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September 2026, Swosu Bulldog Wellness Committee

SWOSU BULLDOG WELLNESS

• Self-Care Awareness Month

• Stress Management Tips for Bulldogs

• Bulldog Resources

• Myth or Fact Quiz

Pharmacist-Led Initiative To Increase Naloxone Prescribing For Patients On High-Dose Opioids In A General Internal Medicine Clinic, Christine E. Leduc, Hyun J. Lee, Polly D. Fraga

The Lahey Journal

Abstract

Introduction:

Opioid overdose is a pressing public health concern in the United States. In 2022, prescription opioids were involved in 15% of all opioid deaths.1 Despite CDC recommendations for prescribing naloxone to high-risk patients, primary care physicians prescribe only 1.5 naloxone prescriptions per 100 prescriptions of high-dose opioids.2,3 Strategies are needed for healthcare institutions to expand naloxone access and mitigate opioid-related harm. This pilot study assesses the impact of a pharmacist-led quality improvement patient outreach initiative on increasing naloxone prescribing for adult patients taking ≥ 50 MME per day of prescription opioids as recommended by current CDC guidelines.

Methods: …

Enhancing Hiv Knowledge And Resource Awareness Among Chief Nursing Officers, Susan Louise Cooper Bailey

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) remains a significant public health concern in rural communities, where limited specialty care, geographic isolation, transportation barriers, and stigma may delay testing and entry into care. The Texas Panhandle is a geographically expansive rural region served by rural hospitals with limited resources. Although area HIV services are available, they are inconsistently utilized. Although chief nursing officers (CNOs) influence practice and care coordination, knowledge gaps regarding HIV guidelines, prevention strategies, and regional resources may limit identification, referral, and continuity of care. The purpose of this doctor of nursing practice (DNP) project was to determine whether a targeted …

Strengthening Health System-Community Partnerships To Address Pediatric Social Needs: A Qualitative Study, Joy Friedman, Melissa A. Alderfer, Kelsey Higgins, Aaron Carpenter, Jennifer Sciolla, Sarah E. Wawrzynski

Department of Pediatrics Faculty Papers

IntroductionStructural and social conditions influence pediatric health outcomes. Successful implementation of social needs screening and referral programs depends on community-based organizations (CBOs) to provide resources that address health-related social needs (HRSN). We explored current practices and perspectives of health care workers and CBO representatives on improving health system-CBO partnerships.MethodsParticipants were purposively recruited from a variety of health care settings involved in HRSN screening and CBOs delivering resources in the community. Participants completed semi-structured interviews. Qualitative thematic analysis was used to summarize data.ResultsTen key informants participated (six health care workers and four CBO representatives). Four themes were identified: 1) mismatches in …

Impact Of The Hidden Curriculum And Unprofessionalism On Medical Student Specialty Choice, Melissa George, Kristie White, Balaram Puligandla, Hailey Gosnell, Amanda Lofgreen, Kristen Johnson, Stephanie Barak, Mary Berg, Satyapal Chahar, John Childs, Barbara Knollmann-Ritschel, Julie Karp, Md, Cindy Mccloskey, Bronwyn Bryant

Department of Pathology, Anatomy, and Cell Biology Faculty Papers

The hidden curriculum in medical education refers to implicit lessons not formally taught, including specialty hierarchies, stereotypes, and misconceptions. Pathology, in particular, is often subject to derogatory comments and the perception that communication skills and patient care are wasted in this specialty. This study explored pathology residents' experiences with the hidden curriculum and its impact on medical student education. A survey was administered to pathology trainees to assess demographic trends and specialties associated with positive or negative perceptions of pathology and included free-text responses. Most respondents reported encountering negative remarks about pathology, spanning all levels of training and practice. Reactions …

Editorial: Invisible Hazards, Lasting Impact: Airborne Toxicants And Systemic Disease From Environmental And Occupational Exposures, Tammy Butterick, Julie Tomáška, Pamala Ginex, Janeen Trembley, Paul Barach

College of Population Health Faculty Papers

No abstract provided.

