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The Seven Prerequisites For Life, Jon Karafin Aug 2009

The Seven Prerequisites For Life, Jon Karafin

Theses

The Seven Prerequisites for Life is a biological sculpture that exhibits all of the main functions of a natural organism: growth, evolution, metabolism, response, reproduction, order, and regulation. Exhibited in Rochester, New York in December 2007, this sculpture has attained recognition in local news media and the internationally syndicated Ripley's Believe It or Not for its innovation in the field of art-science integration. The following thesis explores my artistic motivations behind this endeavor, traversing from early fascination with magic through more mature investigations into the relationship between the fine arts, sciences, and mathematics. Intertwined with my enduring attraction to photography …

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A Segmented Aperture Space Telescope Modeling Tool And Its Application To Remote Sensing As Understood Through Image Quality And Image Utility, Michael E. Zelinski Aug 2009

A Segmented Aperture Space Telescope Modeling Tool And Its Application To Remote Sensing As Understood Through Image Quality And Image Utility, Michael E. Zelinski

Theses

The remote sensing community is constantly pushing technology forward to achieve bet- ter system performance, this is often done by improving signal-to-noise ratio and spatial and spectral resolution. However, improving one design parameter (such as spatial resolution) could detract from another (such as signal-to-noise). A flexible imaging system simulation tool capable of modeling the effects of changes in system parameters would be a great asset to design engineers. In words, this tool would manipulate a "perfect" image and produce an output image identical to one physically created by the imaging system. Having such a tool available would make it possible …

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A Low-Signal-To-Noise-Ratio Sensor Framework Incorporating Improved Nighttime Capabilities In Dirsig, Anthony P. Rizzuto Aug 2009

A Low-Signal-To-Noise-Ratio Sensor Framework Incorporating Improved Nighttime Capabilities In Dirsig, Anthony P. Rizzuto

Theses

When designing new remote sensing systems, it is difficult to make apples-to-apples comparisons between designs because of the number of sensor parameters that can affect the final image. Using synthetic imagery and a computer sensor model allows for comparisons to be made between widely different sensor designs or between competing design parameters. Little work has been done in fully modeling low-SNR systems end-to-end for these types of comparisons. Currently DIRSIG has limited capability to accurately model nighttime scenes under new moon conditions or near large cities. An improved DIRSIG scene modeling capability is presented that incorporates all significant sources of …

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An Examination Of Scent-Marking, Individual Odors, And Individual Discrimination In The Raccoon (Procyon Lotor)., Laura Alice Kent Aug 2009

An Examination Of Scent-Marking, Individual Odors, And Individual Discrimination In The Raccoon (Procyon Lotor)., Laura Alice Kent

Theses

This study had three objectives: 1) to characterize the patterns of scent-marking in captive raccoons; 2) to determine if wild-trapped raccoons can discriminate individual differences in the odors of urine, feces or anal sac secretions; 3) to analyze the variation in chemical composition of urine samples among individuals. I observed five raccoons living in a semi-natural enclosure at the Henry Doorly Zoo in Omaha, Nebraska and recorded all behaviors related to scent-marking. For the studies on individual differences and discrimination through odors, I used the familiarization-discrimination technique with raccoons housed in conditions that approximated their natural environment. In the chemical …

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Microplasma Mems Device: Its Design, Fabrication And Application In Hydrogen Generation For Fuel Cells, Bindumadhav Sabnavis Aug 2009

Microplasma Mems Device: Its Design, Fabrication And Application In Hydrogen Generation For Fuel Cells, Bindumadhav Sabnavis

Theses

This project presents the design, fabrication, characterization and applications of a MEMS (Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems) device that generates microplasma at atmospheric pressure. Two types of the devices were conceived, characterized and tested while different carrier gases were employed. The device performance was first characterized by current-voltage (I-V) measurements. A mixture of carrier gas and water vapor was then introduced; the gas resultants were analyzed with Optical Emission Spectroscopy (OES). The spectra shows atomic hydrogen peaks, as the evidence that the microplasma dissociates hydrogen from water vapor. The resultants from the device were sent to a PEM hydrogen fuel cell for the …

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3d Head Motion, Point-Of-Regard And Encoded Gaze Fixations In Real Scenes: Next-Generation Portable Video-Based Monocular Eye Tracking, Susan M. Munn Aug 2009

3d Head Motion, Point-Of-Regard And Encoded Gaze Fixations In Real Scenes: Next-Generation Portable Video-Based Monocular Eye Tracking, Susan M. Munn

