Lepton Flavor Violating Radiative Decays in EW-Scale νR\nu_R Model: An Update

We perform an updated analysis for the one-loop induced lepton flavor violating radiative decays $l_i \to l_j \gamma$ in an extended mirror model. Mixing effects of the neutrinos and charged leptons constructed with a horizontal $A_4$ symmetry are also taken into account. Current experimental limit and projected sensitivity on the branching ratio of $\mu \to e \gamma$ are used to constrain the parameter space of the model. Calculations of two related observables, the electric and magnetic dipole moments of the leptons, are included. Implications concerning the possible detection of mirror leptons at the LHC and the ILC are also discussed.Comment: 9 figures, 36 single-side pages. Updated email addresses and referenc

HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS’ PERCEPTIONS OF THE USE OF FACEBOOK-BASED E-PORTFOLIOS IN EFL WRITING: A CASE IN THE MEKONG DELTA, VIETNAM

Electronic portfolios (e-portfolios) have grown in popularity in ESL/EFL writing instruction for their contributions to students’ writing. However, selecting an electronic tool in e-portfolios is of concern to many researchers and teachers. The combination of Facebook and e-portfolios is a rather new implementation in educational research, especially in high school contexts. Therefore, the current research aimed at exploring (1) high school students’ perceptions of the use of Facebook-based e-portfolios in terms of their contributions in writing, and (2) problems in using Facebook-based e-portfolios in writing. Fifty grade 11 students at a high school in Soc Trang province, Vietnam participated in the research. Both quantitative and qualitative data were collected by using close-ended questionnaire and the interview. Prior to data collection, the students spent six weeks writing on Facebook close-typed groups. The results showed that the students highly appreciated the contributions of Facebook-based e-portfolios in terms of enhancing interaction, giving and receiving feedback, motivation and confidence in writing, writing skills, vocabulary, and grammar knowledge. No significant problems were found in using Facebook-based e-portfolios. The research is expected to shed light on implementing Facebook-based e-portfolios in improving the quality of teaching EFL/ESL writing in high school contexts.  Article visualizations

Examination of Pancreatic Transdifferentiation in the Livers of Animals

University of Technology Sydney. Faculty of Science.Type I diabetes mellitus (T1D) is a chronic metabolic disorder resulting from the autoimmune destruction of the pancreatic β-cells, leading to insulin deficiency and hyperglycaemia. T1D is currently managed by insulin therapy, which delays but does not fully prevent long-term complications. The only cure for the disease is pancreas or islet transplantation; however, due to the lack of available organs and the complications from immunosuppression, transplantation is not widely applied. Gene therapy is one treatment being considered to treat or cure T1D. Our group previously reversed diabetes in several animal models by the delivery of a lentiviral vector (HMD) carrying the furin-cleavable human insulin gene (INS-FUR) using intervallic infusion of the vectors in full flow occlusion (FFO), a surgical technique that was thought to improve the transduction efficiency by isolating the liver from the circulation. The main aim of the current study was to explore the possibility of reproducing the results of the HMD/INS-FUR transduction using less invasive delivery techniques. In order to achieve a high level of transduction and to limit the expression of the transgenes to the livers, the adeno-associated-viral vectors serotype 8 (AAV8) that have a high tropism toward the mouse hepatocytes and the liver specific promoter (LSP) were studied. Two different vector systems: the traditional AAV8-LSP vectors that predominantly allowed episomal transgene expression and the hybrid AAV8/piggyBac-LSP system that could facilitate the integration of the transgene into the genome were used to deliver the INS-FUR gene and the β-cell transcription factors Pdx1 and NeuroD1. The AAV8-LSP-Pdx1 or AAV8-LSP-NeuroD1 transduction could not correct hyperglycaemia in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic NOD/scid mice. The delivery of the AAV8-LSP-INS-FUR led to hypoglycaemia in both the STZ-induced diabetic NOD/scid mice and the autoimmune non-obese-diabetic (NOD) mice. Using the same vector system to deliver various combinations of INS-FUR, Pdx1 and NeuroD1 caused hypoglycaemia in the diabetic NOD/scid mice. The combination of AAV8-LSP-INS-FUR and AAV8-LSP-Pdx1 transduction or the combination of AAV8-LSP-INS-FUR transduction and FFO surgery was ineffective in treating diabetes in NOD mice. The AAV8/piggyBac-INS-FUR transduction could not normalise the random blood glucose levels in the NOD mice, but normal glucose tolerance was achieved. Interestingly, NOD mice that received FFO surgery after the AAV8/piggyBac-LSP-INS-FUR transduction had normal blood glucose levels, normal glucose tolerance and possibly glucose-responsive insulin secretion without the expression of any endogenous β-cell transcription factors. The study suggested that AAV8/piggyBac system may be further developed to become an alternative therapy for T1D