The Effectiveness Of A Prenatal Educational Programme On Fear Of Childbirth Among Primigravida Women: A Quasi-Experimental Pretest–Post-Test Study, Mozah Al Mamari, Amal Al Hadi, Fahima Al Harthy, Shamsa Al Ghusaini, Kadhiya Al Riyami

Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal

Objectives: Fear of childbirth is commonly reported among primigravida women and may negatively influence labour and birth outcomes. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a structured prenatal educational programme in reducing fear of childbirth among primigravida women. Methods: A quasi-experimental single-group pretest-post-test design was conducted from January to June 2025. The study included primigravida women attending antenatal clinics in selected health centres in Muscat Governorate, Oman. No control group was included. Participants completed the baseline assessment during the third trimester (28–40 weeks of gestation) prior to the intervention. Post-intervention assessment was conducted at two weeks postpartum using the …

Racial Disparities In Off-Guideline Endovascular Treatments For Acute Ischaemic Stroke, Joseph Samaha, Ngoc Mai Le, Ananya Iyyangar, Ananya S. Iyyangar, Rania Abdelkhaleq, Diogo C. Haussen, Jaydevsinh N. Dolia, Ameer E. Hassan, Wondwossen G. Tekle, Samantha Miller

School of Medicine Publications

Introduction: Endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) is an established treatment for large vessel occlusion acute ischaemic stroke, and indications have expanded to include broader patient groups. Whether this expansion has occurred equitably across racial and ethnic populations remains unclear.

Materials/methods: We analysed the SVIN (Society of Vascular and Interventional Neurology) Registry+ (2014–2021) to assess disparities in EVT use. Patients were categorised by race/ethnicity (non-Hispanic white (NH-white), NH-black, Hispanic, Asian, other). Off-guideline EVT was defined as treatment in patients with age >85, pre-stroke disability (modified Rankin Scale >1), distal occlusion, large core (Alberta Stroke Program Early CT Score < 6), mild symptoms (National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) < 6) or presentation >24 hours. The primary outcome …

Intravascular Immune Cell Labeling As A Critical Methodological Tool For Characterizing Cd4+ T Cells In The Lung In Eae, Gholamreza Azizi, Mohamad Rostami

Department of Neurology Faculty Papers

INTRODUCTION: Growing evidence highlights the lung -brain axis as a key contributor to CNS autoimmunity. However, accurate characterization of lung immune cells remains technically challenging because standard transcardial perfusion does not eliminate the lung's extensive marginated intravascular leukocyte pool, allowing circulating cells to contaminate analyses of the lung parenchyma.

METHODS: Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) was induced in mice by immunization with MOG35-55 peptide in complete Freund's adjuvant, followed by pertussis toxin administration. Lung mononuclear cells were isolated after intravascular (IV) CD45 labeling, transcardial perfusion, and enzymatic digestion. Immune cell populations and intracellular cytokine production were analyzed by multicolor flow cytometry …

Development Of An Evidence-Based Clinical Practice Guideline For Glp-1 Medication Management And Weight-Loss Monitoring In Adults, Jeannette Mariela Pena

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This doctor of nursing practice project addressed the lack of a standardized clinical practice guideline for glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1)-based medication management and weight-loss monitoring in an outpatient functional health setting. The purpose was to develop an evidence-based guideline to improve provider consistency, patient education, monitoring, documentation, and treatment safety for adults receiving GLP-1-based weight-management therapy. The Johns Hopkins Evidence-Based Practice Model guided question development, evidence appraisal, synthesis, translation, and implementation planning. The guideline incorporated evidence related to adult obesity management, GLP-1-based pharmacotherapy, lifestyle intervention, eligibility assessment, medication selection and titration, adverse-effect monitoring, follow-up, and documentation. Three content experts—a nurse practitioner …

The Art And Science Of Head Nerve Blocks In Urgent Care Settings., Zoë M Rushetsky, Grace E Lynch, Bhavik Singh, Ambika Jokhulall, Donald Penney

