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Maria Polychronidou

@mpolychronidou.bsky.social
422 followers 462 following 213 posts

Life scientist. Head of EMBO Membership & Elections and Courses & Workshops @embo.org #EMBOevents previously: Editor at Molecular Systems Biology, EMBO Press Views my own

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Reposted by Maria Polychronidou
Nobel Prize @nobelprize.org · 23h
BREAKING NEWS The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences has decided to award the 2026 #NobelPrize in Physics to Francis Halzen “for decisive contributions to the IceCube Neutrino Observatory and the discovery of high-energy neutrinos of astrophysical origin.”
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EMBO @embo.org · 23h
Sign up now for the EMBO Workshop "Cell biology of the nervous system: #Development, degeneration and repair" in Heraklion, Greece, 3–6 May 2027. Deadline: 12 February 2027 meetings.embo.org/event/27-nervouss… #EMBOneuroCellBio #EMBOevents #LifeSciences #neuroscience #CellBiology 🧪
meetings.embo.org
Cell biology of the nervous system: development, degeneration, and repair
This EMBO Workshop focuses on development, degeneration, and repair of the nervous system across lifespan. These three fields of neurobiology have greatly expanded over the last years, with exciting …
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Alexis Stamatakis @stamatak.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
Applications for the 2027 summer school on Computational Molecular Evolution on Crete are still open at: meetings.embo.org/event/27-com... Strict Application Deadline: November 2
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Flora Vincent @floravincent.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
Thrilled to kickstart the @embo.org practical course on metabolite & microbial communities, in @embl.org & Bangalore. After 2 years working on Kefir, we now explore marine microbial interactions 🤩 with support from the @roscoff-collection.bsky.social; 1rst lecture by Marine Vallet #EMBOMicroCom
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Fabian Fröhlich @frohlichlab.com · 04/10/2026
As habitual AI user for writing who regularly sees "100% human" scores on text with 80%+ LLM-written words, I suspect that: (i) reliability of AI detection is overestimated, (ii) writing of latest-gen models is under-appreciated, and (iii) "LLM-generated" is not as clear cut as many people think
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European Commission @ec.europa.eu · 05/10/2026
Some teachers stay with us long after we leave the classroom. This #WorldTeachersDay, we’re celebrating the teachers who inspire, encourage us and help shape the people we become.
An graphic titled 'Sending love to teachers who...' featuring a 3x3 grid of colorful watercolor hearts with messages: 'made us curious', 'always had time to listen', 'made us love reading', 'gave us confidence', 'inspired us', 'made us feel seen', 'taught us to think critically', 'made us feel safe', and 'never gave up on us'. In the bottom right corner, there is a European Union flag icon.
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EMBO @embo.org · 05/10/2026
Congratulations to EMBO Members Peter Hegemann and Georg Nagel, who with Karl Deisseroth have won the 2026 #NobelPrize in Physiology or Medicine for their discoveries concerning light-gated ion channels and #optogenetics. 🧪
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Nature @nature.com · 05/10/2026
BREAKING: The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine has been awarded to Karl Deisseroth, Peter Hegemann and Georg Nagel “for their discoveries concerning light-gated ion channels and optogenetics.” More to follow.
