样性保护价值的空间分异规律,将其与人类活动干扰指数结合,可以在划分不同值域与功能分区之间建立联系。在系统保护规划框架下,首先根据三江源生物多样性特征确定了研究区域的指示物种和优先保护生态系统,然后结合物种生境特性,利用地理信息系统（GIS）技术进行了指示物种潜在分布范围预测,最后借助生物多样性保护规划软件（C-Plan）计算了三江源地区不可替代性指数,结合人类活动干扰进行了功能区划分,并对比了现有功能区划与新功能区划的贡献率。研究结果表明,不可替代性较高区域与原核心区空间分布基本一致（包括东部中铁、军功、麦秀森林灌丛区;西部索加、曲麻莱湖泊湿地区,高寒草甸区;北部扎陵湖、鄂陵湖、星星海湿地区;及南部玉树、囊谦森林灌丛区,当曲沼泽湿地区）;在保护区总面积未增加条件下,基于不可替代性的新功能区划较原功能区划的保护贡献率及保护效率有显著提高,核心区保护贡献率由61.20%增长到71.21%,新核心区 缓冲区总贡献率由77.57%增长到92.45%,保护区整体贡献率由91.20%增长到95.40%;从保护对象被保护情况看,新功能区划与原功能区划均能完全涵盖所有保护对象,但新功能区所包含的满足保护目标的保护对象明显增多,原功能区核心区,核心区 缓冲区,核心区 缓冲区 实验区完全实现目标的保护对象分别占27.50%,47.50%和80%,新功能区分别为32.50%,77.50%和87.50%（新功能区划下,只有苔草草甸、冰川雪山、湖泊3种生态系统类型和盘羊、黑颈鹤两个动物物种未达到保护目标）。在本研究基础上,讨论了该研究的意义、方法评价及现实问题,并提出三江源自然保护区功能区划调整建议：1）结合实际情况,基于不可替代性和人类活动的功能区划对现功能区划进行适当调整以增加保护区的保护贡献率;2）对于缓冲区中保护价值较高、人类活动干扰又较强的区域应进行严格的管理,制定完善的管理策略,避免因人类活动引起生物多样性丧失;3）鉴于当地经济发展需求,可以考虑在本研究确定的实验区及其外围开展水电站与矿产开发项目,但必须考虑开发项目对周围水域、植被及居民的影响。以期为三江源自然保护区功能区划的调整及资源开发提供参考,对三江源生物多样性的保护具有重要意义。     

Distribution of N,P, K,Ca, Mg,S, Zn,Fe, Mn and Cu in groundnut

Summary Concentration of N, P, K, Ca, Mg and S in summer groundnut crop was higher than in kharif while Zn, Fe, Mn and Cu contents were higher in summer crop. Kernel's N, P and Zn; Leaflet's Ca and Mn; Stem's K and Fe; Root's S and Cu and Petiole's Mg contents were highest. Shell's N, P, K, Mg, S, Zn and Cu; Kernel's Ca, Fe and Mn contents were the least. N, P, K, S, Zn and Cu concentrations decreased linearly as the crop grew. Ca, Mg, Fe and Mn concentrations did not display any distinct pattern. Ca concentration was positively correlated with pod yield in both the seasons.     

Simultaneous measurement of the trace elements Al, As, B, Be, Cd, Co, Cu, Fe, Li, Mn, Mo, Ni, Rb, Se, Sr, and Zn in human serum and their reference ranges by ICP-MS

The goal of this article was to establish reference ranges of the concentration of trace elements in human serum and to compare these results with those reported by other authors. We describe the sample preparation and measurement conditions that allow the rapid, precise, and accurate determination of Al, As, B, Be, Cd, Co, Cu, Fe, Li, Mn, Mo, Ni, Rb, Se, Sr, and Zn in human serum samples (n=110) by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Accuracy and precision were determined by analyzing three reconstituted reference serum samples by comparison with other methods and by the standard addition procedure. The advantages of the ICP-MS method include short time of analysis of the elements mentioned, low detection limit, high precision, and high accuracy. Disadventages include a high risk of contamination due to the presence of some of the elements of interest in the environment, the relatively delicate sample handling, and the high cost of the equipment.     

