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While there has been a steady stream of research on chief technology officers (CTOs), studies specifically examining the expanding role of CTOs, particularly in the areas of environmental, social, and governance (ESG), remain scarce. Despite extensive research on boards of directors (BODs), chief executive officers (CEOs), and corporate social responsibility (CSR) committees, there is a significant lack of research on the role of CTOs in integrating ESG considerations into technology development and operations. To fill this gap, this study investigated the impact of CTO characteristics (personal, positional, and career-related) on corporate ESG performance. Based on previous studies, we created a conceptual model and proposed 12 hypotheses. A sample of 218 publicly traded corporations in Korea was selected, and a structural equation model was used to test the fit of the research model and hypotheses. The results indicate that the positional characteristics of the CTO positively affect a corporation’s ESG performance, whereas the career-related characteristics of the CTO negatively affect it. However, personal characteristics did not exhibit significant effects. Therefore, this study underscores the need for corporations to empower technology leaders, such as the CTO, and enable them to play an important role in strategic decision-making. By doing so, organizations can enhance their social responsibility, improve environmental sustainability, and maintain competitiveness. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Sustainable Management)

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25 pages, 3314 KiB

Open AccessArticle

KISS—Keep It Static SLAMMOT—The Cost of Integrating Moving Object Tracking into an EKF-SLAM Algorithm

by Nicolas Mandel, Nils Kompe, Moritz Gerwin and Floris Ernst

Sensors 2024, 24(17), 5764; https://doi.org/10.3390/s24175764 (registering DOI) - 4 Sep 2024

Abstract

The treatment of moving objects in simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM) is a key challenge in contemporary robotics. In this paper, we propose an extension of the EKF-SLAM algorithm that incorporates moving objects into the estimation process, which we term KISS. We have extended the robotic vision toolbox to analyze the influence of moving objects in simulations. Two linear and one nonlinear motion models are used to represent the moving objects. The observation model remains the same for all objects. The proposed model is evaluated against an implementation of the state-of-the-art formulation for moving object tracking, DATMO. We investigate increasing numbers of static landmarks and dynamic objects to demonstrate the impact on the algorithm and compare it with cases where a moving object is mistakenly integrated as a static landmark (false negative) and a static landmark as a moving object (false positive). In practice, distances to dynamic objects are important, and we propose the safety–distance–error metric to evaluate the difference between the true and estimated distances to a dynamic object. The results show that false positives have a negligible impact on map distortion and ATE with increasing static landmarks, while false negatives significantly distort maps and degrade performance metrics. Explicitly modeling dynamic objects not only performs comparably in terms of map distortion and ATE but also enables more accurate tracking of dynamic objects with a lower safety–distance–error than DATMO. We recommend that researchers model objects with uncertain motion using a simple constant position model, hence we name our contribution Keep it Static SLAMMOT. We hope this work will provide valuable data points and insights for future research into integrating moving objects into SLAM algorithms. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sensor Fusion Applications for Navigation and Indoor Positioning)

19 pages, 453 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Role of Customs Policy in Maximizing the Benefits of Economic Blocs: The Case of Egypt

by Mahmoud Magdy Barbary and Abdalla Ramadan Tawfiq

Economies 2024, 12(9), 237; https://doi.org/10.3390/economies12090237 (registering DOI) - 4 Sep 2024