A photo of the Nobel medal
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Science Magazine @science.org · 04/10/2026
A species of lungfish found in South America has claimed the title of the animal with the biggest genome sequenced so far. Learn more on #WorldAnimalDay: scim.ag/46OMl6v
This odd fish has 30 times as much DNA as humans—a new record for animals
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forth-ite.bsky.social @forth-ite.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰 📝 By Ioanna Soufleri Exploring humanity’s shared history through paleogenetics www.embl.org/news/people-... @imbb-forth.bsky.social
embl.org
Exploring humanity's shared history through paleogenetics | EMBL
Svante Pääbo, Nobel laureate and 2026 EMBL Kafatos Lecturer, discusses what his research reveals about the origins of Homo sapiens
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EMBO @embo.org · 02/10/2026
This week at the EMBO Fellows' and Members' Meeting #EMBOFMM26, visitors could test out the EMBO Science Map. 🧪 It is a visualization of every EMBO Member (round symbols) and Associate Member (square symbols) on a scientific and a geographic map. Explore more here: sciencemap.embo.org
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EMBO @embo.org · 02/10/2026
As the EMBO Fellows' and Members' Meeting #EMBOFMM26 comes to an end, Tanmay Bharat is handed over the EMBO Gold Medal. 🧪
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EMBO @embo.org · 30/09/2026
Today, EMBO Director Fiona Watt welcomes the EMBO Members who join the EMBO Fellows in the joint meeting #EMBOFMM26 in Heidelberg, Germany. 🧪
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EMBO @embo.org · 01/10/2026
What will it take to make #CultivatedMeat part of our everyday food? 🧪 A Science & Society article (EMBO Reports, EMBO Press) explores the challenges facing #CellularAgriculture. More here: link.springer.com/article/10.1038/s… #LifeSciences #research
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EMBO @embo.org · 29/09/2026
Together with EMBO, the Helmholtz-Gemeinschaft has now developed recommendations on how #BiomedicalEngineering can grow into a strong industry in the #EuropeanUnion. 🧪 More in the press release: www.embo.org/press-releases/biomedi… #innovation
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EMBO @embo.org · 25/09/2026
Tomorrow our Fellows' Meeting begins in Heidelberg! 🧪 We're looking forward to welcoming our fellows for days of discussion, #exchange and fresh ideas. Next week, they will be joined by our EMBO Members. Safe travels to everyone on their way and see you tomorrow! #EMBOFMM26 #community
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Maria Polychronidou @mpolychronidou.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Many exciting reads in the list (...but nothing beats a new cat species!) www.nature.com/articles/d41...
nature.com
Daily briefing: The first new cat species described by science in a century
Leopardus tilcayo is smaller than a housecat and covered in leopard-like spots. Plus, the brain might spawn from two types of precursor cell and how to maintain the foundations of human flourishing in...
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Maria Polychronidou @mpolychronidou.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Very relevant topic ➡️ www.nature.com/articles/d41... #academicsky #careeradvice
nature.com
How do I change labs gracefully during my PhD?
A scientist in training seeks help in finding a new adviser without damaging existing working relationships.
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EMBL @embl.org · 24/09/2026
Svante Pääbo, Nobel Laureate and Director of the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, will deliver the 2026 Kafatos Lecture on Friday 9 October 2026, at IMBB-FORTH, Heraklion, Crete, Greece. Learn more: www.embl.org/news/people-...
Photograph of Svante Pääbo, who is going to deliver the 2026 EMBL Kafatos Lecture on 9 October at IMBB-FORTH in Heraklion, Greece. © Frank Vinken
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Hyun Youk @youklab.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Trying Bluesky for the 1st time — a somewhat belated first post. A paper from my lab on how predictability can emerge over time in a non-chaotic deterministic system, and an Illinois Physics story about it: www.nature.com/articles/s41... physics.illinois.edu/news/hyun-yo...
nature.com
Predictability can be dynamically constructed in deterministic systems - Nature Communications
In a deterministic, non-chaotic system, the initial state fixes the future completely, yet that future may be impossible to forecast from it. Using a cellular automaton of communicating cells, this st...
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Victor de Lorenzo (CNB, Madrid) @vdlorenzo.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
Curious about the origins and early days of Synthetic Biology in Spain? Or looking for a SynBio lab where you could pursue a PhD, do a postdoc or explore career opportunities in the country? Take a look at this historical account & snapshot of the field today! 👉🏻 dx.doi.org/10.1049/enb2...
dx.doi.org
The Landscape of Synthetic Biology and Bioengineering in Spain
This article reviews the emergence and current status of synthetic biology in Spain, tracing its evolution from pioneering contributions in gene regulation, systems biology and microbial engineering ...
