Dr. Samantha Hill Begins Term as President of the Ontario Medical Association
TORONTO, May 3, 2020 /CNW/ - Dr. Samantha Hill became the 139th President of the Ontario Medical Association (OMA) today, pledging to advocate for and support Ontario's doctors so they can continue to provide the best possible patient care during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.
"Ontario doctors are on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic, working hard and making many personal sacrifices to keep their patients safe and healthy," said Dr. Hill. "I thank them from the bottom of my heart and I am inspired by their leadership, commitment and courage. I know these same qualities will prepare us for what comes next, while ensuring patient care is always front and centre."
Dr. Hill's induction as president for a one-year term took place at today's OMA Council meeting. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the meeting was held virtually, for the first time in OMA history.
Dr. Hill succeeds Dr. Sohail Gandhi as OMA President.
Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the OMA was working closely with the provincial government and other health-care stakeholders to lead the transformation of Ontario's health-care system.
"I will continue Dr. Gandhi's critical work to engage our grass root members, unify our members' efforts and ensure physicians continue to play a leadership role in health care transformation in Ontario," said Dr. Hill. "My other key priorities include addressing diversity and equality issues in the profession and supporting physician health and well-being."
Dr. Hill is a cardiac surgeon located in Toronto at St. Michael's Hospital and Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre. She has held several positions within the OMA and has a background in epidemiology, community health and education. Dr. Hill is a recipient of the University of Toronto's Fitzgerald Teaching Award.
During outgoing president Dr. Gandhi's term in office, the OMA made important strides to enhance unity within the profession, transform the association's governance model and advance virtual care and health system IT. Dr. Gandhi also worked tirelessly to ensure the public had accurate information about COVID-19, completing close to 100 media interviews in March and April. Dr. Gandhi will continue to serve on the OMA Board of Directors as past president.
"The OMA thanks Dr. Gandhi for his inspiring and dedicated service over the past year," said OMA CEO Allan O'Dette. "He has been an outstanding advocate for Ontario doctors, health system transformation and patient care."
Also today Dr. Adam Kassam, a Toronto physiatrist, became the President-Elect. Dr. Kassam will work closely with Dr. Hill as he prepares to become OMA President in May 2021.
About the OMA The Ontario Medical Association represents Ontario's 43,000 plus physicians, medical students and retired physicians, advocating for and supporting doctors while strengthening the leadership role of doctors in caring for patients. Our vision is to be the trusted voice in transforming Ontario's health-care system.
SOURCE Ontario Medical Association
Regulatory hurdles make HIV research less effective, Baker Institute experts say
HOUSTON – (May 4, 2020) – A regulatory conundrum faces researchers trying to slow the spread of HIV among minors. Sometimes those researchers need consent from parents, a requirement that can leave some of the most endangered minors out of the picture.
Establishing a common set of rules for legally and ethically conducting HIV prevention research on minors is crucial to reducing the infection’s spread among young people, according to health experts at Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy.
“High-risk adolescents may avoid seeking services if parental permission is required or (they) experience negative consequences from parents,” they wrote. “Not requiring parental permission may be an important component of ensuring equitable access to research for at-risk populations and optimizing research results.”
Different regulations apply depending on the type of research.
For example, “research studies regulated by the Federal Policy for the Protection of Human Subjects (also known as the “Common Rule”) typically require parental permission for studies of minors, but allow waiver of parental permission if certain conditions are met.” The Food and Drug Administration (FDA), however, regulates all clinical investigations for drugs and medical devices and is more restrictive than the Common Rule — it does not permit waivers of parental consent.
The authors point out that when both FDA regulations and the Common Rule apply, the FDA takes priority. Due to this, “adolescents can only participate in FDA-regulated research if parental permission would not otherwise be required under state law,” the authors wrote. Only 16 states authorize youths to participate in HIV prevention research without parental consent.
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For more information or to schedule an interview with Moore or Bakhiet, contact Avery Franklin, media relations specialist at Rice, at averyrf@rice.edu or 713-348-6327.
Founded in 1993, Rice University’s Baker Institute ranks as the No. 2 university-affiliated think tank in the world and the No. 1 energy think tank in the world. As a premier nonpartisan think tank, the institute conducts research on domestic and foreign policy issues with the goal of bridging the gap between the theory and practice of public policy. The institute’s strong track record of achievement reflects the work of its endowed fellows, Rice University faculty scholars and staff, coupled with its outreach to the Rice student body through fellow-taught classes — including a public policy course — and student leadership and internship programs. Learn more about the institute at www.bakerinstitute.org or on the institute’s blog, http://blog.bakerinstitute.org.