Abstract

This study aims to examine the relationship between customs policy and the economic blocs of which Egypt is a member, with a focus on the theory of New Regionalism and modern trends in customs policies. Egypt joined numerous economic blocs following its accession to the world trade organization (WTO) in 1995, yet this membership has not yielded significant positive impacts on the performance of Egyptian exports or the trade balance. The study utilized panel data analysis of Egypt’s international trade from 2001 to 2023. The results indicate that, despite Egypt’s limited success in reaping the benefits of most economic blocs, largely due to the concentration of Egyptian exports in primary and agricultural products and the low tariff rates, factors such as customs clearance processes, tariff barriers, non-tariff barriers, regional trade agreements, and technology adoption still play a crucial role in influencing trade volume among member countries. The findings highlight the significance of effective customs procedures and the reduction of trade barriers in boosting trade volumes within regional trade agreements. The study proposes a strategy for Egypt’s customs policy to maximize benefits from economic blocs, focusing on four key areas: aligning customs policy planning with targeted export sectors to realize trade creation and trade diversion effects; fully implementing trade facilitation programs and liberalizing customs policy procedures; adopting a national strategy to stimulate high value-added export industries as a long-term solution; and adopting regional trade agreements that support cumulative origin as a short-term solution. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section International, Regional, and Transportation Economics)

19 pages, 951 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Market Mavericks in Emerging Economies: Redefining Sales Velocity and Profit Surge in Today’s Dynamic Business Environment

by Enkeleda Lulaj, Blerta Dragusha and Donjeta Lulaj

J. Risk Financial Manag. 2024, 17(9), 395; https://doi.org/10.3390/jrfm17090395 (registering DOI) - 4 Sep 2024

Abstract

This research aims to explore market mavericks by redefining sales velocity and profit surge in today’s dynamic business environment in emerging economies. The study focuses on the interplay between Sales Excellence (SE), Sales Capability (SC), Market Alignment (MA), Strategic Responsiveness (SR), and Dynamic Sales Management (DSM). Data from 180 companies (2021–2023), provided by financial leaders, were analyzed using SPSS (23.0) and AMOS (23.0) software. The analysis employed exploratory factor analysis (EFA), reliability analysis, and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). The results highlight the critical role of these factors in shaping market mavericks and their significant impact on sales and profits in emerging economies. Specifically, SE enhances sales and profits when supported by effective strategies, SC drives organizational change by aligning service quality with SE, and MA drives sales velocity and profit surges through accurate forecasting. SR positively influences sales results by aligning sales with corporate strategy, while DSM is critical for motivating salespeople and shows strong links to SC and SR for successful adaptation in a dynamic business environment. The study reveals the interdependence of these factors and emphasizes the need for seamless integration and coordination to drive effective organizational change. These findings have significant implications for corporations seeking to improve their sales strategies and achieve sustainable growth in a rapidly evolving marketplace in emerging economies. This research explores market mavericks, redefines sales velocity and profit surge, and provides valuable insights into the critical factors shaping market mavericks and their impact on sales and profits. It offers guidance for organizations seeking sustainable growth. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Financial Accounting)

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18 pages, 5847 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Nonlinear and Threshold Effects of the Built Environment on Dockless Bike-Sharing

by Ming Chen, Ting Wang, Zongshi Liu, Ye Li and Meiting Tu

Sustainability 2024, 16(17), 7690; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16177690 (registering DOI) - 4 Sep 2024

Abstract

Dockless bike-sharing mobility brings considerable benefits to building low-carbon transportation. However, the operators often rush to seize the market and regulate the services without a good knowledge of this new mobility option, which results in unreasonable layout and management of shared bicycles. Therefore, it is meaningful to explore the relationship between the built environment and bike-sharing ridership. This study proposes a novel framework integrated with the extreme gradient boosting tree model to evaluate the impacts and threshold effects of the built environment on the origin–destination bike-sharing ridership. The results show that most built environment features have strong nonlinear effects on the bike-sharing ridership. The bus density, the industrial ratio, the local population density, and the subway density are the key explanatory variables impacting the bike-sharing ridership. The threshold effects of the built environment are explored based on partial dependence plots, which could improve the bike-sharing system and provide policy implications for green travel and sustainable transportation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Artificial Intelligence in Sustainable Transportation)

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18 pages, 2316 KiB

Open AccessReview

Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma in Patients with Solid-Organ-Transplant-Associated Immunosuppression

by Karam Khaddour, Naoka Murakami, Emily S. Ruiz and Ann W. Silk

Cancers 2024, 16(17), 3083; https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers16173083 (registering DOI) - 4 Sep 2024

