e-Update
January 11, 2005
Weekly News Briefs
e-Update is distributed
weekly to keep faculty and staff at the University of Miami Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine
up-to-date on news at the University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Medical Center.
To submit news for publication, e-mail items to update@med.miami.edu.
THIS WEEK’S NEWS
--Scientific Symposium on Advancing Medical Education Through the Use of Team Training and Medical Simulation
--Grand Opening of the Center for Patient Safety
--Join the University-Wide Pedometer Challenge Walking Program
--Update on Humana Membership ID Cards
--Another Session of BeSmokeFree Begins This Month
--Call for Abstracts for the Inaugural Joint American-Israeli Conference On Cancer
--Medical Liability Series
--The Third Annual Landon-AACR awards
--UM/Sylvester Distinguished Lecture Series
--Upcoming Calendar Events
--Human Subjects Research Opportunities
SCIENTIFIC SYMPOSIUM ON THE ROLE OF SIMULATION, PATIENT SAFETY AND TEAM TRAINING IN ADVANCING MEDICAL EDUCATION
AND
GRAND OPENING OF THE CENTER FOR PATIENT SAFETY
The UM – Jackson Memorial Hospital Center for Patient Safety will be hosting a scientific symposium on advancing medical education through the use of team training and medical simulation on Thursday, January 13, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in the Lois Pope LIFE Center seventh-floor auditorium. The symposium is designed for health care professionals, educators, scientists, administrators and all others with a common interest in using medical simulation to train safer practitioners. Symposium participants in the UM-JMH community will be able to join simulation experts from around the world in discussing ways to advance medical education. The symposium is scheduled to precede the International Meeting on Medical Simulation held in Miami on January 14-16. For more information, please contact Shirley Brown at 305-585-8364 or e-mail sbrown7@med.miami.edu.
Following the Symposium, the Center for Patient Safety invites the medical campus to attend its grand opening at 1611 NW 12th Avenue, fourth floor, from 5 to 8 p.m. There be team simulation demonstrations following the ribbon cutting. Please call 305-585-8364 or e-mail kgrover@med.miami.edu for more information and to RSVP.
STEP INTO THE NEW YEAR ON THE RIGHT FOOT-- JOIN THE UNIVERSITY-WIDE PEDOMETER CHALLENGE WALKING PROGRAM
Did you know your body can achieve the same physical benefits from walking as it does from running? Walking one mile burns only slightly fewer calories than running one mile and it's less stressful on your body. If done regularly, walking will reduce the risk of heart disease and cancer, lower total cholesterol, raise healthy HDL cholesterol and lower blood pressure. You can help maintain healthy bones and muscles, stabilize blood sugar, improve immunity and relieve some of the stress in your life. To help you get started on the right path this year, Walking Canes, a new university-wide walking program, begins January 18. The average person takes about 4,000-6,000 steps a day. The goal of the Walking Canes 10k-a-Day program is to get participants up to at least 10,000 steps a day. The program features a personal pedometer to records steps, an informational packet with helpful nutrition and walking tips, individual weekly goals, a computer data base to track weekly steps, goals and total points earned, a pre- and post-evaluation, points awarded for steps walked each day, points awarded for weight loss, incentive prizes for all, and grand prize drawings for those who qualify. A free one-hour weight loss seminar is optional. The program costs $10, which is 100 percent refundable upon successful completion of the program. You can register for the program at the following locations:
January 18:
Rosenstiel Medical Science Building, main entrance
11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
January 19:
University of Miami Hospitals and Clinics, cafeteria entrance
11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
January 20:
Mailman Center, first floor lobby
8 to 10 a.m.
January 21:
Dominion parking garage, near Subway (the corner of the Pacific Grill sidewalk area) 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Or anytime January 18 – 21 between 7:30 a.m. and 6 p.m. at the Wellness Facility, Dominion Tower, room 1101.
For more information, please e-mail jpinto@miami.edu.
