iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Reposted by Kelsey H. Collins

Bakar Aging Research Institute @ucsfaging.bsky.social · 11/03/2026

BARI is celebrating today! Kelsey Collins just won the 2026 NEXT Award for her research on the surprising role of fat in osteoarthritis and joint pain. Turning personal inspiration into real mechanistic discoveries – this is why we do what we do. Congratulations, Kelsey! bit.ly/4sCUdBd

bit.ly

Kelsey H. Collins, PhD, Wins NEXT Award for Translational Research on Relationship between Fat and Osteoarthritis Development and Pain

/PRNewswire/ -- The 2026 New Emerging eXperts in Translational Science (NEXT) Award was granted to Kelsey H. Collins, PhD, for her research on the role of fat...

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Kelsey H. Collins @kelseyhcollins.bsky.social · 26/11/2025

Congratulations Priscilla Tjandra and all on our new paper: tinyurl.com/2mbhxuz7. We demonstrate a role for complement factor D secreted by fat in the early and persistent pain after knee injury. Thanks to Darren Dunlao and Jacob @ucsfmicrobiome.bsky.social for collab on eicosanoid profiling!

tinyurl.com

Complement factor D (adipsin) mediates pressure-pain hypersensitivity post destabilization of medial meniscus injury

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Kelsey H. Collins @kelseyhcollins.bsky.social · 20/10/2025

Sporting mine in Sydney, Australia! Learn more about the #whitesneaker campaign and resources for #worldosteoporosisday below 👇🏻

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Kelsey H. Collins @kelseyhcollins.bsky.social · 12/09/2025

Thrilled to be speaking at the McCaig International Research Conference on #Osteoarthritis, March 11–13, 2026 in Kananaskis, Alberta 🇨🇦 Trainee abstract submissions are open until Oct 31, 2025! Learn more: mccaig.ucalgary.ca/event/intern... #McCaig2026 #BoneAndJointHealth

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Reposted by Kelsey H. Collins

Sun H. Peck @sunhpeck.bsky.social · 02/09/2025

Love seeing the #WhiteSneakers being packed for #ASBMR2025, keep them coming! Wear them at the meeting on Saturday 06 Sept to Take Steps to Improve Bone Health. Even if you can't join us in Seattle, post a pic with your favorite pair and join the MOVEment! @asbmr.bsky.social 🦴💪🚶‍♀️🚶

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Reposted by Kelsey H. Collins

Sun H. Peck @sunhpeck.bsky.social · 25/08/2025

The @asbmr.bsky.social Annual Meeting is less than 2 weeks away, and we're all lacing up our #whitesneakers to get ready! Wanna join the MOVEment and Take Steps to Improve Bone Health? Be sure to pack your white sneakers for #ASBMR2025 in Seattle, wear them on 06 Sept, and stay tuned for more!

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Kelsey H. Collins @kelseyhcollins.bsky.social · 22/07/2025

We are inviting original research studies that probe the interaction between Obesity and Osteoarthritis for @oacjournal.bsky.social by May 1, 2026. Details below & happy to discuss! @jointsintheworld.bsky.social @profdavidhunter.bsky.social @larhumato.bsky.social Shannon Mihalko Henning Bliddal

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Reposted by Kelsey H. Collins

Farshid Guilak @farsh-g.bsky.social · 22/05/2025

Most studies of cartilage mechanobiology study the upregulation of chondrocyte gene expression and biosynthesis with mechanical loading. Check out our recent paper where Daniel Palmer studied the down-regulated "mechanome" with Piezo1 or TRPV4 activation. www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....

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Kelsey H. Collins @kelseyhcollins.bsky.social · 15/05/2025

It is a joy to congratulate @jessicagwagner.bsky.social, Movement Science PhD Student in UCSF PT, on a fantastic qualifying exam this morning - first one in the lab! Way to go, Jess 👏 Here is a link to Jess' recently published paper: onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....

