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2004

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Quality Assurance Of Cervical Smear Slide Inspection Using A Novel Eye-Tracking Technique, Lee Roy Coombes Jan 2004

Quality Assurance Of Cervical Smear Slide Inspection Using A Novel Eye-Tracking Technique, Lee Roy Coombes

School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics Theses

A novel objective quality assurance system for smear slide screening is investigated in this thesis. A method of data validation was developed that compares data from an eye tracked image display, machine image colour texture analysis and expert judgements in a statistical manner to identify salient areas of cervical cytological images. These data are used to construct screener performance profiles, which have been compared to screener experience. The experimental methodology is described and how the screener performance profile is constructed. Results from a study of 10 screeners, checkers and pathologists are presented showing predicted trends of human performance. Relations to …

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Visualization Techniques For The Analysis Of Neurophysiological Data, Martin Alan Walter Jan 2004

Visualization Techniques For The Analysis Of Neurophysiological Data, Martin Alan Walter

School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics Theses

In order to understand the diverse and complex functions of the Human brain, the temporal relationships of vast quantities of multi-dimensional spike train data must be analysed. A number of statistical methods already exist to analyse these relationships. However, as a result of expansions in recording capability hundreds of spike trains must now be analysed simultaneously. In addition to the requirements for new statistical analysis methods, the need for more efficient data representation is paramount. The computer science field of Information Visualization is specifically aimed at producing effective representations of large and complex datasets. This thesis is based on the …

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Speech Quality Prediction For Voice Over Internet Protocol Networks, Lingfen Sun Jan 2004

Speech Quality Prediction For Voice Over Internet Protocol Networks, Lingfen Sun

School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics Theses

IP networks are on a steep slope of innovation that will make them the long-term carrier of all types of traffic, including voice. However, such networks are not designed to support real-time voice communication because their variable characteristics (e.g. due to delay, delay variation and packet loss) lead to a deterioration in voice quality. A major challenge in such networks is how to measure or predict voice quality accurately and efficiently for QoS monitoring and/or control purposes to ensure that technical and commercial requirements are met. Voice quality can be measured using either subjective or objective methods. Subjective measurement (e.g. …

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Coordinated Uav Target Assignment Using Distributed Tour Calculation, David H. Walker, Timothy W. Mclain, Jason K. Kowlett Jan 2004

Coordinated Uav Target Assignment Using Distributed Tour Calculation, David H. Walker, Timothy W. Mclain, Jason K. Kowlett

Faculty Publications

In this chapter a method for assigning unmanned aerial vehicle agents to targets through the use of preplanned vehicle tours is presented. Assignments are based on multi-target tours that consider the spread of the targets and the sensor capabilities of the vehicles. In this way, the individual agents and the team as a whole make better use of team resources and improve team cooperation. Planning and assignments are accomplished in reasonable computational time through the use of heuristics to reduce the problem size.

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A Model For Predicting The Performance Of Ip Videoconferencing, Licha Mued Jan 2004

A Model For Predicting The Performance Of Ip Videoconferencing, Licha Mued

School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics Theses

With the incorporation of free desktop videoconferencing (DVC) software on the majority of the world's PCs, over the recent years, there has, inevitably, been considerable interest in using DVC over the Internet. The growing popularity of DVC increases the need for multimedia quality assessment. However, the task of predicting the perceived multimedia quality over the Internet Protocol (IP) networks is complicated by the fact that the audio and video streams are susceptible to unique impairments due to the unpredictable nature of IP networks, different types of task scenarios, different levels of complexity, and other related factors. To date, a standard …

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Futures Thinking To Achieve Sustainable Development At Local Level In Ireland, Lorcan Sirr, Ruth Kelly, John Ratcliffe Jan 2004

Futures Thinking To Achieve Sustainable Development At Local Level In Ireland, Lorcan Sirr, Ruth Kelly, John Ratcliffe

Reports

We are living in times of unprecedented global change and upheaval and over the next ten to 20 years governments, organisations and individuals will face increasing difficulties in an environment of growing complexity, heightened uncertainty and a quickening pace of change. The concept of sustainable development implies the reconciliation of long-term socio-economic development, environmental protection and quality of life; essentially it is concerned with the future. Unfortunately, the potential for linking “futures thinking” to debates about sustainable development at local and regional government levels is relatively undeveloped, particularly in Ireland. Responding to this challenge, The Futures Academy at Technological University …

