Archive for October, 2016

Java House Auditions

JAVA HOUSE Acoustic Show

Join us as we promote HIV awareness and end HIV month with style and class! The Java House show will be held on Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2016, from 7 to 9 p.m.

Auditions

Auditions for the show will be held on Monday, Nov. 7, 2016. from noon to 5 p.m. in the SMC Campus Center, Room 353 (621 W. Lombard St., Baltimore, MD 21201). If you are unable to make it to the audition please send a video submission to snphajavahouse@gmail.com. The deadline for video submissions is Friday, Nov. 14, 2016, at 11:59 p.m.

Submission Guidelines

  • Please include all members that will be performing, along with your respective school
  • Please limit performances to five minutes
  • Feel free to create content in your performance that promotes HIV awareness
  • Students from all of the professional schools are welcome
  • Performers are NOT limited to students of the University of Maryland
  • Auditions and submissions should be half the length of the total performance
  • Please no harsh language or profanity
Laetitia N'Dri Bulletin Board, Collaboration, For B'more, People, UMB News, University Administration, USGAOctober 28, 20160 comments
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DaylightSavings

Dark Danger

While you’re “falling back” an hour to celebrate the end of daylight saving time on Nov. 6, do it with caution. Experts say such time changes bring an increase in safety incidents.

Evening rush hour, enveloped by darkness once the clocks change, is a particular culprit. Drivers aren’t used to the decreased visibility and neither are pedestrians, who might take chances crossing streets when they shouldn’t.

In addition, drivers are drowsier in the darker environment.

UMB’s departments of Public Safety and Parking and Transportation Services advise taking the following precautions this time of year:

  1. Be aware of your surroundings
  2. Don’t walk and talk on your cell phone
  3. Use the walking/van escort service (simply call 6-6882 or 410-706-6882 and a uniformed officer will be sent to your location)
  4. Walk with at least one other individual

If you have other parking or safety concerns, please visit the UMB police feedback web page or the parking services web page.

Chris ZangBulletin Board, Education, People, University LifeOctober 28, 20160 comments
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Fadia Shaya

Shaya Awarded $1.5 Million Behavioral Health Contract

Fadia T. Shaya, MPH, PhD, professor in the Department of Pharmaceutical Health Services Research (PHSR) and director of the Behavioral Health Research Team at the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy, has been awarded a $1.5 million contract from the Behavioral Health Administration, a division of the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, to support the development of programs and trainings to help curtail prescription drug abuse among individuals living in the state of Maryland. The programs and trainings also will aim to reduce the number of opioid-related overdoses and deaths in the state and strengthen both the state and local communities’ capacity to address the overprescribing of controlled substances.

“Communities across United States, including here in the state of Maryland, have struggled for years to develop and implement appropriate, evidence-based programs to help prevent and address the ongoing epidemic of prescription drug abuse,” says C. Daniel Mullins, PhD, professor and chair of PHSR. “Dr. Shaya has spent her career fostering successful partnerships with organizations at both the local and state level to address a range of important issues related to alcohol, prescription drug, and other substance abuse and misuse. We are thrilled that she is continuing this vital work through her new contract and confident that her efforts will have a measurable impact on the prevention of this growing public health crisis across the state.”

Combating A National Epidemic

According to the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, Inc., prescription drugs are the third most commonly abused type of drugs. The National Institute on Drug Abuse estimates that 52 million people have abused prescription drugs at least once in their lifetimes, and reports that more than half of individuals who abuse prescription drugs report obtaining those drugs from a family member or friend. In addition, data from the Youth Risk Behavioral Surveillance System indicates that approximately 14 percent of young adults in Maryland reported using a prescription drug without a doctor’s prescription in 2014.

The Behavioral Health Research Team at the School of Pharmacy strives to help communities across Maryland address substance abuse prevention issues using the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) Strategic Prevention Framework – a planning process that incorporates needs assessments, capacity building, strategic planning, and program implementation and evaluation to prevent substance abuse and misuse. To help curb prescription drug abuse among young adults in Maryland, the team will apply the Strategic Prevention Framework at the state level.

