for the past two years as an engineering student here at Cal Poly I’ve had many
student here at Cal Poly I’ve had many
student here at Cal Poly I’ve had many wonderful professors but the best
wonderful professors but the best
wonderful professors but the best teacher I’ve ever had has been this six
teacher I’ve ever had has been this six
teacher I’ve ever had has been this six year old boy this is my friend Levi who
year old boy this is my friend Levi who
year old boy this is my friend Levi who fueled my interest in biomedical
fueled my interest in biomedical
fueled my interest in biomedical engineering the first time I met Levi
engineering the first time I met Levi
engineering the first time I met Levi was on his sixth birthday like any other
was on his sixth birthday like any other
was on his sixth birthday like any other six-year-old boy Levi loves Legos
six-year-old boy Levi loves Legos
six-year-old boy Levi loves Legos watching TV and surfing with his dad
watching TV and surfing with his dad
watching TV and surfing with his dad unlike other six-year-old boys Levi was
unlike other six-year-old boys Levi was
unlike other six-year-old boys Levi was born with a congenital hand amputation
born with a congenital hand amputation
born with a congenital hand amputation that left him with around a third of his
that left him with around a third of his
that left him with around a third of his left palm I was connected to Levi
left palm I was connected to Levi
left palm I was connected to Levi through Cal Poly when I was accepted as
through Cal Poly when I was accepted as
through Cal Poly when I was accepted as a biomedical engineering student I was
a biomedical engineering student I was
a biomedical engineering student I was excited by the school’s hands-on
excited by the school’s hands-on
excited by the school’s hands-on approach but I never expected anything
approach but I never expected anything
approach but I never expected anything like my experience with Levi when my dad
like my experience with Levi when my dad
like my experience with Levi when my dad and I first visited Cal Poly we toured
and I first visited Cal Poly we toured
and I first visited Cal Poly we toured the QL plus lab this is a space created
the QL plus lab this is a space created
the QL plus lab this is a space created by the quality of life plus foundation a
by the quality of life plus foundation a
by the quality of life plus foundation a national organization which aims to
national organization which aims to
national organization which aims to engineer solutions for wounded veterans
engineer solutions for wounded veterans
engineer solutions for wounded veterans looking around at all of the posters of
looking around at all of the posters of
looking around at all of the posters of projects and hearing the inspiring
projects and hearing the inspiring
projects and hearing the inspiring stories of those who had been helped I
stories of those who had been helped I
stories of those who had been helped I was hooked as my dad and I were walking
was hooked as my dad and I were walking
was hooked as my dad and I were walking out of the lab I told him I was
out of the lab I told him I was
out of the lab I told him I was definitely going to Cal Poly and that I
definitely going to Cal Poly and that I
definitely going to Cal Poly and that I would build someone a prosthetic device
would build someone a prosthetic device
would build someone a prosthetic device in my first year a few months later at
in my first year a few months later at
in my first year a few months later at the first q il+ general meeting I spoke
the first q il+ general meeting I spoke
the first q il+ general meeting I spoke with a club officer and I asked how I
with a club officer and I asked how I
with a club officer and I asked how I could get more involved he met my
could get more involved he met my
could get more involved he met my enthusiasm with applications for project
enthusiasm with applications for project
enthusiasm with applications for project teams eager to join a team that would be
teams eager to join a team that would be
teams eager to join a team that would be helping a young boy in the community I
helping a young boy in the community I
helping a young boy in the community I filled out all the applications for the
filled out all the applications for the
filled out all the applications for the projects that they had I went back to my
projects that they had I went back to my
projects that they had I went back to my dorm I emailed a resume and a cover
dorm I emailed a resume and a cover
dorm I emailed a resume and a cover letter and I waited a week later I had
letter and I waited a week later I had
letter and I waited a week later I had an interview and I was teeming with
an interview and I was teeming with
an interview and I was teeming with excitement on my way there I kept
excitement on my way there I kept
excitement on my way there I kept checking my email to make sure I the
checking my email to make sure I the
checking my email to make sure I the time and date correct when I noticed
time and date correct when I noticed
time and date correct when I noticed something that made my heart stop
something that made my heart stop
something that made my heart stop the subject line of the email read team
the subject line of the email read team
the subject line of the email read team lead interview this wasn’t a team member
lead interview this wasn’t a team member
lead interview this wasn’t a team member interview no one my age would have the