PCOM Scholarly Works

The purpose of this review is to describe the role of regional scalp nerve blocks as an alternative to direct local infiltration for head and scalp laceration repair in emergency and urgent care settings, where tissue swelling from infiltration can obscure landmarks and complicate wound closure. Methods included a narrative review of published studies and procedural descriptions focusing on scalp sensory anatomy, nerve block techniques, anesthetic selection, and safety considerations, along with the development of simplified illustrations and surface-landmark images tailored to outpatient clinicians. Results demonstrate that regional scalp blocks reliably provide effective anesthesia with less tissue distortion and lower …

Gait Characteristics In Older Adults Using The Protokinetics Zeno Walkway: The Atherosclerosis Risk In Communities (Aric) Study, Katherine J. Hunzinger, Laura Skow, Andrea L. C. Schneider, Michael E. Griswold, Xiaoqian Zhu, Farwa Ali, Pamela L. Lutsey, Jennifer A. Schrack, Luigi Ferrucci, Eleanor M. Simonsick, B. Gwen Windham

Department of Exercise Science Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: Gait speed is an important indicator of functional status and health outcomes in older adults. Electronic gait mats are common in research, but stopwatches are more feasible in clinical practice. This study compared agreement between single task (ST) gait speed measured by stopwatch and gait mat and described single and dual task (DT) gait performance measured by gait mat.

METHODS: A subset of Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Study Visit 8 participants completed ST cognitive (serial subtractions), ST gait speed, and DT gait (gait with serial subtractions) on an electronic gait mat; ST gait speed was also assessed by …

When Children Cook: Food Experiences As Inquiry, Identity, And Learning, Marian S. Castillo, Carrie L. Ota

Spark! Innovations in Early Childhood Education: A Research-to-Practice Journal for Educators

This article explores the transformative potential of integrating cooking experiences into early childhood classrooms, arguing that food preparation offers much more than a simple activity. By drawing on classroom narratives such as shared meal preparation and spontaneous scientific inquiry this piece illustrates how cooking serves as a catalyst for wonder, problem-solving, and collaboration. It highlights how food-based activities naturally bridge home and school environments, fostering a sense of belonging and cultural identity among young learners. Grounded in developmentally appropriate practice, this article examines the teacher’s role in facilitating these experiences, emphasizing the importance of responsive planning, observation, and valuing the …

Identification Of Current Ai Usage In The Fields Of Exercise-Related Professions And The Requirement Of Ai Experience As A Hiring Criterion: A Preliminary Study, Michelle Stehman, Matthew Hankinson

Educational Practices in Kinesiology

Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasing within exercise-related professions, raising the question of whether college curricula for these professions should include AI education. This study aimed to evaluate current AI usage and to discover the priority of AI skills for hiring managers among exercise-related professionals. Section one of the questionnaire included questions about current use of AI within exercise-related professions (N = 65), and section two was specific to hiring managers and their position on AI skills as a hiring requirement (n = 32 completed this section). The main outcome of this study was that 32% of exercise-related professionals …

From Dissertation To Deployment: A Unified Software Platform Operationalizing Clinical-Prediction And Sequential-Security Ai For Healthcare, Olsi Shehu, Damiana Teliti, Jasmin Kevrić, Bekir Karlik

Communications of the IIMA

Advances in machine learning for healthcare are abundant, yet most validated models remain confined to research notebooks and never reach secure, usable clinical software. This paper addresses that deployment gap by presenting a unified, security-hardened software platform that operationalizes two complementary streams of doctoral research inside a single, role-based hospital information system. The first stream contributes a clinical-prediction capability: an ultra-hybrid ensemble that couples a quantum-inspired feature transformation, particle-swarm feature selection, and calibrated soft voting for cancer-outcome prediction (96.41% accuracy, AUC-ROC 0.983 on TCGA-BRCA), survival stratification, multi-cancer generalization, and pharmacogenomic drug-response classification (89.31% mean accuracy across 25 compounds). The second …

Efficacy Of A Mouthwash Containing Standardized Centella Asiatica Extract (Eca 233) In Patients With Gingivitis: A Randomized Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Trial, Alisa Awapark, Wanchai Chongcharoen, Mayuree H. Tantisira, Nattapon Rotpenpian