Theses

Portable eye trackers allow us to see where a subject is looking when performing a natural task with free head and body movements. These eye trackers include headgear containing a camera directed at one of the subject's eyes (the eye camera) and another camera (the scene camera) positioned above the same eye directed along the subject's line-of-sight. The output video includes the scene video with a crosshair depicting where the subject is looking -- the point-of-regard (POR) -- that is updated for each frame. This video may be the desired final result or it may be further analyzed to obtain …

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The Predictive Utility Of The Model Of Multiple Identity Tracking In Air Traffic Control Performance, Ryan Hope Aug 2009

The Predictive Utility Of The Model Of Multiple Identity Tracking In Air Traffic Control Performance, Ryan Hope

Theses

This paper reports an experiment designed to investigate whether the Model of Multiple Identity Tracking can be use to predict air traffic controller performance in terms of situation awareness. The experiment tests a number of predictions derived from the Model of Multiple Identity Tracking. This model posits that when tracking multiple moving objects, the location of 4-5 objects can be acquired in parallel but the identification of any one target needs serial attention. While one object is being identified, an error factor associated with the location of all other objects increases with respect to an objects speed and the amount …

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Assembly & Jointure: A Tectonics Of Place & Structure In The Mississippi Heartland Delta, Matthew J. Pica Aug 2009

Assembly & Jointure: A Tectonics Of Place & Structure In The Mississippi Heartland Delta, Matthew J. Pica

Theses

The structure can be considered the essence of an architectural solution. However, it is often a forgotten aspect of architecture that isn’t always expressed to its highest potential, commonly left hidden within or behind the façade or the interior finishes. The main question was how the two separate fields could be brought together conceptually to create a project that paired out the ideas to build greater conceptual depth and a possible totality of ideas thus forming an architectonic of knowledge. The design and hands-on building aspect of furniture design as well as that of structural building design have both been …

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Computer 30 Models Of Pulmonary Epithelium And Endothelium Cross Sections And Alveoli Across A Septum, Valerie Henry Aug 2009

Computer 30 Models Of Pulmonary Epithelium And Endothelium Cross Sections And Alveoli Across A Septum, Valerie Henry

Theses

The first portion of the project deals with creating three-dimensional computer generated models for the use in lung/particle studies. The models are to be proportional, to scale, and representative of the real structures. The models were created using Autodesk Maya 2008. The structures created are cross-sections of an alveolar epithelium and a capillary endothelium as they are found on either side of the respiratory basement membrane, and two alveoli with the septa! wall between. The models of the cellular cross-section include the cytoskeletal components, vesicles, and cellular membrane. The filaments of the cytoskeleton (microfilament, intermediate filament, microtubule) have been made …

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The State Of Media Education Implementation In Rochester, Ny K-12 Schools, Lydia S. Palmer Aug 2009

The State Of Media Education Implementation In Rochester, Ny K-12 Schools, Lydia S. Palmer

Theses

Through a series of interviews with education professionals in the Rochester, New York, area, this study assessed the status of media education programs in the area's schools. It focused on curricula currently in place in three grade level spans, facilities and resources available to students, and the degree to which public and private/faith-based schools differ in their implementation of media education programs.

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Creating Furniture Inspired By Building A Wooden Canoe, Brian Bright Aug 2009

Creating Furniture Inspired By Building A Wooden Canoe, Brian Bright

Theses

Creating Furniture Inspired by Building a Wooden Canoe. This is much more than what the title implies and quite different than what I, the artist, had originally set out to achieve. What it became was an exploration into what motivates me to create and a realization and understanding of my personal aesthetic. Through the process of building a traditional wooden canoe, I explore what it is that motivates me to design and build the objects I create. Through the successes and failures of the furniture I chose to create, I gained an understanding of the importance of our everyday experiences, …

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Assessment Of K-12 Educators’ Awareness And Need For Online Self-Publishing Services In The Classroom, Vincent J. Gargiulo Aug 2009

Assessment Of K-12 Educators’ Awareness And Need For Online Self-Publishing Services In The Classroom, Vincent J. Gargiulo

Theses

This thesis surveyed K-12 educators to gauge their comfort level and awareness with online self-publishing services along with required skill sets, testing whether K-12 educators are taking advantage of online self-publishing within the classroom. If educators were to adopt online self-publishing to create material for the students, there is a potential new market for the Print-On-Demand industry. The experimental design involved the creation of an online survey taken by K-12 educators across the United States. The survey was used to gauge respondent comfort level with online self-publishing skills for personal and school use. Their opinions on collaboration with other educators …