Abstract

The management of advanced cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (CSCC) has been revolutionized by the introduction of immunotherapy. Yet, successful treatment with immunotherapy relies on an adequate antitumor immune response. Patients who are solid-organ transplant recipients (SOTRs) have a higher incidence of CSCC compared to the general population. This review discusses the current knowledge of epidemiology, pathophysiology, and management of patients with CSCC who are immunocompromised because of their chronic exposure to immunosuppressive medications to prevent allograft rejection. First, we discuss the prognostic impact of immunosuppression in patients with CSCC. Next, we review the risk of CSCC development in immunosuppressed patients due to SOT. In addition, we provide an overview of the biological immune disruption present in transplanted immunosuppressed CSCC patients. We discuss the available evidence on the use of immunotherapy and provide a framework for the management approach with SOTRs with CSCC. Finally, we discuss potential novel approaches that are being investigated for the management of immunosuppressed patients with CSCC. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research Progress of Cutaneous Squamous and Basal Cell Carcinomas (Volume II))

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15 pages, 536 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Pathogen Prevalence in Cetaceans Stranded along the Italian Coastline between 2015 and 2020

by Carla Grattarola, Guido Pietroluongo, Donatella Belluscio, Enrica Berio, Cristina Canonico, Cinzia Centelleghe, Cristiano Cocumelli, Silvia Crotti, Daniele Denurra, Alessandra Di Donato, Gabriella Di Francesco, Giovanni Di Guardo, Fabio Di Nocera, Ludovica Di Renzo, Stefano Gavaudan, Federica Giorda, Giuseppe Lucifora, Leonardo Marino, Federica Marcer, Letizia Marsili, Sergio Migliore, Ilaria Pascucci, Antonio Petrella, Antonio Pintore, Roberto Puleio, Silva Rubini, Giuliana Terracciano, Anna Toffan, Sandro Mazzariol and Cristina Casalone Show full author list Hide full author list

Pathogens 2024, 13(9), 762; https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens13090762 (registering DOI) - 4 Sep 2024

Abstract

The monitoring of stranded marine mammals represents a strategic method to assess their health, conservation status, and ecological role in the marine ecosystem. Networks worldwide track stranding events for the passive monitoring of mortality patterns, emerging and reemerging pathogens, climate change, and environmental degradation from a One Health perspective. This study summarizes pathogen prevalence data from the Italian Stranding Network (ISN) derived from post-mortem investigations on cetaceans found dead stranded along the Italian coastline between 2015 and 2020. The decomposition of the carcasses and logistics limited the post-mortem examination to 585 individuals, out of 1236 single-stranding reports. The most relevant pathogens identified were Cetacean Morbillivirus, Herpesvirus, Brucella spp., and Toxoplasma gondii, whose roles as environmental stressors are well known, despite their real impact still needing to be investigated in depth. Statistical analysis showed that age and sex seem to be positively related to the presence of pathogens. This study represents the first step in harmonizing post-mortem investigations, which is crucial for evidence-based conservation efforts. Implementing diagnostic and forensic frameworks could offer an indirect insight into the systematic monitoring of diseases to improve the identification of regional and temporal hotspots in which to target specific mitigation, management, and conservation strategies. Full article

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13 pages, 2318 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Socioeconomic Impact on Urban Resilience against Flood Damage

by Hyung Jun Park, Su Min Song, Dong Hyun Kim and Seung Oh Lee

Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(17), 7882; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14177882 (registering DOI) - 4 Sep 2024