“Our work will be completely grassroots,” says Shaya. “We will establish partnerships with local health departments and other community stakeholders to identify the areas of greatest need and bring prescription drug abuse prevention programs and activities to schools, communities, health care systems, and health care professionals. We will also continue our involvement with these programs long after they have been implemented, evaluating their success and impact on the number of reported opioid overdoses and deaths across the state. It’s truly a full-circle approach.”

Bringing Pharmacists Into the Fight

In addition, Shaya notes that pharmacists will have a unique role to play in the implementation of the plan. “Pharmacists are the medication experts of the health care team, and we look forward to partnering with them to help improve medication literacy and stem the overprescribing of controlled substances across local communities,” she says.

The team is currently conducting a comprehensive needs assessment to learn more about the extent to which individuals living in the state of Maryland abuse prescription drugs at both the local and state levels. The findings from the needs assessment will be used to develop and implement a state-level strategic plan that incorporates prevention activities for both the public and health care professionals that are supported by evidence-based approaches.

“The Behavioral Health Research Team has a long-standing relationship with Maryland’s Behavioral Health Administration,” says Shaya. “We have served as the evaluators and technical assistance providers for two other state-wide substance abuse prevention initiatives, and are excited and appreciative of this new opportunity to collaborate and apply our skills and expertise to address the prescription drug abuse epidemic at both the local and state levels.”

Malissa Carroll Collaboration, Research, UMB NewsOctober 27, 20160 comments
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mcelroy and piscotty

Two Nursing Faculty Receive Fellowship Award

Two University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON) faculty members have received New Nurse Faculty Fellowship Awards, grants funded through the Nurse Support Program II (NSP II) for FY ’17-’19. Assistant Professors Kathleen McElroy, PhD, MS ’10, BSN ’97, and Ronald Piscotty, PhD, RN-BC, both received awards.

Maryland institutions with nursing degree programs are eligible to nominate newly hired, full-time, tenured or tenure-track faculty members and clinical-track faculty for the fellowship. The maximum amount of the three-year fellowship is $20,000. Recipients receive $10,000 during year one, and then $5,000 annually for the remaining two years. Funds can be used to supplement a fellow’s salary, to pay for graduate education expenses, and to cover professional development and associated dues.

NSP II is a statewide initiative designed to address the nurse shortage in Maryland by increasing the number of nurses prepared to serve as nursing faculty. Since 2013, UMSON has increased enrollment by 26 percent in its traditional BSN and RN-to-BSN programs in response to the Institute of Medicine’s report, The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health, which calls for increasing the proportion of nurses with a baccalaureate degree to 80 percent by 2020. Currently, approximately 51 percent of nurses are educated at the baccalaureate level.

McElroy teaches required didactic and clinical community health courses to BSN and RN-to-BSN students. Her research and clinical practice focuses on pregnant/postpartum women and infants impacted by clinical and environmental factors. Piscotty, whose area of expertise is information systems and technology and its impact on clinical practice, teaches core courses to BSN and RN-to-BSN students. In spring 2016, Piscotty, who also teaches informatics courses at the graduate level, taught approximately 200 undergraduate students.

“We are truly grateful for the generous support provided to our faculty members through the Nurse Support Program II,” said UMSON Dean Jane M. Kirschling, PhD, RN, FAAN. “This initiative is instrumental in helping us recruit and retain highly talented and dedicated individuals, who in turn ensure that we are educating a nursing workforce fully prepared to meet the increasingly complex health care needs of Maryland’s residents now and in the future. Drs. McElroy and Piscotty are already making significant contributions to the School of Nursing through their teaching and research, and we congratulate them on their selection as fellows.”

Kevin Nash Bulletin Board, Education, People, UMB News, University LifeOctober 27, 20160 comments
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Cyber Security Awareness Month

Tips to Protect Against Cybercrime

Over the past month CITS has been providing advice on how to avoid the most dangerous parts of the Internet. Below is a summary of some of our best thoughts.