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EMBL Events @events.embl.org · 10/09/2026
Poster session: where “I’ll just have a quick look” somehow turns into a 20-minute scientific deep dive 😄🧪 Yesterday’s poster session at 'Chemical biology' had all the right ingredients: a little chemistry, a little biology, and a lot of interaction ⚗️💬 #EMBOChemBio @embl.org @embo.org
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Maria Polychronidou @mpolychronidou.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
Always enjoy looking at the #IgNobel list every year! Highlight this year: "the peace prize was won by a team that found that people value friends who are nice but also those who are vicious towards their enemies" 🤔https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-026-02793-x
nature.com
Why the super-fun Ig Nobel prizes bring serious value to science
Awards that celebrate humour, curiosity and irreverence are a balm in hard times.
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The Guardian @theguardian.com · 20/08/2026
Winner of Invertebrate of the Year 2026 crowned – and it is the size of a grain of rice
theguardian.com
Winner of Invertebrate of the Year 2026 crowned – and it is the size of a grain of rice
The leaf sheep, a neon green solar-powered slug, has inspired at least one Pokémon character and triumphs in global ballot
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Maria Polychronidou @mpolychronidou.bsky.social · 20/08/2026
Nice ideas! I especially like the circulation of a shared document beforehand, to reduce presentation time and increase the chance of an informed and helpful discussion (&applicable beyond lab meetings...) ➡️ www.nature.com/articles/d41...
nature.com
Twenty-two easy ways to power up your lab meetings
Scientists share help and advice on how they got their research discussions flowing.
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Alex Schier @schierlab.bsky.social · 19/08/2026
What regulates the urge to sleep? William Joo and colleagues identified brain regions that reflect how long mice have been awake. Strikingly, inhibiting one of these regions reduces sleep by 70%, without the major behavioral deficits associated with sleep deprivation. www.nature.com/articles/s41...
nature.com
Wake-activated neuronal populations that regulate sleep drive - Nature
Whole-brain activity mapping, targeted cell manipulations and electrophysiology in mice identify wake-activated neuronal populations that are crucial for sleep drive and can persistently red...
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Typas Lab @typaslab.bsky.social · 20/08/2026
Excited to share our paper with @savitski-lab.bsky.social, led by @tarabartolec.bsky.social, Karin Mitosch & Clément Potel, out now in @nature.com. We show that T7 phage broadly disables bacterial defenses using a unique ‘loose cannon’ protein kinase. www.nature.com/articles/s41...
nature.com
Pervasive phosphorylation by phage T7 kinase disarms bacterial defences - Nature
The T7 bacteriophage deactivates bacterial defence systems through T7K phosphorylation of nearly all host and phage proteins during infection.
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Nature @nature.com · 10/08/2026
A growing number of private firms are offering researchers artificial-intelligence tools for scrutinizing manuscripts before publication go.nature.com/4wSqQgQ
go.nature.com
This AI tool claims to pick the top 1% of preprints. Should researchers trust it?
QED Science says that its metrics reduce bias by assessing papers solely on the basis of their originality and validity.
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Yasin Dagdas @plantophagy.bsky.social · 07/08/2026
It’s a sad irony that this paper became online on the anniversary of #Hiroshima 🇺🇸 now has another technology that can transform or ruin the 🌍
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EMBL Events @events.embl.org · 07/08/2026
Apply for #EMBOQuantPro to learn state-of-the-art proteomics and mass spectrometry, including practical AI applications. Ideal for researchers with a basic knowledge of proteomics who want to implement new methodologies in their research. Apply by 23 Nov: s.embl.org/qpr27-01-bl
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PLOS Biology @plosbiology.org · 07/08/2026
During #embryogenesis, anterior-posterior axis formation depends on #chromatin accessibility, but axis determinants are species-specific. This study reveals complex temporal patterns of chromatin accessibility during axis specification in the moth fly. 🧪 #AcademicSky #development plos.io/4hewogE
An image of a moth fly embryo with different patterning determinants creating a color gradient along the anterior-posterior axis.