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“So That The Nations May Become Genuine Indian”: Nativism And Leslie Marmon Silko’S Ceremony, Dennis Cutchins Jan 2004

“So That The Nations May Become Genuine Indian”: Nativism And Leslie Marmon Silko’S Ceremony, Dennis Cutchins

Faculty Publications

Leslie Marmon Silko’s (mixed-blood Laguna Pueblo) Ceremony is a powerful novel that tells the story of Tayo, a mixed-blood Pueblo war veteran who returns to Laguna mentally crippled by his wartime experiences. As Tayo struggles to overcome the alienation his military service has created, he must also face the shame of his own mixed heritage. His suffering eventually leads him off the pueblo to a Navajo healer, Betonie, who helps Tayo create a new historical paradigm based on Navajo and Laguna mythology. Betonie’s fictional re-vision of history is, perhaps, the novel’s most important accomplishment. Through Betonie, Silko creates an alternative …

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Book Review: Lessons Of Everyday Law/Le Droit Du Quotidien, By Roderick A. Macdonald, Rosanna Langer Jan 2004

Book Review: Lessons Of Everyday Law/Le Droit Du Quotidien, By Roderick A. Macdonald, Rosanna Langer

Osgoode Hall Law Journal

No abstract provided.

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Nurses' Attitudes, Knowledge, And Use Of Nonpharmalogical Pain Management Techniques And Therapies, Erin Bicek Jan 2004

Nurses' Attitudes, Knowledge, And Use Of Nonpharmalogical Pain Management Techniques And Therapies, Erin Bicek

Honors Projects

Each day millions of people suffer from pain whether they are in the hospital, their homes, or assisted living facilities. The experience of pain negatively influences their daily lives. As nurses and physicians interact with patients and families, they assess and treat their pain. Nurses and physicians attitudes and knowledge of pain management can affect their patient's treatment options. Most of the time drugs are prescribed to relieve the pain including narcotics and non-steroidal anti-inflammatories. However, pain is often under-treated and patients continue to suffer from the ill effects of pain and lack of management (Yates et aI., 1998). Nonpharmacological …

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An Exploratory Study Of How Decisions Are Made In The Yield Management Environment Of Four Star Dublin Hotels, Tony Kiely Jan 2004

An Exploratory Study Of How Decisions Are Made In The Yield Management Environment Of Four Star Dublin Hotels, Tony Kiely

Other resources

Yield management in the hotel industry has been described as a method of profitably managing fixed capacity. A critical element of yield management is the decision strategy employed as this determines the degree to which optimum solutions are generated. Recent research has indicated that the use of technology assisted decision optimising models (the management science model) would greatly improve the optimisation of decisions by minimising the need to employ guesswork in achieving optimum solutions. Despite this assurance, yield management remains couched in uncertainty through being inextricably associated with forecasting future demand for a perishable product in an increasingly competitive environment. …

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Chemical Solution Deposition Of Electronic Oxide Films, Robert W. Schwartz, Theodor Schneller, Rainer Waser Jan 2004

Chemical Solution Deposition Of Electronic Oxide Films, Robert W. Schwartz, Theodor Schneller, Rainer Waser

Materials Science and Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

The chemical solution deposition (CSD) technique as a highly flexible method for the fabrication of electronic oxide thin films is reviewed. Various chemical aspects of different approaches are discussed, including sol-gel, hybrid, and metallo-organic decomposition (MOD) routes, which all have been successfully applied for the deposition of this class of materials. Principles of the selection and properties of the educts, the mechanism of film crystallization, and tailoring of microstructure through manipulation of deposition parameters are reported. the role of thermodynamics on the phase transformation process is also reviewed. Finally, some of the applications for chemical solution-derived thin films currently under …

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Solid State Aircraft Concept Overview, M. Shahinpoor, P. Jenkins, C. Smith, Kakkattukuzhy M. Isaac, T. Dalbello, Anthony Colozza Jan 2004

Solid State Aircraft Concept Overview, M. Shahinpoor, P. Jenkins, C. Smith, Kakkattukuzhy M. Isaac, T. Dalbello, Anthony Colozza

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Due to recent advances in polymers, photovoltaics, and batteries a unique type of aircraft may be feasible. This is a "solid-state" aircraft, with no conventional mechanical moving parts. Airfoil, propulsion, energy production, energy storage and control are combined in an integrated structure. The key material of this concept is an ionic polymeric-metal composite (IPMC) that provides source of control and propulsion. This material has the unique capability of deforming in an electric field and returning to its original shape when the field is removed. Combining the IPMC with thin-film batteries and thin-film photovoltaics provides both energy source and storage in …