HUMANA MEMBERSHIP ID CARDS MAY BE DELAYED
Humana has informed the University that there was a delay of several days in mailing some membership ID cards. The final mailing occurred on December 31, 2004. All participants should have received their membership cards by January 8. In the event a Humana I.D. card does not reach you and you need medical services, simply provide a social security number and advise the provider or pharmacy that you are a member of Humana’s health care plan effective January 1, 2005. You will be able to obtain service with this information. Humana’s member service number is 1-800-448-6262.
BESMOKEFREE PROGRAM STARTS UP AGAIN LATER THIS MONTH
Another round of the UM BeSmokeFree program will begin in the final weeks of January. BeSmokeFree offers faculty, staff and dependents, as well as students and non-university affiliates, a number of different techniques designed to help kick the cigarette habit. These options complement the program’s basic support group/classroom sessions, which will include eight group sessions during a seven-week program. Each session will be led by a variety of health experts, such as a health educator, respiratory therapist, exercise physiologist, mental health therapist, and nutritionist. Upon completion of the program, participants in BeSmokeFree will have the opportunity to take part in a free, six-week weight management program for ex-smokers concerned about weight gain. Those participants who also are enrolled in the University’s health care plan will receive full reimbursement of program fees upon completion of the program. The cost is $84 for each participant, and all UM health care plan members will receive a $12 voucher for each classroom session they attend. For more information on BeSmokeFree, contact Jennifer Pinto at: jpinto@miami.edu or 305-243-3209.
INAUGURAL JOINT AMERICAN-ISRAELI CONFERENCE ON CANCER CALL FOR ABSTRACTS
A poster session is planned as part of the Inaugural Joint American-Israeli Conference on Cancer, scheduled to take place March 16-18, in Jerusalem, Israel. Interested participants should submit an abstract for review in English via e-mail to novelapproaches@targetconf.com. Abstracts will be accepted based on scientific merit and should be clearly written. For more information please visit the website www.novel-approaches.net or e-mail novelapproaches@targetconf.com. The deadline for submission is January 15.
MEDICAL LIABILITY SERIES
The University of Miami Ethics Programs are presenting a special series on medical liability at the medical and Gables campuses. The next lecture at the medical campus is on “Malpractice Prevention: Does Honesty and Disclosure Reduce Liability?” by Paul Barach, M.D., MPH, Wednesday, January 19 at 6 p.m. in the fourth floor auditorium of the Rosenstiel Medical Science Building. On the Gables campus, Steven Stark, JD, executive director of the Office of Patient Protection and Risk Prevention, will present “Patient Safety and Legal Liability: Ethics at the Brink,” on Wednesday, March 30, at 6 p.m. in the Law School Student Lounge. For more information, please contact Stephanie Anderson, M.D., J.D., of the Ethics Programs at 305-243-5723.
MIAMI LITE- A WEIGHT LOSS PROGRAM FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH TYPE 2 DIABETES
The Diabetes Research Institute is starting a new session of Miami Lite, a weight loss program for individuals with Type 2 diabetes, next month. This program is open to the public and will last 12 weeks. It will help participants with weight loss, nutrition, controlling portion sizes, diabetes education, weight management techniques and guidelines for exercise. The program will start on Thursday, February 10, at 8 a.m. at the DRI, 1450 NW 10th Avenue, first floor. Participants will meet every Thursday from 8 to 10 a.m. If you would like more information, please contact Anna P. Fraker at aperez4@med.miami.edu, or call 305-243-3455.
EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS
Money Wise Credit Strategies for Consumers
In conjunction with EAP, a specialist from Consumer Credit Counseling Service will present Money Wise Credit Strategies for Consumers, a seminar designed to provide practical financial information on topics such as the use of credit, the cost of credit, building personal wealth and guidelines for spending. The seminar will be held on Wednesday, February 2, from 12:30 to 2 p.m., in room 1301of the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center.
S.T.E.P. (Systematic Training for Effective Parenting) Teen
S.T.E.P. is an eight-week, mid-day discussion group that offers parents of teenagers a realistic and practical approach to meeting the challenges of raising teens today. Participants will learn effective and enjoyable ways to communicate with their teens, which will help steer parents toward the goal of raising responsible teens who will grow into responsible men and women, capable of living meaningful, happy adult lives. The course will take place on Tuesdays from noon to 1 p.m. in room 6012 of the Diabetes Research Institute. Meeting dates are: 1/25, 2/1, 2/8, 2/15, 2/24, 3/1, 3/8, and 3/15.