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Investigation Of Defects Formed By Ion Implantation Of H2+ Into Silicon, Patrick Whiting Aug 2009

Investigation Of Defects Formed By Ion Implantation Of H2+ Into Silicon, Patrick Whiting

Theses

Ion cutting achieved by the implantation of hydrogen or the co-implantation of hydrogen and helium is among the most common methods for the formation of Silicon on Insulator (SOI) structures used in the semiconductor industry. In this method, hydrogen is implanted into silicon at a high fluence and is heated in order to induce and exfoliation event. During this exfoliation event, a silicon wafer is cleaved along the depth at which the maximum damage concentration occurs, and the cleaved material bonds chemically to any underlying material being used as a handle substrate. The ion implantation process induces a variety of …

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Synthesis Of 5-Halo-3-Methoxy-Salicylaldiminato Nickel Catalysts And Their Use For Ethylene Polymerization In Organic And Aqueous Media, Nikhil Avinash Kolhatkar Aug 2009

Synthesis Of 5-Halo-3-Methoxy-Salicylaldiminato Nickel Catalysts And Their Use For Ethylene Polymerization In Organic And Aqueous Media, Nikhil Avinash Kolhatkar

Theses

In the present work, we have synthesized nickel salicylaldiminato catalysts based on a 5-halo-3-methoxy ligand framework. The structures of the 5-chloro analog and the 5-bromo analog were successfully confirmed using NMR spectroscopy and X-ray crystallography. These syntheses have the advantage that starting materials are commercially available and only two steps are required to obtain the targeted catalysts. Both catalysts have been applied for polymerization of ethylene in organic media (toluene) and aqueous media. For polymerization in organic medium, the effectiveness of the catalysts was evaluated under different reaction conditions such as different temperatures and catalyst concentrations. The appearance and structure …

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Methodologies For Power Analysis Attacks On Hardware Implementations Of Aes, Kenneth James Smith Aug 2009

Methodologies For Power Analysis Attacks On Hardware Implementations Of Aes, Kenneth James Smith

Theses

Side Channel Attacks (SCA) exploit weaknesses in implementations of cryptographic functions resulting from unintended inputs and outputs such as execution timing, power consumption, electromagnetic radiation, thermal and acoustic emanations. Power Analysis Attacks (PAA) are a type of SCA in which an attacker measures the power consumption of a cryptographic device during normal execution. An attempt is then made to uncover a relationship between the instantaneous power consumption and secret key information. PAAs can be subdivided into Simple Power Analysis (SPA), Differential Power Analysis (DPA), and Correlation Power Analysis (CPA). Many attacks have been documented since PAAs were first described in …

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The Effect Of Training, Aim Pattern And Target Type On The Ergonomics And Efficiency Of Handheld Scanners, Nicolette M. Mcgeorge Aug 2009

The Effect Of Training, Aim Pattern And Target Type On The Ergonomics And Efficiency Of Handheld Scanners, Nicolette M. Mcgeorge

Theses

Handheld scanning is a prevalent industrial task that is prone to injury due to the repetitive motion of the task. Studies conducted with Rochester Institute of Technology and Honeywell have sought to discover the ergonomic and efficiency benefits of various scanning technologies and methods. One factor not fully investigated in these earlier works is the effect of training on the proper use of scanners. This thesis study compares trained and untrained user performance and ergonomics during a series of scanning tasks using a hand held omni-directional scanner. Comparison is based on such variables as target type (image that is scanned), …

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Determination Of 3-Dimensional Deformations Of The Alveolar Sac During Simulated Breathing, Joseph M. Ferrara Aug 2009

Determination Of 3-Dimensional Deformations Of The Alveolar Sac During Simulated Breathing, Joseph M. Ferrara

Theses

Mechanical properties of the parenchyma of the lung are currently unknown and difficult to quantify. Creating a computer model with valid property values will allow researchers to further investigate particle mixing in the lung during inhalation and exhalation. One challenge with modeling the material of the lung is the intricate geometry of the alveolar sac. Researchers are currently trying to model particle deposition within the lung using computational fluid dynamics. However, the mechanical properties of alveolar sac structure are currently undetermined. Due to the complexity of the physical structure of an alveolar sac, it has been a challenge to model …

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Control Of A Magnetically Levitated Ventricular Assist Device, Arnold David Gomez Aug 2009

Control Of A Magnetically Levitated Ventricular Assist Device, Arnold David Gomez