Abstract

While urban populations are rapidly increasing around the world, floods have been frequently and seriously occurring due to the climate crisis. As existing disaster prevention facilities have specific limitations in completely protecting against flood damages, the concept of resilience, which emphasizes the ability to recover after becoming injured and harmed by a flood, is necessary to mitigate such damages. However, there is still a scarcity of studies that quantitatively show the relationship between the resilience and the socioeconomic costs, even though a variety of evaluation methods exist in the literature. This study aims to quantitively analyze the socioeconomic impact of flooding on the urban environment based on the concept of resilience. A method of evaluating four properties of resilience (redundancy, rapidity, resourcefulness, and robustness) through damage function and network analysis was used to measure changes in resilience against flood damages. In addition, to determine the socioeconomic impact of flooding, the costs incurred due to transportation delays and the lack of labor participation were evaluated. Differences in structural and social systems have led to variations in resilience and socioeconomic costs. As a future study, if the circumstances after flood events based on risk-based recovery can be evaluated, more effective urban flooding defense decisions would be expected. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Selected Papers from the 12th International Multi-Conference on Engineering and Technology Innovation (IMETI 2023))

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26 pages, 8508 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Post-Occupancy Evaluation of the Improved Old Residential Neighborhood Satisfaction Using Principal Component Analysis: The Case of Wuxi, China

by Jing Zhao, Faziawati Abdul Aziz, Ziyi Cheng, Norsidah Ujang, Hui Zhang, Jiajun Xu, Yi Xiao and Lin Shi

ISPRS Int. J. Geo-Inf. 2024, 13(9), 318; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijgi13090318 - 4 Sep 2024

Abstract

Recently, many Chinese cities have initiated improvement projects aimed at enhancing living conditions in older residential neighborhoods. Urban improvement should be closely linked to the needs of occupants to determine “what to improve”. Governmental initiatives and the various stakeholders involved in the project influence the impact of improvement efforts. The objectives of the study are essential to identify the factors influencing occupants’ satisfaction and to evaluate whether the occupants are satisfied with the improved old residential neighborhoods. This study conducts a post-occupancy evaluation (POE) of improved outdoor spaces in old residential neighborhoods, focusing on neighborhoods in Wuxi, China. A principal component analysis (PCA) was used to evaluate residents’ efficacy and satisfaction with the enhancements implemented in outdoor spaces. The methodology involved collecting data through surveys and on-site observations, which were then analyzed to identify the pivotal factors impacting the effectiveness of these improvements. The results indicated that enhancing outdoor spaces had a substantial positive impact on residents’ quality of life, social interactions, and physical activity levels. Additionally, the PCA identified accessibility, safety, and aesthetic quality as the main factors contributing to resident satisfaction. This study offers valuable insights for urban planners and policymakers aiming to rejuvenate aging residential districts, emphasizing the importance of data-driven approaches to improve the design and functionality of outdoor spaces. Full article

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22 pages, 5300 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effect of Rubber Aggregates on Early-Age Mechanical Properties and Deformation Behaviors of Cement Mortar

by Gaowang Zhang, Hao Du, Junmin Li and Jie Yuan

Buildings 2024, 14(9), 2787; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings14092787 - 4 Sep 2024

Abstract

Rubberized cement-based materials are widely utilized because of their good ductility, impact resistance, and fatigue resistance. This research investigated the effect of the rubber aggregates content, particle size of rubber aggregates, and water–cement ratio on the early-age mechanical properties and deformation behaviors of mortar through laboratory tests, and strength reduction coefficient fitting models were established according to the testing results. The results show that the compressive strength growth rate of cement mortar is about 15% slower than that of flexural strength. The existence of rubber aggregates lowers the strength increase rate of mortar. The reduction coefficient of strength decreases with increasing rubber aggregates content and increases with the age of mortar. Increasing rubber aggregates content and decreasing particle size of rubber aggregate can lower the autogenous shrinkage in the initial stage, but the autogenous shrinkage of the later stage increases as the rubber aggregates content increases, with a turning point between 30 h and 50 h. After 3 days, the dry shrinkage of mortar accounts for about 70–80% of the total shrinkage, and it increases with higher rubber aggregate content, smaller particle size of rubber aggregates, and higher water–cement ratios. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Composite Construction in Civil Engineering)