To register for these programs, go to http://netlearning.miami.edu. Please be sure to register for all eight sessions of the S.T.E.P. program. If you have any questions on using this new system, please contact 305-243-3090. For questions about content, call the EAP at 305-284-6604.
GAIL F. BEACH MEMORIAL 2004-2005 VISITING LECTURESHIP SERIES
Luis F. Parada, Ph.D., director of the Center for Developmental Biology at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center and the Christopher Reeve Memorial Lecturer, will present "Unwilling Neurons and Unfriendly Myelin: The Yin & Yang of Regeneration Biology," tomorrow (Wednesday) at noon in the Lois Pope LIFE Center seventh-floor auditorium. For more information, click here: http://www.themiamiproject.org/images/Gail%20F%20Beach%20lecture%20series.pdf, or call 305-243-7108.
THE THIRD ANNUAL KIRK A. AND DOROTHY P. LANDON -AACR PRIZES
The Third Annual Landon-AACR awards will be held on Wednesday, January 19, from noon to 1:35 p.m. at the UM/Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, room 1301. The 2004 recipient of the Kirk A. Landon-AACR Prize for Basic Cancer Research, Tony Hunter, Ph.D., professor, Molecular and Cell Biology Laboratory at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies, will discuss "Tyrosine Phosphyorylation: From Bench to Bedside." The recipient of the Third Annual Dorothy P. Landon-AACR Prize for Translational Cancer Research, Raymond N. DuBois, M.D., Ph.D., Hortense B. Ingram Professor of Molecular Oncology and director of Cancer Prevention at The Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, will talk about "Molecular Targets for Cancer Prevention." No RSVP is required. For more information and a detailed schedule, contact Kathy Salce at KSalce@med.miami.edu, or call 305-243-1046.
DEPARTMENT OF REHABILITATION MEDICINE – ROVING SYMPOSIUM
The first Roving Symposium of 2005, sponsored by the South Florida Spinal Cord Injury Model System, will be held on Thursday, January 27, from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. at the Lois Pope LIFE Center, seventh floor auditorium. The topic of this presentation will be “Chronic Pain After Spinal Cord Injury.” Eva Widerstrom-Noga, Ph.D., will provide a broad overview of the problem of pain and the impact of pain in people with spinal cord injuries. Specifically, she will discuss common pain problems and associated neurological phenomena, currently available treatment, and new treatment on the horizon. For more information, please contact Mayra M. Miró, Psy.D., at 305-585-1339, or at mmiro@med.miami.edu.
INFERTILITY SEMINAR
The University of Miami Infertility Center (UMIC) at Cedars Medical Center will present a free seminar on “Infertility and Your Various Options” on Saturday, January 15, from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Cedars Medical Center physician lounge, 1400 NW 12th Ave. The seminar will be followed by a free consultation for all participants. Parking is free, and lunch and refreshments will be provided. Please RSVP by calling 305-243-UMIC, or visit UMIC on the Web at http://www.umic.miami.edu.
UM/SYLVESTER DISTINGUISHED LECTURE SERIES
Stephen M. Prescott, M.D., H.A. & Edna Benning Presidential Endowed Chair in Human Molecular Biology & Genetics, and executive director, Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah, will present “It Began with Endothelial Cells: Lipid Messengers in Vascular Biology, Inflammation, and Cancer,” as part of the UM/Sylvester Distinguished Lecture Series. The lecture will be from noon to 1 p.m. Thursday, January 13, in UM/Sylvester conference room 1301. On Friday, January 14, Riccardo Dalla-Favera, M.D., director, Institute for Cancer Genetics, Columbia University, will present “Molecular Pathogenesis of B-Cell Lymphoma” in UM/Sylvester conference room 1301 at noon. Lunch will be served. For more information, please call Diane Dames at 305-243-2287, or e-mail DDames@med.miami.edu.
