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Biomedical subjects

E Zintzaras

Publications and source records attributed to E Zintzaras.

6 recordsLinked to original sources

Growing a classification tree using the apparent misclassification rate.

A method to determine the size of a classification tree is proposed. This method is based on the change of the apparent misclassification rate (AMR) of the tree at each growing stage. The method is simple and fast compared to the other classification tree methods, which are based on minimizing a cost complexity function. To test the method, it was used to classify species of fungi, and the results are in good agreement with those obtained by linear discriminant analysis. Also, 21 proteins with known structures and functions were classified using the proposed method. For this purpose the coefficient of variation for several properties of the secondary structures of these proteins has been used. Again, the results were in good agreement with the classification obtained previously using dynamic programming.

Algorithms

Characterization of the human T cell receptor alpha-chain repertoire and demonstration of a genetic influence on V alpha usage.

Despite considerable knowledge of the determinants and profile of the T cell receptor (TCR) beta-chain repertoire, very little is known about the repertoire of the V alpha and J alpha segments of the TCR in man or mouse. We have used the anchored polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to analyze the human TCR alpha-chain repertoire at the mRNA level in peripheral blood lymphocytes. We find marked differences in the usage of individual V alpha segments. The V alpha repertoire is determined both by differences in the use of individual V alpha gene segments at the time of gene rearrangement and by genetic influences on the selection of the expressed V alpha repertoire, presumably during thymic maturation. Analysis of the J alpha repertoire shows non-random usage of individual J alpha segments but no obvious relationship to chromosomal position. We also report three new V alpha segments, three new J alpha segments and possible allelic variation in V alpha gene segments. Two unusual TCR alpha transcripts are described which add new information on the nature of TCR alpha transcript assembly.

Amino Acid Sequence

A statistical test of hypotheses on the organization and origin of the genetic code.

Theories of the origin of the genetic code assign different weights to amino acid properties such as polarity and precursor-product relationship. Previous statistical work on the origin of the genetic code has produced controversial results. We analyze relationships between various amino acid and tRNA properties by one and the same statistical method. It is shown that polarities as well as precursor-product relationships are both likely to have been important in shaping the genetic code, together with codon swapping that left protein sequences intact.

Amino Acids

Apparent decline in fertility in heifers after repeated oestrus synchronisation with cloprostenol.

Over several years groups of heifers which were repeatedly treated with the PGF2 alpha analogue, cloprostenol, to synchronise oestrus were artificially inseminated. When sperm treatment was optimised, a reduction in conception rate was observed which was related to the number of synchronisation treatments the animals had received. Although factors such as a seasonal reduction in fertility may have contributed to the effect, there appeared to be a decrease in the proportion of animals becoming pregnant after successive synchronisations. Possible explanations for this observation are suggested.

Animals