interview no one my age would have the
interview no one my age would have the audacity to apply for such a senior
audacity to apply for such a senior
audacity to apply for such a senior position I was only two weeks into
position I was only two weeks into
position I was only two weeks into college and had no experience building a
college and had no experience building a
college and had no experience building a prosthetic device before I was sure the
prosthetic device before I was sure the
prosthetic device before I was sure the officers were going to laugh at me in
officers were going to laugh at me in
officers were going to laugh at me in that moment when I was quite literally
that moment when I was quite literally
that moment when I was quite literally stopped in my tracks I realized that I
stopped in my tracks I realized that I
stopped in my tracks I realized that I really only had two options I could
really only had two options I could
really only had two options I could apologize and cancel the interview or I
apologize and cancel the interview or I
apologize and cancel the interview or I could go in and give it my all because I
could go in and give it my all because I
could go in and give it my all because I had absolutely nothing to lose I chose
had absolutely nothing to lose I chose
had absolutely nothing to lose I chose the latter and suddenly I gained a new
the latter and suddenly I gained a new
the latter and suddenly I gained a new sense of confidence in the worst-case
sense of confidence in the worst-case
sense of confidence in the worst-case scenario which was very likely I was
scenario which was very likely I was
scenario which was very likely I was going to be rejected regardless I
going to be rejected regardless I
going to be rejected regardless I reminded myself I’d be gaining more
reminded myself I’d be gaining more
reminded myself I’d be gaining more valuable interview experience so I went
valuable interview experience so I went
valuable interview experience so I went in calmly and confidently as expected I
in calmly and confidently as expected I
in calmly and confidently as expected I wasn’t chosen as the team lead but I was
wasn’t chosen as the team lead but I was
wasn’t chosen as the team lead but I was selected as a team member
selected as a team member
selected as a team member months later during a moment of
months later during a moment of
months later during a moment of discouragement I was actually told that
discouragement I was actually told that
discouragement I was actually told that I was the runner-up for Team lead as
I was the runner-up for Team lead as
I was the runner-up for Team lead as well while I learned a lot about the
well while I learned a lot about the
well while I learned a lot about the fabrication of prosthetic devices which
fabrication of prosthetic devices which
fabrication of prosthetic devices which all lab read on later I’d now like to
all lab read on later I’d now like to
all lab read on later I’d now like to tell you about some of the surprising
tell you about some of the surprising
tell you about some of the surprising truths behind prosthetic devices many
truths behind prosthetic devices many
truths behind prosthetic devices many people don’t know about how difficult it
people don’t know about how difficult it
people don’t know about how difficult it is for an amputee to get a prosthetic
is for an amputee to get a prosthetic
is for an amputee to get a prosthetic device that’s affordable comfortable and
device that’s affordable comfortable and
device that’s affordable comfortable and useful it shouldn’t cost a limb to get a
useful it shouldn’t cost a limb to get a
useful it shouldn’t cost a limb to get a limb the use of 3d printers and
limb the use of 3d printers and
limb the use of 3d printers and motivated students in QL plus solves
motivated students in QL plus solves
motivated students in QL plus solves this problem many prosthetic devices are
this problem many prosthetic devices are
this problem many prosthetic devices are considered cosmetic by insurance
considered cosmetic by insurance
considered cosmetic by insurance companies so they aren’t covered under a
companies so they aren’t covered under a
companies so they aren’t covered under a majority of policies as a child is
majority of policies as a child is
majority of policies as a child is growing up they need new clothing to
growing up they need new clothing to
growing up they need new clothing to adopt their body’s growth and the same
adopt their body’s growth and the same
adopt their body’s growth and the same is true for prosthetic devices so this
is true for prosthetic devices so this
is true for prosthetic devices so this would mean that for a child with a
would mean that for a child with a
would mean that for a child with a congenital amputation like Levi his
congenital amputation like Levi his
congenital amputation like Levi his family would have to spend thousands of
family would have to spend thousands of
family would have to spend thousands of dollars every few years to maintain
dollars every few years to maintain
dollars every few years to maintain normalcy in life additionally
normalcy in life additionally
normalcy in life additionally these expensive prosthetic devices are
these expensive prosthetic devices are
these expensive prosthetic devices are typically not well received unless they
typically not well received unless they
typically not well received unless they are highly functional comfortable and
