The scientific potential and technological challenges of the High-Luminosity Large Hadron Collider program.

We present an overview of the High-Luminosity (HL-LHC) program at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC), its scientific potential and technological challenges for both the accelerator and detectors. The HL-LHC program is expected to start circa 2027 and aims to increase the integrated luminosity delivered by the LHC by an order of magnitude at the collision energy of 14 TeV. This requires upgrades to the injector system, accelerator complex and luminosity levelling. The two experiments, ATLAS and CMS, require substantial upgrades to most of their systems in order to cope with the increased interaction rate, and much higher radiation levels than at the current LHC. We present selected examples based on novel ideas and technologies for applications at a hadron collider. Both experiments will replace their tracking systems. We describe the ATLAS pixel detector upgrade featuring novel tilted modules, and the CMS Outer Tracker upgrade with a new module design enabling use of tracks in the level-1 trigger system. CMS will also install state-of-the-art highly segmented calorimeter endcaps. Finally, we describe new picosecond precision timing detectors of both experiments. In addition, we discuss how the upgrades will enhance the physics performance of the experiments, and solve the computing challenges posed by the expected large data sets. The physics program of the HL-LHC is focused on precision measurements probing the limits of the Standard Model (SM) of particle physics and discovering new physics. We present a selection of studies that have been carried out to motivate the HL-LHC program. A central topic of exploration will be the characterization of the Higgs boson. The large HL-LHC data samples will extend the sensitivity of searches for new particles or new interactions whose existence has been hypothesized in order to explain shortcomings of the SM. Finally, we comment on the nature of large scientific collaborations.

Utilization of a Standardized Post-Occupancy Evaluation to Assess the Guiding Principles of a Major Academic Medical Center.

Facility planning for healthcare organizations has become increasingly important in recent years, due primarily to the complicated needs of patient rooms and the escalating pressure to provide high-quality care to satisfy patients. Concurrently, there has been a considerable development in the field of evidence-based design (EBD) on the impact the healthcare environment has on patients and the operations of clinical staff. Although tools are being developed to assist in measuring EBD principles, they have not been universally adopted by organizations regarding how they either develop or assess healthcare facilities. This case study focuses on our attempt to implement an internal facilities evaluation process and a Post-Occupancy Evaluation (POE) on a major Academic Medical Center's (AMC) new bed tower. An assembled auditing team comprised of diverse professional healthcare backgrounds performed an audit on three patient rooms using a Center for Health Design POE Questionnaire. The results of this evaluation were then compared to the guiding principles developed for the hospital during its design. Results indicated that the project narrowly missed the threshold score agreed upon by the AMC's facilities leadership. This project demonstrated the difficulty in implementing a POE without prior experience, while highlighting the value of a standardized evaluation tool to assess past and future facilities projects.

Recreational Snow-Sports Injury Risk Factors and Countermeasures: A Meta-Analysis Review and Haddon Matrix Evaluation.

BACKGROUND: Snow sports (alpine skiing/snowboarding) would benefit from easily implemented and cost-effective injury prevention countermeasures that are effective in reducing injury rate and severity. OBJECTIVE: For snow sports, to identify risk factors and to quantify evidence for effectiveness of injury prevention countermeasures. METHODS: Searches of electronic literature databases to February 2014 identified 98 articles focused on snow sports that met the inclusion criteria and were subsequently reviewed. Pooled odds ratios (ORs) with 90% confidence intervals (CIs) and inferences (percentage likelihood of benefit/harm) were calculated using data from 55 studies using a spreadsheet for combining independent groups with a weighting factor based on quality rating scores for effects. RESULTS: More experienced skiers and snowboarders are more likely to sustain an injury as a result of jumps, while beginners sustain injuries primarily as a result of falls. Key risk factors that countermeasure interventions should focus on include, beginner skiers (OR 2.72; 90% CI 2.15-3.44, 99% most likely harmful), beginner snowboarders (OR 2.66; 90% CI 2.08-3.40, 99% harmful), skiers/snowboarders who rent snow equipment (OR 2.58; 90% CI 1.98-3.37, 99% harmful) and poor visibility due to inclement weather (OR 2.69; 90% CI 1.43-5.07, 97% harmful). Effective countermeasures include helmets for skiers/snowboarders to prevent head injuries (OR 0.58; 90% CI 0.51-0.66, 99% most likely beneficial), and wrist guards for snowboarders to prevent wrist injuries (OR 0.33; 90% CI 0.23-0.47, 99% beneficial). DISCUSSION: The review identified key risk factors for snow-sport injuries and evaluated the evidence for the effectiveness of existing injury prevention countermeasures in recreational (general public use of slopes, not racing) snow sports using a Haddon's matrix conceptual framework for injury causation (host/snow-sport participant, agent/mechanism and environment/community). CONCLUSION: Best evidence for the effectiveness of injury prevention countermeasures in recreational snow sports was for the use of helmets and wrist guards and to address low visibility issues via weather reports and signage.