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Relationship Of Effective Serve Reception Passing To Side Out Offense In Iowa City West Volleyball Matches, Craig A. Pitcher Jan 2004

Relationship Of Effective Serve Reception Passing To Side Out Offense In Iowa City West Volleyball Matches, Craig A. Pitcher

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The purpose of this study was to indicate the relationship of effective serve reception to side out offense in Iowa City West volleyball matches. Subjects were member of the 2002 Iowa City West varsity volleyball team. Iowa City West volleyball team was selected for the study based on availability of game tapes throughout the 2002 season. All taped varsity matches were viewed for the study analysis. All reception passes were given a pass value of three, two, one, or zero. Each pass was also categorized into offensive outcomes, kill, play on, or error. The results of the Person correlation test …

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Biup3: Boundary Topological Invariant Of 3d Objects Through Front Propagation At A Constant Speed, Xiaoqing Frank Liu Jan 2004

Biup3: Boundary Topological Invariant Of 3d Objects Through Front Propagation At A Constant Speed, Xiaoqing Frank Liu

Computer Science Faculty Research & Creative Works

Topological features constitute the highest abstraction in object representation. Euler characteristic is one of the most widely used topological invariants. The computation of the Euler characteristic is mainly based on three well-known mathematical formulae, which calculate either on the boundary of object or on the whole object. However, as digital objects are often non-manifolds, none of the known formulae can correctly compute the genus of digital surfaces. In this paper, we show that a new topological surface invariant of 3D digital objects, called BIUP/sup 3/, can be obtained through a special homeomorphic transform: front propagation at a constant speed. BIUP/sup …

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Priority Assessment Of Software Requirements From Multiple Perspectives, Xiaoqing Frank Liu, Chandra Sekhar Veera, Yan Sun, Kunio Noguchi, Yuji Kyoya Jan 2004

Priority Assessment Of Software Requirements From Multiple Perspectives, Xiaoqing Frank Liu, Chandra Sekhar Veera, Yan Sun, Kunio Noguchi, Yuji Kyoya

Computer Science Faculty Research & Creative Works

The development of complex software systems involves collecting software requirements from various stakeholders. Often stakeholder perceptions conflict during the requirements elicitation phase. An effective technique to resolve such a conflict is needed. We presented a framework that prioritizes software requirements gathered from multiple stakeholders by incorporating inter-perspective relationships, which is not addressed by existing priority assessment techniques. We use a relationship matrix to analyze the impact between requirements and facilitate the integration process which assesses their priorities based on their relationships from multiple perspectives. It allows the development team to resolve conflicts effectively and concentrate their valuable time and resources …

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The Robustness Of Resource Allocation In Parallel And Distributed Computing Systems, Shoukat Ali, Howard Jay Siegel, A. A. Maciejewski Jan 2004

The Robustness Of Resource Allocation In Parallel And Distributed Computing Systems, Shoukat Ali, Howard Jay Siegel, A. A. Maciejewski

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

This paper gives an overview of the material to be discussed in the invited keynote presentation by H. J. Siegel. Performing computing and communication tasks on parallel and distributed systems involves the coordinated use of different types of machines, networks, interfaces, and other resources. Decisions about how best to allocate resources are often based on estimated values of task and system parameters, due to uncertainties in the system environment. An important research problem is the development of resource management strategies that can guarantee a particular system performance given such uncertainties. We have designed a methodology for deriving the degree of …

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A Scalable Approach For Reliable Downstream Data Delivery In Wireless Sensor Networks, Seung Jong Park, Ramanuja Vedantham, Raghupathy Sivakumar, Ian F. Akyildiz Jan 2004

A Scalable Approach For Reliable Downstream Data Delivery In Wireless Sensor Networks, Seung Jong Park, Ramanuja Vedantham, Raghupathy Sivakumar, Ian F. Akyildiz

Computer Science Faculty Research & Creative Works

There exist several applications of sensor networks where reliability of data delivery can be critical. While the redundancy inherent in a sensor network might increase the degree of reliability, it by no means can provide any guaranteed reliability semantics. In this paper, we consider the problem of reliable sink-to-sensors data delivery. We first identify several fundamental challenges that need to be addressed and are unique to a wireless sensor network environment. We then propose a scalable framework for reliable down-stream data delivery that is specifically designed to both address and leverage the characteristics of a wireless sensor network, while achieving …

