ZHAW Zurich University of Applied Sciences

From protogalaxy through thick and thin: Why did the Milky Way evolve in three kinematic phases?

Abstract APOGEE and Gaia data suggest the Milky Way’s kinematic structure evolved through three distinct phases: a disordered protogalaxy, which ‘spun up’ into a thick stellar disk, and then ‘cooled down’ to a final cold, thin stellar disk. We use a suite of FIRE-2 cosmological z...

Critical windows: timing of child maltreatment exposure and adult mental health

Abstract Background Despite being recognized as the leading risk factor for mental disorders, child maltreatment (CM) remains insufficiently understood regarding type and timing of exposure. This study examines which developmental periods of exposure to CM subtypes are most stron...

Shaped by humans but increasingly threatened: pathways for the conservation of Palaearctic grasslands

Palaearctic grasslands are among the most species-rich ecosystems of the Northern Hemisphere, but their conservation depends on continued management that must be reconciled with agricultural production, rural livelihoods and other socio-economic demands. Introducing a special iss...

Dual‐Function Cosubstrates Enable Threonine Dehydrogenase‐Driven Chemoenzymatic Pyrrole Synthesis

ABSTRACT Preparative biocatalytic synthesis of substituted pyrroles remains challenging despite recent advances in enzymatic α‐aminoketone generation. In this study, we report a concurrent chemoenzymatic cascade to disubstituted pyrroles based on threonine dehydrogenase (ThrDH)‐c...

Occupational heat strain among home health care workers: a cross-sectional study

Abstract Background Extreme heat events affect workers’ health. Home health care workers face physically strenuous tasks, mobility demands, and increased workloads during heat events. Yet little is known about the extent of heat strain and the specific symptoms they experience. T...

Stream biodiversity and function benefit from forest fragments in agricultural landscapes

Abstract Riparian forests buffer stream ecosystems from intensive land use. However, with ongoing land-use changes, riparian forests often remain as isolated fragments. Despite this, the relevance of isolated forest fragments in deforested landscapes remains unclear. We evaluated...

Albendazole Treatment of Alveolar Echinococcosis in a Trial Based on a Cross Sectional Ultrasound Study in Kyrgyzstan

ABSTRACT Background Human alveolar echinococcosis (AE) is a potentially fatal parasitic disease. In the low‐resource country of Kyrgyzstan, it is essential to develop protocols to manage the large number of AE cases being diagnosed. Methods A randomised trial was undertaken to ex...

High-salt diet modulates endocrine regulation between cortisol and FGF23

Excessive dietary salt intake is a global health concern, affecting cardiovascular, renal, and bone health. While the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) is a known regulator of dietary salt-induced hormonal responses, the impact of adrenal cortisol remains unclear. Here,...

An automated high-resolution screening platform identifies regulators of anchor cell invasion in C. elegans

Microfluidic devices are valuable tools for live imaging. However, widespread adoption of microfluidic-based screening methods has been limited by the complexity of the existing techniques. Here, we introduce a user-friendly, high-throughput, and high-resolution automated imaging...

Multiplexed embryo profiling links cellular state to zygotic genome activation in single cells

Abstract Multicellular self-organization depends on interactions across multiple length scales, yet mapping protein states at high spatial resolution in whole-mount embryos remains challenging. Here, we introduce high-throughput 3D in toto iterative immunofluorescence imaging (3D...

Combining Implementation and Data Sciences to Accelerate Evidence Integration into Healthcare – ImpleMATE

Background The translation of research evidence into routine healthcare practice is often slow and inconsistent, even timely implementation can significantly improve patient outcomes. While implementation science offers strategies to close this gap, current approaches are frequen...

Involving People With Dementia in Research: Contributions, Barriers and Evaluation From a Meta‐Synthesis and Qualitative Interview Study

BACKGROUND: Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement (PPIE) can enhance the relevance, acceptability and quality of research; however, its meaningful implementation in dementia research remains insufficiently understood. AIM: (1) To identify methodological procedures for inv...

Genomic insights into the evolutionary dynamics of Phytophthora infestans lineages after the Irish Potato Famine

Abstract Background Genomic analysis of infected herbarium specimens provides the opportunity to investigate the evolutionary history of plant pathogens, leading to discoveries such as the identification of FAM-1/HERB-1 as the Phytophthora infestans lineage that caused the ninete...

Structural Elucidation and Revised Biosynthetic Pathway of the Membrane Vesicle–Associated Antifungal Compound AFC-BC11

Abstract Bacterial membrane vesicles (MVs) serve as delivery vehicles for hydrophobic and membrane-associated secondary metabolites, enhancing their solubility, stability, and bioactivity. Here, we show that the antifungal compound AFC-BC11, produced by Burkholderia cenocepacia K...

Party-switching convergence theorem

Abstract This paper develops a game-theoretic and dynamic framework to analyse how judicial manipulation by governing parties alters political incentives in multi-party systems. The model shows that biased legal enforcement can prompt politicians - even if innocent - to switch al...

What do physiotherapists need to effectively integrate a biopsychosocial approach in treatment of patients with non-specific low back pain? A qualitative analysis

Abstract Background Musculoskeletal disorders, particularly non-specific low back pain, are significant global health concerns with increasing prevalence and a substantial burden on healthcare systems. Physiotherapists in primary care play a critical role in managing these condit...

Agrivoltaics can reduce political polarization and local opposition to solar energy on land

Abstract As solar energy deployment on land intensifies, political polarization and local opposition increasingly challenge its social acceptance. We propose that agrivoltaics – a dual land-use technology that combines solar power generation with agricultural production – can hel...

More than just green: the role of vegetation heterogeneity for species richness and multidiversity in urban green spaces

<title>Abstract</title> Urban green spaces (UGS) provide ecological, social, and climatic functions, yet their effectiveness depends not only on area but also on vertical spatial structure. We present a high-resolution urban green space typology (UGST) for four Swiss cities (Base...

Contagion of Affinity: Predicting CDS Spikes in Global Systemically Important Banks

This paper examines the predictive power of credit default swap (CDS) spread correlations in the context of the 2023 Credit Suisse failure. Using a two-window design, we separate a 50-week pre-crisis period from the final two-week “jump” window and evaluate whether historical mar...

Prospective annual evaluation of sports motor performance, BMI and social index in Swiss first graders over a period of 12 years

Abstract Understanding factors that influence children’s motor development is of major public health relevance, given its association with physical activity, health trajectories, and long-term well-being. This study evaluates neuromotor development alongside environmental factors...