are highly functional comfortable and
are highly functional comfortable and easy to use while my project was focused
easy to use while my project was focused
easy to use while my project was focused on a boy it’s important to note that the
on a boy it’s important to note that the
on a boy it’s important to note that the other 60% of upper limb deficiencies
other 60% of upper limb deficiencies
other 60% of upper limb deficiencies occur in adults so they’re suffering
occur in adults so they’re suffering
occur in adults so they’re suffering from these policies as well in the
from these policies as well in the
from these policies as well in the United States alone approximately 1,500
United States alone approximately 1,500
United States alone approximately 1,500 children are born as an upper limb
children are born as an upper limb
children are born as an upper limb deficiency every year other countries
deficiency every year other countries
deficiency every year other countries show higher rates of this as well
show higher rates of this as well
show higher rates of this as well according to the Center for Disease
according to the Center for Disease
according to the Center for Disease Control the national rate of depression
Control the national rate of depression
Control the national rate of depression among adolescents is 12.5% in children
among adolescents is 12.5% in children
among adolescents is 12.5% in children with amputations it’s around 30% these
with amputations it’s around 30% these
with amputations it’s around 30% these statistics alone show the severe impact
statistics alone show the severe impact
statistics alone show the severe impact that an amputation can have on a child
that an amputation can have on a child
that an amputation can have on a child well-being it’s preposterous that
well-being it’s preposterous that
well-being it’s preposterous that insurance companies consider these
insurance companies consider these
insurance companies consider these necessary devices to be cosmetic now
necessary devices to be cosmetic now
necessary devices to be cosmetic now building a prosthetic hand is no simple
building a prosthetic hand is no simple
building a prosthetic hand is no simple feat but with determination a great team
feat but with determination a great team
feat but with determination a great team and a hell of a lot of Starbucks
and a hell of a lot of Starbucks
and a hell of a lot of Starbucks anything is possible
anything is possible
anything is possible I remember feeling pretty nervous after
I remember feeling pretty nervous after
I remember feeling pretty nervous after the first time meeting with the team
the first time meeting with the team
the first time meeting with the team none of us had ever built a prosthetic
none of us had ever built a prosthetic
none of us had ever built a prosthetic hand before to mimic the human hand the
hand before to mimic the human hand the
hand before to mimic the human hand the 29 major and minor bones and 17 muscles
29 major and minor bones and 17 muscles
29 major and minor bones and 17 muscles that move the hand seemed an
that move the hand seemed an
that move the hand seemed an overwhelming task rather than power at
overwhelming task rather than power at
overwhelming task rather than power at this challenge we met it through great
this challenge we met it through great
this challenge we met it through great research and computation we hold
research and computation we hold
research and computation we hold multiple meetings during the week and
multiple meetings during the week and
multiple meetings during the week and meetings that lasted upwards of 12 hours
meetings that lasted upwards of 12 hours
meetings that lasted upwards of 12 hours sometimes twice a weekend these meetings
sometimes twice a weekend these meetings
sometimes twice a weekend these meetings never had an official end time and we’re
never had an official end time and we’re
never had an official end time and we’re typically over when someone fell asleep
typically over when someone fell asleep
typically over when someone fell asleep on their work or were too delirious to
on their work or were too delirious to
on their work or were too delirious to talk anymore that person was usually me
talk anymore that person was usually me
talk anymore that person was usually me we read study design debated and tested
we read study design debated and tested
we read study design debated and tested until we were ready to start producing a
until we were ready to start producing a
until we were ready to start producing a prototype some meetings were solely
prototype some meetings were solely
prototype some meetings were solely based on debating a design change and
based on debating a design change and
based on debating a design change and every team member had to agree before a
every team member had to agree before a
every team member had to agree before a change was made even as a freshman with
change was made even as a freshman with
change was made even as a freshman with little and little experience my input
little and little experience my input
little and little experience my input was still valued
was still valued
was still valued much as my peers my team lead made sure
much as my peers my team lead made sure
much as my peers my team lead made sure that everyone had a say in the process
that everyone had a say in the process
that everyone had a say in the process and that’s why I believe we were so
and that’s why I believe we were so