Tips to Protect Against Cybercrime

KEEP A CLEAN MACHINE by making sure your security software, operating system, and web browser are up to date.

WHEN IN DOUBT THROW IT OUT. Don’t click on any links or open attachments unless you trust the source.

MAKE YOUR PASSWORDS long and strong and unique. Combine capital and lowercase letters with numbers and symbols to create a more secure password. Use a different password for each account.

SET YOUR BROWSER SECURITY HIGH enough to detect unauthorized downloads.

USE A POP-UP BLOCKER – the links in pop-up ads are notorious sources of malware.

BACK UP YOUR DATA REGULARLY – just in case your computer crashes.

PROTECT ALL DEVICES that connect to the Internet. Along with computers, smartphones, faming systems, and other web-enabled devices need protection from malware.

MAKE SURE ALL MEMBERS OF YOUR FAMILY follow these safety tips – one infected computer on a home network can infect other computers.

 What Else Can I Do to Fight Cybercrime?

Help the authorities who are changed with this mission. Here is a partial listing:

Chris Phillips Bulletin Board, Collaboration, Education, People, Technology, University LifeOctober 27, 20160 comments
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PTS-Elm-900x600px

HSF III Electrical Work Schedule

Over the coming months, electrical ductbank work will be done to the Health Sciences Facility (HSF) III building.

Phase 1

Work will take place within the HSF III construction site with a slight narrowing of Pine Street in front of the School of Pharmacy from Oct. 24 to mid-November.

Phase 1A

Half of the Josephine Alley, Recycling Center parking lot will be closed for three months starting Oct. 24. Josephine Alley will be closed to through traffic from Nov. 1 to mid-January.

Phase 2

A section of the Lexington Street sidewalk (north side) will be closed for one week on the west side of Koesters Lot. Some parking spaces will be temporarily relocated from Nov. 1 to mid-December.

Phase 3

The Lexington Street sidewalk (south side) in front of Pascault Row and the grassy area along Pine Street will be closed to pedestrian traffic and will be open only for emergency egress from Pascault Row from November through March. Residents need to use the south entrances. One lane of parking will be lost during construction.

Phase 4

One lane of parking will also be closed along the Pine Street sidewalk (east side) from Vine Street to Fayette Street from March to May. The Fayette Street roadbed at Pine street intersection will require lane closures.

Need to Know

  • The west side of the Pine Street sidewalk will remain open at all times.
  • The south side of the Fayette Street sidewalk, adjacent to HSF III, will reopen Jan. 1 with new pedestrian lighting.
  • Demolition of the Carter Center by the hospital can start as early as January. The exact date is still to be determined.
  • This schedule may change based on weather or unforeseen site conditions.
Clare BanksBulletin Board, People, University Administration, University LifeOctober 26, 20160 comments
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Coffee With a Cop

Coffee With a Cop

“Coffee With a Cop,” created in Hawthorne, Calif., in 2011, aims to connect police departments to the communities they serve outside of crisis situations. More than 2,000 law enforcement agencies around the country participate in the monthly events.

At UMB, Coffee With a Cop is held every first Friday of the month in buildings throughout campus. Don’t miss the next gathering – 8:30 to 9:30 a.m., Nov. 4, in the lobby of the School of Nursing.

Mary PhelanBulletin Board, Collaboration, Community Service, Global & Community Engagement, People, University Administration, University LifeOctober 26, 20160 comments
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Student Innovator Network

Being an Innovator Is a Choice

Third-year student pharmacist shares his journey to embrace his entrepreneurial spirit and establish the first entrepreneurship and innovation-driven student organization at UMB.

Earlier this year, I had the privilege of working with a diligent team to implement a grassroots initiative that created a platform for students across the University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) to engage in interprofessional activities focused on entrepreneurship. This initiative led to the formation of the Entrepreneurship and Innovation Network (EIN).