Theses

This work presents theoretical and experimental means for achieving impeller stability in a magnetically levitated left ventricular assist device (LVAD). These types of medical devices are designed to boost the native heart`s ability to pump blood by means of mechanical energy transfer using a rotating impeller. Magnetic suspension of the impeller eliminates bearing friction and reduces blood damage, but it requires active controls that monitor the impeller`s position and speed in order to generate the forces and torques required to regulate its dynamic behavior. To accomplish this goal, this work includes: 1) a dynamic system model derived using energy and …

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Gpu-Based Implementation Of Real-Time System For Spiking Neural Networks, Dmitri Yudanov Aug 2009

Gpu-Based Implementation Of Real-Time System For Spiking Neural Networks, Dmitri Yudanov

Theses

Real-time simulations of biological neural networks (BNNs) provide a natural platform for applications in a variety of fields: data classification and pattern recognition, prediction and estimation, signal processing, control and robotics, prosthetics, neurological and neuroscientific modeling. BNNs possess inherently parallel architecture and operate in continuous signal domain. Spiking neural networks (SNNs) are type of BNNs with reduced signal dynamic range: communication between neurons occurs by means of time-stamped events (spikes). SNNs allow reduction of algorithmic complexity and communication data size at a price of little loss in accuracy. Simulation of SNNs using traditional sequential computer architectures results in significant time …

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Use Of Wireless Sensors To Improve Robot Lifetime For Multi-Threat Containment, Michael D. Ellis Aug 2009

Use Of Wireless Sensors To Improve Robot Lifetime For Multi-Threat Containment, Michael D. Ellis

Theses

Autonomous robots can be used in a decentralized environment to contain threats. While working in this capacity, these motor propelled robots are constantly moving, therefore drawing a large amount of current from the battery. If these algorithms are to be implemented in hardware, it is important to ensure that the robots move only when necessary in an effort to optimize battery life. This work introduces static wireless sensors to assist robots in detecting threats. By having a sufficient number of wireless sensors available to detect threats, it is hypothesized that a similar containment performance can be achieved with less robot …

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Music In Motion: The Synthesis Of Album Design And Motion Graphics For Downloadable Music, Ryan Mott Aug 2009

Music In Motion: The Synthesis Of Album Design And Motion Graphics For Downloadable Music, Ryan Mott

Theses

In an age when downloading media is increasing at an exponential rate, static album art has become obsolete. Current digital album artwork does not take advantage of the available technology. Nor does it provide the user with an integrated experience. Previous attempts at linking music to moving imagery have resulted in uninspiring "visualizer" plugins. These types of media player add-ons do not produce emotionally or narratively relevant imagery for the user. Furthermore, the limited selection of downloadable media that includes a digital booklet, separates the booklet contents from the album cover. More importantly, these disconnected elements do not compensate for …

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Telosrfid An Ad-Hoc Wireless Networking Capable Multi-Protocol Rfid Reader System, Michael P. Lewis Aug 2009

Telosrfid An Ad-Hoc Wireless Networking Capable Multi-Protocol Rfid Reader System, Michael P. Lewis

Theses

Radio Frequency IDentification (RFID) is rapidly being adopted as a powerful tool used in object tracking access control, telemedicine and inventory management. Its basic architecture endows reader devices with the capability to wirelessly read stored data off of RFID tags. Because of competing standards, there is no unified air protocol for RFID communication. The proliferation of competing standards, paired with the proprietary nature of commercial readers, can make maintaining and upgrading an RFID infrastructure expensive and time-consuming. Part of the solution that this thesis proposes is an RFID reader which supports custom air protocol implementations. To further reduce the costs …

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Course Grained Low Power Design Flow Using Upf, Archana Varanasi Aug 2009

Course Grained Low Power Design Flow Using Upf, Archana Varanasi

Theses

Increased system complexity has led to the substitution of the traditional bottom-up design flow by systematic hierarchical design flow. The main motivation behind the evolution of such an approach is the increasing difficulty in hardware realization of complex systems. With decreasing channel lengths, few key problems such as timing closure, design sign-off, routing complexity, signal integrity, and power dissipation arise in the design flows. Specifically, minimizing power dissipation is critical in several high-end processors. In high-end processors, the design complexity contributes to the overall dynamic power while the decreasing transistor size results in static power dissipation. This research aims at …

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Vhdl Modeling And Synthesis Of The Jpeg-Xr Inverse Transform, Peter Frandina Aug 2009

