Abstract: Systems and techniques that facilitate precision-preserving qubit reduction based on spatial symmetries in fermionic systems are provided. In one or more embodiments, a symmetry component can generate a diagonalized second quantization representation of a spatial point group symmetry operation. The spatial point group symmetry operation can be associated with a molecule (e.g., a geometrical rotation, reflection, and/or inversion of a physical molecule that results in a new molecular orientation that is substantially the same as the original molecular orientation). In one or more embodiments, a transformation component can convert the diagonalized second quantization representation into a single Pauli string. In one or more embodiments, a tapering component can taper off qubits in a computational quantum algorithm that models properties of the molecule, based on the single Pauli string.

Abstract: A potential energy surface scanning method and system for the analysis of molecular conformational space includes: judge whether the molecule has adjacent dihedral angles. If there are adjacent dihedral angles, judge whether the adjacent dihedral angles are coupled by QM calculations. If they are judged not to be coupled, then perform one-dimensional potential energy scanning. If judged to be coupled, then perform MM coupling judgment. If the MM calculations determine that the adjacent dihedral angles are not coupled, a one-dimensional potential energy surface scan is performed. If the MM calculation judges that the adjacent dihedral angles are coupled, calculate the coverage of the extreme points on the two-dimensional potential energy surface by the combination of extreme points obtained by scanning the individual one-dimensional potential energy surfaces of the two dihedral angles according to the MM scanning result. If the coverage is good, then perform one-dimensional potential energy surface scanning.

Abstract: Systems and methods for tracking biological samples are presented. In some embodiments, intrinsic and extrinsic biological sample data and/or intrinsic and extrinsic patient data are used to label a biological sample obtained at a point-of-care facility. The labeled biological sample may be sent to a processing facility, wherein the labeled biological sample undergoes analysis and/or processing into a labeled therapeutic. The labeled therapeutic is delivered back to the point-of-care facility, wherein the labeled therapeutic is tested for the presence of the additives prior to administration to a patient. Multi-factor validation is performed, including validating the identity of the patient to a container, validating the identity of the labeled biological sample/therapeutic to the container, and thus, validating the identity of the labeled therapeutic to the patient.

Abstract: To facilitate management of the entirety of one or a plurality of clinical laboratories. This information processing apparatus is used in management of a clinical laboratory in which an analyzer configured to analyze specimens is installed. The information processing apparatus includes: a communication section configured to communicate with a terminal operable by a user; and a controller configured to control display of the terminal via the communication section. On the basis of information collected from a plurality of analyzers installed in one or a plurality of clinical laboratories and from apparatuses relevant to the analyzers, the controller causes the terminal to display a screen including an index that indicates a status of the entirety of the one or the plurality of clinical laboratories. In response to the user selecting the index displayed in the screen, the controller causes the terminal to display the selected index so as to be divided in a plurality of categories.

Abstract: A computer system for generating code for use in processing patient test data from point of care devices. The computer system comprises object definition storage storing a plurality of definition objects, each definition object defining a generic function to be performed in response to an output of a point of care device; instantiation data storage storing instantiation data for use in instantiating definition objects as processing objects for specific functions to be performed in response to outputs from specific point of care devices; and a code generating processor for generating code for at least one processing object to perform at least one specific processing function to process an output from a point of care device by accessing at least one definition object in the object definition storage and the instantiation data in the instantiation data storage to instantiate the at least one definition object using instantiation data for the point of care device.