Flies (Diptera) have evolved many kinds of anterior determinants to specify the primary body axis but so far only the mechanism of action of one, Bicoid, has been characterized in the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster. Ezra Amiri, Muzi Li, Shelby Blythe, Urs Schmidt-Ott and co-workers find that the anterior determinant of the moth fly Clogmia albipunctata, which is encoded by the zic family member odd-paired, initiates anterior patterning by opening chromatin and activating transcription at Clogmia’s homeobrain (blue) and sloppy-paired (purple and yellow) loci.
Image credit: Maxwell Devine

The authors confirm that this image can be used under the Creative Commons Attribution License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
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Mohammed Khallaf @khallaf.bsky.social · 15/07/2026
Our new paper is out in @nature.com! We uncovered how a naked mole-rat queen 👑 controls an entire colony: a natural contraceptive scent that suppresses reproduction in other females! A remarkable mammalian parallel to bees and ants! 🐝🐜 @garyrlewin.bsky.social youtu.be/enfv3zJrWKM?...
youtu.be
Naked mole-rats are ruled by a queen: this chemical puts her in power
YouTube video by nature video
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Ivaska Lab @ivaskalab.bsky.social · 16/07/2026
New paper alert! Michal Dibus and team show tensin-1 forms reversible condensates that act as reservoirs for adhesion proteins, tuning adhesion turnover and cell migration - a cool new role for phase separation in cell adhesion dynamics! Congratulations to the team 🎉! Paper here: bit.ly/4y9E8Xr
bit.ly
Adhesion-derived condensates control component availability to regulate adhesion dynamics - Nature Communications
Integrin adhesions allow dynamic cell-matrix interactions to regulate cell behaviour. Here, the authors reveal that tensin 1, a multidomain adaptor protein, forms condensates in cells that act as reve...
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Pedro Beltrao @pedrobeltrao.bsky.social · 08/07/2026
The @qedscience.bsky.social "impact" score generated a lot of discussion on ranking preprints, including ideas on multi-dimensional rankings that are user specific. Besides describing the ideas, we can now prototype them (with Claude in this case). Here is Salient salient-sgeu6fs5ua-uc.a.run.app
salient-sgeu6fs5ua-uc.a.run.app
Rising — Salient
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EMBO @embo.org · 07/07/2026
Missed out on the early submission deadline for #CellBio2026? No problem. Late poster abstract submission is still open until 4 August: www.ascb.org/cellbio2026 🧪 American Society for Cell Biology
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Nature @nature.com · 06/07/2026
Rice plants have found a way to resist heatwaves go.nature.com/4wpm75C
go.nature.com
Plant membranes shuffle lipids around to stay firm under heat stress
High temperatures make cell membranes weak and leaky. Rice plants rapidly counteract this effect by adjusting membrane lipid content, enabling them to resist heatwaves.
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Ylva Ivarsson @ivarssonlab.bsky.social · 06/07/2026
Excited to share our preprint introducing ASHI: the Atlas of SLiM-mediated Human protein-protein Interactions. By screening 800+ domains against the human intrinsically disordered regions, we map 20,000 SLiM-mediated interactions. Many thanks to everyone involved! www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
biorxiv.org
An Atlas of Short Linear Motif-Mediated Human Protein-Protein Interactions
Short linear motifs (SLiMs) within intrinsically disordered protein regions mediate transient interactions crucial for cell physiology. However, the global interaction landscape of human SLiMs remains...
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Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum (DKFZ) @dkfz.bsky.social · 06/07/2026
Researchers from the DKFZ, HI-STEM Stem Cell Institute and Heidelberg University Hospital have developed "HemaGuide", an AI assistant that supports physicians in making difficult treatment decisions for complex blood cancers. @natmed.nature.com t1p.de/gs2ez
t1p.de
New AI System Provides Treatment Recommendations for Complex Blood Cancers
Researchers from the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), the HI-STEM* Stem Cell Institute, and the Heidelberg University Hospital (UKHD) have developed “HemaGuide,” an AI assistant that supports phy...