FINANCIAL ADVICE FROM LINCOLN FINANCIAL GROUP
A representative from Lincoln Financial Group will be at the medical campus to conduct individual financial counseling sessions on January 18, February 22 and March 22, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Human Resources Benefits Office, 901 NW 17th St., suite D. To schedule an appointment, contact Aimee Hugdahl toll-free at 866-524-2443, or via e-mail at ahughdahl@lnc.com, or contact Theresa Yong at 866-772-4163, e-mail at tmyong@lnc.com.
FOR FACULTY ONLY: INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROVOST POSITION
The advertisement for the open provost position appeared in the first issue of the Chronicle of Higher Education published in January. The selection criteria for the position highlight the experience and qualities the search committee will be using to screen the resumes of candidates and to guide our interviews with top candidates. Since the committee will be constantly refining the selection criteria as we discuss candidates, we welcome faculty members’ suggestions regarding these criteria and their relative importance.
In order to assure confidentiality to applicants, the Korn/Ferry Search firm will be responsible for making most of the initial contacts with applicants or with persons nominated for the position. The names of individuals who express an interest in the position will also remain confidential until a determination has been made by the search committee regarding the candidates to be invited to campus.
If you would like to make a nomination, please send the name to the Korn/Ferry Search firm. If you prefer to send it to a member of the search committee, they will pass it on to Korn/Ferry. Please provide any thoughts regarding the selection criteria to any member of the search committee and they will share your suggestions with the Committee. The medical school’s search committee representative is Mary Lou King, Ph.D. She can be reached at m.king@miami.edu, or 305-243-5628.
Inquiries for Korn/Ferry may be directed to Elizabeth Dycus at 802-765-4543 or by e-mail to Elizabeth.dycus@kornferry.com. Applications and nominations should be addressed (e-mails preferred) in total confidence to:
John Kuhnle and Elizabeth Hicks, Senior Client Partners
Korn/Ferry International
E-mail (preferred): MIAMIprovost@kornferry.com
Fax: 305/377-4428
GRANT WRITING SEMINAR
You are invited to apply for admission to a one-day grant seminar entitled "Write Winning Grants," which will take place on Friday, February 25, at the Jackson Memorial Hospital Diagnostic Treatment Center, room 259. The seminar will be 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Attendance is limited; to apply, please contact the Division of CME at 305-243-6716, or contact umcme@med.miami.edu to receive an application. You must submit your application by January 31.
CHILD CAR SEAT INSTALLATION CHECK
Did you know that most child car seats are not installed correctly? To ensure that your child car seat is installed correctly a certified child passenger safety technician will be available on the following Mondays: January 10, 24 and 31; February 7, 14, 21 and 28; March 7, 21 and 28, and April 11, 18 and 25 in front of the Mailman Center from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The service is available to everyone who transports children under the age of 12 in their vehicle. For more information, e-mail gstepanian@um-jmh.org, or call 305-243-3928 to set up an appointment. Priority will be given to those with appointments.
CELEBRATION OF LIFE WALKATHON AND HEALTH FAIR
The Papanicolaou Corps for Cancer Research will hold its annual Celebration of Life Walkathon and Health Fair on Saturday, February 5, beginning at 8:30 a.m. at UM/Sylvester at Deerfield Beach, 1192 East Newport Center Drive. At 10 a.m., UM/Sylvester will sponsor a free health fair featuring health screenings, presentations, and exhibits. Entry fee for the walk is $15 and includes a light breakfast, t-shirt, and refreshments. All proceeds will be donated to UM/Sylvester for cancer research. You can also support the event and remember or honor loved ones and friends who have or are currently battling cancer by purchasing a marker in their name for $15. The markers will be displayed at the Walkathon and Health Fair. To register, to purchase a marker, or for more information, please contact the Pap Corps at 954-425-8100.
30TH ANNUAL REVIEW AND RECENT PRACTICAL ADVANCES IN PATHOLOGY
The Department of Pathology will be conducting its 30th Annual Review and Recent Practical Advances in Pathology Course at the Fontainebleau Hilton from January 31-February 4. This year’s topics include hematopathology, breast pathology, neoplastic and non-neoplastic bone pathology, melanocytic lesions, pathology of neurodegenerative diseases, and more. For information and assistance, please contact Linda Hung at 305-585-6103; fax 305-243-5929, or e-mail lhung@med.miami.edu.