Abstract: A method for improving a physician's workflow by optimizing the physician's access to patient data during a visit of patients to a medical facility includes an electronic medical record (EMR) processor implementing a Health Value Analytics (HVA) component and receiving inputs from EMR/HVA devices. In response, the EMR processor creates value baselines for patient visits, generates a health care value continuum based on a visit of a first patient to the medical facility, and generates a comparison of the health care value continuum to a value baseline, detects a location, on a display screen of the EMR/HVA device, of an EMR record for the first patient; provides the comparison for display in a location adjacent to the displayed EMR record for the first patient; detects replacement of the EMR record with an EMR record for a second patient; and in response to the replacement, discontinues display of the HVA page.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a cloud-based integrated charting system that utilizes a universal mapping service across services and clients to provide insights for the provider into customizations made by clients. Additionally, the system provides content building tools that enable clients to customize content to update models provided by the provider. A mapping service maps model codes corresponding to model concepts to a plurality of standard based concept codes corresponding to client domain specific customized concepts for an ontology of the one or more ontologies. A workflow recommendation is provided that enables a user to chart data and includes the model concepts comprising charting elements. Accordingly, the data is stored in a client database in accordance with the client domain specific customized concepts. Since the model concepts are mapped to the client domain specific customized concepts, the workflow recommendation can be prepopulated with data from the client database.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems, methods, and software for providing a platform for complex image data analysis using artificial intelligence and/or machine learning algorithms. One or more subsystems allow for the capturing of user input such as eye gaze and dictation for automated generation of findings. Additional features include quality metric tracking and feedback, and worklist management system and communications queueing.

Abstract: A sponge counting system for maintaining an inventory of articles used during a medical or surgical procedure, where, in the event an article for which the status needs to be reconciled is left in a patient, the system generates a record that the article is in a partially reconciled state and when a subsequent procedure is performed, the scanner employed during the procedure has the records of the partially reconciled articles associated with the patient.

Abstract: An apparatus for extending longevity, wherein the apparatus includes at least a processor and a memory communicatively connected to the at least a processor. The memory containing instructions configuring at least a processor to receive a longevity measurement pertaining to a user. The memory containing instructions further configuring the processor to select a target longevity factor as a function of the longevity measurement and then identify a longevity treatment plan as a function of the target longevity factor. The memory containing instructions further configuring the processor to generate a longevity treatment protocol as a function of the longevity treatment and the longevity measurement.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable media are provided for patient case and care complexity characterization, and detecting matches of an individual patient's record with collections of other patients' records, based on serial, longitudinal patterns, for facilitating efficient health services utilization, implementing programs to reduce complexity, preventive medicine, and risk management in health care.

Abstract: A method for authenticating a transaction of a controlled substance. The method may include providing a computer-implemented data repository, providing a governing body to approve distributors to form a network of distributors, communicating governing body data, communicating controlled substance distributor data, and communicating distributor administrator data, distributor employee data, and controlled substance recipient data all to the computer-implemented data repository.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for monitoring compliance with therapy prescribed by an aP, characterized by the following steps: registering the pC in the blockchain (100); identifying the exterior packaging by means of a first code (110); scanning of the first code by the dispensing point (120); linking the patient data to the data of the aP (130); starting of an application software by the patient (140); scanning the first digital code (150); starting the video recording (160); ending the video recording (170); transmitting the video recording to the aP (180); validating the documented ingestion (190).

Abstract: A moisture-proof assembly for keeping away from a moisture comprises a housing, a cover, a physiological signal transmitter, a charging device and a desiccant. The housing has an opening. The cover is detachably disposed on the housing, configured to seal the opening, and forms an accommodating space together with the housing. The physiological signal transmitter is disposed in the accommodating space for measuring and transmitting a physiological signal. The charging device is combined with the physiological signal transmitter and disposed together or the charging device and the physiological signal sensor are separate disposed in the accommodating space. The desiccant is disposed in the accommodating space to prevent the physiological signal transmitter from moisture, wherein when the physiological signal transmitter is in need of being charged, the charging device is taken out of the accommodating space, and connected to an external power source to charge the physiological signal transmitter.

Abstract: A method of creating a genetically personalized intravenous or intramuscular nutrition therapy treatment formula includes developing an initial mapping of individual micronutrients to SNPs, symptoms, conditions, and therapeutic objectives based on existing individual scientific literature references that link the specific micronutrient to an SNP, a symptom, a condition, or a therapeutic objective. The method includes receiving an SNP and a symptom, a condition, or a therapeutic objective for a patient, comparing the SNP, symptom, condition, therapeutic objective combination with the initial mapping to identify matching micronutrients, creating a custom treatment formula with the identified micronutrients, and treating the patient with the formula. Feedback data about the formula's effectiveness is received and the initial mapping is updated to account for the feedback data.

Abstract: An exercise feedback provision apparatus includes an acquirer configured to acquire exercise intensity information including either one or both of user biometric information and user movement information, and a controller configured to verify whether the exercise intensity information is in a predetermined range, and generate a control signal based on a result of the verifying. The apparatus further includes a feedback provider configured to output a tactile feedback based on a pattern corresponding to the control signal.