EIN aims to assemble entrepreneurial-minded UMB students to create an ecosystem for innovation through interprofessional collaboration. The organization also strives to embed the talent present within the UMB student body into the larger Baltimore area and biohealth capital region entrepreneurial landscape. Our mission is to educate students about the process of turning innovative ideas into companies by providing the resources and hands-on experiences needed to become successful entrepreneurs through partnerships, networking, knowledge sharing, and inspiration.

Our Leadership Team

EIN’s initial leadership team consisted of an interprofessional group of UMB students:

  • Fahim Faruque (Me): student pharmacist
  • Alex Meltzer: doctoral (PhD) student
  • Ioan Lina: medical student
  • Ben Portney: doctoral (PhD) student

Recently, we launched an Ambassadors Program to help kick off another grassroots movement to engage all of the schools at UMB in our upcoming activities. Travis Clement, a second-year student pharmacist and current ambassador for the School of Pharmacy, plays a critical role in educating pharmacy students about entrepreneurial opportunities offered through our organization. We believe the presence of our entrepreneurship ambassadors in each UMB school will promote an environment for innovation, as the ambassador will act as an accessible liaison for resources.

My Personal Journey

I first realized my interest in entrepreneurship after researching the discipline to apply for the UMB President’s Entrepreneurial Fellowship in fall 2015. Although I was not selected for the fellowship, the application process served as a catalyst, motivating me to connect with a team of like-minded individuals who wanted to initiate social change in the professional culture at UMB. We wanted to help foster an environment that encourages innovation and supports and nurtures aspiring innovators. We also wanted to create a space for interprofessional collaboration, as well as expand access to entrepreneurial opportunities to all UMB students.

Establishing EIN opened my eyes to the joy of designing, strategizing, and operationalizing concepts that carry personal significance and fulfilled my goal of becoming an advocate for fostering indiscriminate access to entrepreneurial opportunities. The thrill of being part of the “growth” of something that I initiated is indescribable, and the process has been invaluable in my professional development. In addition, learning about entrepreneurship concepts and skills through EIN’s “From Idea to Start Up” workshop series helped me tremendously in my leadership roles at the School. I have been able to develop valuable initiatives and programs to aid the professional growth of my peers using the knowledge and skills that I have gained. For instance, I applied some of the lessons that I learned to my role as vice president of the School’s Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy (AMCP) student chapter to establish the AMCP and Career Navigation Internship Prep Series – a program that prepares students to research, apply, and obtain summer internships.

Upcoming Opportunities

EIN offers a number of opportunities in which members can participate. We regularly host the “From Idea to Start Up” workshop series, which covers topics related to design thinking, customer discovery, intellectual property, market research, regulatory considerations, and business financials. We also help facilitate real world experiences for our members, including assisting with the development of teams to participate in entrepreneurship competitions and engaging in projects with startups across the greater Baltimore area. Networking opportunities also are regularly provided for members.

Below are just a few additional ways for UMB students to get involved with our group.

Entrepreneurship Ambassador
First-Year Student Pharmacists Only
Applications Currently Open

Customer Discovery Workshop
Nov. 1, 2016
5 to 7 p.m.
Hosick Hall, Bressler Research Building

Customer discovery is the process of identifying your customer or stakeholder’s needs when designing a product. During this workshop, a specific focus will be placed on “pivoting” based on feedback from your potential end users. This workshop will be presented by Jennifer Hammaker, director of the Maryland Innovation Initiative. Food will be provided. Please RSVP to attend.

Lightbulb Moment Competition
Submission Deadline: Oct. 31, 2016
11:59 p.m.

The School of Medicine’s Office of Student Affairs is inviting entries that represent the most innovative new ideas in the medical field. The winner(s) of the Lightbulb Moment Competition will receive recognition and compete for a prize to support the development and commercialization of an important new product, technology, or concept. If you are looking for team members, or would like to join a team, please review EIN’s sign-up sheet.