CONVERSATIONS ABOUT CANCER SERIES
Joseph Lucci, III, M.D., co-leader, Gynecologic Cancer Site Disease Group and professor and director, Division of Gynecologic Oncology, will talk about “Ovarian Cancer – Symptoms and Treatment,” as part of the Conversations about Cancer series on Tuesday, January 11, from noon to 1 p.m. at UM/Sylvester at Deerfield Beach, 1192 East Newport Center Drive, Suite 100. The presentation is free, and a light lunch will be served. Please call 1-800-545-2292 to register. Seating is limited. For more information, contact Joanne Leahy at 954-571-0107.
Maggie Kane, infection control specialist at UM/Sylvester, will present “Ways You Can Avoid Infection” the Deerfield Beach facility on Friday, January 21, from noon to 1 p.m.
Please call 1-800-545-2292 to register. Seating is limited.
Dr. Lucci will discuss ovarian cancer again, this time on the medical campus, on January 24 in the UM/Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, conference room 1301. The discussion will take place from noon to 1 p.m., and reservations are required. Please call 1-800-545-2292 to reserve your space.
On February 3, Talia Donenberg, M.S., CGC, board ertified genetic counselor at the School of Medicine, will discuss “Genetic Cancer Symptoms,” from noon to 1 p.m. at the UM/Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, conference room 1301. The discussion will take place from noon to 1 p.m., and reservations are required. Please call 1-800-545-2292 to reserve your space.
QUESTIONS ABOUT COMPLIANCE?
TWO UM HELPLINES CAN ASSIST YOU
Research integrity concerns? Report concerns regarding research integrity and adherence to federal or University regulations directly to the Office of the Vice Provost for Research at 305-243-6415, or you can call the University's toll-free, anonymous compliance hotline at 866-YOURCALL. Billing concerns? Address questions to the Office of Billing Compliance at 305-243-HELP or 877-415-HELP. For information regarding training programs offered by the Office of Billing Compliance, contact Gemma Romillo or Nancy Rivero at 305-243-5842.
MARK YOUR CALENDAR!
SOUTH FLORIDA MODEL SPINAL CORD INJURY SYSTEM INFORMATIONAL TOUR
The South Florida Model Spinal Cord Injury System will present an informational tour for participants to learn more about the Spinal Cord Injury Out-Patient Clinic at the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine. Tour participants will also meet investigators at the Miami VA SCI Center of Excellence, attend a formal presentation on the latest research at The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis, and learn more about community outreach programs for individuals with spinal cord injuries. The tour will meet at the Jackson Memorial Hospital Rehabilitation Center lobby at 1 p.m. on Tuesday, January 25. For reservations, please contact Mayra M. Miró, Psy. D., at 305-585-1339, or e-mail mmiro@med.miami.edu.
NEUROLOGICAL UPDATE 2005
Please join us for the Neurological Update 2005 meeting to be held January 26-29 at The Alexander Hotel in Miami Beach. This course is aimed at adult and pediatric neurologists, neurosurgeons, and psychiatrists, although internists and general practitioners may also find the topics timely and useful. The course is designed to provide clinicians with the most recent developments in the diagnosis and treatment of neurological disorders. For more information, please contact the Division of CME at 305-243-6716 or at umcme@med.miami.edu.
TEACHING CONFERENCE ON HEART & STROKE – EMPHASIZING WOMEN’S HEALTH
Registration is open for the 37th Annual Teaching Conference in Clinical Cardiology and Neurology, scheduled for Friday and Saturday, January 28-29 at the Hyatt Regency in Miami. The conference is a primary care update presented by the Center for Research in Medical Education. This year’s focus is heart disease and stroke in women. UM physician assistants, nurse practitioners and nurses can register for a reduced fee of $100 ($150 for UM physicians). CME credit and nurse contact hours can be earned up to a maximum of 15.5 hours. Tuition remission is available, awarded on a first-come first-served basis. The conference features a variety of School of Medicine faculty, led by Michael S. Gordon, M.D., Ph.D., David Lee Gordon, M.D., S. Barry Issenberg, M.D., and Joan Baker, R.N., M.S.N., C.C.R.N., C.N.R.N. Also presenting are visiting professors Gordon A. Ewy, M.D., from the University of Arizona and Patrick S. Reynolds, M.D., from the Wake Forest University School of Medicine. To register, or for more information call 305-243-6491 or visit http://www.crme.med.miami.edu/meded_conf2005.html.