Reference values for the concentrations of As,Cd, Co,Cr, Cu,Fe, I,Hg, Mn,Mo, Ni,Pb, Se,and Zn in selected human tissues and body fluids

This report attempts to formulate reference ranges of elemental concentrations for 15 trace elements in selected human tissues and body fluids. A set of samples consisting of whole blood, blood serum, urine, milk, liver, and hair were chosen and considered for 15 elements of biological significance: As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, F, Fe, I, Hg, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, Se, and Zn. The results represent wholly or partially data received from 40 countries of the global regions of Africa, Asia, Europe, North, South, and Central America, Australia, and New Zealand. This survey, even if qualitative, has been useful in demonstrating certain trends of trace-element scenarios around the world. It is of course recognized that both diet and environment exert a strong influence on the distribution pattern of several elements, such as As, Cd, Mn, Pb, Se, and Zn. A limited comparison of the available information on soil status of different countries reflected some interesting associations for elements, such as Mn and Zn. Importantly, this study revealed that only a few countries were in a position to identify a reasonable amount of data on samples requested for this project. Regretably, for a number of countries, any dependable data for even such essential elements as Cu, Fe, and Zn were not available. In view of the nutritional importance of many elements, the time is ripe for concerted efforts by intergovernmental agencies to initiate investigations or commission task forces/projects to generate reliable reference data for selected global regions, which sadly lack data of any kind at present.     

Monovalent Cation Permeation through the Connexin40 Gap Junction Channel : Cs,Rb, K,Na, Li,TEA, TMA,TBA, and Effects of Anions Br,Cl, F,Acetate, Aspartate,Glutamate, and NO3

The unitary conductances and permeability sequences of the rat connexin40 (rCx40) gap junction channels to seven monovalent cations and anions were studied in rCx40-transfected neuroblastoma 2A (N2A) cell pairs using the dual whole cell recording technique. Chloride salt cation substitutions (115 mM principal salt) resulted in the following junctional maximal single channel current-voltage relationship slope conductances (γ_j in pS): CsCl (153), RbCl (148), KCl (142), NaCl (115), LiCl (86), TMACl (71), TEACl (63). Reversible block of the rCx40 channel was observed with TBA. Potassium anion salt γ_j are: Kglutamate (160), Kacetate (160), Kaspartate (158), KNO₃ (157), KF (148), KCl (142), and KBr (132). Ion selectivity was verified by measuring reversal potentials for current in rCx40 gap junction channels with asymmetric salt solutions in the two electrodes and using the Goldman-Hodgkin-Katz equation to calculate relative permeabilities. The permeabilities relative to Li⁺ are: Cs⁺ (1.38), Rb⁺ (1.32), K⁺ (1.31), Na⁺ (1.16), TMA⁺ (0.53), TEA⁺ (0.45), TBA⁺ (0.03), Cl⁻ (0.19), glutamate⁻ (0.04), and NO₃− (0.14), assuming that the monovalent anions permeate the channel by forming ion pairs with permeant monovalent cations within the pore thereby causing proportionate decreases in the channel conductance. This hypothesis can account for why the predicted increasing conductances with increasing ion mobilities in an essentially aqueous channel were not observed for anions in the rCx40 channel. The rCx40 effective channel radius is estimated to be 6.6 Å from a theoretical fit of the relationship of relative permeability and cation radius.     

