University of Marburg

About: University of Marburg is a education organization based out in Marburg, Germany. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Virus. The organization has 23195 authors who have published 42907 publications receiving 1506069 citations. The organization is also known as: Philipps University of Marburg & Philipps-Universität.

Polymorphism of apolipoprotein E and occurrence of dysbetalipoproteinaemia in man.

Abstract: PRIMARY dysbetalipoproteinaemia (broad-β disease, hyper-lipoproteinaemia type III) is a familial disorder of plasma lipoprotein metabolism associated with xanthomatosis and early onset of severe atherosclerotic vascular disease1–4 A defect in the catabolism of triglyceride-rich lipoproteins probably underlies the accumulation of atypical cholesterol-rich lipoproteins (very low density β lipoproteins, ‘β–VLDL’) in the Sf 12–400 density fraction5–7 The disorder is assumed to be rare8 and we have provided evidence for an autosomal recessive mode of inheritance9,10 Patients show a variant of one major protein component (Apo E) of VLDL1,12 Apo E is a glycoprotein of molecular weight ∼ 39,000 that splits into three main bands designated E-I (pI∼53), E-II (pI∼54) and E-III (pI∼555) in iso-electric focusing13 The Apo E variant is characterised by a deficiency of Apo E-III in triglyceride-rich lipoproteins We report here that Apo E shows a genetic polymorphism determined by two alleles Apo En and Apo Ed About 1% of the German population is homozygous for the allele Apo Ed and exhibits Apo E-III deficiency All individuals of this genotype have a primary dysbetalipoproteinaemia but not necessarily hyperlipidaemia This is therefore the most frequent monogenic dyslipoproteinaemia known in man

Influenza virus hemagglutinin with multibasic cleavage site is activated by furin, a subtilisin-like endoprotease.

Abstract: Many viruses have membrane glycoproteins that are activated at cleavage sites containing multiple arginine and lysine residues by cellular proteases so far not identified. The proteases responsible for cleavage of the hemagglutinin of fowl plague virus, a prototype of these glycoproteins, has now been isolated from Madin-Darby bovine kidney cells. The enzyme has a mol. wt of 85,000, a pH optimum ranging from 6.5 to 7.5, is calcium dependent and recognizes the consensus sequence R-X-K/R-R at the cleavage site of the hemagglutinin. Using a specific antiserum it has been identified as furin, a subtilisin-like eukaryotic protease. The fowl plague virus hemagglutinin was also cleaved after coexpression with human furin from cDNA by vaccinia virus vectors. Peptidyl chloroalkylketones containing the R-X-K/R-R motif specifically bind to the catalytic site of furin and are therefore potent inhibitors of hemagglutinin cleavage and fusion activity.

Improved auditory spatial tuning in blind humans

Abstract: Despite reports of improved auditory discrimination capabilities in blind humans1,2,3 and visually deprived animals4, there is no general agreement as to the nature or pervasiveness of such compensatory sensory enhancements5. Neuroimaging studies have pointed out differences in cerebral organization between blind and sighted humans6,7,8,9,10,11,12, but the relationship between these altered cortical activation patterns and auditory sensory acuity remains unclear. Here we compare behavioural and electrophysiological indices of spatial tuning within central and peripheral auditory space in congenitally blind and normally sighted but blindfolded adults to test the hypothesis (raised by earlier studies of the effects of auditory deprivation on visual processing13,14) that the effects of visual deprivation might be more pronounced for processing peripheral sounds. We find that blind participants displayed localization abilities that were superior to those of sighted controls, but only when attending to sounds in peripheral auditory space. Electrophysiological recordings obtained at the same time revealed sharper tuning of early spatial attention mechanisms in the blind subjects. Differences in the scalp distribution of brain electrical activity between the two groups suggest a compensatory reorganization of brain areas in the blind that may contribute to the improved spatial resolution for peripheral sound sources.

Electronic and optical properties of anatase TiO 2

Abstract: First-principles calculations using the full-potential linearized augmented plane-wave method have been performed to investigate detailed electronic and optical properties of ${\mathrm{TiO}}_{2}$ in the anatase structure. The fully optimized structure, obtained by minimizing the total energy and atomic forces, are in good agreement with experiment. Stabilization of the structure by the trade off between a favorable coordination in the ${\mathrm{sp}}^{2}$ hybridization and the Coulomb repulsion among oxygen atoms is also demonstrated. We calculate band structure, densities of states and charge densities, and interpret their features in terms of the bonding structure in the molecular orbital picture. The optical properties, calculated within the dipole approximation, are found to agree with recent experiments on single crystals of anatase ${\mathrm{TiO}}_{2}.$ Near the absorption edge, the results show a significant optical anisotropy in the components parallel and perpendicular to the c axis. We demonstrate that this large dichroism results from the existence of nonbonding ${d}_{\mathrm{xy}}$ orbitals located at the bottom of the conduction bands, which allows direct dipole transitions dominantly for the perpendicular component.

Toward a relational economic geography

Abstract: In this paper, we argue that a paradigmatic shift is occurring in economic geography toward a relational economic geography. This rests on three propositions. First, from a structural perspective economic actors are situated in contexts of social and institutional relations. Second, in dynamic perspective economic processes are path-dependent, constrained by history. Third, economic processes are contingent in that the agents’ strategies and actions are open-ended. Drawing on Storper’s holy trinity, we define four ions as the basis for analysis in economic geography: organization, evolution, innovation, and interaction. Therein, we employ a particular spatial perspective of economic processes using a geographical lens.