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.

The extinction curves of star-forming regions from z = 0.1 to 6.7 using GRB afterglow spectroscopy

Abstract: Studies of extinction curves provide insights into the properties of interstellar dust. Until recently, however, very few extinction curves existed outside the local group. GRB afterglows are well suited to extinction studies due to their brightness, simple power-law spectra and their occurrence in distant star forming galaxies. In this paper we present results from the SED analysis of a sample of 41 GRB afterglows, from X-ray to NIR wavelengths. The sample is based on spectra from VLT-FORS, with additional data primarily from Swift. This is the largest sample of extinction curves outside the Local Group and, to date, the only extragalactic sample of absolute extinction curves based on spectroscopy. Estimates of the distribution of restframe visual extinctions, the extinction curves, and the intrinsic spectral shapes of GRB afterglows are obtained. Their correlation with Hi column density as well as total and gas-phase metal column density are examined. The line-of-sight gas-to-dust and metals-to-dust ratios are determined and examined as a function of total column density, ISM metallicity and redshift. The intrinsic SEDs of the afterglows show that approximately half the sample require a cooling break between the optical and X-ray ranges. The broken power-law SEDs show an average change in the spectral index of Δβ = 0.51 with a very small standard deviation of 0.02 (excluding the outlier GRB 080210). This is consistent with the expectations from a simple synchrotron model. Such a close convergence of values suggests that the X-ray afterglows of GRBs may be used with considerably more confidence to set the absolute flux level and intrinsic spectral indices in the optical and UV. Of the sample, 63% are well described by a featureless (SMC-type) extinction curve. Almost a quarter of our sample is consistent with no significant extinction (typically AV 0.1). The 2175 A extinction bump is detected unequivocally in 7% of our sample (3 GRBs), which all have AV > 1.0, while one afterglow has a very unusual extinction curve with a sharp UV rise. However, we can only say that the bump is not present in about a quarter of our sample because of low extinction or lack of coverage of the 2200 A region. All the afterglows well fit with SMC type curves have moderate or low extinction, with AV < 0.65. This suggests that the SMC extinction curve is not as nearly-universal as previously believed and that extinction curves more similar to those found in the Galaxy and the LMC may be quite prevalent. We find an anti-correlation between gas-to-dust ratio and metallicity consistent with the Local Group relation; we find, however, no correlation between the metals-to-dust ratios and the metallicities, redshift and visual extinction; we find no strong correlation of the extinction column with metallicity either. Our metals-to-dust ratios derived from the soft X-ray absorption are always larger (3–30 times) than the Local Group value, which may mean that GRB hosts may be less efficient at turning their metals into dust. However, we find that gas, dust, and metal column densities are all likely to be influenced by photo-ionization and dust destruction effects from the GRB to differing extents and caution must be used in extrapolating the ratios of dust and gas-derived properties from GRB afterglows to the star-forming population in general.

Genomic profiling of breast tumours in relation to BRCA abnormalities and phenotypes.

Abstract: Germline mutations in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes account for a considerable fraction of familial predisposition to breast cancer. Somatic mutations in BRCA1 and BRCA2 have not been found and the involvement of these genes in sporadic tumour development therefore remains unclear. The study group consisted of 67 primary breast tumours with and without BRCA1 or BRCA2 abnormalities. Genomic alterations were profiled by high-resolution (~7 kbp) comparative genome hybridisation (CGH) microarrays. Tumour phenotypes were analysed by immunohistochemistry on tissue microarrays using selected biomarkers (ER, PR, HER-2, EGFR, CK5/6, CK8, CK18). Classification of genomic profiles through cluster analysis revealed four subgroups, three of which displayed high genomic instability indices (GII). Two of these GII-high subgroups were enriched with either BRCA1- or BRCA2-related tumours whereas the third was not BRCA-related. The BRCA1-related subgroup mostly displayed non-luminal phenotypes, of which basal-like were most prominent, whereas the other two genomic instability subgroups BRCA2- and GII-high-III (non-BRCA), were almost entirely of luminal phenotype. Analysis of genome architecture patterns revealed similarities between the BRCA1- and BRCA2 subgroups, with long deletions being prominent. This contrasts with the third instability subgroup, not BRCA-related, where small gains were more prominent. The results suggest that BRCA1- and BRCA2-related tumours develop largely through distinct genetic pathways in terms of the regions altered while also displaying distinct phenotypes. Importantly, we show that the development of a subset of sporadic tumours is similar to that of either familial BRCA1- or BRCA2 tumours. Despite their differences, we observed clear similarities between the BRCA1- and BRCA2-related subgroups reflected in the type of genomic alterations acquired with deletions of long DNA segments being prominent. This suggests similarities in the mechanisms promoting genomic instability for BRCA1- and BRCA2-associated tumours, possibly relating to deficiency in DNA repair through homologous recombination. Indeed, this feature characterized both familial and sporadic tumours displaying BRCA1- or BRCA2-like spectrums of genomic alterations. The importance of these findings lies in the potential benefit from targeted therapy, through the use of agents leading to DNA double-strand breaks such as PARP inhibitors (olaparib) and cisplatin, for a much larger group of patients than the few BRCA1 and BRCA2 germline mutation carriers.

