University of Iceland

About: University of Iceland is a education organization based out in Reykjavik, Suðurnes, Iceland. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Genome-wide association study. The organization has 5423 authors who have published 16199 publications receiving 694762 citations. The organization is also known as: Háskóli Íslands.

Association of Low-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol-Related Genetic Variants With Aortic Valve Calcium and Incident Aortic Stenosis.

Abstract: Plasma low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) has been associated with aortic stenosis in observational studies; however, randomized trials with cholesterol-lowering therapies in individuals with established valve disease have failed to demonstrate reduced disease progression.

Systems-level characterization of a host-microbe metabolic symbiosis in the mammalian gut.

Abstract: The human gut microbiota consists of ten times more microorganisms than there are cells in our body, processes otherwise indigestible nutrients, and produces important energy precursors, essential amino acids, and vitamins. In this study, we assembled and validated a genome-scale metabolic reconstruction of Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron (iAH991), a prominent representative of the human gut microbiota, consisting of 1488 reactions, 1152 metabolites, and 991 genes. To create a comprehensive metabolic model of host-microbe interactions, we integrated iAH991 with a previously published mouse metabolic reconstruction, which was extended for intestinal transport and absorption reactions. The two metabolic models were linked through a joint compartment, the lumen, allowing metabolite exchange and providing a route for simulating different dietary regimes. The resulting model consists of 7239 reactions, 5164 metabolites, and 2769 genes. We simultaneously modeled growth of mouse and B. thetaiotaomicron on five different diets varying in fat, carbohydrate, and protein content. The integrated model captured mutually beneficial cross-feeding as well as competitive interactions. Furthermore, we identified metabolites that were exchanged between the two organisms, which were compared with published metabolomics data. This analysis resulted for the first time in a comprehensive description of the co-metabolism between a host and its commensal microbe. We also demonstrate in silico that the presence of B. thetaiotaomicron could rescue the growth phenotype of the host with an otherwise lethal enzymopathy and vice versa. This systems approach represents a powerful tool for modeling metabolic interactions between a gut microbe and its host in health and disease.

Surges of glaciers in Iceland

Abstract: Surges are common in all the major ice caps in Iceland, and historical reports of surge occurrence go back several centuries. Data collection and regular obser- vationover thelast several decadeshave permitteda detailed descriptionof several surges, fromwhich it is possible to generalize onthe nature of surging in Icelandic glaciers. Com- bining the historical records of glacier-front variations and recent field research, we sum- marize the geographic distribution of surging glaciers, their subglacial topography and geology, the frequency andduration of surges, changes in glacier surface geometry during the surge cycle, and measured velocity changes comparedto calculatedbalance velocities. Wenotetheindicatorsofsurgeonsetanddescribechangesinice,waterandsedimentfluxes duringa surge.Surgesaccomplishasignificantfractionofthetotalmasstransportthrough the main outlet glaciers of ice caps in Iceland and have important implications for their hydrology. Ouranalysisof the data suggeststhat surge-type glaciersin Icelandarecharac- terizedbygentlysloping surfacesandthatthey movetoo slowlytoremain inbalance given their accumulation rate. Surge frequency is neither regular nor clearly related to glacier size or massbalance. Steeply sloping glaciers, whetherhard- or soft-bedded, seemto move sufficiently rapidly to keep inbalance with the annual accumulation.

Solar hydrogen production with semiconductor metal oxides: new directions in experiment and theory

Abstract: An overview of a collaborative experimental and theoretical effort toward efficient hydrogen production via photoelectrochemical splitting of water into di-hydrogen and di-oxygen is presented here We present state-of-the-art experimental studies using hematite and TiO(2) functionalized with gold nanoparticles as photoanode materials, and theoretical studies on electro and photo-catalysis of water on a range of metal oxide semiconductor materials, including recently developed implementation of self-interaction corrected energy functionals

Retinal Vessel Oxygen Saturation in Healthy Individuals

Abstract: Prevention of Blindness Fund Landspitali-University Hospital Research Fund University of Iceland Research Fund Icelandic Center for Research (Rannis) Fund