3RD MIAMI INTERNATIONAL REVASCULARIZATION SUMMIT
The 3rd Miami International Revascularization Summit will be held on Friday, February 25, through Sunday, February 27, at Wyndham Miami Beach Resort, 4833 Collins Ave. For more information, please contact the Division of Continuing Medical Education at 305-243-6716, or e-mail umcme@med.miami.edu.
AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY YOUNG INVESTIGATOR WORKSHOP
Christopher C. Widnell, Ph.D., scientific program director, extramural grants, for the American Cancer Society National Home Office, will present “American Cancer Society Funding Opportunities and Tips for Successful Grant Writing,” on Friday, February 11, from noon to 1 p.m. in UM/Sylvester conference room 1301. Lunch will be served. The American Cancer Society’s extramural grants program seeks to support and promote high impact and innovative cancer-related research across a wide range of disciplines to meet critical needs in the control of cancer. The purpose of this seminar is to acquire ideas for new approaches to obtaining research funding. Dr. Widnell will discuss the various funding opportunities for both junior and senior investigators, as well as describe some of the characteristics that translate a good idea into a funded grant. RSVP to Diane Dames at 305-243-2287, or e-mail Ddames@med.miami.edu.
NEW CONCEPTS IN OBSTETRICS AND GYNECOLOGY CONFERENCE
The Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology will be presenting a conference on New Concepts in Obstetrics and Gynecology at the Alexander Hotel in Miami Beach March 2 through 5. This program is designed to provide a comprehensive update of problems encountered in obstetrics and gynecology and its subspecialties. New information will be presented that can be used in daily gynecological practice, and participants will also be able to determine when more advanced technologies are necessary. Participants are encouraged to bring clinical problems for discussion. For more information, please contact pmundy@med.miami.edu, or call 305-585-5131. You can also register on-line at http://www.ob-gyn.med.miami.edu/events.asp.
HUMAN SUBJECT RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES
Sara Czaja, Ph.D., is leading a study of spinal cord injury in an aging
population focusing on helping improve the quality of life of the patients
and their caregivers. As Americans live longer, more people are aging with
spinal cord injuries than ever before, presenting new challenges. This
NIH-funded study will examine the value of a home-based program that combines
psychological and social intervention, using technology to help patients
who have difficulty with mobility. For more information about the study,
please call 305-355-9200.
The HPV vaccine has been developed with the goal of decreasing HPV infection
and the persistence of HPV risk types responsible for cervical cancer. We are
looking for healthy women between the ages of 15 to 25 who have not had prior
abnormal pap smears, are not pregnant, are willing to receive the study vaccine,
and are able to commit to a four- year follow up period. For more information,
call Iliana Rivas at 305-243-5832.
The SPARE Study (Soy Phytoestrogens As Replacement Estrogen) is currently
recruiting women between 45-58 years of age to study the role of soy phytoestrogens
given in tablet form to prevent bone loss. Participants will be given a
physical exam at study entry, an annual mammogram and bone density test,
and will be asked to come for 10 study visits over a period of two years
for blood tests and to complete questionnaires about diet, exercise, and
well-being. Interested women should contact the SPARE Study Office at 305-243-4330
or via e-mail at aherrin@med.miami.edu.
The UM Skin Research Group directed by Brian Berman, M.D., Ph.D., professor of dermatology and internal medicine, is conducting several research studies on keloids and chronic idiopathic urticaria. If you are interested in participating please contact us at 305-243-5519 or visit our website at www.skininvestigation.com.
Researchers at the MRI Center need healthy subjects for a magnetic resonance imaging study. For more information please visit
http://midas.med.miami.edu/Research/MRStudies.htm.
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