and that’s why I believe we were so successful however that success did not
successful however that success did not
successful however that success did not come easily our first prototype of the
come easily our first prototype of the
come easily our first prototype of the hand felt like a disaster we had used an
hand felt like a disaster we had used an
hand felt like a disaster we had used an open-source hand file online scaled it
open-source hand file online scaled it
open-source hand file online scaled it to Levi’s size printed it and assembled
to Levi’s size printed it and assembled
to Levi’s size printed it and assembled it when we were ready to give him the
it when we were ready to give him the
it when we were ready to give him the hand our school media group mustang news
hand our school media group mustang news
hand our school media group mustang news was there to cover it while they made us
was there to cover it while they made us
was there to cover it while they made us look great the hand could barely do
look great the hand could barely do
look great the hand could barely do anything other than slightly open or
anything other than slightly open or
anything other than slightly open or closed and because Levi didn’t have
closed and because Levi didn’t have
closed and because Levi didn’t have enough strength in his residual limb it
enough strength in his residual limb it
enough strength in his residual limb it was worthless
was worthless
was worthless he saw his hand as a toy and we saw it
he saw his hand as a toy and we saw it
he saw his hand as a toy and we saw it as a failure so we decided to start over
as a failure so we decided to start over
as a failure so we decided to start over from scratch although this first hand
from scratch although this first hand
from scratch although this first hand didn’t work out it did teach us a few
didn’t work out it did teach us a few
didn’t work out it did teach us a few things we went on to produce two more
things we went on to produce two more
things we went on to produce two more successful hand prototypes that were
successful hand prototypes that were
successful hand prototypes that were completely mechanical had multivariable
completely mechanical had multivariable
completely mechanical had multivariable grip and could be manufactured for under
grip and could be manufactured for under
grip and could be manufactured for under $200 now I’m gonna get a little bit
$200 now I’m gonna get a little bit
$200 now I’m gonna get a little bit technical thank you
I’m gonna get a little bit technical for
I’m gonna get a little bit technical for a moment so bear with me we designed all
a moment so bear with me we designed all
a moment so bear with me we designed all of our prototypes in modeling programs
of our prototypes in modeling programs
of our prototypes in modeling programs called NX and SolidWorks we use the
called NX and SolidWorks we use the
called NX and SolidWorks we use the original geometry from the open-source
original geometry from the open-source
original geometry from the open-source hand change the tension inflection
hand change the tension inflection
hand change the tension inflection system incorporated multivariable grip
system incorporated multivariable grip
system incorporated multivariable grip and designed a unique socket and
and designed a unique socket and
and designed a unique socket and gauntlet system inspired by snowboard
gauntlet system inspired by snowboard
gauntlet system inspired by snowboard boots that we had even though these
boots that we had even though these
boots that we had even though these hands allowed Levi to do a range of
hands allowed Levi to do a range of
hands allowed Levi to do a range of tasks like pick up objects and ride a
tasks like pick up objects and ride a
tasks like pick up objects and ride a scooter with ease he still wasn’t as
scooter with ease he still wasn’t as
scooter with ease he still wasn’t as inclined to use them as we wanted him to
inclined to use them as we wanted him to
inclined to use them as we wanted him to be so we decided to create a bike
be so we decided to create a bike
be so we decided to create a bike attachment to spark his motivation and
attachment to spark his motivation and
attachment to spark his motivation and bridge this gap between toy and tool our
bridge this gap between toy and tool our
bridge this gap between toy and tool our bike attachment took her on three
bike attachment took her on three
bike attachment took her on three prototypes to get right but we’ve
prototypes to get right but we’ve
prototypes to get right but we’ve created a product that allows Levi to
created a product that allows Levi to
created a product that allows Levi to ride a bike like any other kid while
ride a bike like any other kid while
ride a bike like any other kid while testing it with him I was pretty nervous
testing it with him I was pretty nervous
testing it with him I was pretty nervous the first time he was off training
the first time he was off training
the first time he was off training wheels riding a bike isn’t an easy task
wheels riding a bike isn’t an easy task
wheels riding a bike isn’t an easy task especially without a hand I remember
especially without a hand I remember
especially without a hand I remember standing next to his parents almost not
standing next to his parents almost not
standing next to his parents almost not even wanting to watch the biggest
even wanting to watch the biggest
even wanting to watch the biggest feeling of relief and excitement came
