The Treatment of Missing Values in Logistic Regression

The efficiencies of the estimators in the linear logistic regression model are examined using simulations under six missing value treatments. These treatments use either the maximum likelihood or the discriminant function approach in the estimation of the regression coefficients. Missing values are assumed to occur at random. The cases of multivariate normal and dichotomous independent variables are both considered. We found that in general, there is no uniformly best method. However, mean substitution and discriminant function estimation using existing pairs of values for correlations turn out to be favourable for the cases considered.     

Effects of essential divalent metals on carcinogenicity and metabolism of nickel and cadmium

Interactions between the physiologically essential metals calcium, magnesium, and zinc and the carcinogenic metals nickel and cadmium were investigated to help elucidate the mechanisms of action of the carcinogenic metals. Bioassay studies revealed several significant findings, including: (1) the ability of magnesium and calcium to inhibit nickel-induced elevation of pulmonary adenoma incidence in strain A mice; (2) the ability of magnesium, but not of calcium, to prevent cadmium-induced subcutaneous sarcoma formation; and (3) the ability of magnesium, but not of calcium, to inhibit nickel-induced muscle tumor formation. Biochemical studies indicated a direct relationship between the antitumorigenic potential of magnesium and the capacity of this metal to: (1) inhibit nickel and cadmium uptake by the target tissues in vivo; (2) inhibit nickel-induced disturbances in DNA synthesis in vivo; (3) inhibit nuclear and cytosolic uptake of nickel by the target tissue cells in vivo; and (4) inhibit nickel and cadmium binding to DNA in vitro. Calcium, which in most cases did not prevent carcinogenesis, had no consistent influence on the uptake of carcinogenic metals or their biochemical effects in the target tissues. Magnesium and zinc, but not calcium, were also found to attenuate the acute toxic effects of nickel, indicating a possible correlation between prevention of acute effects and reduction in tumorigenicity. Zinc, which antagonizes cadmium tumorigenicity in the rat testis, was found to reduce markedly cadmium uptake into isolated testicular interstitial cells. Also, zinc was found to inhibit strongly cadmium binding to DNA in vitro.     

Characteristics of action potentials in Helianthus annuus

The action potentials induced by nondamaging electrical stimuli in 16- to 22-day-old plants of Helianthus annuus were examined. Typical recordings are presented. Mean values of their amplitudes and conduction velocities in the stem, the strength-duration relation, the 'all-or-none' law and the refractory periods have been determined. The amplitude and velocity of propagation were essentially identical in the upward and downward direction, but greater in the upper than in the lower half. In 'electrically active' plants, the rheobase value is 2 V, the minimum period for stimulation is 1.8 s. and the chronaxie 2.3 s. It is noted that the excitability level between similar plants on the same day and in the same plant on different days is highly variable and undergoes periodic changes.     

Distribution of sugar residues in the bovine testis during postnatal ontogenesis demonstrated with lectin-horseradish peroxidase conjugates

Summary In the present study the distribution of various sugar residues in the cells of the male gonad during postnatal organogenesis was examined employing eight lectin-horseradish peroxidase conjugates (BS-I, ConA, DBA, PNA, RCA-I, SBA, UEA-I, WGA) on paraffin-embedded testicular tissue. The tissue was obtained from bull calves and young bulls of recorded age (4, 8, 16, 20, 25, 30, 40 and 52 weeks) and two adult bulls. During the whole observation period, lectin affinity in the developing testicular tubules was restricted to the germ cell line, while the Sertoli cells and their precursors remained completely unstained. DBA, a lectin with specific affinity to -d-GalNAc, served as a selective marker for prespermatogonia (PSG), the only precursors of bovine spermatogonia until the onset of spermatogenesis at week 30. -d-GalNAc, detected in the PSG Golgi zone and its vicinity, seems to play an important role during PSG proliferation and migration in the prepuberal testis. Concomitant with the differentiation of PSG into spermatogonia, the binding intensity of DBA to the Golgi zone of these cells decreased. After the gradual onset of spermatogenesis, the lectins revealed staining of Golgi complexes of most germ cell stages. Glycosylation of the cell components takes place in the Golgi complex, which explains the strong affinity of the lectins to this cell compartment. Inner and outer membrane of the acrosomal complex of spermatids, especially during Golgi and cap phase of spermiogenesis, were intensely stained with PNA, RCA-I and SBA. This staining disappeared in the maturation phase at the latest and indicates a role of terminal d-Gal-(13)-d-GalNAc, d-Gal and d-GalNAc during the formation of the sperm head and intraepithelial orientation of the spermatid. Other parts of the spermatid, such as the anulus and the cytoplasmic droplet, exhibited d-Gal, d-GlcNAc or sialic acid and d-GalNAc. In the intertubular tissue BS-I, RCA-I and UEA-I bound to vascular endothelia. Components of the intertubular extracellular matrix were stained with ConA (-d-Man), RCA-I (d-Gal), UEA-I (-l-Fuc) and WGA (d-GlcNAc or sialic acid).     