The Thai Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences

Background: Gingivitis is the earliest and most reversible stage of periodontal disease, characterized by inflammation of the gingiva caused by the accumulation of plaque. In addition to removing plaque, mouthwash containing antiseptic or anti-inflammatory could be used as an adjunct therapy.
Objectives: The objective of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of a 0.10% standardized Centella asiatica extract (ECa 233) mouthwash compared to 0.12% chlorhexidine and placebo mouthwashes in individuals with gingivitis.
Materials and Methods: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial was conducted in 75 patients assigned equally to ECa 233, chlorhexidine, or placebo groups. Participants used the assigned …

Cost Analysis Of Integrated Genderaffirming And Sexual Health Services For Transgender Women In Thailand: Evidence From The Tangerine Clinic, Braprut Sawatwipachai, Kunncadah Anuwong, Nittaya Phanuphak, Rena Janamnuaysook, Kritima Samitpol, Sujin Nitadpakorn

The Thai Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences

Background: Transgender women experience a disproportionate burden of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) globally and in Thailand. Integrating gender-affirming care into sexual health services may improve uptake of HIV and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) testing, treatment, and prevention. Cost data are essential to inform program planning and policy decisions regarding inclusion of such services within Thailand’s Universal Health Coverage (UHC) system.
Objectives: To estimate the full and unit costs of trans-led, integrated gender-affirming and sexual health services along the HIV care cascade.
Methods: Costs of Tangerine Clinic services in 2021 were assessed from the provider perspective, using standard and activity-based costing …

Surgical And Transcatheter Pulmonary Valve Replacement In Patients With Congenital Heart Disease, Who Have A History Of Right Ventricular Outflow Tract Remodeling, Indonesia: A Model-Based Economic Evaluation, Andi Nurul Annisa, Puree Anantachoti, Radityo Prakoso, Dafsah A. Juzar, Osot Nerapusee

The Thai Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences

Background: Patients with congenital heart disease who have previously undergone right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) surgery frequently require repeat valve replacement later in life. While transcatheter pulmonary valve replacement (TPVR) offers less invasive reintervention compared with surgery, its high device cost raises concerns about affordability under Indonesia’s National Health Insurance Program (Jaminan Kesehatan Nasional).
Objectives: To compare the cost-effectiveness of surgical pulmonary valve replacement (SPVR) versus TPVR in post-RVOT surgery patients, and to estimate the TPVR price threshold for cost-effectiveness from a societal perspective.
Methods: A Markov model simulated a hypothetical cohort of 15-year-old patients with prior RVOT surgery over …

Comparative Potency Testing Of Diphtheria Toxoid In Guinea Pigs And Mice For In-House Diphtheria-Tetanus-Pertussis And Diphtheria-Tetanus Vaccines, Wanlop Leeden, Supanee Ummalukacholk, Orawin Mangkhaladul, Eakachai Prompetchara

The Thai Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences

Background: Diphtheria remains endemic in parts of Thailand and continues to threaten unvaccinated populations. To strengthen vaccine self-sufficiency, the Government Pharmaceutical Organization has developed in-house diphtheria–tetanus–pertussis (DTP) and diphtheria– tetanus (dT) vaccines. Potency testing of diphtheria toxoid is traditionally performed in guinea pigs; however, limitations in animal availability, cost, and logistics have prompted evaluation of alternative models.
Objectives: To compare diphtheria toxoid potency estimates of in-houseproduced DTP and dT vaccines using guinea pigs and mice, followed by a Vero cell-based toxin neutralization assay, and to assess the suitability of mice as an alternative model for potency testing.
Materials and Methods: …

Development Of Micellar Sprays Containing Rhinacanthus Nasutus Extract For Dandruff Management, Suwipa Ungphaiboon Associate Professor, Sutasinee Ardhanwanich, Ketsuda Wongsuwan, Salwa Yanya, Nattanit Aekwattanaphol