Abstract: Systems and methods for treating a patient. The methods comprise: producing, by a radiotherapy system, a fused model for a superficial portion of the patient's skin by combining structural imaging data acquired using high frequency ultrasound and functional imaging data acquired using optical imaging; generating a treatment plan for the patient based on the fused model; storing the treatment plan; detecting, by a processor, an arrival of the patient at a medical facility using first information acquired from a first mobile device coupled to the patient; obtaining the treatment plan using the first information; and causing a state of medical equipment to be transitioned from a first configurable operational state in which a radiotherapy treatment head has a first position to a second configurable operational state in which the radiotherapy treatment head has a second different position, in accordance with the treatment plan.

Abstract: A system for timing impact of nourishment consumption, the system including a computing device configured to receive a nutrient profile of a subject, wherein the nutrient profile maps physiological data of the subject to current nutrient levels of the subject, determine, using the nutrient profile, a nourishment consumption program, wherein the nourishment consumption program includes at least an alimentary element, and a time of day for consuming the alimentary element wherein the time of day is determined as a function of the nutrient profile and the current nutrient level of the subject, and provide, to the subject, the nourishment consumption program.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for training a fundus image processing machine learning models that is configured to process one or more fundus images captured by a fundus camera to generate a predicted label. One of the methods includes generating training data, comprising: receiving sets of one or more training fundus images captured by a fundus camera; receiving, for each of the sets, a ground truth label assigned to a different image of the eye of the patient corresponding to the set that has been captured using a different imaging modality; and generating, for each set of training fundus images, a training example that includes the set of training fundus images in association with the ground truth label assigned to the different image of the patients eye; and training the machine learning model on the training examples in the training data.

Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods that provide a framework for performing advanced image stabilization. The disclosed framework can operate to capture imagery used and/or relied upon for the preoperative (pre-op), operative and/or postoperative (post-op) stages of a medical procedure. The framework can function by collecting and monitoring sensor data related to a device of a user (e.g., a patient). The sensor data can be analyzed, whereby the framework can determine the most opportune time to capture an image(s)—for example, a computed tomography (CT) scan or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan, and the like. Accordingly, the framework can leverage the determined capture opportunity to perform the image capture and storage of the image data and metadata, as well as perform a confidence score computation that enables validation or verification of the image's authenticity and quality.

Abstract: Systems, methods and computer-readable media are provided for determining conformity to performance of meaningful use measures in human health care delivery. A Bayesian Markov Chain Monte Carlo statistical process is utilized to achieve reliable estimates for such measures despite the small subgroup sample sizes accruing during each measurement period. One embodiment utilizes zero- and one-inflated beta regression that is robust against moderate prevalence of zero or one counts in the numerators for such measurements and determinations of statistical associations with such factors as clinician, care venue, and patient attributes. Based on the determined conformity, a notification is provided to provider clinicians or organization management indicating the conformity and, in some instances, a degree of conformity.

Abstract: Methods, computer systems, and computer storage media are provided for utilizing system diagnostics focused in areas of disruption to improve inventory and workforce management in a revenue cycle management system. Inventory input is received from a revenue cycle management system. The inventory input includes inventory in the revenue cycle management system, types of claims in the inventory, pair agreements of the claims, and a length of time the claims have been in the inventory. Workforce input is also received from the revenue cycle management system. The workforce input includes experience, type of education or technical training, specialty, and outcomes corresponding to a workforce of the client. A portion of the inventory is automatically assigned to an associate of the workforce. The portion of the inventory tailored to the associate based on the inventory input and the workforce input.

Abstract: Provided herein is a care coordination support platform (“CCSP”) computer system including a in communication with a memory device for coordinating care. The processor is programmed to: (i) register a user through an application, (ii) register a caregiver through the application, (iii) receive input from the user or the caregiver defining an event of the user, (iv) assign the event to a caregiver based upon personal and scheduling data of the caregivers, (v) create a care schedule of the user, (vi) display the care schedule to the caregiver, (vii) receive a question regarding the from the user or the caregiver, (viii) convert the question into a query, (ix) run the query against an event database, and (x) transmit a response to the question to the processor.