Histochemical localization and quantification of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase in bovine leydig cells

Some of the critical steps in the qualitative histochemical localization of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (freezing procedures, incubation techniques and the influence of intermediate electron carriers, respiratory chain inhibitors and different tetrazolium salts) were evaluated in sections of bovine testis as a prerequisite for the microdensitometric estimation of the activity of the enzyme in bovine Leydig cells in situ. A modification of the gel incubation method of Rieder et al. (1978) gave the best results and was used for the quantitative investigations. Quantitative data for the dehydrogenase activity gained from microdensitometry of the formazan final reaction products in Leydig cells in situ were compared with the results of assays of the activity in homogenates of testis. The following apparent kinetic properties of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase were obtained for the enzyme in Leydig cells in situ: Vmax = 0.11 absorbance units/min, Km = 0.37 mM. The quantitative characterization of glucose-6-phosphate activity in Leydig cells in situ appears to be suitable for combined morphological and functional diagnoses of small tissue samples such as testicular biopsies. This would give valuable information of the functional status of Leydig cells in normal and diseased testicular tissue.     

Morphologische Untersuchungen an der Glandula bulbourethralis der Katze

Zusammenfassung Das Parenchym der Glandula bulbourethralis der Katze besteht aus weitlumigen, gebuchteten intraglandulären Gängen, in welche kurze, englumige, zumeist unverzweigte Tubuli einmünden. Der Drüse fehlt eine äußere Organkapsel, so daß ihre peripheren Tubuli stellenweise direkt zwischen den Fasern des quergestreiften M. bulboglandularis liegen. Die Drüsentubuli und die Buchten der intraglandulären Gänge sind mit einem einschichtigen Zylinderepithel ausgekleidet, auf den Gangfalten ist das Epithel abschnittsweise mehrreihig, Die sezernierende Epitheloberfläche ist durch die Ausbildung von interzellulären Sekretkapillaren vergrößert. Breite Zwischenzellspalten (Durchmesser etwa 1,5), in welche schlanke interdigitierende Cytoplasmafortsätze hineinragen, erstrecken sich von der Basalmembran bis kurz unter das Tubulusbzw. Ganglumen. Die lumenseitigen Zellgrenzen tragen einige stummelförmige Mikrovilli und besitzen zerklüftete Außenkonturen, die durch glykogenreiche Cytoplasmaprojektionen bedingt sind. Alle Epithelzellen sind reich an Mitochondrien. Die supranuklearen Abschnitte der meisten Gang- und Tubuluszellen enthalten Sekretgranula, welche im Elektronenmikroskop unterschiedliche optische Dichten aufweisen können. Die Granula enthalten ein PAS-positives, neuraminsäurehaltiges epitheliales Muzin, das in einzelnen Sekretkörnchen auch eine histochemische Reaktion auf Sulfatgruppen gibt. Alle Epithelzellen reagieren sehr stark auf unspezifische Esterase und stark auf -D-Glucuronidase, -D-Glactosidase sowie die Enzyme des Citronensäurezyklus, der Glykolyse und der Atmungskette (NAD-ICDH, SDH, ALD, LDH, ADH, GDH, NADH-T-Red, Cyt-Ox).

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Morphological studies on the bulbourethral gland of the male cat

Summary The bulbourethral glands of sexually mature male cats are studied with the light and electron microscope. The parenchyma consists of spacious, sinus-like intraglandular ducts and short, narrow, mostly unbranched tubular endpieces. The gland has no complete connective tissue capsule, consequently some of the peripheral tubules are situated directly in between the fibers of the surrounding bulboglandularis muscle. The endpieces and the sinus of the intraglandular ducts are lined by a simple columnar epithelium, whereas the folds of the ducts are generally covered by a low pseudostratified epithelium. The secretory surface of the cells is increased by intercellular canaliculi which communicate with the gland lumen. These canaliculi are identified on the light microscopic level by their strong 5-nucleotidase activity. Furthermore widened intercellular spaces (approximately 1,5 in diameter) filled with slender, interdigitating cytoplasmic processes extend from the basal lamina to the apical junctional complexes. The luminal cell pole exhibits some short microvilli and forms irregularly shaped, glycogen containing protrusions. Within the cytoplasm of the gland cells numerous spherical mitochondria, some dense bodies, a typical Golgi apparatus, free ribosomes and a poorly developed endoplasmic reticulum are to be observed. Secretory granules which can be grouped into three types on the basis of their electron density occur in the supranuclear regions of most of the cells. According to histochemical tests all granules contain a periodate reactive sialomucin and some of them also sulfate groups. The glandular parenchyma is site of an exceptionally strong unspecific esterase activity and is rich in -D-glucuronidase, -D-glactosidase, aldolase, -glycerophosphate dehydrogenase, lactate dehydrogenase, alcohol dehydrogenase, NAD-dependent isocitrate dehydrogenase, succinate dehydrogenase and cytochrome oxydase.