Crystal structure, detonation performance, and thermal stability of a new polynitro cage compound: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 13, 14, 15-nonanitro-2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 13, 14, 15-nonaazaheptacyclo [5.5.1.13, 11. 15, 9] pentadecane

A new polynitro cage compound 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 13, 14, 15-nonanitro-2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 13, 14, 15-nonaazaheptcyclo [5.5.1.1(3,11).1(5,9)] pentadecane (NNNAHP) was designed in the present work. Its molecular structure was optimized at the B3LYP/6-31 G(d,p) level of density functional theory (DFT) and crystal structure was predicted using the Compass and Dreiding force fields and refined by DFT GGA-RPBE method. The obtained crystal structure of NNNAHP belongs to the P-1 space group and the lattice parameters are a = 9.99 ?, b = 10.78 ?, c = 9.99 ?, α = 90.01°, β = 120.01°, γ = 90.00°, and Z = 2, respectively. Based on the optimized crystal structure, the band gap, density of state, thermodynamic properties, infrared spectrum, strain energy, detonation characteristics, and thermal stability were predicted. Calculation results show that NNNAHP has detonation properties close to those of CL-20 and is a high energy density compound with moderate stability.     

Reliability of Analyses of Hg,Fe, Ca,K, P,pH, Alkalinity,Conductivity, Hardness and Colour from Lakes

The aim of this report has been to present results concerning analytical quality controls of Hg analysis of fish and sediment, analyses of Fe, Ca, total-P, K, pH, alkalinity, conductivity, colour and hardness (Ca + Mg) of lake water samples. Despite the fact that these are standard parameters in many regular water control programs, there are major differences in the reliability with which these parameters can be determined. The focus here is on an overall inter-laboratory comparison between the parameters. Six laboratories have been involved in the analysis. Selected results: pH gives the lowest (average) relative standard deviation (error), about 2 %; conductivity gives an error of about 5–7 %; alkalinity yields an average error of as much as 13–25 %, which is the largest among the parameters studied here; colour also gives a high error, 9–15 %; hardness gives a relative standard deviation of about 6–7 %. Of the other parameters (i. e., Hg, Fe, Ca and P), Hg gives the best reliability and Fe and P the lowest. To have knowledge of the reliability of the analytical data is of paramount importance in most control programs and research projects.     

Competitive inhibition and selectivity enhancement by Ca in the uptake of inorganic elements (Be, Na, Mg, K, Ca, Sc, Mn, Co, Zn, Se, Rb, Sr, Y, Zr, Ce, Pm, Gd, Hf) by carrot (Daucus carota cv. U.S. harumakigosun)

We investigated the uptake of inorganic elements (Be, Na, Mg, K, Ca, Sc, Mn, Co, Zn, Se, Rb, Sr, Y, Zr, Ce, Pm, Gd, and Hf) and the effect of Ca on their uptake in carrots (Daucus carota cv. U.S. harumakigosun) by the radioactive multitracer technique. The experimental results suggested that Na, Mg, K, and Rb competed for the functional groups outside the cells in roots with Ca but not for the transporter-binding sites on the plasma membrrane of the root cortex cells. In contrast, Y, Ce, Pm, and Gd competed with Ca for the transporters on the plasma membrane. The selectivity, which was defined as the value obtained by dividing the concentration ratio of an elemental pair, K/Na, Rb/Na, Be/Sr, and Mg/Sr, in the presence of 0.2 and 2 ppm Ca by that of the corresponding elemental pair in the absence of Ca in the solution was estimated. The selectivity of K and Rb in roots was increased in the presence of Ca. The selectivity of Be in roots was not affected, whereas the selectivity of Mg was increased by Ca. These observations suggest that the presence of Ca in the uptake solution enhances the selectivity in the uptake of metabolically important elements against unwanted elements.     

