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Archive for October, 2006

Panic Attack- Making a Bad Situation Worse

Posted by admin On October - 31 - 2006

Many people live their lives having little happen to them out of the ordinary. Some of us however lead a very exciting, if not emotional life caused by unannounced and unwanted anxiety panic attacks. This isn’t to say that those who suffer from panic are having a good time if only because they can’t control the feelings, circumstances or timing of the panic.

A panic or anxiety attack for many feels like a heightened sense of awareness. Physical symptoms may include your heart racing, and face flushes, shortness of breath, and an almost dizzying array of feelings that can make someone nauseous. A very common symptom of panic is a sense of impending death. This is caused by the very real physical symptoms triggered by an emotional or mental state that’s very overwhelming. Rather than the kind of adrenaline rush excitement, one might get from riding a roller coaster, a panic attack comes on without warning.

Believe it or not panic attacks are actually part of our basic survival instinct. Many panic researchers believe that these attacks may be caused by your body triggering the fight or flight survival response. When a person is in a situation that they have identified as dangerous, the body may start preparing itself for a potential life-threatening situation. The rapid heartbeat, skin flush and shortness of breath are all typical symptoms of an adrenaline rush.

Adrenaline is a hormone that can place your body into a fight or flight preparation and response to an identified life threatening scenario. The bodily changes are designed to get us prepared to run away from a situation or to fight and neutralize the problem. Either way our bodies need to be placed on edge and be ready to react to whatever happens.

Panic attack sufferers however can experience this same fight or flight bodily preparation without warning. Panic attack can show up while doing even mundane things such as walking the dog or reading a book. Imagine walking down to pick up the mail and having all the symptoms of a full adrenaline rush wash over your body. This can happen at any time or anyplace for someone suffering with anxiety or panic attacks.

Anxiety or panic disorder can degenerate into a very debilitating situation. Fearing another panic attack, many people will begin to avoid situations where an attack may have occurred previously. This causes more problems as sufferers will start to avoid normal situations such as checking the mail are going to the mall. The fear of the possibility of another anxiety attack can drive many to modifying their behavior thereby making the potential situation much worse.

Panic disorders can develop into serious mental health issues. It’s critical that if you suffer regularly from panic that you seek professional help.

Abigail Franks writes on many subjects which includes anxiety and depression. visit her site to find more information about anxietyhelpcenter.info/panic-attack/panic-attack.html panic attacks and anxietyhelpcenter.info/ anxiety disorders


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Help Your Teen Stop Smoking

Posted by admin On October - 31 - 2006

If you discover that your teenager or child is addicted to cigarettes, it can be a frightening situation to deal with. As an adult, you realize the harmful effects of smoking and how devastating the deaths and sicknesses that can occur will be for your child. We never want to see anything bad happen to our children and smoking is one of the worst habits to pick up. But before you jump all over your child, stop and think through some strategies to help your teen stop smoking.

The worst thing you can do to encourage your teen to stop smoking is to yell, scream, or demoralize your child. This will have the opposite effect of what you want. Teens already have a problem thinking that their parents do not understand them and if you go nuts when you find out the problem, in the mind of your child this will only solidify that you do not understand them or their position.

This is not to say that punishment will not be necessary, particularly if you have clearly stated that smoking is not acceptable behavior in your home, but if you want your child to successfully stop smoking, punish with love and respect.

The first thing you need to do is talk to your child about the reasons to stop smoking. It can be difficult for teens to recognize that all of the terrible effects they have heard about smoking can actually happen to them. You may want to have them talk to a smoker that you know, one who perhaps has some of these health problems, about the long-term effects. Remember, teens live in the now and they have a hard time thinking about the future. Right now, it is cool to smoke and they might not care about the future risks. It is your responsibility as a parent to convince your teen that they need to stop smoking for their own health. That is one easy to do.

Once you have overcome that hurdle, give your teen the support that they need to stop smoking. Assure them that you realize it will not be easy. Many teens think they can stop smoking whenever they want. This is not the case and they are often discouraged when they find that they are truly addicted! Tell your teen that they will probably fail in their first attempts to stop, but that the important thing is to keep at it. Assure them of your support!

