IRF: Institutional Repository FHNW
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The institutional repository contains publications, projects and student theses.
Further information can be found in the IRF manual (available in German).
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Recently added
The impact of substance use on the work ability among persons with chronic pain. A scoping review
(IOS Press, 2026) Gantschnig, Brigitte E; Sy, Michael P; Bertschi, Felicia; Baldissera, Anna; Friedli, Tom
Background
Chronic pain is a prevalent condition with profound impacts on occupational performance and work ability. Substance use for pain management is common, involving both pain medications and other substances such as cannabis and alcohol. While work ability in persons with chronic pain has been studied, limited research examines how substance use influences work ability.
Objective
This scoping review aimed to summarize research on the impact of substance use on work ability in persons with chronic musculoskeletal pain to identify knowledge gaps and inform interventions.
Methods
A scoping review approach was employed. Keywords and databases were defined, followed by a comprehensive literature search. Studies were screened by title, abstract, and full text. Inclusion criteria focused on adults with chronic musculoskeletal pain, excluding pediatric and neuropathic pain populations.
Results
From 4903 identified studies, 3253 abstracts and 159 full texts were screened, yielding 53 relevant studies. Most originated from North America and Europe. Findings revealed a complex relationship between substance use and work ability. Opioid use was frequently associated with reduced work ability, increased absenteeism, and decreased likelihood of returning to work. Conversely, limited evidence suggested opioids and methadone could facilitate work ability in specific cases.
Conclusion
Substance use significantly affects the work ability of persons with chronic pain, often diminishing occupational performance and increasing absenteeism. Addressing these challenges necessitates integrative health and social strategies and further exploration of comprehensive, interprofessional interventions.
01A - Journal article
Approaching drug release performance from mesoporous silica formulations by modeling of chemical potentials
(Elsevier, 01.11.2025) Niederquell, Andreas; Hofer, Annika; Vraníková, Barbora; Kuentz, Martin
Mesoporous silica are promising bio-enabling carriers for poorly soluble drugs. However, a comprehensive understanding of drug-silica interactions and their impact on drug release remains limited. Apart from urgently needed experimental tools, predictive in silico tools that consider drug-carrier interactions in aqueous media are currently lacking. To address this gap, a novel in silico approach (silica-water partitioning coefficient) was introduced in this study. A series of ten drugs were loaded onto a mesoporous carrier (Parteck® SLC 500), and the products were analyzed using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD). In vitro dissolution (USP II) profiles of drug-loaded formulations were analyzed and correlated with a newly introduced silica-water partitioning coefficient derived from chemical potential calculations using the Conductor-like Screening Model for Real Solvents (COSMO-RS). Strong correlations were observed between dissolution parameters, such as the initial release slopes (Pearson r = -0.98; p = < 0.05) and AUC values (Pearson r = -0.79; p < 0.05), and the calculated chemical potential-based partitioning coefficient. This study introduces a predictive method based on COSMO-RS-derived chemical potentials to estimate silica-water partitioning for drugs, thereby predicting their release performance from mesoporous silica formulations. The results demonstrate that these calculated chemical potentials can qualitatively rank the drug release kinetics in aqueous media. Further investigation with additional compounds and carrier types may broaden the applicability of this approach as a mechanistic tool for mesoporous silica formulation development and contribute to narrowing the gap toward future clinical translation.
