def join_cuts(*list_of_cuts):
    """Joins list of cuts (strings) into something ROOT can handle.
    Example:  given ('1<2','','5>4') returns '1<2&&5>4'"""
    list_of_nonempty_cuts = []
    for cut in list_of_cuts:
        if cut:
            list_of_nonempty_cuts.append(cut)
    return '&&'.join(list_of_nonempty_cuts)