You may need to consider outside counseling to help your child stop smoking, especially if you have never had a serious addiction. It can be hard for teens to relate to their parents, particularly about a hard-to-kick habit like smoking. Talk to your school and see if there is a counselor you can use. Or, consider talking to your pastor if you attend church.

The most important thing you can do to help your child stop smoking is to be consistent and loving! Even though you are angry or embarrassed, if you are committed to helping them quit, you must be loving! Give support and be there to pick them up when they fail. This is the best way to help your child stop smoking!

Michael Russell
Your Independent stopsmoking-guide.com/ Stop Smoking guide.


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It’s So Easy!

Posted by admin On October - 31 - 2006

Health and fitness experts tell the truth about REAL fitness: exercise and proper nutrition is the only path to true lifelong fitness! Forget all the “get slim quick” schemes out there promising you quick results with zero effort! Our position is the same one you heard from your doctor: Eat sensibly and exercise regularly.

However, over the last week there have been two BREAKING NEWS stories that have an impact on health and fitness. These two news items are so noteworthy that we just couldn’t let another day go by without bringing them to your attention.

Each story is a good example of how EASY it can be to improve or damage your health.

Our first item shows how easy it can be to make small, sustainable changes to your life that will HELP you fight fat…..not make you thin, but HELP you fight fat. Maggie Fox, Health and Science Correspondent for Reuters News Service, wrote a great story on the relationship between sleep and fat. The bottom line is that people who skimp on their sleep are more likely to be overweight. We’re not going to print the entire story, but here’s one quote: “In one study, people who slept only four hours a night for two nights had an 18 percent reduction in leptin, a hormone that tells the brain there is no need for more food, and a 28 percent increase in ghrelin, which triggers hunger.”

The second news item is a good example of how easy it is to undermine our weight loss efforts with poor nutrition. Hardee’s this week introduced what they’re calling the “Monster Thickburger”. A more suitable name would be the “Monster WeightGainer”! This burger packs 1,420 calories, which is about what many women should eat in an entire day! It also has 107 grams of fat, which is WAY more fat than anyone should have in one day! No wonder the introduction of this new burger caused Jay Leno to joke: “The Megaburger actually comes in a little cardboard box shaped like a coffin”.

Well, there we have it. Two fairly easy ways to either improve our health or damage our health. It’s easy to sleep, and it’s easy to eat a Monster Thickburger. Let’s make the right choices.

So, right after we get some sleep, we’ll see you at the gym!

* Copyright 2005 Pick Up The Pace. Permission is not required for the distribution of Pick Up The Pace articles as long as they are used in their entirety, are properly credited to Pick Up The Pace, and are accompanied by our website link: www.letspickupthepace.com.

* The information in this article and on this site is for general reference purposes only and not intended to address specific medical conditions. This information is not a substitute for professional medical advice or a medical exam. Prior to participating in any exercise program or activity, you should seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health professional. No information in this article or on www.letspickupthepace.com should be used to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any medical condition.

Tracie Johanson is the founder of Pick Up The Pace, a 30-minute exercise studio for women, focusing on fitness, health and nutrition for maximum weight loss. Please visit letspickupthepace.com letspickupthepace.com for more information.


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Yoga Balls For Fitness And Stability

Posted by admin On October - 31 - 2006

Yoga Balls are the new craze in the market due to its viable uses which provides the best posture and stability factor for those who practice yoga. This is an inflatable piece which is now being part of an exercise routine for many. It is made out of PVC vinyl or rubber. Once it is inflated it is used basically for basic muscles like abdomen, chest and back.

The essence of the ball is instability which lets you use other muscles to balance the ball. This helps to stress on the other specific muscles. It helps in strengthening your lower back, buttocks, abdomen, chest and arms. By using these yoga balls the yoga poses becomes extremely easy and comfortable. It is a great instrument for having a healthy body with strong muscles to complete the yoga poses.