01A - Journal article
Baseline assessment of handwashing behavior, hand hygiene conditions and wellbeing in primary schools in Nigeria
(Frontiers Research Foundation, 25.09.2025) Maani-Abuzahra, Yaman; Winkler, Mirko S.; Hattendorf, Jan; Galli, Anaïs; Tamas, Andrea; Abdulkarim, Zainab; Kolo, Usman Modu; Shuaibu, Muhammad Auwal; Peter, Maryna; Probst-Hensch, Nicole; Owen, Branwen Nia
Objectives: In humanitarian settings, poor school hygiene conditions can severely impact children’s health and wellbeing. As part of a cluster randomized trial evaluating a multicomponent hand hygiene intervention, this baseline study assessed hand hygiene behaviors, school infrastructure, and wellbeing among schoolchildren in Nigeria. Methods: Between May and June 2023, cross-sectional data were collected from 26 schools using handwashing observations, questionnaires, infrastructure assessments, and hand rinse sampling. A total of 964 children were observed, 645 interviewed, and 311 provided samples. Results: Observed handwashing rates were extremely low: 4%–12% before eating and 2%–3% after toilet use. About half of schools lacked designated handwashing stations. General water points, though more available, were often inadequate. Soap was entirely absent. Over half of children’s hands rinse samples contained more than 100 colony-forming units (CFU) of Escherichia coli (E: coli) per 100 mL. Misconceptions about hygiene were widespread and gaps existed between reported and observed behavior. Conclusion: These findings underscore the need for integrated school-based WASH interventions in humanitarian contexts.
01A - Journal article
Comparison of single-cell long-read and short-read transcriptome sequencing via cDNA molecule matching: quality evaluation of the MAS-ISO-seq approach
(Oxford University Press, 09.2025) Zajac, Natalia; Zhang, Qin; Bratus-Neuenschwander, Anna; Qi, Weihong; Bolck, Hella Anna; Karakulak, Tülay; Oltra, Tamara Carrasco; Moch, Holger; Kahraman, Abdullah; Rehrauer, Hubert
Single-cell RNA sequencing is used for profiling gene expression differences between cells. It can be performed with short reads, which provide high-throughput and high-quality information at the gene level, or with long reads, which provide isoform resolution via preserving full-length transcripts. It is, however, unclear how comparable the data is between the two methods. We investigate the types of bias introduced at the library preparation and the bioinformatic processing steps on the transcripts recovered from long- and short-read sequencing, and the effects of filtering, enabled by sequencing of full-length transcripts, on gene expression. For each sample, we sequenced the same 10x Genomics 3′ complementary DNA (cDNA) using Illumina short reads and Pacific Biosciences long reads and cross-compared each molecule matched through cell barcode and unique molecular identifier. We find that both methods render highly comparable results and recover a large proportion of cells and transcripts. However, platform-dependent cDNA library processing and data analysis steps introduce biases. Short-read sequencing provided higher sequencing depth, but long-read sequencing allowed for retaining transcripts shorter than 500 bp and for removal of degraded cDNA contaminated by template switching oligos. Filtering of artefacts, identifiable only from full-length transcripts, reduces gene count correlation between the two methods.
01A - Journal article
Computationally guided genome rewiring of escherichia coli and its application for nanopolyethylene terephthalate (PET) biodegradation and upcycling
(Elsevier, 11.2025) Vidal Ramon, Paula; Shahgaldian, Patrick; Gimenez Dejoz, Joan; Fernandez-Lopez, Laura; Romero, Sonia; Nazemi, Amir; Luengo Perez, Miguel; González Alfonso, José Luis; Martínez Sugrañes, Mireia; Robles Martín, Ana; Almendral Nieto, David; Roda, Sergi; Pérez-García, Pablo; Kruse, Luzie; Jaeger, Karl-Erich; Streit, Wolfgang; Plou, Francisco J.; Floor, Martin; Shahgaldian, Patrick; Bargiela, Rafael; Guallar, Victor; Ferrer, Manuel
Numerous strategies for the biodegradation and upcycling of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) are under investigation. Here, we present a proof-of-concept study for reprogramming the Escherichia coli BL21(DE3) strain to degrade PET nanoparticles (nPET) without introducing foreign DNA and compromising native cellular fitness. In brief, native proteins selected in silico from the genome were repurposed to acquire artificial PETase activity without compromising their function and were subsequently replaced via CRISPR/Cas9 editing. A variant of the transport protein LsrB, selected for its ability to bind PET, was engineered to degrade PET powder (at 37–60°C). Building on LsrB periplasmic localization, we engineered a strain that degrades nPET at 37°C. The strain was further engineered to grow on nPET degradation products and produce valuable compounds. Our method, which is applicable across diverse genomes and microbial chassis, expands the potential of metabolic engineering to address plastic biodegradation and upcycling while reducing reliance on foreign DNA.
01A - Journal article