Abstract: A computer apparatus and computer-implemented process for generating a batch record (BR) from a master batch record (MBR) during manufacture of a batch of pharmaceutical product. In the control software, a graphical analysis interface is provided for processing graphs of spectroscopic or chromatographic analysis. A group of fields in the MBR is assigned to the analysis. The operator wears an augmented reality headset and uses this to capture an image of a graph from an instrument display. The graph image is then processed to extract the graph and its metadata, and then further processed to find peaks and assign attribute labels to the peaks, and thus populate the analysis fields. Overlay images are then transmitted to AR headset to present to the operator the populated analysis fields. The operator then accepts or rejects the populated analysis fields by issuing user interface commands.

Abstract: Systems and methods include determining, by an appointment management system, a condition that an appointment to conduct an intraoral scan at an intraoral scanning site has been missed by a user, automatically generating a message to the user indicating that an at-home dental impression kit can be sent to the user based on determining that the appointment has been missed, and transmitting the automatically generated message to a communications device associated with the user.

Abstract: An inventory management system includes a wearable cardiac device comprising an associated plurality of separate wearable cardiac device components stored as inventory at a first inventory location; a plurality of communication interface circuits associated with a corresponding one of the plurality of separate wearable cardiac device components and configured to facilitate transmission of inventory information through a network; at least one server device disposed at a central location and comprising a processor; and a memory comprising instructions that cause the processor to receive the inventory information from the plurality of communication interface circuits; receive a prescription for a patient; retrieve one or more prescription parameters based on the prescription; locate, in the inventory information, the wearable cardiac device based on the prescription parameters; determine a deployment status of the wearable cardiac device; and select the wearable cardiac device for the patient.

Abstract: A pharmaceutical storage box to be stored in a pharmaceutical refrigerator and managed by a controller, the pharmaceutical storage box includes: a storage portion to store a pharmaceutical, the pharmaceutical having an IC tag attached thereto; and an antenna configured to receive information of the IC tag.

Abstract: A method for continuous data transfer is provided. Data blocks are generated from a continuous data stream captured via a physiological monitoring device by segmenting data from the continuous data stream into the data blocks. A time at which the data associated with each data block occurs is determined and a sample number is associated with each data block. The data blocks are transmitted from the physiological monitoring device to a server. The data blocks are ordered on the server based on the time and the sample number associated with each data block.

Abstract: The present invention provides a novel approach for storing, analyzing, and/or accessing biological data in a cloud computing environment. Sequence data generated by a particular sequencing device may be uploaded to the cloud computing environment during a sequencing run, which reduces the on-site storage needs for the sequence data. Analysis of the data may also be performed in the cloud computing environment, and the instructions for such analysis may be set at the originating sequencing device. The sequence data in the cloud computing environment may be shared according to permissions. Further, the sequence data may be modified or annotated by authorized secondary users.

Abstract: An example operation includes one or more of collecting, by the transport, data from a device associated with an occupant containing an amount of movement of the device and an amount of time elapsed during the movement, and determining an injury level of the occupant based on the data after a collision.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing a universal platform for at-home health testing and diagnostics are provided herein. In particular, a health testing and diagnostic platform is provided to connect medical providers with patients and to generate a unique, private testing environment. In some embodiments, the testing environment may facilitate administration of a medical test to a patient with the guidance of a proctor. In some embodiments, the patient may be provided with step-by-step instructions for test administration by the proctor within a testing environment. The platform may display unique, dynamic testing interfaces to the patient and proctor to ensure proper testing protocols and accurate test result verification.

Abstract: A medical diagnostic kit are described. In one example, a medical diagnostic kit includes a container, and a plurality of medical diagnostic test kits located within the container. Each of the plurality of medical diagnostic test kits can include equipment necessary to perform a particular self-administered medical diagnostic test. The plurality of medical diagnostic test kits can include at least a first medical diagnostic kit adapted to facilitate user completion of a first medical diagnostic test and a second medical diagnostic kit adapted to facilitate user completion of a second medical diagnostic test different from the first medical diagnostic test. The container can include a machine-readable code located on an external surface of the container.