The ball helps in stretching and removing the stress which is one of the grave issues for many. This helps in achieving stability by controlling the ball. It gives a proper shape to your body, tones your muscles, as well as can be fun in doing most of the yoga poses with the ball. There are different sizes and colors to be chosen from to suit your personality as well as the current trend. These balls are long-lasting due to its finish and can support a good amount of weight on it. These are used not only for yoga but for all the other exercises, as well as for dancing. The air-filled balls give the required support for all the poses as and when it is done.

Kevin Pederson, the webmaster for Yogawiz yogawiz.com yogawiz.com it is a site which would provide information on the different types of yoga and to know more about accessories such as yogawiz.com yoga balls.


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From Cleopatra’s time, until today, women all over the world have been coloring their lips.

Ancient Egyptians stained their lips with henna. A vegetable dye. They also used a fucus, reddish-purple plant dye that contained mercury to paint their lips. Back then, they were not aware of that mercury is a poison.

In Japan, epecially in Kyoto, geishas use lipstick in the form of a green cake, applied with a wet brush onto the lips. The green stuff turns into crimson which the geishas then use to paint a small mouth considered alluring the ancient Japanese.

Then there are the modern lipsticks with lip plumping ingredients to make the lips look as full as possible, in a society where generous lips are considered sexy. A substance from Cayenne pepper is often employed in these lipsticks to make lips swell up for that bee stung look.

Seems like a cheaper way to get that look is to let a bee sting your lips, but that would lead to more than just your lips swelling up. It certainly wouldn’t be a pretty sight. Scrap that thought. If you’re allergic to bee stings, a stunt like that could cost you your life.

Another way is to go to the doctor’s office and have collagen injected into your lips every three months. Women who might be squeamish about everything else are willing to tolerate multiple needle jabs in the name of beauty.

There’s got to be a safer way to achieve beautiful lips. Putting on lipstick and applying a touch of shimmer at the center of the bottom lip is a tried and tested way of achieving the look of fuller lips. Slicking on gloss makes lips look fuller too. Either sounds less painful than the needle.

Did you ever wonder what goes into that lipstick you’re wearing?

Unless you remove every trace of lipstick before you eat or drink anything, chances are, the lipstick on your lips ends up in your mouth and you end up eating it. So what’s in it?

Lipsticks contain waxes like beeswax and carnabau wax to hold the shape. It would also contain vegetable oils for the moisturizing properties and ease of use. Vitamin E, aloe vera, squalane and other skin moisturizing, anti-aging ingredients might be added to it. Finally, there’s the color. Natural vegetable dyes or artificial colors would be added to give the lipstick its coloring. Sometimes, a fragrance might be added to make your lips smell sweeter… more tempting. In some cases, silica or mica might be added to give lipsticks that shimmer.

Some lipsticks contain only natural ingredients. Burts bee lipstick is one of them.

Read more about cosmetics, makeup, skin care and health products at cosmeticsonline.info cosmeticsonline.info


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Compare Treadmills Carefully To Find Quality

Posted by admin On October - 30 - 2006

The aerobic benefits of walking and running are well documented, and perhaps you have decided to add this form of exercise to your daily workout schedule too. If so, you could easily just put on a good pair of shoes and go running in your neighborhood to get health benefits, but for many people that becomes a challenge, especially for those that live in areas where the weather can easily interrupt a regular workout routine. Or perhaps you don’t feel comfortable walking or running on your own outdoors. If so, a home treadmill can be a good alternative, but you need to compare treadmills very carefully and then buy the one that fits you best.

If you have seen or used a treadmill at a gym, you know how stable and reliable they can be. But the cost of commercial treadmills is quite high, and there is no need to go quite that far in purchasing a workout machine for your home. However, you don’t want to buy a cheap, inferior machine that will only break down under constant wear in the near future either, and wind up being scrapped without you getting your money’s worth.

You can find plenty of quality home treadmills in between those two extremes that would make a fine purchase. But you need to do your homework and compare treadmills honestly to get the best treadmill buy.

First, understand that there are plenty of low cost treadmills on the market in department stores for just a few hundred dollars that may appear to be what you need at first glance, but they are not usually built well enough to stand up to the use you intend to give them in the long haul. Generally speaking, $1,000 seems to be the floor for getting a good, solid quality treadmill that you can count on. And if you plan on sharing it with another person or also maybe even running on it, you should probably consider spending in the area of $2,000 or more.