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Kelsey H. Collins @kelseyhcollins.bsky.social · 12/05/2025

Starting in 15 min! Thanks @jointsintheworld.bsky.social and CCOMP for the opportunity to share our work @farsh-g.bsky.social

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Reposted by Kelsey H. Collins

Orthopaedic Research Society @orssociety.bsky.social · 05/05/2025

New to ORS? Join our New Member Orientation on May 21 at 12 PM CST via Zoom! Learn about member benefits, networking, and hear how ORS has impacted careers. Bring your questions! 🔗 Register now: bit.ly/3XzipIA

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Reposted by Kelsey H. Collins

Hope Welhaven, PhD @thehopefulscie1.bsky.social · 30/04/2025

@kelseyhcollins.bsky.social and I are kicking off the USASP Annual Scientific Meeting with a trip to the iconic Bean! Excited to be in Chicago, present my work this afternoon at poster B28, and join the Pain & Aging SIG tonight! 🎉 @usasp.bsky.social

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Kelsey H. Collins @kelseyhcollins.bsky.social · 25/04/2025

Excited to share the latest chapter of our work on fat-joint interorgan crosstalk in knee OA, featuring the role of complement factor D secreted by fat in knee pain. Link here: bit.ly/42Og5hJ Thanks to @farsh-g.bsky.social for all of your support - @thehopefulscie1.bsky.social and all coauthors!

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Reposted by Kelsey H. Collins

Ted Price @tedpricethepainguy.bsky.social · 25/04/2025

Yet another study showing beneficial effects of metformin for pain - this time in OA pain. Effects on pain are modest, but better than placebo. Effects on WOMAC scores are more impressive. Also no sex differences observed. jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...

jamanetwork.com

Metformin for Knee Osteoarthritis in Patients With Overweight or Obesity

This randomized clinical trial assesses the effect of metformin on knee pain among patients with symptomatic knee osteoarthritis and overweight or obesity.

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Kelsey H. Collins @kelseyhcollins.bsky.social · 21/04/2025

Congratulations to @grainofscience.bsky.social on the 2025 OARSI Rising Star Award! Well deserved 👏

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Reposted by Kelsey H. Collins

Riccardo Gottardi @ricgottardi.bsky.social · 18/04/2025

If you're around Palo Alto tomorrow, come hear how we gave menisci discarded from the food industry a second life to repair tracheas and eardrums @bioe-stanford.bsky.social @pennmedicine.bsky.social @pennengineering.bsky.social @upenn.edu #ENT

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Reposted by Kelsey H. Collins

Natalia Harasymowicz @nharasymowicz.bsky.social · 07/04/2025

Obesity has a distinct impact on the progression of OA. We showed significant loss of protective synovial lining macrophages in the synovium 3 days after joint injury, with a significant restoration in normal-weight but not in obese mice @farsh-g.bsky.social ard.eular.org/article/S000...

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Reposted by Kelsey H. Collins

Sarah Rice @grainofscience.bsky.social · 05/04/2025

Our Editorial is now online! Here, we discuss recent advancements and pertinent challenges in applying modern 'omics technologies to MSK tissues. This introduces our @oacjournal.bsky.social special edition. Still ~4 weeks left if you have a paper in the works! www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

sciencedirect.com

A timely assessment of the state of transcriptomic and epigenomic profiling in OA: Opportunities for advancements

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Reposted by Kelsey H. Collins

Christopher J Hernandez @profhernandez.bsky.social · 26/03/2025

Want to do a #postdoc? Did you know more faculty jobs go to people who postdoc in slightly different subject area? doi.org/10.1073/pnas... Are you an expert in #microbiome OR #osteoarthritis? How'd you like to join me and @kelseyhcollins.bsky.social as we figure out how the two are connected?

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Reposted by Kelsey H. Collins

Emily Goldberg @dremilygoldberg.bsky.social · 26/03/2025

I could not be more excited to have our lab's first story online where we report our discovery that HDACs ~reverse~ their activity to ADD acyl groups to lysine! We found this for our favorite ketone body, BHB, but this pathway controls other lysine modifications too!🧵 www.nature.com/articles/s41...

nature.com

Reversible histone deacetylase activity catalyzes lysine acylation - Nature Chemical Biology

Tsusaka et al. discover that histone deacetylases, which are well known to remove protein modifications, such as lysine acetylation and β-hydroxybutyrylation, can also reverse their chemical activity ...

