Study of DiMuon Rare Beauty Decays with ATLAS and CMS

The LHC experiments will perform sensitive tests of physics beyond the Standard Model (BSM). The investigation of decays of beauty hadrons represents an alternative approach in addition to direct BSM searches. The ATLAS and CMS efforts concentrate on those B-decays that can be efficiently selected already at the first and second level trigger. The most favorable trigger signature will be for $B$-hadron decays with muons in the final state. Using this trigger, ATLAS and CMS will be able to accommodate unprecedentedly high statistics in the rare decay sector. These are purely dimuon decays, and families of semimuonic exclusive channels. Already with data corresponding to an integrated luminosity of \ensuremath{1 fb^{-1}}, the sensitivity in the dimuon channels will be comparable to present measurements (world average). The strategy is to carry on the dimuon channel program up to nominal LHC luminosity. In particular the \ensuremath{B_s \to \mu\mu} signal with \ensuremath{\sim}5 sigma significance can be measured combining low luminosity \ensuremath{10^{33}cm^{-2} s^{-1}} samples with those of one year of LHC operation at a luminosity of \ensuremath{10^{34}cm^{-2} s^{-1}Comment: Submitted for the SUSY07 proceedings, 4 pages, 2 figures, 4 table

B+B^+ semileptonic rare decays in ATLAS

We discuss the latest studies on rare semileptonic decays of $B^+$ meson with the ATLAS detector

Rare semileptonic beauty decays in ATLAS

We discuss the latest studies on rare semileptonic decays of $B$-mesons and $\Lambda_b$ at the ATLAS detector

A new strategy for endoscopic staging of laryngeal carcinoma: multistep endoscopy

At present, it is difficult to identify a gold standard for endoscopic staging of laryngeal cancer, especially considering the large number of endoscopic instruments available. We have coined the term multistep endoscopy to describe a method for staging laryngeal precancerous and neoplastic lesions that sequentially uses several endoscopic tools including high definition white light endoscopy (HDTV), stroboscopy and autofluorescence endoscopy. During the period from November 2007 to November 2009, 140 patients with a suspect laryngeal lesion underwent multistep endoscopy at the Department of Otorhinolaryngology at Martini Hospital in Turin. All patients were subjected to a series of endoscopic examinations in indirect laryngoscopy (white light endoscopy coupled to a HDTV camera, laryngostroboscopy, indirect autofluorescence) followed by white light endoscopy coupled to a HDTV camera and autofluorescence in direct microlaryngoscopy. The aim of the present prospective study was to evaluate the utility of multistep endoscopy in the diagnostic work-up of laryngeal lesions. Multistep endoscopy showed a higher sensitivity and "biological" predictive value in early cancer and precancerous lesions of the larynx (sensitivity, 97.9%; specificity, 90.5%) compared to individual endoscopic tools. It allows for better therapeutic planning of superficial lesions and more accurate orientation when performing mapping biopsies on diffuse lesions. In our opinion, more widespread use of indirect autofluorescence endoscopy during follow-up may be warranted to search for synchronous/metachronous second tumours of the upper aerodigestive tract

Repositioning template for mandibular reconstruction with fibular free flap: an alternative technique to pre-plating and virtual surgical planning

Oral malignancies involving the mandibular bone require a complex reconstructive plan. Mandibular reconstruction with a fibular free flap is currently considered the best choice for functional and aesthetic rehabilitation after oncological surgery. This flap can be modelled with multiple osteotomies and can provide bone, muscle and skin for composite reconstruction. One of the most delicate aspects of mandibular reconstruction is the technique of bone modelling; the risk of prolonging the period of ischaemia and not restoring the correct maxillomandibular and occlusal relationships can ultimately lead to a higher rate of complications as well as poor aesthetic and functional results. Recently, there has been rising interest in virtual surgical planning and computer-assisted mandibular reconstruction in pre-operative planning; however, this is not always possible because of the costs involved and the set-up time for the entire procedure. In this paper, we present a simple and inexpensive technique for fibular free flap modelling and repositioning after segmental resection of the mandible; the technique entails the pre-operative preparation of a resin repositioning template on a stereolithographic model. This technique has been successfully applied in four cases: two cases underwent resection involving only the mandibular body, one case involving the mandibular body and symphysis and one case in which a ramus to ramus resection was performed. In this preliminary report, we show that the resin repositioning template is an easy, safe and useful tool for mandibular reconstruction with a fibular free flap