B physics prospects at LHCb

The LHCb experiment at LHC is a single-arm spectrometer designed to pursue an extensive study of B physics and CP violation. In this contribution the physics which will be performed by LHCb is reviewed.Comment: Proceedings - XLIst Rencontres de Moriond, QCD and high energy hadronic interaction

Flavour Tagging at CLIC

We present the performance of the LCFI flavour tagging package in a realistic CLIC environment. The application is demonstrated on the examples of the measurement of the cross section times branching ratio of light Higgs decays to b and c quarks at 3 TeV, a study of heavy Higgs decays at 3 TeV and of top pair production at 500 GeV. All studies are based on full detector simulation with a realistic account of the machine- induced background at CLIC.Comment: LCWS 2011 proceeding

Light Higgs Studies for the CLIC CDR

The Higgs boson is the most anticipated discovery at the LHC, which can only partially explore its true nature. Thus one of the most compelling arguments to build a future linear collider is to investigate properties of the Higgs boson, especially to test the predicted linear dependence of the branching ratios on the mass of the final state. At a 3TeV CLIC machine the Higgs boson production cross section is relatively large and allows for a precision measurement of the Higgs branching ratio to pairs of b and c quarks, and even to muons. The cross section times branching ratio of the decays $H\rightarrow b\bar{b}$, $H\rightarrow c\bar{c}$ and $H\rightarrow \mu^{+}\mu^{-}$ can be measured with a statistical uncertainty of approximately 0.22%, 3.2% and 15%, respectively

Measurement of the Cross Section Times Branching Ratio of Light Higgs Decays at CLIC

The investigation of the properties of a Higgs boson, especially a test of the predicted linear dependence of the branching ratios on the mass of the final state, is currently one of the most compelling arguments for building a linear collider. We demonstrate that the large Higgs boson production cross section at a 3 TeV CLIC machine allows for a precision measurement of the Higgs branching ratios. The cross section times branching ratio of the decays H \rightarrow b^{-}b, H \rightarrow cc^{-} and H \rightarrow {\mu}{\mu} can be measured with a statistical uncertainty of 0.22%, 3.2% and 15%, respectively.Comment: LCWS 2011 Proceeding

Do different multi-segment foot models detect the same changes in kinematics when wearing foot orthoses?

Background: Different multi-segment foot models have been used to explore the effect of foot orthoses. Previous studies have compared the kinematic output of different multi-segment foot models, however, no study has explored if different multi-segment foot models detect similar kinematic changes when wearing a foot orthoses. The aim of this study was to compare the ability of two different multi-segment foot models to detect kinematic changes at the hindfoot and forefoot during the single and double support phases of gait when wearing a foot orthosis. Methods: Foot kinematics were collected during walking from a sample of 32 individuals with and without a foot orthosis with a medial heel bar using an eight-camera motion capture system. The Oxford Foot Model (OFM) and a multi-segment foot model using the Calibrated Anatomical System Technique (CAST) were applied simultaneously. Vector field statistical analysis was used to explore the kinematic effects of a medial heel bar using the two models, and the ability of the models to detect any changes in kinematics was compared. Results: For the hindfoot, both models showed very good agreement of the effect of the foot orthosis across all three anatomical planes during the single and double support phases. However, for the forefoot, the level of agreement between the models varied with both models showing good agreement of the effect in the coronal plane but poorer agreement in the transverse and sagittal planes. Conclusions: This study showed that while consistency exists across both models for the hindfoot and forefoot in the coronal plane, the forefoot in the transverse and sagittal planes showed inconsistent responses to the foot orthoses. This should be considered when interpreting the efficacy of different interventions which aim to change foot biomechanics

The Immediate effects of sensorimotor foot orthoses on foot kinematics in healthy adults

Background: Sensorimotor foot orthoses is an alternative concept, which in addition to mechanical effects, are designed to change muscle activation by altering sensory input to the plantar surface of the foot. However, there is little evidence of how these affect the kinematics of the foot during gait. Research question: The aim of the study was to explore the immediate effect of calcaneal medial heel bars and retrocapital bars on foot kinematics during the stance phase of gait. Methods: Kinematic data were collected from 32 healthy individuals using an eight camera motion capture system and a six-degrees-of-freedom multi-segment foot model in three different orthotic conditions; calcaneal medial heel bar, retrocapital bar, and no orthosis. Vector field statistical analysis was performed to explore the effect of the orthotic conditions over the kinematic time series curves during stance phase. Peak median and interquartile ranges were also reported during the different phases of stance. Results: The calcaneal medial bar significantly decreased rearfoot eversion for the majority of the stance phase and compensatory increased midfoot eversion during the entire stance phase compared to the no orthosis condition. The retrocapital bar rotated the foot externally significantly abducting the rearfoot for the entire stance phase and the midfoot for the majority of stance phase. Significance: The calcaneal medial heel bar and retrocapital bar significantly altered the foot kinematics in a way that may benefit patients with abnormal pronation and intoeing gait