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Maria Polychronidou @mpolychronidou.bsky.social · 05/07/2026
„When you work on methods, they're only really successful if someone else uses them” — Steven Henikoff #openscience
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Maria Polychronidou @mpolychronidou.bsky.social · 02/07/2026
For #coffeelovers ☕ ➡️ www.nature.com/articles/d41...
nature.com
Coffee is under threat: how scientists are fighting to save it from extinction
Coffee plants are critically endangered by climate change. Researchers are finding solutions to keep scientists supplied with their favourite discovery fuel.
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Biozentrum, University of Basel @biozentrum.unibas.ch · 30/06/2026
Congratulations to Prof. Sebastian Hiller and all newly elected EMBO members! This lifelong membership recognizes outstanding scientific achievements. 🧪 #EMBOMembers2026 @hillerlab.bsky.social @unibas.ch @embo.org www.biozentrum.unibas.ch/news/detail/...
biozentrum.unibas.ch
Sebastian Hiller elected EMBO member
The prestigious European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO) has elected Prof. Sebastian Hiller from the Biozentrum as a new member.
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Spagnoli_Lab. @labspagnoli.bsky.social · 30/06/2026
🎉 Delighted to have been elected a Member of EMBO! Huge thanks to my nominator, supporters, collaborators — and all incredible members of my lab. 👏 🙏 Thrilled to join such an extraordinary community and contribute to its mission @embo.org ! 🇪🇺 🔬🧪 #EMBOMembers2026 @kingslsm.bsky.social
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Weizmann Institute of Science @weizmann.ac.il · 01/07/2026
Congratulations to Prof. Michal Sharon of the Department of Biomolecular Sciences, upon being awarded the a member of @embo.org #EMBOMembers2026
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Victor de Lorenzo (CNB, Madrid) @vdlorenzo.bsky.social · 30/06/2026
Off to @embl.org in Heidelberg for the 6th edition of the hands-on SynBio @embo.org Course share.google/Dg0qMdsNQl55... that I initiated in 2015. Glad to see that many of its earlier students now star senior PI positions in some the best research centers & universities 😀
share.google
Synthetic biology in action: maturing tools and their potential
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Wojtek Galej @wojtekgalej.bsky.social · 30/06/2026
Honoured and delighted to be elected as an EMBO Member. Many thanks to my group and to everyone who has supported me throughout the years. I am deeply grateful for this recognition.
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Paul & Virginie - Centriole Lab @centriolelab.bsky.social · 30/06/2026
Honored and delighted to be elected an EMBO Member. A huge thank you to our amazing team, this recognition wouldn't be possible without you. Perfect day to celebrate together during our lab outing! 🎉 - Virginie
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Friedrich Förster @fridof.bsky.social · 30/06/2026
Very happy and honored to be elected as an EMBO member. Looking forward to contributing to this great European society. Thanks for being nominated and the trust of the members.
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Maria Antonietta Tosches @matosches.bsky.social · 30/06/2026
It is a huge honor to become an EMBO Associate Member. I am grateful to my mentors and to all the brilliant trainees in my lab.
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Wellcome Sanger Institute @sangerinstitute.bsky.social · 30/06/2026
Congratulations to Iñigo Martincorena, who has been elected as an EMBO member for his contribution to the understanding of somatic evolution and its role in disease. 👏 Read more: www.sanger.ac.uk/news_item/sanger-s…
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Kiran R. Patil @kiranrpatil.bsky.social · 01/07/2026
Interested in Genome-scale Metabolic Models for Gut microbes? Check out our latest preprint on automated model reconstruction. Carved by @ariannabasilecc.bsky.social, in teamwork with Aditi, @indraroux.bsky.social, @metagenomez.bsky.social, and @skamrad.bsky.social. www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
biorxiv.org
CarveMe-GutMicrobes: Automated Metabolic Model Reconstruction for Gut Microbial Species and Communities
Genome-scale metabolic models (GSMMs) are important aids towards system-level understanding of the metabolic physiology of the gut microbes and for rational microbiome engineering. While large-scale r...
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