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Kelsey H. Collins @kelseyhcollins.bsky.social · 24/03/2025

Hey #CartilageGRS2025 trainees! Defending soon, looking for a postdoc, and/or want to live in beautiful San Francisco, CA? We're looking for motivated folks to solve complex puzzles involving systemic factors, fat, aging, the gut microbiome and MSK health. DMs open! @thehopefulscie1.bsky.social

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Reposted by Kelsey H. Collins

Sarah Rice @grainofscience.bsky.social · 24/03/2025

Stop 4: Solvang (forgot to take any photos- sign of a good time) Stop 5: In N Out (aka when in Cali) #CartilageGRC

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Kelsey H. Collins @kelseyhcollins.bsky.social · 24/03/2025

Having lots of fun at #CartilageGRC2025 - Congrats to @thehopefulscie1.bsky.social on her election as the 2027 Cartilage GRS Co-Chair and her GRS Podium Award! Her work on aging and sex differences is awesome and so we are proud to share this work at the GRC meeting. Way to go, Hope! 🥂

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Reposted by Kelsey H. Collins

Ewan St. John Smith @psalmotoxin.bsky.social · 10/03/2025

Cool overview of #osteoarthritis, which will be of interest to many in #neuroskyence & #PainResearch communities. Thanks to @tuhinaneogi.bsky.social, @jointsintheworld.bsky.social & others! Some figures that will doubtless appear in many talks in years to come! www.nature.com/articles/s41...

This figure shows the healthy joint (part a) and osteoarthritic joint (part b). Almost all tissue structures in osteoarthritis joint tissues show pathological changes, including articular cartilage degradation, fibrosis and inflammation of the synovium and infrapatellar fat pad, subchondral bone remodelling, meniscal damage and ligament damage.

This figure outlines the hierarchical relationship between individual-level (influenced by genetic, systemic and lifestyle factors) and joint-level (specific to joint anatomy and function) risk factors that contribute to the susceptibility, progression and burden of osteoarthritis. Modifiable risk factors (blue) and non-modifiable risk factors (red) are also displayed.

Knee osteoarthritis is one of the most common joint diseases, characterized by pathological changes that involve the degradation of articular cartilage, inflammation and fibrosis of the synovium and infrapatellar fat pad, and remodelling of the subchondral bone. Cartilage degradation is driven by the excessive activity of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and ADAMTS enzymes, leading to the breakdown of collagen and proteoglycans, resulting in cartilage becoming thinner and cracked, compromising its cushioning function, and causing joint pain and stiffness. Meanwhile, synovial tissue shows chronic inflammation, including congestion, synovial cell hyperplasia and inflammatory cell infiltration, increasing inflammatory factors in the synovial fluid and further damaging the cartilage. The infrapatellar fat pad is also affected, with fibrosis potentially altering mechanical properties around the joint, affecting movement. The subchondral bone undergoes significant structural changes such as sclerosis and abnormal remodelling, which can lead to osteophyte formation, altering joint mechanics and increasing cartilage load. The sclerosis changes stress distribution within the joint, exacerbating cartilage damage. These pathological processes are interconnected, forming a complex network where inflammatory factors, such as IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF, further promote cartilage degradation and synovial inflammation. Mechanical stress signals activate chondrocytes and bone cells, accelerating lesion progression. Senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP) factors from chondrocytes or matrix-degrading enzymes secreted by osteoclasts and synovium/fat pad cells interact to exacerbate tissue damage, highlighting the importance of understanding these cellular and molecular interactions for effective osteoarthritis treatment. ARGS, aggrecanase generated aggrecan amino acids alanine, arginine, glycine, serine.