The Thai Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences

Background: Dandruff is a common scalp disorder associated with altered sebum secretion and microbial imbalance, particularly between Cutibacterium and Staphylococcus, which correlates with disease severity.
Objectives: This study aimed to develop and optimize a multifunctional leave-on hair and scalp spray with anti-dandruff, nourishing, and protective properties.
Materials and Methods: Micelles containing Rhinacanthus nasutus extract were prepared using eco-friendly methods, including film hydration and direct solubilization. The formulations were optimized and evaluated for physicochemical properties, drug release, and antibacterial activity.
Results: The optimized micellar spray (BP), prepared through direct solubilization in citrate buffer, exhibited a mean particle size of 192.45 …

Modified Etoposide Loaded Graphene Oxide Nanoparticles: In-Depth Physical And Biological Evaluation For Lung Cancer Treatment, Umesh Kumar Atneriya, Jitendra Sainy

The Thai Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences

Background: Lung cancer is approximately 25% of all death cases in any cancer and the death beats the number of deaths reported by colorectal cancer, breast cancer, and prostate cancer combined.
Objectives: This present study was carried out with an objective to investigate the possibility of graphitic carbon toward making a multifunctional anti-lung cancer nano-platform targeting etoposide (ETS) as a model drug.
Materials and Methods: First, the synthesis of graphene oxide (GO) was made by the Hummer method based on graphite flakes and further modified with folic acid (FA) and polyethylene glycol to make FA/GO/ETS. The formation of FA/GO/ETS was …

Strengthening The Evidence Base For Pediatric Cardiac Ct: Statistical And Technological Considerations, Faizan Faisal

Journal of the Saudi Heart Association

No abstract provided.

Comments On The Letter: Strengthening The Evidence Base For Pediatric Cardiac Computed Tomography: Statistical And Technological Considerations, Lamia Ghazi Jamjoom, Razan Kamal Daghistani

Journal of the Saudi Heart Association

No abstract provided.

Charge Modulation Of Peptide/Nucleic Acid Complexes: An Anionic Additive Enhances Gene Silencing And Crispr/Cas9 Editing By Promoting Intracellular Nucleic Acid Release, Abdulelah Alhazza, Sorour Khayyatnejad Shoushtari, Hasan Uludag, Keykavous Parang, Hamidreza Montazeri Aliabadi

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

Introduction: Small interfering RNA (siRNA) and Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated Protein 9 (Cas9) complexes are effective approaches to temporarily downregulate protein expression via post-transcription RNA interference or permanently altering protein expression via editing genomic DNA, respectively. However, the efficient delivery of these mediators to targeted cells has been challenging, largely due to their anionic and hydrophilic nature, which hinders their interaction with the cell membrane and cellular internalization. Cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs) exhibit dual characteristics as a carrier for nucleic acid delivery, where positively charged components bind to the negatively charged nucleic acid, and the hydrophobic components …

Skin Carotenoid Scores Reflect Immune Status Among Children Living With Hiv In Tanzania, Wilbert Mbuya, Thobias Boniphace, Michael Mwagala, Peter Agrea, Nazareth M Mbilinyi, Nancy E Moran, Andrew R Dinardo, Mkunde Chachage

Children’s Nutrition Research Center Staff Publications

Many individuals living with HIV experience persistent inflammation despite antiretroviral treatment, increasing their risk for cardiovascular diseases, cognitive decline, and other noncommunicable diseases. Carotenoids can inhibit this inflammation by reducing lipid peroxidation. Carotenoid intake and plasma concentrations can be approximated using a noninvasive cutaneous spectrophotometer. This study quantified skin carotenoid levels in Tanzanian children ages 5 to 15 years old (N = 185) both with and without HIV. Over 95% had low to moderate skin carotenoid scores (< 400 units). In children living with HIV, higher viral loads were linked to lower skin carotenoid scores (rho = -0.57, P < 0.001), whereas higher CD4 counts correlated with increased skin carotenoid scores (rho = 0.52, P < 0.001). Overall, carotenoid levels were low and associated with immune status, suggesting that elevated carotenoid scores correlate with lower inflammation in children living with HIV. Future studies investigating dietary carotenoid interventions to support immune function are warranted.