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16 pages, 3838 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Generation and Evolution of High-Order Wheel Polygonal Wear from the Effects of Wheelset Rotation

by Yahong Dong and Shuqian Cao

Lubricants 2024, 12(9), 313; https://doi.org/10.3390/lubricants12090313 - 4 Sep 2024

Abstract

Polygonal wear affects driving safety and drastically shortens a wheel’s life. This work establishes a wheel–rail coupled system’s rotor dynamics model and a wheel polygonal wear model, taking into account the wheelset’s flexibility, the effect of the wheelset rotation, and the initial wheel polygon. The energy approach is applied to study the stability of the self-excited vibration of a wheel–rail coupled system. The wheel polygonal wear generation and evolution mechanism is revealed, along with the impact of vehicle and rail characteristics on a wheel’s high-order polygon. The findings demonstrate that wheel polygonal wear must occur in order for the wheel–rail system to experience self-excited vibration, which is brought on by a feedback mechanism dominated by creepage velocity. Additionally, the Hopf bifurcation characteristic is displayed by the wheel–rail system’s self-excited vibration. Wheel polygonal wear is characterized by “fixed frequency and integer division”, and the wheelset flexibility largely determines the fixed frequency of high-order polygonal wear, which is mostly unaffected by the suspension characteristics of the vehicle. By decreasing the tire load, increasing the wheelset’s damping, and choosing a variable running speed, the progression of polygonal wear on wheels can be prevented. Future investigations on the suppression of wheel polygonal wear evolution can be guided by the results. Full article

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25 pages, 788 KiB

Open AccessReview

Subcellular Drug Distribution: Exploring Organelle-Specific Characteristics for Enhanced Therapeutic Efficacy

by Xin Liu, Miaomiao Li and Sukyung Woo

Pharmaceutics 2024, 16(9), 1167; https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics16091167 - 4 Sep 2024

Abstract

The efficacy and potential toxicity of drug treatments depends on the drug concentration at its site of action, intricately linked to its distribution within diverse organelles of mammalian cells. These organelles, including the nucleus, endosome, lysosome, mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi apparatus, lipid droplets, exosomes, and membrane-less structures, create distinct sub-compartments within the cell, each with unique biological features. Certain structures within these sub-compartments possess the ability to selectively accumulate or exclude drugs based on their physicochemical attributes, directly impacting drug efficacy. Under pathological conditions, such as cancer, many cells undergo dynamic alterations in subcellular organelles, leading to changes in the active concentration of drugs. A mechanistic and quantitative understanding of how organelle characteristics and abundance alter drug partition coefficients is crucial. This review explores biological factors and physicochemical properties influencing subcellular drug distribution, alongside strategies for modulation to enhance efficacy. Additionally, we discuss physiologically based computational models for subcellular drug distribution, providing a quantifiable means to simulate and predict drug distribution at the subcellular level, with the potential to optimize drug development strategies. Full article

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12 pages, 1306 KiB

Open AccessCommunication

Deep Integration of Fiber-Optic Communication and Sensing Systems using Forward-Transmission Distributed Vibration Sensing and On–Off Keying

by Runlong Zhu, Xing Rao, Shangwei Dai, Ming Chen, Guoqiang Liu, Hanjie Liu, Rendong Xu, Shuqing Chen, George Y. Chen and Yiping Wang

