Behind the Paper
The real stories behind the latest research papers, from conception to publication, the highs and the lows
When Fast Food Becomes Identity: Exploring the Eating Behaviors of Egyptian Female University Students
Why do female university students continue eating fast food despite knowing its risks? Our study explored how identity, social influence, emotions, and university life shape fast-food consumption among Egyptian female students.
The Hidden Bottleneck in AI-Driven Oncology: Fragmented Registries
Oncology registries hold enormous promise for real-world evidence generation, yet many remain fragmented, difficult to scale, and poorly integrated with AI-driven healthcare systems. This article reflects on the thinking, challenges, and motivations behind my recent paper in Discover Health Systems.
Beyond the "Plunger": How the Stratospheric Polar Vortex Uses a "Cloud Blanket" to Warm the Arctic
Xia Yan, Xie Fei*, Luo Fuhai, Hu Yongyun, Huang Yi, Bian Jianchun, Zhou Lingyu, Zhao Chuanfeng*. Stratospheric polar vortex shapes Arctic surface climate via a radiative pathway. Nature Communications (2026). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-026-72698-w
Advancing Sustainable Road Infrastructure through Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)
Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) offers a holistic framework to evaluate environmental impacts of road construction materials. Using recycled and secondary materials can significantly reduce emissions, energy use, and resource depletion supporting sustainable, circular infrastructure development.
Dual-vector rAAVrh8 gene therapy for GM2 Gangliosidosis: a Phase I/II trial
This is a dose escalation of a dual AAV vector gene therapy for Tay-Sachs and Sandhoff diseases in which a novel bithalamic infusion process was used. The broad distribution of axonal connections of thalamic neurons enables transport of the normal B-hexosaminidase A enzyme throughout the cerebrum.