Also consider your size and weight when comparing treadmills. If you are over 200 pounds, you will need a very sturdy treadmill, especially if you run on it. Unfortunately, many treadmill manufacturers overstate the weight capability on their products so if you are over 200 pounds, look for a treadmill that supports 300 pounds or so instead if you want it to last.

Your height can be another important factor to take into consideration when it comes to the length of the treadmill deck. For tall people, over six feet, be sure to have a deck that is at least 50 inches long if you want to be able to walk in full stride and perhaps even a few inches longer if you want to run on your treadmill.

These are just a few suggestions to help you compare treadmills as you shop. You really can’t know much about any home treadmill until you actually use it though. So make a physical inspection a part of your shopping process, and then compare treadmill results as you go to find the home treadmill that will suit you best.

Thad Pickering writes on many consumer related topics including fitness. You can find the homefitnessconsumerreview.com/exercise-treadmills.html best home treadmill and homefitnessconsumerreview.com/index.html home treadmill reviews by visiting our Home Fitness website.


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Due to obesity the epidemic, pine nut oil has become a popular subject by nutritionists and researchers as a natural way to promote satiety and curb overeating. A compound in pine tree nuts may act as an appetite suppressant says latest studies.

A study was done on the effect of pine nut oil on 18 over weight women. Thirty minutes after taking pine nut oil in capsules the women reported a desire to eat less food during their next meal by up to 36 percent.

The active ingredient in pine nut oil that curbs hunger is the fatty acid pineolenic acid. Pineolenic acid causes the release of hormones associated with appetite suppression and satiety, cholecystokinin(CCK) and glucagonlike peptide (GLP-1).

Pine nuts have been part of our diets since before ancient Greek and Roman times. Russian and Chinese cultures have used pine nut oil for centuries for an effective appetite suppressant, metabolism booster, digestive aid and peptic ulcer healer just to name a few.

Pine nut oil is rich in vitamins E, B1 B2 and B3, beta-carotene and other carotenoids, essential amino acids, magnesium, zinc, iron, copper, and iodine.

Companies are now combining the all time popular appetite suppressant, hoodia gordonii, with pine nut oil for an even stronger effect of controlling appetite than taking the two separately. This combination has great promise for those who need something stronger than hoodia gordonii alone. Neither hoodia gordonii or pine nut oil seem to have any known side effects taken separately or together.

Even though pine nut oil is a bit pricey, its addition to any appetite suppressant will be worth the extra money spent. Pine nut oil does not cause rapid heart beat as do some other weight loss products.

More information: prohealthnut.com/id117.html” target=”_blank prohealthnut.com/id117.html

Fred Fishburne and his wife are owners of a successful health store in McDonough, Ga., since 1994, specializing in combining supplementation and proper nutrition for optimal health benefits. Visit at: prohealthnut.com prohealthnut.com to read more health articles.


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Microdermabrasion is one of the most versatile cosmetic treatments ever developed. This skin resurfacing treatment can correct hyperpigmentation, skin roughness, acne scarring and even acne. Yet, sometimes a funny thing happens with microdermabrasion- you end up with more acne.

This pimple upheaval does not have to happen. With a little planning, you can select the right microdermabrasion therapy for your skin type and tremendously reduce your chances of experiencing post-microdermabrasion acne.

1. Match the microdermabrasion treatment grade to your skin type

The first step of getting a microdermabrasion treatment is deciding what type of treatment you need. Here is a general grading system for selecting your microdermabrasion treatment:

The greater your skin’s oil level, and the larger your pores, the greater degree of microdermabrasion you can withstand. Likewise, if you have smooth skin, with relatively small pores and minimal oil secretion, you will want a milder form of microdermabrasion that uses less pressure.

If you are applying the microdermabrasion treatment yourself, adjust the level of pressure you apply to your skin based on your skin’s pore size and your skin’s oil secretion level.