Sensors 2024, 24(17), 5758; https://doi.org/10.3390/s24175758 - 4 Sep 2024

Abstract

The deep integration of communication and sensing technology in fiber-optic systems has been highly sought after in recent years, with the aim of rapid and cost-effective large-scale upgrading of existing communication cables in order to monitor ocean activities. As a proof-of-concept demonstration, a high-degree of compatibility was shown between forward-transmission distributed fiber-optic vibration sensing and an on–off keying (OOK)-based communication system. This type of deep integration allows distributed sensing to utilize the optical fiber communication cable, wavelength channel, optical signal and demodulation receiver. The addition of distributed sensing functionality does not have an impact on the communication performance, as sensing involves no hardware changes and does not occupy any bandwidth; instead, it non-intrusively analyzes inherent vibration-induced noise in the data transmitted. Likewise, the transmission of communication data does not affect the sensing performance. For data transmission, 150 Mb/s was demonstrated with a BER of 2.8 × 10⁻⁷ and a Q_dB of 14.1. For vibration sensing, the forward-transmission method offers distance, time, frequency, intensity and phase-resolved monitoring. The limit of detection (LoD) is 8.3 pε/Hz^1/2 at 1 kHz. The single-span sensing distance is 101.3 km (no optical amplification), with a spatial resolution of 0.08 m, and positioning accuracy can be as low as 10.1 m. No data averaging was performed during signal processing. The vibration frequency range tested is 10–1000 Hz. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Optical Sensors)

27 pages, 454 KiB

Open AccessReview

Sustainability of Alternatives to Animal Protein Sources, a Comprehensive Review

by Marian Gil, Mariusz Rudy, Paulina Duma-Kocan, Renata Stanisławczyk, Anna Krajewska, Dariusz Dziki and Waleed H. Hassoon

Sustainability 2024, 16(17), 7701; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16177701 - 4 Sep 2024

Abstract

The manuscript was prepared to conduct a thorough analysis and deepen the understanding of sustainable food production and diets within the context of the challenges posed by intensive agricultural practices and their environmental impacts, as well as their effects on human health. The rapid growth of the human population necessitates an increase in food production to meet nutritional needs. However, increasing the production of animal-derived products, which are significant protein sources, is likely to worsen undesirable consequences, such as global climate change, greenhouse gas emissions, and a larger carbon footprint. Traditional farming techniques also contribute to environmental contamination due to the use of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides. Transitioning to a sustainable food production model that addresses food needs while protecting consumer health and the environment is crucial. The challenge for the food industry and research centers is to find and develop the production of alternative sources of protein. In addition to the technological problems that must be solved, there is consumer education focused on healthy eating and overcoming psychological barriers related to the consumption of new foods. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Food Marketing, Consumer Behavior and Lifestyles)

15 pages, 9141 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effect of Vibration Pretreatment–Microwave Curing Process Parameters on the Mechanical Performance of Resin-Based Composites

by Dechao Zhang, Lihua Zhan, Bolin Ma, Jinzhan Guo, Wentao Jin, Xin Hu, Shunming Yao and Guangming Dai

Polymers 2024, 16(17), 2518; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym16172518 - 4 Sep 2024

Abstract

The vibration pretreatment–microwave curing process can achieve high-quality molding under low-pressure conditions and is widely used in the curing of resin-based composites. This study investigated the effects of the vibration pretreatment process parameters on the void content and the fiber weight fraction of T700/TRE231; specifically, their influence on the interlaminar shear strength and impact strength of the composite. Initially, an orthogonal experimental design was employed with interlaminar shear strength as the optimization target, where vibration acceleration was determined as the primary factor and dwell time as the secondary factor. Concurrently, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) was performed based on process parameters that corresponded to the extremum of interlaminar shear strength, revealing a 2.17% difference in fiber weight fraction among specimens with varying parameters, indicating a minimal effect of fiber weight fraction on mechanical properties. Optical digital microscope (ODM) analysis identified interlaminar large-size voids in specimens treated with vibration energy of 5 g and 15 g, while specimens subjected to a vibration energy of 10 g exhibited numerous small-sized voids within layers, suggesting that vibration acceleration influences void escape pathways. Finally, impact testing revealed the effect of the vibration pretreatment process parameters on the impact strength, implying a positive correlation between interlaminar shear strength and impact strength. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Functional Polymers and Composites)

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