神农架南坡植物群落多样性的海拔梯度格局

神农架南坡在我国植被区划中具有十分重要的意义。在神农架南坡沿海拔梯度设置50个样方进行植物物种多样性调查,通过对样方的数量分类和DCA排序,结合物种丰富度、区系分化强度、区系成分和生活型构成等方面的分析,研究神农架南坡植物物种多样性的垂直格局。结果表明：(1)神农架南坡的植被垂直带谱为：海拔900—1000m以下为常绿阔叶林;1000-1700m为常绿落叶阔叶混交林;1600—2100m为落叶阔叶林;海拔2000—2400m为针阔叶混交林;海拔2300m以上为暗针叶林。(2)植被基带群落中,在物种数量、区系成分和重要值方面,常绿和落叶阔叶树种所占的比例都相差无几。(3)植物多样性的垂直格局基本符合“单峰”模式。峰值出现在海拔1400—1500m;但混交林类型的多样性和区系分化强度较高。(4)在植物区系中,温带成分处于主导地位;世界广布属的比例随海拔上升而增加;而中国特有属仅见于海拔2000m以下。亚热带成分和东亚区域性区系成分都随海拔上升而减少,峰值都位于山地常绿落叶阔叶混交林。(5)蕨类植物丰富度随海拔上升而减小;草本植物丰富度与海拔高度之间没有呈现显著的相关关系;木本植物丰富度总体沿海拔梯度减少,但峰椎处于常绿落叶阔叶林带。针阔混交林样方的平均木本物种数也超过落叶阔叶林带。     

贡嘎山地区主要植被类型的分布

贡嘎山位于青藏高原东南缘横断山系大雪山脉中段,主峰海拔高7556m。该地区有维管束植物185科,869属,约2500种。其植物区系特点为：区系成分起源古老;物种分化显著,特有种丰富;成分复杂,地理替代明显。贡嘎山主要植被类型有：冷杉、云杉组成的亚高山针叶林;松、铁杉组成的中山针叶林;松、杉、柏、油杉组成的低山针叶林;铁杉、桦木、槭树组成的针叶,阔叶混交林;樟、楠、阔楠、石栎,青冈等组成的常绿阔叶林;栎、桦、槭、杨、桤等组成的落叶阔叶林;高山栎类组成的硬叶常绿阔叶林;杜鹃、柳、圆柏等组成的高山灌丛;仙人掌(Opuntia monacantha)、金合欢、羊蹄甲等组成的河谷灌丛;嵩草(Kobresia)、羊茅(Festuca ovina), 韭和风毛菊、绢毛菊、绵参(Eriophyton wallichii)等组成的高山草甸与高山流石滩稀疏植被。贡嘎山地区水平地带性植被为常绿阔叶林,它兼有我国亚热带东部和西部常绿阔叶林的特点。 贡嘎山东坡植被垂直带谱是：1．常绿阔叶林带,海拔1100—2200m。2．山地针叶、阔叶混交林带,2200—2500m。3．亚高山针叶林带,2500—3600m。4．高山灌丛草甸带,2600—4600m。5．高山流石滩稀疏植被带,4600—4900m。6．永久冰雪带,海拔4900m以上。贡嘎山西坡植被垂直带谱是：1．亚高山针叶林带,海拔2800一4000m。2．高山灌丛草甸带,4000—4800m。3．高山流右滩稀疏植被带,4800—5100m。4．永久冰雪带,海拔5100m以上。     

云南中部无量山黑长臂猿(Nomascus concolor jingdongensis)栖息地乔木层物种多样性和结构特征

无量山是黑长臂猿景东亚种的唯一分布区,现栖息着98群500余只黑长臂猿。长臂猿是典型的树栖性灵长类动物,通过对无量山西坡大寨子地区250个样方的调查,分析了随海拔梯度升高,黑长臂猿栖息地植被乔木层物种多样性和结构的变化情况。共记录乔木111种,隶属于33科;木质藤本23种,隶属于18科。其中优势科主要有樟科(Lauraceae)、木兰科(Magnoliaceae)、壳斗科(Fagaceae)、山茶科(Theaceae)和杜鹃花科(Ericaceae)。根据不同海拔乔木层物种组成的差异,该区可划分为半湿润常绿阔叶林(2100~2300m)和中山湿性常绿阔叶林(2400~2600m)两种植被类型。多样性指数(Shannon-Wiener指数)随海拔升高在两种植被类型中均呈下降趋势;均匀度指数(Pielou指数)在半湿润常绿阔叶林中呈下降趋势,在中山湿性常绿阔叶林中无明显变化。半湿润常绿阔叶林中,阳坡的乔木物种多样性低于阴坡;而阳坡物种多样性在两种植被类型间差异显著。随着海拔的升高,乔木层的平均高度和上层乔木(Ⅰ层)的比例均逐渐降低,但下层乔木却呈上升趋势。6种优势乔木树种的种群年龄结构分析表明,该区植被的乔木层呈现稳定增长的趋势。     