2. Prepare your skin to remove comedones

A primary function of microdermabrasion is to remove the upper layers of the skin in order to reveal a fresher, less blemished dermis. As microdermabrasion removes the upper layers of the skin, it also disturbs and exposes comedones. Comedones are round plugs of hardened or crystallized oils, fat and cellular waste trapped in the pores. Under the right circumstances, comedones can become inflamed and evolve into acne lesions.

If you have comedones in the skin, you either can remove them via extraction, or allow daily skin shedding to bring the comedone to the surface of the skin. Microdermabrasion is a non-invasive way to encourage comedones to rise to the surface of the skin faster and it does not involve puncturing the skin to remove the trapped waste.

Before having a microdermabrasion treatment, it is easy to test your skin’s level of comedones. Smooth your hand over you skin and feel small bumps beneath your skin. These bumps represent potential comedones. With repeated microdermabrasion treatments, these comedones will rise to the surface of the skin where they may just flake off or fall away from the skin.

If you do have comedones, space your microdermabrasion treatments at least three days apart to give your skin time to calm down after each treatment and minimize comedone irritation.

3. Take care of your skin after the microdermabrasion treatment

After a microdermabrasion treatment, you drastically change the ecology of your skin’s surface. You remove bacteria, oils and skin cells whose primary job is guarding against microbial attacks and environmental elements like ultraviolet radiation.

This makes protecting your skin after microdermabrasion a must. The first thing you need is a moisturizer to apply to the skin after the microdermabrasion treatment. The moisturizer should not contain any extraneous acids like glycolic or retinol because your skin is most likely slightly inflamed and sensitive after a microdermabrasion treatment.

Use a moisturizer designed for sensitive skin like Eucerin. This moisturizer is affordable, does not clog pores, comes with a sunscreen and is available at most drug stores.

Next, make sure to use a sunscreen after your microdermabrasion treatment to mitigate sun sensitivities. Sun sensitivity can also cause the skin to develop small bumps as an immune response to solar exposure. If needed, wear a hat to shield your skin from the sun after a microdermabrasion treatment.

Avoiding unwanted zits after your microdermabrasion treatment is just a matter of planning and post-treatment skin protection. If you properly prepare for skin resurfacing and adjust your microdermabrasion grade and treatment times based on the condition of your skin, you will keep your pimple count to a minimum.

Sources:

González-Serva, Aldo &George Kroumpouzos. Demonstration of Polarizable Crystals in Fresh Comedonal Extracts: Sebum Crystallizes. Acta Dermato-Venereologica; November 2004, vol 84, no 6, pp 418-421.

Lloyd, Jenifer R. The Use of Microdermabrasion for Acne: A Pilot Study. Dermatologic Surgery; April 2001, vol. 27, no. 4, pp. 329-331.

Shim, Elisabeth K; David Barnette, Kathi Hughes & Hubert T Greenway. Microdermabrasion: A Clinical and Histopathologic Study. Dermatologic Surgery; June 2001, vol 27, no 6, pp 524-530.

Naweko Nicole Dial San-Joyz founded Noixia, a San Diego based research firm dedicated to helping people intelligently, safely and affordably enhance their image by offering custom skin solutions to people with


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Drug Addiction Programs – Doing What Nothing Else Can

Posted by admin On October - 29 - 2006

No matter what means they employ, drug addictions programs all have the same end in mind: the safe arrival of their participants at an emotionally healthy and substance-abuse free life. It’s a noble goal, but not one easily achieved.

Substance abusers become addicted both mentally and physically to their drugs of choice; so their recovery requires not only that the physical cravings for the drug be eliminated, but that reasons for their emotional dependency on it are uncovered and eradicated as well. Treatment centers offering drug addicting programs must not only help the addicts withdraw from their drugs; they must offer behavioral therapy which will allow the addicts to choose for themselves sobriety as their preferred way of life.

Because drug addiction programs must be also prepared to deal with those who have been medically ravaged by their substance abuse, they need staff capable of performing medical examinations. Hepatitis and HIV tests are a given for anyone entering a drug addiction program.

Approaches To Withdrawal

Drug addiction programs must, of curse, have a way of monitoring their patients during the period of physical withdrawal from their drugs or alcohol. There are programs which require a complete cessation of the drug, and no use of non-addictive pain medication to help them through the withdrawal symptoms.