Diversity Among Academic Orthopaedic Surgery Sports Medicine Faculty Across Us Residency Programs, Terence L. Thomas, Alexander Zavitsanos, Claude Regis, John Czarnicki, Harrison S. Fellheimer, Gabriel I. Onor, William Justice, Jalen Broome, Damon V. Briggs, Edward S. Chang, Meghan Bishop, Christopher C. Dodson

Rothman Institute Papers

BACKGROUND: Despite growing attention to workforce diversity in orthopaedic surgery, limited data exist describing the demographic composition of academic sports medicine faculty. This study examines the diversity of sports medicine fellowship-trained orthopaedic surgery faculty across US orthopaedic surgery residency training programs.

METHODS: A cross-sectional analysis of all ACGME-accredited orthopaedic surgery sports medicine faculty was conducted. Faculty data included sex, race, level of professorship, residency attended, year of residency graduation, and h-index. Underrepresented in Orthopaedics (URiO) was defined as non-White and non-Asian by race and all women. Descriptive statistics were performed.

RESULTS: A total of 812 sports medicine-fellowship trained faculty were …

Good Grief: Finding Hope & Achieving Growth In The Face Of Loss, Daniel D. Cowell M.D.

Open Access Books

Grief has profoundly shaped Dr. Dan Cowell's life both professionally and personally. A board-certified psychiatrist, he spent 26 years in the U.S. Public Health Service, including leadership roles across federal health systems, before serving for 15 years as professor and chairman of psychiatry at the Marshall University School of Medicine, and was the Senior Associate Dean for Graduate Medical Education when he retired in 2009.  Throughout his career, he has accompanied individuals and families through some of life's most difficult losses. In his personal life, he has been touched by these losses himself, including the tragic deaths of an infant …

Trauma Work With Horses: Compassion And Connection, Olivia Sagan Prof

The International Journal of Ecopsychology (IJE)

New ways of working with trauma survivors are being sought with the case being made that dominant trauma therapies have relied too heavily on verbal narration and cognitive processing.  Evidence suggests that traumatic experiences are often encoded in sensory, emotional, physiological, and relational systems that may be difficult to access through language alone. This has led to interest in the potential of body-oriented, movement-based, and experiential interventions alongside traditional talk therapies. There are also calls for exploring nature-based therapies as these have shown that engagement with natural environments may help aid the process of healing. Within this context, equine-assisted therapies …

In Silico Analysis Of Momordica Charantia Triterpenoids As Adenosine Monophosphate-Activated Protein Kinase Ligands For Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Therapy, Anita Dwi Puspitasari

Chimica et Natura Acta

Type 2 diabetes mellitus continues to rise and calls for safe therapeutic leads. This study assessed the potential of triterpenoids from bitter melon (Momordica charantia) as AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) ligands at the ATP-binding site through an in silico approach. AMPK (PDB ID: 4QFG) was prepared in YASARA; nine M. charantia triterpenoids and metformin were docked in PLANTS. Redocking of staurosporine validated the protocol (RMSD 0.2376 Å; ≤2.0 Å). Kuguacin J (-89.9934), Karavilagenin B ( 86.4084), and Kuguacin R (-85.8514) yielded lower (more favorable) docking scores than metformin (-56.5325) and interacted with hinge residues (Val96 and Glu94/Glu100). As expected, the …

Characterization Of An Open-Channel Structure And Lateral Conduction Pathway In The Cation-Selective Pentameric Ligand-Gated Ion Channel, Elic, Mark J Arcario, Elizabeth J Wu-Chen, Yuna Shim, Jérôme Hénin, Grace Brannigan, Wayland W L Cheng

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Open-channel structures of multiple pentameric ligand-gated ion channels (pLGICs) have been determined, including the prokaryotic model pLGIC, Erwinia ligand-gated ion channel (ELIC). For many of these structures, it remains uncertain whether they represent a physiologic open-channel state because the conditions used for structure determination do not match those of functional measurements in cell membranes. Here, MD simulation is used to examine the ion conduction properties of the ELIC open-channel structure, which was determined using a non-desensitizing mutant called ELIC5. Results from simulations show that the pore remains stably open on the microsecond timescale, but computational electrophysiology measurements demonstrate a large …