贡嘎山地区主要植被类型和分布

贡嘎山位于青藏高原东南缘横断山系大雪山脉中段,主峰海拔高7556m。该地区有维管束植物185科,869属,约2500种。其植物区系特点为:区系成分起源古老;物种分化显著,特有种丰富;成分复杂,地理替代明显。贡嘎山主要植被类型有:冷杉、云杉组成的亚高山针叶林;松、铁杉组成的中山针叶林;松、杉、柏、油杉组成的低山针叶林;铁杉、桦木、槭树组成的针叶、阔叶混交林;樟、楠、阔楠、石栎、青冈等组成的常绿阔叶林;栎、桦、槭、杨、桤等组成的落叶阔叶林;高山栎类组成的硬叶常绿阔叶林;杜鹃、柳、圆柏等组成的高山灌丛;仙人掌(Opuntia monacantha)、金合欢、羊蹄甲等组成的河谷灌丛;嵩草(Kobresia)、羊茅(Festuca ovina)、韭和风毛菊、绢毛菊、绵参(Eriophyton wallichii)等组成的高山草甸与高山流石滩稀疏植被。贡嘎山地区水平地带性植被为常绿阔叶林,它兼有我国亚热带东部和西部常绿阔叶林的特点。贡嘎山东坡植被垂直带谱是:1.常绿阔叶林带,海拔1100—2200m。2.山地针叶、阔叶混交林带,2200—2500m。3.亚高山针叶林带,2500—3600m。4.高山灌丛草甸带,3600—4600m。5.高山流石滩稀疏植被带,4600—4900m。6.永久冰雪带,海拔4900m以上。贡嘎山西坡植被垂直带谱是:1.亚高山针叶林带,海拔2800—4000m。2.高山灌丛草甸带,4000—4800m。3.高山流石滩稀疏植被带,4800—5100m。4.永久冰雪带,海拔5100m以上。     

广西猫儿山植物群落物种组成、群落结构及树种多样性的垂直分布格局

沿海拔梯度设置16个样地,对广西猫儿山植物群落物种多样性的垂直分布格局进行了初步研究。结果表明：(1)16个样地中共调查到乔木44科79属184种,其中常绿阔叶树121种、落叶阔叶树61种、针叶树2种;(2)随着海拔的上升,整个乔木层以及不同生活型的最大树高均呈显著下降趋势,而乔木树种的最大胸径、胸高断面积之和以及立木密度都呈现出先增大后减小的趋势;(3)物种丰富度在海拔1350m以下变化不明显,但1350m以上随着海拔的升高明显下降。在研究的海拔范围内,物种丰富度呈非常显著的单峰分布格局,最大的丰富度出现在中海拔群落中;(4)α多样性沿海拔梯度的变化趋势与物种丰富度相似,但没有后者显著。Shannon-Wiener指数(H’)和海拔之间有明显的负相关性,均匀度Pielou指数(E)在取样范围内并没有随着海拔梯度的变化表现出明显的规律;(5)1350m以下的相邻群落之间的Jaccard指数(CJ)大于1350m以上相邻群落之间的Jaccard指数,最小值出现在中海拔的植被过渡带。Cody指数也有类似的趋势,原因在于物种丰富度的变化;(6)在本研究的海拔范围内,海拔比坡度和坡向对群落的结构特征、物种丰富度以及α多样性的影响更大。而在局部尺度上,人为干扰以及小地形而导致的生境异质性对群落的物种多样性和结构特征有着重要的影响。     

神农架川金丝猴栖息地乔木层物种多样性及其海拔梯度变化

应用样方调查法,分析了湖北神农架自然保护区川金丝猴栖息地植被乔木层物种多样性和群落结构随海拔梯度的变化。结果如下：（1）调查样方160个,总面积64000m^2,共记录木本植物37科123属289种,其中乔木25科90属198种,灌木7科29属84种,木质藤本5科4属7种。优势科主要有蔷薇科、忍冬科、樟科、壳斗科和杜鹃花科等。（2）根据不同海拔乔木层物种组成的差异,该区植被类型可分为落阔叶林（1900～2100m）、针阔叶混交林（2200～2400m）和暗针叶林（2500～2600m）3种。（3）随着海拔升高,多样性指数（Shannon—Wie—ner指数）在3种植被类型中旱下降趋势;均匀度指数（Pielou指数）在针阔叶混交林和暗针叶林中呈下降趋势,在落叶阔叶林中变化不明显。（4）随着海拔升高,各乔木层所占比例,乔木l层（〉20m）逐渐减小,乔木Ⅱ层（10～20m）无明显变化,乔木Ⅲ层（〈10m）呈上升趋势。（5）以树高替代年龄,分析了9种优势乔木村种的种群年龄结构,结果表明该区植被的乔木层呈现稳定增长趋势。     