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A Discrete-Time Model For Triply Selective Mimo Rayleigh Fading Channels, Chengshan Xiao, Jingxian Wu, Sang-Yick Leong, Y. Rosa Zheng, Khaled Ben Letaief Jan 2004

A Discrete-Time Model For Triply Selective Mimo Rayleigh Fading Channels, Chengshan Xiao, Jingxian Wu, Sang-Yick Leong, Y. Rosa Zheng, Khaled Ben Letaief

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

A statistical discrete-time model is proposed for simulating wideband multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) fading channels which are triply selective due to angle spread, Doppler spread, and delay spread. The new discrete-time MIMO channel model includes the combined effects of the transmit filter, physical MIMO multipath channel fading, and receive filter, and it has the same sampling period as that of the MIMO receiver. This leads to very efficient simulation of physical continuous-time MIMO channels. A new method is also presented to efficiently generate the MIMO channel stochastic coefficients. The statistical accuracy of the discrete-time MIMO channel model is rigorously verified through …

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A Method For Enhancing The Snapshot Performance In San Volume Manager, Chang-Soo Kim, Dong-Jae Kang, Young-Ho Kim, Hag-Young Kim, Myoung-Jun Kim, Yu-Hyeon Bak Jan 2004

A Method For Enhancing The Snapshot Performance In San Volume Manager, Chang-Soo Kim, Dong-Jae Kang, Young-Ho Kim, Hag-Young Kim, Myoung-Jun Kim, Yu-Hyeon Bak

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

No abstract provided.

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A New Estimative Current Mode Control Technique For Dc-Dc Converters Operating In Discontinuous Conduction Mode, Mehdi Ferdowsi, Zhong Nie, Ali Emadi Jan 2004

A New Estimative Current Mode Control Technique For Dc-Dc Converters Operating In Discontinuous Conduction Mode, Mehdi Ferdowsi, Zhong Nie, Ali Emadi

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

A new digital control technique for power converters operating in discontinuous conduction mode (DCM) is introduced and applied to a boost converter. In contrast to the conventional analogue control methods, the principal idea of this new control scheme is to use real-time analysis and estimate the required on-time of the switch based on the dynamic of the system. The proposed control algorithm can easily be programmed in a digital signal processor (DSP). This novel technique is applicable to any converter operating in DCM including power factor correctors (PFC). However, this work mainly focuses on the boost topology. In this paper, …

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Death Of A Mother, Mary Moynihan Jan 2004

Death Of A Mother, Mary Moynihan

Books/Book Chapters

No abstract provided.

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The Social Effects Of Psychism: Spiritual Experience And The Construction Of Privatized Religion, Marty Laubach Jan 2004

The Social Effects Of Psychism: Spiritual Experience And The Construction Of Privatized Religion, Marty Laubach

Sociology and Anthropology Faculty Research

What is the relationship between spiritual experiences and privatized religion? This study defines spiritual experiences in terms of “psychism,” or psychic intrusions in the stream of consciousness that are not perceived by the actor as originating within the “self.” Intrusions interpreted as psychism are regarded by the actor as having the same facticity as empirical experience and are regarded as “proof” of an esoteric belief system. Psychism originated beliefs are therefore resistant to refutation or change, and support spiritual autonomy. Psychism theory is tested using 1988 GSS data on religious beliefs, where psychism is measured using GSS questions on “paranormal” …

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Real-Time Sound Source Separation: Azimuth Discrimination And Resynthesis, Dan Barry, Robert Lawlor, Eugene Coyle Jan 2004

Real-Time Sound Source Separation: Azimuth Discrimination And Resynthesis, Dan Barry, Robert Lawlor, Eugene Coyle

Conference papers

We present a real-time sound source separation algorithm which performs the task of source separation based on the lateral displacement of a source within the stereo field. The algorithm exploits the use of the pan pot as a means to achieve image localisation within stereophonic recordings. As such, only an interaural intensity difference exists between left and right channels for a single source. Gain scaling and phase cancellation techniques are used in the frequency domain to expose frequency dependent nulls across the Azimuth plane. The position of these nulls in conjuction with magnitude estimation and grouping techniques are then used …

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Harmonic Sound Source Separation Using Fir Comb Filters, Mikel Gainza, Robert Lawlor, Eugene Coyle Jan 2004

Harmonic Sound Source Separation Using Fir Comb Filters, Mikel Gainza, Robert Lawlor, Eugene Coyle

Conference papers

A technique for separating harmonic sound sources using FIR comb filters is presented. First, a pre-processing task is performed by a multipitch estimator to detect the pitches that the signal is composed of. Then, a method based on the Short Time Fourier Transform (STFT) is utilized to iteratively extract the harmonics belonging to a given source by using FIR comb filters. The presented approach improves upon exising sinusoidal model approaches in terms of the perceptual quality of the extracted signal.