This approach is based on the philosophy that if the withdrawal is painful enough, it will serve as a deterrent when the addict had future cravings. It may also be necessary for those addicts whose systems have been so ravaged by their substance abuse that they simply cannot tolerate further chemical intervention of any kind.

Other drugtreatmentinfo.org/Drug_Addiction_Recovery/ drug addiction programs will allow those in withdrawal access to pain medication or sedatives until they can function n their own again. Many experts, however, take exception to this approach, feeling it does nothing but switch one dependency for another.

Learning New Behaviors

Another prerequisite of drug addiction programs is that they require their patients to participate in counseling. Without counseling, addicts will find it very difficult to pinpoint the reasons and deal with their addictions. Unless they understand why they became addicted, they will fid it very difficult not to return to substance abuse.

In drug addiction programs, addicts are able to discuss with others in their situations the depression, pressure to conform, sense of isolation, or any other reasons which have made them turn to substance abuse. They will be offered other healthier behaviors with which they manage negative feelings in the future.

Regardless of the details of various drug addiction programs, they are all intended to bring redemption and healing to those broken bodies and minds which can find them nowhere else.

You can also find more info on drugtreatmentinfo.org/Drug_Addiction_Rehabilitation/ Drug Addiction Rehabilitation and drugtreatmentinfo.org/Drug_Addiction_Statistics/ Drug Addiction Statistics. Drugtreatmentinfo.org is a comprehensive resource to known more about drug addiction.


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Lose Weight, Get Fit, and Live Longer

Posted by admin On October - 29 - 2006

If all we have to do is exercise to live a fuller and healthier life then why isn’t everybody doing it? Not enough time? Too expensive? Unmotivated? Well the fact is everybody wants to be healthier but it is time consuming and expensive. Or is it? The problem is that an individual’s health is not given a high priority until it’s gone.

Not enough time?

Whether the person realizes it or not, they are just procrastinating. They seem to think that they will have more time in the future. To add to this the longer they wait the lower their health will become. Time must be allocated in your schedule or it will never be done because something will always come up. And lets face it, its no good having a big house and a luxurious car if you are no longer around to enjoy it! If you can’t spare 30 consecutive minutes each day then three, ten-minute sessions can still improve your condition.

Too Expensive?

Exercise costs nothing! Just walking each day is enough to ensure a long and healthy life. This is something just about everyone can do so it also provides a great opportunity to spend time with family and friends.

Unmotivated?

Well at least you’re honest! The trick is to find something you enjoy. Try something social like a group walk, tennis, or golf. If you would rather spend time alone then go for a walk, take your headphones, and listen to your favourite music. If you get bored easily then try a Personal Trainer. Even if it only for one session. They can provide you with variety and ideas on how to keep the exercise program interesting.

However it is easy to see why people get confused when trying to improve their lifestyle with so many diets and eating plans that seem to contradict each other. Then there’s the abdominal machines, home gyms, and crosstrainers sold through the media that promise great results but always end up as expensive dust collectors.

The trick is to keep it simple.

When it comes to your food intake consume low fat meals: it makes sense that the less fat that goes into your mouth, the less fat that will stay on the body.Eat meals with plenty of variety: the more variety, the greater intake of all the required nutrients. And keep portion size relative to what you require: eating low fat foods will still make you put on weight if you are eating enough for two people.Eat foods high in fibre: these foods are more filling.When it comes to exercise, just move more! You must burn more calories than you put into your mouth. Walk to the shops, take the stairs, or hide the remote control for the TV. It all adds up.If you can’t exercise on a given day, then be even more vigilant with your food intake.
Exercise doesn’t have to be hard, just regular. It just takes thirty minutes each day to ward off our biggest killer: heart disease.So, the simple solution to a healthier body? USE IT OR LOSE IT!

Ray has worked extensively in the health and fitness industry for over 15 years. He has a degree in Exercise Science and is a Level 2 Strength and Conditioning coach. Get more tips at Rays site free-online-health.com Free Tips for Weight Loss
trainingdiary.ws Program and Meal Planner


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