1st Pitch Life Science
Oct. 26, 2016
5:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Columbus Center
701 E. Pratt St.
Baltimore, MD 21202

Are you interested in learning how investor pitches work? How about helping boost the startup community by showing outside investors what great ideas UMB students, faculty, and staff have? 1st Pitch Life Science offers presenters and audience members the chance to hear what happens behind those closed doors after an investor pitch. It’s a great opportunity for EIN members to meet investors, talk about their ideas, and enjoy free food. Please RSVP to attend.

Final Thoughts

I believe that, as students at one of the top pharmacy schools in the nation, we need to think like innovators, identify ourselves as innovators, and build the confidence to implement innovation. I strongly encourage students at SOP and across UMB to seek knowledge that will help them become the future innovators of their professions. EIN provides many great opportunities to get started. Our growing network of professionals exists to support students who will take initiative to become innovators.

by Fahim Faruque

Editor’s Note: This post was originally published in Inside SOP, the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy’s blog. It is reprinted here with permission.

Fahim Faruque Collaboration, Education, Technology, University Life, USGAOctober 25, 20160 comments
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Halloween-Dental-Care

Tips for Your Teeth: Halloween Edition

For many of us, avoiding Halloween candy is difficult. (It’s just too delicious!) We all know it’s not great for our teeth, though. If you’re going to eat more candy than usual over the next week or two, you can at least use these tips to take good care of your teeth.

Dr. Gentry’s Tips for Healthy Teeth

  • Eat Halloween candy right after meals. The saliva produced during meals will help dilute the acids produced by the mouth bacteria in response to the sugar and the saliva will help rinse away food particles.
  • Avoid candy that lasts a long time. It’s the length of time the sugar is in your mouth that is the critical factor. The longer the candy is in your mouth, the more damage it can do to your teeth.
  • Stay away from sticky candy. The longer the sugary candy is stuck to your teeth, the more decay will occur.
  • Stay away from gummy bears, sticky fudge, and taffy.
  • Stay away from sour candy. Sour candy is highly acidic and acids can erode tooth enamel.
  • Drink more water. Tap water with fluoride is best. This will help wash away the candy.Halloween baby
  • Eat good, healthy foods and don’t fill up on sugary candy. You need good nutrition for healthy teeth and gums.
  • Stay away from sodas and sports drinks. The frequent contact with the sugary liquid will increase damage to your teeth.
  • Chewing sugarless gum after eating candy will cause your mouth to increase saliva production, which will neutralize the acid in your mouth and wash away food.
  • Brush as soon as possible after eating. If you ate sour or acidic foods rinse with water a few times first to neutralize the acid so you don’t push the acid into your enamel. Brush for two minutes.
  • Floss! Flossing removes plaque and food stuck between your teeth where your toothbrush can’t reach.
  • Visit your dentist regularly to catch dental problems early, and “treat” them before they get really scary. … Remember good oral health is a major contributor to good overall health.

by Philip A. Gentry, DDS
Fellow, Academy of General Dentistry
Dean’s Faculty, Clinical Assistant Professor
Department of General Dentistry
University of Maryland School of Dentistry

Philip GentryBulletin Board, Clinical Care, Education, For B'more, People, University LifeOctober 25, 20160 comments
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Cybersecurity Awareness Month

Calculate Your Own Cybersecurity Risk

For the last month the Center for Information Technology Services (CITS) has been providing you with more than our usual number of warnings about cybersecurity. We hope they have been useful and may have changed some of your online habits to be safer.

If you would like to do a personal assessment of your risk for identity theft, here is an online tool developed by EMC and the National Cyber Security Alliance. Just answer 10 questions about your online activities to calculate your personal identity risk score.

Discover how your online activities – from banking and shopping to the types of social networking sites you visit – may potentially make you more vulnerable to identity theft and fraud.

TRY THE RISK CALCULATOR

Chris Phillips Bulletin Board, Collaboration, Education, People, Technology, University AdministrationOctober 24, 20160 comments
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Road work zone

Greene and Lombard Street Repairs

Repairs to the water main at Lombard and Greene Streets start at 9 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 23.