Mit dankenswerter Unterstützung durch die Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft.     

Zur Morphologie der braunen Inguinaldrüse des Kaninchens

Zusammenfassung Die braune Inguinaldrüse des Kaninchens ist eine einfach gebaute tubulöse Drüse. Das Epithel der Drüsenschläuche ist einschichtig kubisch bis hochzylindrisch und wird von spindelförmigen Myoepithelzellen unterlagert. Die Drüsenzellen besitzen nahezu organellenfreie, fein granulierte Cytoplasmaprotrusionen, die weit in das Lumen hineinragen; in der Lichtung werden häufig isolierte Cytoplasmabereiche gefunden. Der Sekretionsmodus ist somit deutlich apokrin (decapitation secretion).Das endoplasmatische Retikulum ist überall in der Zelle zu erheblich zerklüfteten Cisternen erweitert; Golgi-Apparate sind spärlich. Große, matrixreiche Mitochondrien zeichnen sich durch Armut an Cristae aus. Elektronendichte Sekretpfützen liegen vornehmlich supranukleär; Sekretvakuolen kommen nicht vor.

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On the morphology of the brown inguinal gland of the rabbit

Summary The tubular brown inguinal glands of the rabbit have been studied by light and electron microscopy. The apocrine secretory cells are columnar elements with prominent apical cytoplasmic caps and protrusions extending into the glandular lumen. These protrusions contain neutral mucopolysaccharides demonstrable by light microscopy. The secretory cells are characterized by the presence of large mitochondria with scant cristae and an electron dense matrix. Electron dense plaques, presumably secretory masses, are present in the supranuclear cytoplasm. The cytoplasm contains cisternae of a granular endoplasmic reticulum. Myoepithelial cells are situated between the secretory cells and the basal lamina.

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Mit dankenswerter Unterstützung durch die Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft.     

Die Histotopik einiger Oxydoreduktasen im Hoden von Hund und Katze

Zusammenfassung Im Hoden von Hund und Katze werden folgende Enzyme histochemisch nachgewiesen: NADH-Tetrazoliumreduktase (NADH-T-Red), NADPH-Tetrazoliumreduktase (NADPH-T-Red), Cytochromoxydase (Cyt-Ox), Lactat-Dehydrogenase (LDH), Aldolase (ALD), Alkohol-Dehydrogenase (ADH), Glycerin-1-phosphat-Dehydrogenase (GDH), Glucose-6-phosphat-Dehydrogenase (G-6-PDH), Succinat-Dehydrogenase (SDH), NAD-spezifische Isocitrat-Dehydrogenase (NAD-ICDH). Die starke Fermentaktivität der G-6-PDH und der LDH in den Leydig-Zellen beider Spezies, der relativ hohe Gehalt an histochemisch nachweisbarer ADH in den Zwischenzellen der Katze sowie eine deutliche Reaktion auf GDH in den Sertoli-Zellen der Katze werden diskutiert.

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Summary In the testes of dog and cat the distribution pattern of NADH-tetrazolium reductase, NADPH-tetrazolium reductase, cytochrome oxydase, lactate dehydrogenase, aldolase, alcohol dehydrogenase, -glycerophosphate dehydrogenase, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, succinate dehydrogenase and NAD specific isocitrate dehydrogenase was studied by histochemical means. The strong reaction of G-6-PDH and LDH in the Leydig cells of both species, the relatively high amount of ADH in the interstitial cells of the cat testis and the principal site of -GPDH in the Sertoli cells of the cat are discussed.

     

Chorology of the Euxinian and Hyrcanian element in the woody flora of Asia

The Euxinian and the Hyrcanian floristic province are analysed in respect to their trees and shrubs. These provinces mark the southern limit of the Euro-Siberian Region in SW. Asia. Mesophyllic forests dominate; they are deciduous, but there is a substantial component of evergreen shrubs in the understorey. Characteristics species frequently have a relic nature. Species lists and some exemplary distribution maps are presented for the Euxinian and the Hyrcanian element, both with endemic and more wide-spread species, including the characteristic Euxine-Hyrcanian group.     

Pollen calendar for cracow (southern Poland), 1982–1991

Summary During 1982 – 1991 pollen deposition in the centre of Cracow (southern Poland) was investigated using the gravimetric method. 32 taxa of the 84 identified were taken into consideration, and nearly all of them can be allergenic. The beginning of mass pollen fall was observed in the second decade of March, and the third decade of September saw the completion of the yearly cycle of abundant appearance of pollen in the aeroplankton. Tree pollen dominates quantitatively.