南岭东西段植物群落物种组成及其树种多样性垂直格局的比较

根据沿海拔梯度设置的样地的调查资料,对南岭东段的莽山和西段的猫儿山植物群落乔木层物种多样性的垂直分布格局进行了比较研究。莽山和猫儿山的植被类型差异不大,但相同植被类型的物种组成有比较明显的差异。随海拔的上升,两山体乔木的最大树高均呈现显著下降趋势。猫儿山乔木的最大胸径、胸高断面积之和以及立木密度在海拔梯度上呈单峰曲线变化趋势。莽山乔木的最大胸径、胸高断面积之和与海拔呈明显的负相关性,而立木密度的变化规律不明显。这种单峰曲线格局或负相关关系与中尺度上的海拔高度以及小尺度上的土壤特性、小地形以及人为干扰强度等因素有关。在海拔1000m以下的常绿阔叶林群落和1700m以上的山顶矮林群落,莽山乔木的物种丰富度均明显高于猫儿山。两山体的乔木种数与海拔之间都显示出负相关性,但莽山由于高海拔群落受人为干扰的影响,这种相关性不显著。乔木层α多样性沿海拔梯度没有表现出明显的变化规律,并且在两山体之间也看不出明显的差别。本文最后还对两山脉低海拔区段的常绿阔叶林群落的物种组成和多样性进行了对比分析,结果表明人为干扰导致猫儿山常绿阔叶林的物种丰富度(S)和α多样性(H’)明显低于莽山的原生性常绿阔叶林群落,而且落叶阔叶树种和毛竹(Phyllostachys pubescens)开始入侵到群落中。     

滇中喀斯特山地半湿润常绿阔叶林的群落生态学研究

依据两个10000m2森林样地(蓑衣山和月湖)的调查,在两个样地内分别记录到植物95科142属的163种(蓑衣山)和70科110属的125种(月湖),其中,草本物种最多,乔木次之,藤本较少。两个样地的主要组成物种都为滇青冈、清香木、团花新木姜子、云南木樨榄。群落中大径级的物种和个体数相对较少,优势种主要通过较多数量的中小径级个体体现出来。按Raunkiaer生活型划分,该半湿润常绿阔叶林主要由高位芽植物(54.9%和48.8%)和地面芽植物(39.6%和41.6%)组成。按中国植被进行的生活型分类结果显示,乔木物种组成只有中、小乔木,它们在群落中仅占总物种数的1/4(25%和24%);草本植物中的多年生草本在样地总物种数中所占比例很高(42.7%和45.6%);且常绿中、小乔木与落叶中、小乔木的物种数差异不大,几乎各占一半。但如果按常绿与落叶的个体数量、或胸径总和、或重要值来判定,则落叶成分的最高比例为24·7%。鉴于此,该森林类型仍定义为混有落叶成分的半湿润常绿阔叶林。种—面积曲线结果表明,曲线在400m2点有最剧烈转折,应作为类似喀斯特山地植物群落调查的最小面积。     

福建梅花山常绿阔叶林植物物种多样性及其海拔梯度格局

常绿阔叶林是福建梅花山国家级自然保护区地带性植被。采用样带与典型群落调查法对区内的常绿阔叶林14400m2样地展开调查,并对植物多样性海拔梯度格局进行分析,结果表明：（1） 群落植物物种丰富度、Gleason丰富度指数、Simpson指数、Shannon Wiener指数和Pielou均匀度指数的均值分别为64.42、10.75、5.75、3.50、0.58,且这5种指数在各样带间差异极为显著,并随海拔的升高均呈单峰曲线变化,峰值出现在海拔700m~900m。（2） 群落各层次的植物物种丰富度、Shannon Wiener指数均呈现灌木层（包括幼树和层间植物）〉乔木层〉草本层的特征。乔木、灌木层物种丰富度与乔木层Shannon Wiener指数在海拔梯度上的样带间差异极显著,变化趋势与群落相似;灌木层与草本层Shannon Wiener指数以及草本层物种丰富度随海拔梯度变化不明显。因此,梅花山自然保护区常绿阔叶林植物物种多样性的海拔梯度格局呈现单峰分布,并支持中间高度膨胀模式（mid domain model）。     

云南的硬叶常绿阔叶林——古地中海残余植被

云南从干热河谷到寒温性山地广泛分布有一类常绿、阔叶、以壳斗科栎属植物为乔木优势种的森林植被，由于其独特的生态特征显示了与现代地中海地区硬叶栎林的相似性，而在群落的外貌、结构、特征种、地理分布等方面却与云南的亚热带常绿阔叶林有明显区别，因此被称为“硬叶常绿阔叶林”,它是在喜马拉雅隆升中因适应新的环境而发育的一个特殊植被类型。该植被的优势树种具有古地中海地区渊源，但在分布上大多为我国西南地区的特有种。硬叶常绿阔叶林除优势树种为硬叶栎类以外，其他种类与同域天然植被的物种组成基本一样，并没有一个独特的植物区系。硬叶常绿阔叶林群落结构简单，典型的硬叶常绿阔叶林群落有清楚的乔木、灌木和草本3个层次，而在生活型上，寒温性山地的群落以地面芽植物占绝对优势，干热河谷的群落以草本植物占优势。在中新世以前，硬叶栎类植物出现在湿润的热带-亚热带性质的古地中海常绿阔叶林里，直到上新世以后，现代的地中海式气候形成，适应干旱的地中海植物区系出现，并随喜马拉雅隆升，硬叶常绿阔叶林才从原先的热带-亚热带常绿阔叶林演化产生。     

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.