Abstract: Described herein are systems, media, and methods for assessing an individual by generating a classification or regression based on input data comprising metabolite information, protein information, nucleic acid information, non-molecular information, or any combination thereof.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method includes receiving, by a computing device, a particular textual description of a scene. The method also includes applying a neural network for text-to-image generation to generate an output image rendition of the scene, the neural network having been trained to cause two image renditions associated with a same textual description to attract each other and two image renditions associated with different textual descriptions to repel each other based on mutual information between a plurality of corresponding pairs, wherein the plurality of corresponding pairs comprise an image-to-image pair and a text-to-image pair. The method further includes predicting the output image rendition of the scene.

Abstract: Described herein is a platform and supported graphical user interface (GUI) decision-making tools for use by medical practitioners and/or their patients, e.g., to aide in the process of making decisions about a course of cancer treatment and/or to track treatment and/or the progress of a disease.

Abstract: Methods and devices include database management and graphical user interfaces for measurements collected by analyzing blood.

Abstract: The invention relates generally to a system and method for integrating pet health records, and more specifically to an integrated pet health record that is configured to collect, store, maintain, analyze, and provide recommendations about a pet's health from a variety of sources. The system may analyze health conditions for a pet on both an individual basis and in regards to a global population. This analysis provides an assessment of the pet based on pet type, breed, age, weight, geographic location, living conditions, diet, exercise, and more. The system may also generate global statistics, providing various metrics that can be applied to sub-populations of pets. Advantageously, the system is configured to categorize causes and symptoms based on the pet's health conditions and how treatments can be refined to improve outcomes, and transmit that information to a client device.

Abstract: The invention relates generally to a system and method for animal health decision support, and more specifically to a non-human animal health decision support system that is configured to collect animal information, determine a health topic, and transmit a question set corresponding to the health topic. The system may analyze answers associated with the question set to determine a course of action. The course of action may be a recommendation, such as contacting a veterinarian, obtaining a relevant product, making an appointment with a veterinarian, watching for change in symptoms in the non-human animal, and transporting the non-human animal to a clinic. Advantageously, the system is configured to provide decision support and transmit that information to a client device.

Abstract: A method of monitoring building compliance with healthy building guidelines includes obtaining current parameter values for a plurality of different parameters from a plurality of sensors disposed within a plurality of different zones of a building. For each of the parameters, the current parameter value received from each of the plurality of different zones is compared with a corresponding healthy building range for that parameter as specified by the healthy building guidelines. A healthy building dashboard is displayed that includes a summary that shows, for each of the plurality of different parameters, how many zones of the plurality of different zones of the building are within the corresponding healthy building range for that parameter and/or how many zones of the plurality of different zones are not within the corresponding healthy building range for that parameter.

Abstract: A computer implemented method for allocating resources in mental health treatment includes the steps of retrieving individual patient's mental health assessment data mapped to assessed mental conditions; computing a wellness score of the mapped assessed mental conditions; determining an overall treatment efficacy progress with a statistically analyzed gradient of the wellness scores; aggregating over a pool of patients population with similar conditions, a distribution of the gradient of the computed wellness scores of an overall treatment efficacy progress; sampling over a defined range of the distribution of the gradient of the computed wellness scores to determine a correlation coefficient of fixed factors and variable factors; using correlated coefficient of fixed factors and variable factors to assess efficacy of mental health treatment regimens for adjusting available mental health treatment resources to determine a next mental health treatment regimen; and communicating the next mental health treatment

Abstract: A method for predicting an unfavorable outcome for a patient admitted to a hospital, e.g., with a COVID-19 infection is described. Attributes from an electronic health record for the patient are obtained including at least findings obtained at admission, basic patient characteristics, and laboratory data. The attributes are supplied to a classifier implemented in a programmed computer which is trained to predict a risk of the unfavorable outcome. The classifier is arranged as a hierarchical combination of (a) an initial binary classifier stratifying the patient into either a high risk group or a low risk group, and (b) child classifiers further classifying the patient in a lowest risk group or a highest risk group depending how the initial binary classifier stratified the patient as either a member of the high risk or low risk group.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for treating an inflammatory or allergic response associated with a replicating pathogen, such as a virus in the coronaviridae family. The methods include emitting an electrical impulse near a vagus nerve within the patient sufficient to inhibit or reduce an inflammatory or allergic response in the patient, provide relief for bronchoconstriction that results in the tightening of airways and the inability to breath without ventilator support and/or lessen the abnormal blot clotting that develops in some patients. The systems and methods are particularly useful for treating post-COVID conditions or post-acute sequelae of COVID-19 that develop in “long-haul” or COVID patients.

