Measurements of Time-Dependent CP Asymmetries in b\to s Penguin Dominated Hadronic B Decays at BaBar

We report measurements of Time-Dependent CP asymmetries in several $b\to s$ penguin dominated hadronic B decays, where New Physics contributions may appear. We find no significant discrepancies with respect to the Standard Model expectations.Comment: 4 pages, contributed to the Proceedings of SUSY0

Branching fractions and charge asymmetries in charmless hadronic B decays at BABAR

We present measurements of branching fraction, polarization and charge asymmetry in charmless hadronic B decays with eta, eta', omega, and b_1 in the final state. All the results use the final BABAR dataset.Comment: 4 pages, contributed to the Proceedings of the EPS HEP 2009 Conferenc

Branching fractions and charge asymmetries in charmless hadronic B decays at BaBar

We present measurements of branching fraction and charge asymmetry in charmless hadronic B decays with η and η mesons in the final state. All results use the final BaBar dataset corresponding to 465 × 106 BB pairs

Recent Results in Charmonium Spectroscopy at B-factories

Charmonium spectroscopy gained renewed interest after the discovery in 2003 of the unpredicted X(3872) charmonium-like state, above the $D\overline{D}$ threshold. To date many charmonium-like states above the $D\overline{D}$ threshold have been claimed. Some of these states do not easily fit the conventional charmonium picture. In this article we review recent experimental results in this field, reported by the BaBar and Belle Collaborations

A new way of comparing DBD experiments

Abstract Many present-generation experiments for the search for neutrino-less double beta decay are taking data or are in a final construction stage. In order to understand what the future of double beta decay search is going to be, a tool for a complete and objective comparison of the different experimental techniques is mandatory

Low-threshold performance and coherent detection of supernova neutrinos in CUORE-0 and CUORE

Thanks to a trigger algorithm based on the optimum (matched) filter technique CUORE experiment will be able to lower the energy threshold and detect neutrinos from type II supernovae via the observation of the recoil energy (few to tens of keV for a MeV neutrino) of a scattered target nucleus (ν-nucleus NC coherent scattering is a phenomenon relatively well known but never observed experimentally). The studies on the sensitivity to supernova neutrino show that a supernova at 7 kpc should be detected with high efficiency

L'influenza dei sistemi elettorali nella stabilita' dei governi

The aim of this paper is to study the consequences of different electoral systems in terms of stability of the executive branch, through their influence on the structure of the party system. The main purpose is to examine whether plurality systems cause stability while proportional ones give rise to instability. I carried out some simulations by using the program Alex4.1. I processed the data concerning the results of the 2006 Italian general election and I defined the Italian political space on the grounds of Benoit and Laver's expert survey. Stability was then evaluated by using Schofield's and Shepsle's theories. The use of the two theories led to different conclusions, which deserve further investigation.

¹²³I-meta-iodobenzylguanidine single-photon emission computerized tomography/computerized tomography scintigraphy in the management of neuroblastoma

Neuroblastoma is the most common pediatric extracranial solid tumor. High-risk neuroblastoma is the most frequent presentation with an overall survival of approximately 50%. ¹²³I-meta-iodobenzylguanidine (¹²³I-mIBG) scintigraphy in the assessment of the primary tumor and its metastases at diagnosis and after chemotherapy is a cornerstone imaging modality. In particular, the bulk of skeletal metastatic disease evaluated with ¹²³I-mIBG at diagnosis and the following chemotherapy has a prognostic value. Currently, single-photon emission computerized tomography/computerised tomography (SPECT/CT) is considered a fundamental part of ¹²³I-mIBG scintigraphy. ¹²³I-mIBG SPECT/CT is a highly specific and sensitive imaging biomarker and it has been the basis of all existing neuroblastoma trials requiring molecular imaging. The introduction of SPECT/CT has shown not only the heterogeneity of the mIBG uptake within the primary tumor but also the presence of completely mIBG nonavid metastatic lesions with mIBG-avid primary neuroblastomas. It is currently possible to semi-quantitatively assess tracer uptake with standardized uptake value, which allows a more precise evaluation of the tracer avidity and can help monitor chemotherapy response. The patchy mIBG uptake has consequences from a theranostic perspective and may partly explain the failure of some neuroblastomas to respond to ¹³¹I-mIBG molecular radiotherapy. Various positron emission tomography tracers, targeting different aspects of neuroblastoma cell biology, are being tested as possible alternatives to ¹²³I-mIBG

Pediatric extraspinal sacrococcygeal ependymoma (ESE): an Italian AIEOP experience of six cases and literature review

Background: Primary pediatric extraspinal sacrococcygeal ependymoma (ESE) is a very rare disease, poorly described in literature, whose diagnostic, therapeutic, and follow-up approach is still controversial. Methods: We describe six cases of pediatric ESE treated at Associazione Italiana Ematologia Oncologia Pediatrica (AIEOP) centers in Italy since 1983, with a review of the literature. Results: All six patients had primary sacrococcygeal disease (two presacral and four subcutaneous) with median age of 10 years. Three patients were males, and two of them are metastatic at diagnosis; 3/6 had myxopapillary ependymoma grade I and 3/6 had classic ependymoma grade II. Five patients underwent surgical resection with complete removal only in one case with coccygectomy. Adjuvant chemoradiotherapy was administered to one metastatic patient obtaining a complete remission. Two patients relapsed at 3 and 8 years from diagnosis: they were treated with salvage chemotherapy (high-dose sequential chemotherapy with myeloablative regimen in one case), surgery, and radiotherapy achieving complete remission (CR). All six patients are in complete continuous remission (CCR) at a median follow-up of 12.8 years. Conclusions: Pediatric patients with this peculiar disease need to be referred to specialized pediatric cancer centers that can provide multidisciplinary treatment after a centralized pathology review. Our experience highlights the role of chemotherapy and radiotherapy in adjuvant and relapse setting. The final prognosis is relatively optimistic, but with a careful follow-up due to the high risk of recurrence