Large Perivascular Spaces Visible on Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Cerebral Small Vessel Disease Progression, and Risk of Dementia: The Age, Gene/Environment Susceptibility–Reykjavik Study

Abstract: Importance With advancing age, an increased visibility of perivascular spaces (PVSs) on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is hypothesized to represent impaired drainage of interstitial fluid from the brain and may reflect underlying cerebral small vessel disease (SVD). However, whether large perivascular spaces (L-PVSs) (>3 mm in diameter) visible on MRI are associated with SVD and cognitive deterioration in older individuals is unknown. Objective To examine whether L-PVSs are associated with the progression of the established MRI markers of SVD, cognitive decline, and increased risk of dementia. Design, Setting, and Participants The prospective, population-based Age, Gene/Environment Susceptibility–Reykjavik Study assessed L-PVSs at baseline (September 1, 2002, through February 28, 2006) on MRI studies of the brain in 2612 participants. Participants returned for additional MRI from April 1, 2007, through September 30, 2011, and underwent neuropsychological testing at the 2 time points a mean (SD) of 5.2 (0.2) years apart. Data analysis was conducted from August 1, 2016, to May 4, 2017. Exposures The presence, number, and location of L-PVSs. Main Outcomes and Measures Incident subcortical infarcts, cerebral microbleeds, and progression of white matter hyperintensities detected on MRI; cognitive decline defined as composite score changes between baseline and follow-up in the domains of memory, information processing speed, and executive function; and adjudicated incident dementia cases diagnosed according to international guidelines. Results Of the 2612 study patients (mean [SD] age, 74.6 [4.8] years; 1542 [59.0%] female), 424 had L-PVSs and 2188 did not. The prevalence of L-PVSs was 16.2% (median number of L-PVSs, 1; range, 1-17). After adjusting for age, sex, and interval between baseline and follow-up scanning, the presence of L-PVSs was significantly associated with an increased risk of incident subcortical infarcts (adjusted risk ratio, 2.54; 95% CI, 1.76-3.68) and microbleeds (adjusted risk ratio, 1.43; 95% CI, 1.18-1.72) and a greater 5-year progression of white matter hyperintensity volume. The presence of L-PVSs was also associated with a steeper decline in information processing speed and more than quadrupled the risk of vascular dementia. All associations persisted when further adjusted for genetic and cerebrovascular risk factors. The associations with cognitive outcomes were independent of educational level, depression, and other SVD MRI markers. Conclusions and Relevance Large PVSs are an MRI marker of SVD and associated with the pathogenesis of vascular-related cognitive impairment in older individuals. Large PVSs should be included in assessments of vascular cognitive impairment in the older population and as potential targets for interventions.

Extensive sharing of chloroplast haplotypes among European birches indicates hybridization among Betula pendula, B. pubescens and B. nana.

Abstract: Extensive sharing of chloroplast haplotypes among the silver birch, Betula pendula Roth., the downy birch, B. pubescens Ehrh., and the dwarf birch, B. nana L., was discovered using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymporphism markers. The geographical component of the genetic variation was stronger than the species component: the species were not significantly different while 11% of the variation could be attributed to differentiation between the two main regions studied, Scandinavia and western Russia. All haplotypes occurring in more than 2% of the individuals were shared among the species and the introgression ratios were quite large: 0.79 between B. pubescens and B. pendula and 0.67 between B. pubescens and B. nana. The data also indicate that B. pendula individuals are more similar to sympatric B. pubescens than to B. pendula individuals from nearby forests. However, this trend is not as pronounced when B. pubescens is considered, suggesting that introgression is not symmetrical. The haplotype sharing among the three Betula species is most likely caused by hybridization and subsequent cytoplasmic introgression.

Glacial rebound and plate spreading: Results from the first countrywide GPS observations in Iceland

Abstract: Iceland is one of the few places on Earth where a divergent plate boundary can be observed on land. Direct observations of crustal deformation for the whole country are available for the first t ...