feeling of relief and excitement came
feeling of relief and excitement came over me when Levi jumped on his bike and
over me when Levi jumped on his bike and
over me when Levi jumped on his bike and started riding circles around us he rode
started riding circles around us he rode
started riding circles around us he rode by us sticking his tongue out at us
by us sticking his tongue out at us
by us sticking his tongue out at us having a great time what his dad said to
having a great time what his dad said to
having a great time what his dad said to us is that there’s nothing special about
us is that there’s nothing special about
us is that there’s nothing special about this event people were just passing by
this event people were just passing by
this event people were just passing by after all it was just a seven-year-old
after all it was just a seven-year-old
after all it was just a seven-year-old boy riding around on his bike that was
boy riding around on his bike that was
boy riding around on his bike that was the incredible part we had accomplished
the incredible part we had accomplished
the incredible part we had accomplished our goal of finding a motivation and
our goal of finding a motivation and
our goal of finding a motivation and normalcy for Levi to use this attachment
normalcy for Levi to use this attachment
normalcy for Levi to use this attachment and open up his mind to prosthetic
and open up his mind to prosthetic
and open up his mind to prosthetic devices so much so that Levi is
devices so much so that Levi is
devices so much so that Levi is interested in becoming an engineer one
interested in becoming an engineer one
interested in becoming an engineer one day so we often joke with his parents
day so we often joke with his parents
day so we often joke with his parents that soon he’ll be building his own
that soon he’ll be building his own
that soon he’ll be building his own prosthesis the best way to improve a
prosthesis the best way to improve a
prosthesis the best way to improve a device is through feedback and what I’ve
device is through feedback and what I’ve
device is through feedback and what I’ve learned is that some of the best
learned is that some of the best
learned is that some of the best feedback comes from photos so every time
feedback comes from photos so every time
feedback comes from photos so every time we meet with Levi I take a ton of photos
we meet with Levi I take a ton of photos
we meet with Levi I take a ton of photos and I think they tell and
and I think they tell and
and I think they tell and part of the story pictured here is
part of the story pictured here is
part of the story pictured here is Levi’s trying on his first prosthetic
Levi’s trying on his first prosthetic
Levi’s trying on his first prosthetic hand the one which I previously
hand the one which I previously
hand the one which I previously described as a disaster as you can see
described as a disaster as you can see
described as a disaster as you can see he needs help holding the tennis ball
he needs help holding the tennis ball
he needs help holding the tennis ball and doesn’t look to you excited about it
and doesn’t look to you excited about it
and doesn’t look to you excited about it in this next hand he has more
in this next hand he has more
in this next hand he has more independence and a slight smile but it
independence and a slight smile but it
independence and a slight smile but it still wasn’t the reaction we were hoping
still wasn’t the reaction we were hoping
still wasn’t the reaction we were hoping for here’s the final hand prototype as
for here’s the final hand prototype as
for here’s the final hand prototype as you can see he’s comfortably enjoying
you can see he’s comfortably enjoying
you can see he’s comfortably enjoying the hand one of the greatest
the hand one of the greatest
the hand one of the greatest advancements added is probably the blue
advancements added is probably the blue
advancements added is probably the blue lego pad you can see on the front of the
lego pad you can see on the front of the
lego pad you can see on the front of the hand for Levi to build off of
hand for Levi to build off of
hand for Levi to build off of well this reaction was amazing we wanted
well this reaction was amazing we wanted
well this reaction was amazing we wanted to do better and we did with the bike
to do better and we did with the bike
to do better and we did with the bike attachment this is pure joy this is a
attachment this is pure joy this is a
attachment this is pure joy this is a child experiencing the freedom of riding
child experiencing the freedom of riding
child experiencing the freedom of riding around with some friends for the first
around with some friends for the first
around with some friends for the first time ever this is what we spent our
time ever this is what we spent our
time ever this is what we spent our Friday and Saturday and sometimes Sunday
Friday and Saturday and sometimes Sunday
Friday and Saturday and sometimes Sunday nights working on our goal was to help
nights working on our goal was to help
nights working on our goal was to help Levi live a life without limitations
Levi live a life without limitations
Levi live a life without limitations as much as we helped him he gave us the
as much as we helped him he gave us the
as much as we helped him he gave us the invaluable opportunity to improve a life
invaluable opportunity to improve a life
invaluable opportunity to improve a life and learn a lot in the process currently