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Henrietta Street Conservation Plan, Tracy Pickerill, John Montague, Shaffrey Associates (Architects), Carrig Conservation Ltd., Lee Mccullough & Partners (Engineers), Boylan Farrelly (Quantity Surveyors) Jan 2004

Henrietta Street Conservation Plan, Tracy Pickerill, John Montague, Shaffrey Associates (Architects), Carrig Conservation Ltd., Lee Mccullough & Partners (Engineers), Boylan Farrelly (Quantity Surveyors)

Reports

The objectives behind the Henrietta Street Conservation Plan are to re-affirm the significance of Henrietta Street; to identify the issues that undermine the importance of the street and to set out policies aimed at protecting the aspects of the street which are of importance into the future.

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Perspectives On Epidemic: The Yellow Fever In 1793 Philadelphia, Katherine Polak Jan 2004

Perspectives On Epidemic: The Yellow Fever In 1793 Philadelphia, Katherine Polak

Constructing the Past

This article discusses the Yellow Fever epidemic of 1793, and how there are several different accounts of what happened then. It also notes that the official descriptions given by the doctors of the time are not the entire story and that they leave some important things out.

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Efficient Path Search In Intermodal Transportation Optimization, Daniel Y. Yankov Jan 2004

Efficient Path Search In Intermodal Transportation Optimization, Daniel Y. Yankov

Theses

As the economies of the world become more interrelated and Supply Chains are globalizing, the need arises to create efficient transportation network. This reality in conjunction with conservation of fuel and environmental friendliness gives rise to the research of Efficient Intermodal Transportation System. In particular, the underutilization of railroads in the United States motivates us to research the development of optimal procedures in the transportation of containers in a rail network. With this thesis we search for a cost, time and capacity effective algorithm for solving transportation problem in a graph of intermodal centers (IMC's). We consider discrete model of …

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A Change Impact Dependency Measure For Predicting The Maintainability Of Source Code, Xiaoqing Frank Liu Jan 2004

A Change Impact Dependency Measure For Predicting The Maintainability Of Source Code, Xiaoqing Frank Liu

Computer Science Faculty Research & Creative Works

We first articulate the theoretic difficulties with the existing metrics designed for predicting software maintainability. To overcome the difficulties, we propose to measure a purely internal and objective attribute of code, namely change impact dependency, and show how it can be modeled to predict real change impact. The proposed base measure can be further elaborated for evaluating software maintainability.

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A Generic Oo Architecture Language For Semantics Analysis Of Oo Specification, Xiaoqing Frank Liu Jan 2004

A Generic Oo Architecture Language For Semantics Analysis Of Oo Specification, Xiaoqing Frank Liu

Computer Science Faculty Research & Creative Works

Formal specification enables a rigorous analysis and model checking for ensuring the correctness of specification. Formal OO specification methods are of mathematical nature and the semantics of specification is purposely defined such that it is not related to the semantics of code. We propose a new language, which will lay a common semantics ground for both specification and code.

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Ergodic Capacity Of Mimo Triply Selective Rayleigh Fading Channels, Chengshan Xiao, Y. Rosa Zheng Jan 2004

Ergodic Capacity Of Mimo Triply Selective Rayleigh Fading Channels, Chengshan Xiao, Y. Rosa Zheng

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

New results are presented for the ergodic capacity of spatially-correlated, time-varying and frequency-selective (i.e., triply selective) MIMO Rayleigh fading channels. Simplified capacity formulas are also derived for special cases such as SIMO and MISO triply selective fading channels. A closed form formula is proposed that quantifies the effect of the frequency-selective fading on the ergodic capacity into an intersymbol interference (ISI) degradation factor. It is discovered that, in general frequency-selective MIMO channels, the ISI inter-tap correlations reduce the ergodic capacity compared to the frequency flat fading channel. Only in the special case when the fading does not have ISI inter-tap …

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