a, Overview of the peripheral pain pathway in joint pain. Noxious stimuli activate the peripheral terminals of nociceptors that innervate joint tissues. Depolarization of nerve terminals initiates the firing of action potentials that invade the dorsal root ganglia, where the cell bodies reside. This requires the activation of voltage-gated sodium channels NaV1.7, NaV1.8 and NaV1.9. Signals are transmitted to the dorsal horn of the spinal cord, where nociceptors synapse with second-order neurons — either interneurons (not shown) or projection neurons that cross to the contralateral side and carry the signal up the spinal cord. From there, the signals are propagated to higher regions of the central nervous system and different areas of the brain, where they are perceived as pain. b, Peripheral terminals of nociceptors express voltage-gated sodium channels and ion channels, such as TRPV1, or mechanosensitive ion channels such as Piezo2. They also express receptors for inflammatory mediators released by degrading and inflamed joint tissues, such as nerve growth factor (NGF), CCL2 or disease-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs). c, Anatomical neuroplasticity occurs as part of osteoarthritis pathology, including neo-innervation of the synovium and sprouting of nociceptors in the subchondral bone, which may breach the tidemark.

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Kelsey H. Collins @kelseyhcollins.bsky.social · 12/03/2025

Excited for our workshop on interdisciplinary solutions to study mechanisms of musculoskeletal pain at #USASP2025 in Chicago, featuring talks from Nadeen Chahine, Hang Lin, Rachel Miller, and Allan Basbaum @usasp.bsky.social. #painresearch Would love to see you there!

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Reposted by Kelsey H. Collins

American Institute for Medical & Biological Engineering (AIMBE) @aimbe-official.bsky.social · 11/03/2025

The 3/14 deadline to finalize the FY2025 budget is fast approaching! ⌛ AIMBE has developed a new advocacy letter (<1 min to send) for the scientific community to urge Congress to support our federal science agencies, including NIH, NSF, FDA, ARPA-H, CDMRP, and more 👇 takeaction.io/aimbe/suppor...

takeaction.io

Support Strong FY25 Funding for Biomedical Research by March 14

Use AIMBE's letter template below, edit as needed, or create your own message to your Members of Congress on issues that matter. Enter your contact information on the left, and your letter will be rou...

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Reposted by Kelsey H. Collins

Hope Welhaven, PhD @thehopefulscie1.bsky.social · 08/03/2025

Proud to be a scientist today and everyday. Science belongs to everyone and is for everyone ❤️🧬 #StandUpForScience

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Reposted by Kelsey H. Collins

Farshid Guilak @farsh-g.bsky.social · 05/03/2025

We’ve created a new field called “chronogenetics”: controlling gene expression with the cell’s internal clock! Lara Pferdehirt & Anna Damato made living implants that sync to the body & automatically deliver biological drugs on a 24 hr cycle. www.nature.com/articles/s41...

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Kelsey H. Collins @kelseyhcollins.bsky.social · 05/03/2025

Thank you @zsuzsajenei-lanzl.bsky.social for a wonderful talk and for spending time with us this month! Can’t wait to collaborate with you and learn more about the role of stress in OA.

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Reposted by Kelsey H. Collins

Anne-Marie Malfait @jointsintheworld.bsky.social · 12/02/2025

Save the date: C-COMP Seminar, featuring Dr. Zsuzsa Jenei-Lanzl from Goethe University Monday, February 24, 2025, 3:00 PM Central Time "The vicious circle of chronic stress, inflammation and pain in osteoarthritis"

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Reposted by Kelsey H. Collins

Farshid Guilak @farsh-g.bsky.social · 11/02/2025

Congrats to all the new members of the National Academy of Engineering, especially our many biomedical engineering colleagues Kyriacos Athanasiou, Sam Achilefu, Lisa Brannon-Peppas, Lydia Kavraki, and many others! www.nae.edu/331605/NAENe...

nae.edu

National Academy of Engineering Elects 128 Members and 22 International Members

National Academy of Engineering Elects 128 Members and 22 International Members to the Class of 2025

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Reposted by Kelsey H. Collins

Dr Nirav Pandya @drniravpandya.bsky.social · 08/02/2025

This is a huge honor for my close friend, @ucsfhealth.bsky.social partner, & @podcast co-host: @brianfeeleymd.bsky.social Although most of you know us from injury analysis on the radio, Brian is one of the few ortho surgeons in the world with this level of expertise: www.aaos.org/aaos-home/ne...

