Leptonic Decays at BABAR

We present recent results on leptonic B decays using data collected by the BaBar detector at the PEP-II asymmetric-energy e+e- collider at the Stanford Linear Accelerator Center. We report searches for the B -> tau nu decay, based on two statistically independent data samples.Comment: 4 pages, 3 eps figures, Submitted for the SUSY07 proceeding

Leptonic Decays at BABAR

We present recent results on leptonic B decays using data collected by the BaBar detector at the PEP-II asymmetric-energy e+e- collider at the Stanford Linear Accelerator Center. We report searches for the B{sup +} {yields} {tau}{sup +}{nu} decay based on two statistically independent data samples

Computing at Belle II

AbstractThe existence of large matter-antimatter asymmetry (CP violation) in the b-quark system as predicted in the Kobayashi-Maskawa theory was established by the B-Factory experiments, Belle and BaBar. However, this cannot explain the magnitude of the matter-antimatter asymmetry of the universe we live in today. This indicates undiscovered new physics exists. The Belle II experiment, the next generation of the B-Factory, is expected to reveal the new physics by accumulating 50 times more data (∼50ab−1) than Belle by 2023. The Belle II computing system has to handle an amount of beam data eventually corresponding to several tens of PetaByte per year under an operation of the SuperKEKB accelerator with a designed instantaneous luminosity. Under this situation, it cannot be expected that one site, KEK, will be able to provide all computing resources for the whole Belle II collaboration including the resources not only for the raw data processing but also for the MC production and physics analysis done by users. In order to solve this problem, Belle II employed the distributed computing system based on DIRAC, which provides us the interoperability of heterogeneous computing systems such as grids with different middleware, clouds and the local computing clusters. Since the last year, we performed the MC mass production campaigns to confirm the feasibility and find out the possible bottleneck of our computing system. In parallel, we also started the data transfer challenge through the transpacific and transatlantic networks. This presentation describes the highlights of the Belle II computing and the current status. We will also present the experience of the latest MC production campaign in 2014

Assessment of congenital coronary artery fistulas by transesophageal color Doppler echocardiography

PURPOSE: Coronary angiography is the gold standard for imaging the coronary tree, but the relation of coronary artery fistulas to other structures, and their origin and course, may not be apparent. We evaluated the ability of multiplane color Doppler transesophageal echocardiography to identify coronary fistulas. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Twenty-one patients with angiographically confirmed coronary artery fistulas were investigated by transesophageal echocardiography in four Italian hospitals between January 1997 and May 2001. RESULTS: Transesophageal echocardiography correctly diagnosed fistulous connection in all 21 patients. This included 6 patients with connections from the left circumflex artery (into the right chambers of the heart in 5 patients, and into the left ventricle in 1 patient), 10 patients with a fistula arising from the left anterior descending artery or left main coronary artery (with drainage into the right ventricle or main pulmonary artery), and 5 patients with a fistula from the right coronary artery (with drainage sites in the lateral aspect of the right ventricle, the low posterior right atrium, or the superior vena cava). In 4 of the 21 patients, angiography did not identify the precise site of a fistula into the coronary sinus or right ventricle. CONCLUSION: Color Doppler transesophageal echocardiography is useful in the diagnosis and in the precise localization of coronary artery fistulas

