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Article Contents

ASBTRACT

1.INTRODUCTION

2.OBSERVATIONAL METHODS FOR MEASURING ABUNDANCES
2.1.Spectroscopy of H II Regions and Planetary Nebulae
2.1.1.Observational Considerations
2.1.2.The Direct Method
2.1.3."Empirical" (Strong-Line) Calibrations
2.1.4.Photoionization Models
2.2.Spectroscopy of Individual Stars
2.3.Stellar Photometry and Color-Magnitude Diagrams
2.4.Spectrum Synthesis of Stellar Populations
2.5.Surface Photometry and Galaxy Colors

3.ABUNDANCES IN LOCAL GROUP DWARF ELLIPTICAL GALAXIES
3.1.Metallicities
3.2.Element Ratios

4.ABUNDANCE PROFILES IN SPIRALS AND IRREGULARS
4.1.Gas and Stellar Masses
4.1.1.Neutral and Molecular Gas
4.1.2.Stellar Mass Densities
4.2.Spatial Abundance Profiles
4.3.Metallicity versus Galaxy Luminosity/Mass
4.4.Abundance Gradient Variations
4.5.Metallicity vs. Surface Brightness
4.6.Barred Spirals
4.7.Spiral Bulges
4.8.Cluster Spirals and Environment

5.ELEMENT ABUNDANCE RATIOS IN SPIRAL AND IRREGULAR GALAXIES
5.1.Helium
5.2.Carbon
5.3.Nitrogen
5.4.Neon, Sulfur and Argon
5.5.Other Elements

6.OPEN QUESTIONS AND CONCLUDING REMARKS

REFERENCES