Need to know:

  • Work will be done 24 hours/day until finished
  • Estimated time to complete repairs is 14 days
  • Lane closures on Lombard and Greene but streets remain open
  • West crosswalk across Lombard may be closed temporarily

Always use caution when crossing the street.

Bob RowanBikeUMB, Bulletin Board, For B'more, People, UMB Go Green, University AdministrationOctober 21, 20160 comments
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Maryland unites

Day to Serve

Employees can use up to four hours of paid leave to volunteer at a nonprofit organization of your choice through Dec. 31. All regular state faculty and staff employees are eligible to participate. Sign up today!

Learn more and check out volunteer opportunities at umaryland.edu/oce/.

Claire Murphy ABAE, Bulletin Board, Collaboration, Community Service, For B'more, Global & Community Engagement, People, University Administration, University Life, USGAOctober 20, 20160 comments
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American Pharmacists Month

Commemorating American Pharmacists Month

Members of the American Pharmacists Association-Academy of Student Pharmacists (APhA-ASP) at the School of Pharmacy have been hard at work this month on several initiatives to celebrate American Pharmacists Month – a national campaign observed every October to celebrate and educate the public, legislators, and other health care professionals about the crucial and dynamic role of pharmacists. We believe that the more patients interact with their pharmacists, the better educated they will be about their medications, which both improves their overall health and decreases total health care spending. To help commemorate this special month for our profession, student pharmacists at the School of Pharmacy are making themselves accessible to the public through a wide range of activities, including public awareness campaigns, flu clinics, and health screenings.

Celebrating an Official Commemoration

This October, American Pharmacists Month had a strong kick off at the School, with both Governor Larry Hogan and Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake officially declaring October as American Pharmacists Month in the state of Maryland and city of Baltimore, respectively. Second-year student pharmacist Charlie Summerlin sent letters and draft proclamations to both individuals explaining how pharmacists are medication experts directly involved in patient care, as well as integral members of the health care team. The letters explained that, with more than 6,000 pharmacists currently employed in the state of Maryland, pharmacists make an extremely valuable contribution to the community.

The statements included within the signed declarations attest to this valuable contribution and will be used throughout the year to promote the profession of pharmacy. In her declaration, Mayor Rawlings-Blake stated that “the City of Baltimore joins with the American Pharmacists Association and the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy in formally acknowledging the valuable services of pharmacists and their ability to provide safe, affordable, and beneficial pharmaceutical care services and products to all citizens.”

With signed declarations from both the governor and mayor, it is our hope that others across the city and state will also recognize the value of pharmacists so that patients and other health care providers better leverage the valuable services that the members of our profession provide.

Spreading the Word in the Community

In addition to securing proclamations from the governor and mayor, the members of APhA-ASP are celebrating American Pharmacists Month in a number of ways. We designed one-of-a-kind coffee sleeves that displayed facts about pharmacists and their role in the community, which we distributed to local coffee shops to help raise awareness of the many services pharmacists can provide. To further spread the word about pharmacists’ roles and services, members of APhA-ASP also plan to host a postcard design competition. For the postcards, students will be asked to illustrate and describe a pharmacist’s role. The winner’s card will be shared in the community.

Lastly, APhA-ASP has partnered with the School’s student chapter of the National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA) to celebrate “Pharmacy Week” at Johns Hopkins. We will host eight different outreach events to provide health screenings and patient education information at five Johns Hopkins outpatient pharmacies. Our ultimate goals are to raise awareness of the important roles that pharmacists play and to promote the profession of pharmacy.

For more information about American Pharmacists Month and other ways that members of the School’s APhA-ASP chapter are promoting the profession of pharmacy, please visit our Facebook page.

by Charlie Summerlin, Second-Year Student Pharmacist, Jennifer Miller, First-Year Student Pharmacist, and Kira Aldrich, First-Year Student Pharmacist

Editor’s Note: This post was originally published on Inside SOP, the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy’s blog. It is reprinted here with permission.

Malissa CarrollABAE, Bulletin Board, Education, People, UMB NewsOctober 20, 20160 comments
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