Vhdl Modeling And Synthesis Of The Jpeg-Xr Inverse Transform, Peter Frandina

Theses

This work presents a pipelined VHDL implementation of the inverse lapped biorthogonal transform used in the decompression process of the soon to be released JPEG-XR still image standard format. This inverse transform involves integer only calculations using lifting operations and Kronecker products. Divisions and multiplications by small integer coefficients are implemented using a bit shift and add technique resulting in a multiplier-less implementation with 736 instances of addition. When targeted to an Altera Stratix II FPGA with a 50 MHz system clock, this design is capable of completing the inverse transform of an 8400 x 6600 pixel image in less …

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Disaster Recovery Heuristic, Sapna Guniguntla Murthy Aug 2009

Disaster Recovery Heuristic, Sapna Guniguntla Murthy

Theses

A need exists to develop a software simulation that demonstrates the most effective methods of evacuation for disaster scenarios. In a real-world situation this heuristic coupled with real-time data gathered by sensors could serve to provide an efficient rescue plan. Data gathered about the terrain in the immediate aftermath of the situation is invaluable in deciding a plan of action. With this type of information many different routes can be planned so that recovery or rescue can be made as optimal as possible. But of course in any rescue mission speed also is of the utmost importance. This is why …

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Recognition Of Human Interactions Using Limb-Level Feature Points, Michael David Dudley Aug 2009

Recognition Of Human Interactions Using Limb-Level Feature Points, Michael David Dudley

Theses

Human activity recognition is an emerging area of research in computer vision with applications in video surveillance, human-computer interaction, robotics, and video annotation. Despite a number of recent advances, there are still many opportunities for new developments, especially in the area of person-person and person-object interaction. Many proposed algorithms focus on recognizing solely single person, person-person or person-object activities. An algorithm which can recognize all three types would be a significant step toward the real-world application of this technology. This thesis investigates the design and implementation of such an algorithm. It utilizes background subtraction to extract the subjects in the …

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Development Of A Novel Method For Autonomous Navigation And Landing Of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, David Grymin Aug 2009

Development Of A Novel Method For Autonomous Navigation And Landing Of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, David Grymin

Theses

In this work, control techniques for the autonomous navigation and landing of an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) are developed and compared. Controllers were developed and implemented on two different aircraft models: the Lockheed-Martin F-16 and AAI Corporation/Israel Aircraft Industries RQ-2 Pioneer. Due to the expense of modifying the pre-existing F-16 flight control system, the controller is implemented outside of the closed loop. Proportional-integral-derivative and proportional-integral controllers are developed for holding the aircraft at a desired velocity and altitude. The aircraft are approximated as Dubins vehicles constrained to travel on a two-dimensional surface for decreased simulation time. Using the simplified model …

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Aortic Valve Performance With Transaortic Ventricular Cannula, James Cezo Aug 2009

Aortic Valve Performance With Transaortic Ventricular Cannula, James Cezo

Theses

A novel transaortic ventricular cannula, known as the 'double barrel' cannula (DBC), is designed to minimize the invasiveness of Ventricular Assist Device (VAD) implantation by combining the inlet and outlet cannulae into a single dual lumen cannula. Both the inlet and outlet lumen will pass through a single opening in the apex of the left ventricle with the outflow then continuing past the aortic valve, into the aortic arch. This design offers several potential advantages over the current state of-the-art. The benefits of the DBC include less invasive surgery and providing mechanical support to the septum. By routing the outflow …

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A Multi-Angled, Multi-Purpose Universally Designed Prep Bowl, Jamie Acker Aug 2009

A Multi-Angled, Multi-Purpose Universally Designed Prep Bowl, Jamie Acker

Theses

This thesis explores the journey of a product initially designed to help one particular demographic and how it evolved into something, which caters to all ... something Universal. Jamie Acker has a personal history with stroke and its effects on people. Initially he sought to create a product, which would empower those afflicted with the extreme paralyzing side affects associated with stroke. Soon after discovering Universal Design, the entire idea evolved into something greater. Jamie designed a mixing bowl, which can be operated with one hand. The bowl rests in a base, rotates and locks into multiple positions empowering those …

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The Music Of Art, Chad L. Cleveland Aug 2009

The Music Of Art, Chad L. Cleveland

Theses

Through the research of Jazz/Improvisational music I plan to investigate its' influence on my visual artwork. I also intend to demonstrate the interaction and relationship between the creation and performance of a piece of art. There seems to be a correlation between the elements of art and music which I am intrigued by. How are the elements of music translated into visual space? In the elements and principles of art there is a visual response waiting to be invoked. For the purposes of this writing, music is the muse. What takes place during the translation of listening, thought response, spirit …

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