Relations of the Al,B, Ba,Br, Ca,Cl, Cu,Fe, K,Li, Mg,Mn, Na,P, S,Si, Sr,and Zn mass fractions to morphometric parameters in pediatric and nonhyperplastic young adult prostate glands

The variation with age of the 18 trace element mass fractions and some histological characteristics of intact prostate glands of 50 subjects aged 0–30 years was investigated by instrumental neutron activation analysis, inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry, and a quantitative morphometric analysis. Mean values ± standard error of the mean (M ± SΕΜ) for the mass fractions (in milligrams per kilogram wet tissue) of these trace elements in pre-puberty were: Al 28.5 ± 9.0, B 0.40 ± 0.11, Ba 1.48 ± 0.44, Br 10.5 ± 1.5, Ca 241 ± 30, Cl 3,203 ± 278, Cu 3.51 ± 0.89, Fe 33.7 ± 4.1, K 2,364 ± 145, Li 0.020 ± 0.004, Mg 153 ± 23, Mn 0.46 ± 0.06, Na 2,286 ± 130, P 1,391 ± 100, S 1,698 ± 132, Si 62 ± 11, Sr 0.38 ± 0.08, and Zn 27.6 ± 2.3. During puberty and postpuberty, when there is a significant increase in circulating androgens, the mean values were: Al 7.2 ± 1.4, B 0.21 ± 0.05, Ba 0.25 ± 0.06, Br 5.8 ± 1.0, Ca 433 ± 81, Cl 2,314 ± 201, Cu 1.77 ± 0.13, Fe 20.9 ± 1.6, K 2,585 ± 118, Li 0.0088 ± 0.0014, Mg 232 ± 27, Mn 0.34 ± 0.04, Na 1,875 ± 107, P 1,403 ± 98, S 1,673 ± 73, Si 22.2 ± 3.1, Sr 0.22 ± 0.03, and Zn 93.3 ± 8.9. Mean values (M ± SΕΜ) of percent volumes (%) of the stroma, epithelium and lumen in the prostate before puberty were 73.4 ± 2.6, 20.4 ± 1.7, and 4.45 ± 0.94, respectively, versus 46.5 ± 2.5, 38.5 ± 1.9, and 14.9 ± 1.2 during puberty and postpuberty. This work’s results confirm that the Zn mass fraction in prostate tissue is an androgen-dependent parameter. For the first time it has been demonstrated that the glandular lumen is a main pool of Ca, Mg, and Zn accumulation and that the stroma is a main pool of Al, B, Ba, Br, Cl, Cu, Fe, Mn, Na, and Si accumulation in the normal human prostate, for the age range 0–30 years. It was concluded that the Ca, Mg, and Zn binds tightly within the prostatic fluid, because the volume of glandular lumen reflects the volume of prostatic fluid.     

The Effect of Age and Gender on Al, B, Ba, Ca, Cu, Fe, K, Li, Mg, Mn, Na, P, S, Sr, V, and Zn Contents in Rib Bone of Healthy Humans

The effect of age and gender on major, minor, and trace element contents in the intact rib bone of 80 relatively healthy 15–55-year-old women and men was investigated. Contents or upper limit of contents of 16 chemical elements in the rib bone were determined by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES). Mean values (M?±?SΕΜ) for the mass fraction of Ba, Ca, Cu, Fe, K, Li, Mg, Na, P, S, Sr, and Zn (milligram per kilogram of dry bone) were as follows: 2.54?±?0.16, 171,400?±?4,050, 1.35?±?0.22, 140?±?11, 1,874?±?71, 0.049?±?0.011, 2,139?±?38, 5,378?±?88, 75,140?±?1,660, 1,881?±?51, 291?±?20, and 92.8?±?1.5, respectively. The upper limits of contents of Al, B, Mn, and V were <7.20, <0.65, <0.36, and <0.03, respectively. Statistically significant tendency for the Ca, Mg, and P content to decrease with age was found in the human rib bone, regardless of gender. The mass fraction of Fe in the male rib bone increases with age. It was shown that higher Ca, Mg, Na, P, and Sr mass fractions as well as lower Fe content were typical of female ribs as compared to those in male ribs.