and learn a lot in the process currently
and learn a lot in the process currently we’re working to patent parts of our
we’re working to patent parts of our
we’re working to patent parts of our bike attachment design we’ve created a
bike attachment design we’ve created a
bike attachment design we’ve created a file and a manual that will allow people
file and a manual that will allow people
file and a manual that will allow people to print a bike Tashman or hand of their
to print a bike Tashman or hand of their
to print a bike Tashman or hand of their own with the use of a 3d printer that
own with the use of a 3d printer that
own with the use of a 3d printer that they can assemble with simple hardware
they can assemble with simple hardware
they can assemble with simple hardware for only the cost of the materials of
for only the cost of the materials of
for only the cost of the materials of under $200 putting together one of these
under $200 putting together one of these
under $200 putting together one of these devices
putting together one of these devices
putting together one of these devices can be a little tricky but it’s almost
can be a little tricky but it’s almost
can be a little tricky but it’s almost like assembling an advanced Lego set
like assembling an advanced Lego set
like assembling an advanced Lego set with the instructions to put it simply
with the instructions to put it simply
with the instructions to put it simply engineering is problem solving what I
engineering is problem solving what I
engineering is problem solving what I love so much about the field is the
love so much about the field is the
love so much about the field is the creativity involved and the innovation
creativity involved and the innovation
creativity involved and the innovation that stems from collaboration well we
that stems from collaboration well we
that stems from collaboration well we can use our intelligence to bridge gaps
can use our intelligence to bridge gaps
can use our intelligence to bridge gaps between affordable prosthetic devices it
between affordable prosthetic devices it
between affordable prosthetic devices it takes a diverse group of people to
takes a diverse group of people to
takes a diverse group of people to innovate if you told me at 17 years old
innovate if you told me at 17 years old
innovate if you told me at 17 years old that I would change a boy’s life be a
that I would change a boy’s life be a
that I would change a boy’s life be a finalist in an international
finalist in an international
finalist in an international undergraduate design competition and
undergraduate design competition and
undergraduate design competition and work to patent my ideas in less than two
work to patent my ideas in less than two
work to patent my ideas in less than two years I’m not sure if I would have
years I’m not sure if I would have
years I’m not sure if I would have believed you in the beginning I felt
believed you in the beginning I felt
believed you in the beginning I felt like I had to fake my confidence while
like I had to fake my confidence while
like I had to fake my confidence while working with upperclassmen and graduate
working with upperclassmen and graduate
working with upperclassmen and graduate students but through this project I
students but through this project I
students but through this project I learned to own my strengths ask
learned to own my strengths ask
learned to own my strengths ask questions and not be afraid to
questions and not be afraid to
questions and not be afraid to contribute when I started my engineering
contribute when I started my engineering
contribute when I started my engineering degree at Cal Poly I never imagined that
degree at Cal Poly I never imagined that
degree at Cal Poly I never imagined that my best teachers would be my peers and a
my best teachers would be my peers and a
my best teachers would be my peers and a little six-year-old boy or that we would
little six-year-old boy or that we would
little six-year-old boy or that we would end up making the impact that we did
end up making the impact that we did
end up making the impact that we did with minimal resources and determination
with minimal resources and determination
with minimal resources and determination we were able to create high quality low
we were able to create high quality low
we were able to create high quality low cost devices that will help set a new
cost devices that will help set a new
cost devices that will help set a new standard for people to live a life
standard for people to live a life
standard for people to live a life without limitations
without limitations
without limitations there are many new Peaks to be climbed
there are many new Peaks to be climbed
there are many new Peaks to be climbed in the world of engineering and I
in the world of engineering and I
in the world of engineering and I implore anyone inclined to pursue their
implore anyone inclined to pursue their
implore anyone inclined to pursue their dreams whatever they are to do it
dreams whatever they are to do it
dreams whatever they are to do it wholeheartedly and who knows in reaching
wholeheartedly and who knows in reaching
wholeheartedly and who knows in reaching your own pinnacles you may enable others
your own pinnacles you may enable others
your own pinnacles you may enable others to do the same thank you
to do the same thank you
to do the same thank you [Applause]
”
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