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Emily Goldberg @dremilygoldberg.bsky.social · 08/02/2025

I am starting this morning by reaching outside of my science echo chamber (posting on facebook) to explain why the NIH matters and why the new indirect rate policy will be catastrophic to everyone

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐚𝐫𝐞 "𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐬"?
When I write a grant, I provide a budget of the estimated "direct" costs that it will take to complete the project. These direct costs include things like salaries (mine + my lab members), student tuition, lab supplies, computing, and specialized equipment. The "indirect" costs on NIH grants are added on top of this and they pay for things like building infrastructure, utilities (water, electricity, internet), and salaries of administrative support staff like people who help us submit the grants, safety personnel, and janitors. The description that NIH is subsidizing universities with indirects is false. These are costs that are essential to perform the research that the government has agreed to fund. Indirects are negotiated with the government ahead of time so these are mutually agreed upon numbers and can't be changed by universities (or the government) on a whim.
𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐬𝐮𝐝𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐥𝐲 𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐍𝐈𝐇 𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐬?
For this, I think some numbers are helpful. If I write a $100,000 grant, my institution's indirect rate is 62.5% so the university submits a total budget of $162,500 to the NIH for the project (100k for me, 62.5k for indirect costs). The new 15% rate is supposed to be effective immediately and applied to current grants (where we already agreed on the costs) such that suddenly instead of $62,500, the NIH will only pay the university $15,000. This will simply not cover the costs of actually performing the proposed research. Remember, the government set these indirect cost numbers - they were negotiated with universities that had to prove how this money is spent and follow very strict rules about what it can be used for. Let me be clear: these changes will destroy biomedical research in the US.
𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐞?
Most people are not scientists, so why should they care about research? Universities are often among the top employers in their cities. Even …

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Hope Welhaven, PhD @thehopefulscie1.bsky.social · 08/02/2025

Another amazing talk at #ORS2025 from @carolynchlebek.bsky.social ! 👏🏼👏🏼 It was so fun to collaborate and bring #metabolomics into this well designed study centering around the effects of #obesity and weight loss on bone 🦴

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Megan Killian @megankillian.bsky.social · 08/02/2025

Shuffle the cards and kick their ass. Thanks, Sonny. #ors2025

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Kelsey H. Collins @kelseyhcollins.bsky.social · 08/02/2025

Thank you Dr. Bukata for your service on @orssociety.bsky.social. We are so lucky to have you as an advocate, champion and role model for Orthopaedic Research @ucsandiego.bsky.social #UCWomenofOrtho

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Kelsey H. Collins @kelseyhcollins.bsky.social · 08/02/2025

Hey @orssociety.bsky.social members! Are you at #ors2025? The board needs your feedback on the strategic plan. Please visit the focus groups in person today and tomorrow, or DM me for the QR code to submit feedback online. Your voice matters!

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Emily Goldberg @dremilygoldberg.bsky.social · 08/02/2025

While we figure out the BIG next steps, we all (especially those with republican senators) need to be loud as hell about opposing RFK Jr. With everything we stand to endure as scientists, an anti-science HHS Secretary is not an option. NIH-funded science benefits EVERYONE

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Hope Welhaven, PhD @thehopefulscie1.bsky.social · 07/02/2025

Your #ORSOpenDoor 2025 volunteers! We are so excited to engage students and teachers in short career talks, a discussion panel, and hands on workshops - it’ll be a fun day full of #stemoutreach! 🎉🧬🦴 @orssociety.bsky.social

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Hope Welhaven, PhD @thehopefulscie1.bsky.social · 07/02/2025

It is almost time for #ORSOpenDoor! Volunteers have arrived, coffee is being served, and workshops are underway 🎉 Follow along here and on Blue Sky to get all the updates today! @orssociety.bsky.social

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Osteoarthritis and Cartilage Journal @oacjournal.bsky.social · 07/02/2025

The #BasicScience #EditorsChoice for #February is this cutting edge work from the Brunger lab! Read about how Walton et al. deployed a synthetic receptor platform that regulates cell behaviors here: buff.ly/3CuBkMz

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Rachel Miller @rem7106.bsky.social · 06/02/2025

Join us Saturday at 7:30pm for our annual OA RIG at #ORS2025 @larhumato.bsky.social @thehopefulscie1.bsky.social @orssociety.bsky.social

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