Abstract: Configuration output for use in configuring a patient care device for administration of a therapy to a patient. The configuration output may include at least one code. The code may be used in the verification and/or indication of at least one configuration data component used in the configuration of the patient care device to be used to administer a therapy to a patient. Additionally, a check code for validation of the entry of the code and/or check code may be provided.

Abstract: Systems and methods that facilitate forming and maintaining FRCs with superior stability as well as particle, energy and flux confinement and, more particularly, systems and methods that facilitate forming and maintaining FRCs with elevated system energies and improved sustainment utilizing multi-scaled capture type vacuum pumping.

Abstract: An integrated passive reactor system including a pressure vessel, a containment vessel arranged outside the pressure vessel, and a reactor core arranged inside the pressure vessel. A primary loop operates in full natural circulation. The reactor system is provided with a secondary side passive residual heat removal system including a primary loop heat exchanger arranged inside the pressure vessel and a passive residual heat removal heat exchanger arranged outside the containment vessel. The primary loop heat exchanger is arranged above the reactor core. The passive residual heat removal heat exchanger is arranged inside a water tank which is fixed outside the containment vessel. The primary loop heat exchanger and the passive residual heat removal heat exchanger are connected by heat exchanger inlet pipelines and heat exchanger outlet pipelines.

Abstract: A housing assembly configured to house a reactor is disclosed. The housing assembly includes a plurality of modular walls configured to surround the reactor and a passive temperature control system. The plurality of modular walls includes a first modular wall. The passive temperature control system is coupled to the first modular wall. The passive temperature control system is configured to transfer heat between the reactor and an area around the housing assembly.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a narrow slit channel visualization experimental device and method under a six-degree-of-freedom motion condition. The system comprises a six-degree-of-freedom motion simulation platform, a main circulation loop, a cooling water system, an electric heating system and a bubble monitoring system, wherein the main circulation loop is composed of an S-shaped preheater, a three-surface visualization experimental section, a double-pipe condenser, a pressurizing circulating pump, a voltage stabilizer and related equipment, wherein the cooling water system is composed of the double-pipe condenser, a plate heat exchanger, a cooling tower, a cooling fan, a cooling water tank and related equipment, wherein the electric heating system is composed of a direct-current power supply, a low-voltage power controller and a transformer, and wherein the bubble monitoring system is composed of two high-speed cameras, a PIV measuring system and an electric servo module.

Abstract: A single integrated system for recycling used nuclear fuel (UNF) emerging from a reactor has a decladding vessel separating fuel pellets from nuclear fuel rods via oxidation to produce U3O8. A fluorination vessel is coupled to the decladding vessel to remove hexafluorides from the U3O8 produced by the decladding vessel. An electrowinning vessel is coupled to the fluorination vessel removing plutonium and actinides via electrowinning.

Abstract: A nuclear reactor is designed to couple the load path of control elements with the reactor core, thus reducing opportunity for differential movement between the control elements and the reactor core. A core barrel can be fabricated in a manufacturing facility to include the reactor core, control element supports, and control element drive system. The core barrel can be mounted to a reactor vessel head. Movement, such as through seismic forces, transmits an equal direction and magnitude to the control elements and the reactor core, thus inhibiting the opportunity for differential movement.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for cyclical enrichment, especially of rare earth elements and isotopes. A tube, or ampule, with two coaxially opposite crucibles in fluid communication, is used to hold a source material in vacuum and irradiate the source material to enrich it with product material. Following the irradiation of the source substance (e.g., Yb, enriched with 176Yb) to yield the product substance (e.g., 177Lu), the mixture may be sublimated to remove most of the source substance and concentrate the target material, e.g., by heating the lower part of the lower crucible while cooling the upper part of the ampule, to condense the sublimating source structure on the receiving crucible. Consecutively, the concentrated product substance may be purified, while the solidified source structure may be reused.