Standard model anomalies: Lepton flavour non-universality and lepton g-2

We critically analyze the body of results that hints to the existence of New Physics from possible violations of lepton universality observed by the LHCb experiment in the $\mu/e$ ratios $R_{K}$ and $R_{K^*}$ to the $g-2$ lepton anomalies. The analysis begins with a theoretical, in depth, study of the $\mu/e$ ratios $R_{K}$ and $R_{K^*}$ as well as the process $B_s \rightarrow \mu^+ \mu^-$. Here we consider the impact of complex Wilson coefficients and derive constraints on their imaginary and real parts. We then move to a comprehensive comparison with experimental results. We show that, by fitting a single Wilson coefficient, the deviations from the Standard Model are at the $4.7\sigma$ level when including only the hadronic insensitive observables while it increases to $6.1\sigma$ when including also the hadronic sensitive ones. When switching on all relevant Wilson coefficients and combining both hadronic sensitive and insensitive data into the fit, the deviation from the Standard Model peaks at 7.2$\sigma$ and decreases at the $4.9\sigma$ level if we assume that the central values of $R_K$ and $R_K^{\ast}$ are taken to be unity. We further estimate the non-perturbative long distance hadronic contributions and show that their inclusion still requires New Physics to fit the data. We then introduce the $g-2$ lepton anomalies results. Different theoretical models are considered that can explain the discrepancies from the Standard Model. In the final part of our work we estimate the impact of the forthcoming data from LHCb (coming from LHC Run3) and Belle II, when it will have accumulated about $5~ab^{-1}$

Design of 2D chitosan scaffolds via electrochemical structuring

Chitosan (CS) is a versatile biopolymer whose morphological and chemico-physical properties can be designed for a variety of biomedical applications. Taking advantage of its electrolytic nature, cathodic polarization allows CS deposition on electrically conductive substrates, resulting in thin porous structures with tunable morphology. Here we propose an easy method to obtain CS membranes with highly oriented micro-channels for tissue engineering applications, relying on simple control of process parameters and cathodic substrate geometry. Cathodic deposition was performed on two different aluminum grids in galvanostatic conditions at 6.25 mA cm(-2) from CS solution [1g L(-1)] in acetic acid (pH 3.5). Self-standing thin scaffolds were cross linked either with genipin or epichlorohydrin, weighted, and observed by optical and electron microscopy. Swelling properties at pH 5 and pH 7.4 have been also investigated and tensile tests performed on swollen samples at room temperature. Finally, direct and indirect assays have been performed to evaluate the cytotoxicity at 24 and 72 h. Thin scaffolds with two different oriented porosities (1000 m and 500 m) have been successfully fabricated by electrochemical techniques. Both cross-linking agents did not affected the mechanical properties and cytocompatibility of the resulting structures. Depending on the pH, these structures show interesting swelling properties that can be exploited for drug delivery systems. Moreover, thanks to the possibility of controlling the porosity and the micro-channel orientation, they should be used for the regeneration of tissues requiring a preferential cells orientation, e.g., cardiac patches or ligament regeneration

Acute diverticulitis management: evolving trends among Italian surgeons. A survey of the Italian Society of Colorectal Surgery (SICCR)

Acute diverticulitis (AD) is associated with relevant morbidity/mortality and is increasing worldwide, thus becoming a major issue for national health systems. AD may be challenging, as clinical relevance varies widely, ranging from asymptomatic picture to life-threatening conditions, with continuously evolving diagnostic tools, classifications, and management. A 33-item-questionnaire was administered to residents and surgeons to analyze the actual clinical practice and to verify the real spread of recent recommendations, also by stratifying surgeons by experience. CT-scan remains the mainstay of AD assessment, including cases presenting with recurrent mild episodes or women of child-bearing age. Outpatient management of mild AD is slowly gaining acceptance. A conservative management is preferred in non-severe cases with extradigestive air or small/non-radiologically drainable abscesses. In severe cases, a laparoscopic approach is preferred, with a non-negligible number of surgeons confident in performing emergency complex procedures. Surgeons are seemingly aware of several options during emergency surgery for AD, since the rate of Hartmann procedures does not exceed 50% in most environments and damage control surgery is spreading in life-threatening cases. Quality of life and history of complicated AD are the main indications for delayed colectomy, which is mostly performed avoiding the proximal vessel ligation, mobilizing the splenic flexure and performing a colorectal anastomosis. ICG is spreading to check anastomotic stumps' vascularization. Differences between the two experience groups were found about the type of investigation to exclude colon cancer (considering the experience only in terms of number of colectomies performed), the size of the peritoneal abscess to be drained, practice of damage control surgery and the attitude towards colovesical fistula