Located on a 300-acre forested campus in Houston, Rice University is consistently ranked among the nation’s top 20 universities by U.S. News & World Report. Rice has highly respected schools of Architecture, Business, Continuing Studies, Engineering, Humanities, Music, Natural Sciences and Social Sciences and is home to the Baker Institute for Public Policy. With 3,962 undergraduates and 3,027 graduate students, Rice’s undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio is just under 6-to-1. Its residential college system builds close-knit communities and lifelong friendships, just one reason why Rice is ranked No. 1 for lots of race/class interaction and No. 4 for quality of life by the Princeton Review. Rice is also rated as a best value among private universities by Kiplinger’s Personal Finance.
St. Jude Child Psychologist Highlights COVID-19 Child Resources in Psychology Today Opinion PieceSt. Jude Children’s Research Hospital Creates a Suite of COVID-19 Tools to Help Parents to Teach Children About Coronavirus
MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE – As parents and families continue to grapple with explaining and communicating to children about the ongoing coronavirus global health pandemic, Dr. Valerie Crabtree, Chief of Psychosocial Services at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital has authored an opinion piece for the leading psychology and mental health publication, Psychology Today highlighting tools and resources for families and parents to help children better understand the current COVD-19 pandemic. Highlighting a suite of resources designed by a psychologist and child life specialist with St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Dr. Crabtree writes in a piece recently in Psychology Today titled, “COVID-19 Resources for Parents to Share with Children”: It’s important to talk openly and honestly with your child. Being open and sharing information can reduce anxiety, confusion and misconceptions. Children can have active imaginations, which can lead to unnecessary anxiety in times of stress.Because of this, try to find a healthy balance between answering questions openly without overwhelming them with too much information.To speak w/ Dr. Valerie Crabtree or the other St. Jude psychosocial specialists about COVID-19 tips and resources, please contact Marvin Stockwell at marvin.stockwell@stjude.org or 901-734-8766 Using their years of expertise helping families and children discuss difficult illnesses and diagnoses, psychologists and child life specialists at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital have developed a suite of tools available in multiple languages (currently in English, Spanish, French and Arabic) for utilization by parents and caregivers to help children better understand the current COVID-19 pandemic. Click here to view all of the St. Jude coronavirus resources, which are free and easily downloadable for the general public to utilize during this global health pandemic. Dr. Crabtree continues writing that some children may benefit from, “a visual explanation to help understand what the novel coronavirus is. It could help them understand, in developmentally appropriate terms, just why we are practicing social distancing. They need to know why it’s so important that we wash our hands, use face masks, and protect ourselves during this pandemic.” The suite of coronavirus-related tools include the Learn About the CoronavirusColoring Book developed for children ages 5-9 (currently being translated into nine additional languages), as well as the Learn About the CoronavirusActivity Book geared more toward “tweens” ages 10-13 more or less and resources to talk to teens.
# # # St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is leading the way the world understands, treats and cures childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases. It is the only National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center devoted solely to children. St. Jude is ranked the No. 1 pediatric cancer hospital by U.S. News & World Report. Treatments developed at St. Jude have helped push the overall childhood cancer survival rate from 20 percent to 80 percent since the hospital opened more than 50 years ago. St. Jude freely shares the breakthroughs it makes, and every child saved at St. Jude means doctors and scientists worldwide can use that knowledge to save thousands more children. Families never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing and food — because all a family should worry about is helping their child live. To learn more, visit stjude.org or follow St. Jude on social media at @stjuderesearch.
L'Oréal Canada donates hand sanitizers to Canadian Blood Services to help protect donors and frontline staff during COVID-19
MONTREAL, May 4, 2020 /CNW Telbec/ - As part of its nation-wide coronavirus solidarity program, L'Oréal Canada will donate thousands of units of hand sanitizer to Canadian Blood Services over the next three months to help protect frontline workers and donors in their collection centers across the country.
When Cosmetics Alliance Canada launched a call to action to its members recently to help support hospitals, healthcare professionals and other stakeholders during the COVID-19 pandemic through domestic production and distribution of hand sanitizers, L'Oréal Canada was happy to be of service.
Frank Kollmar, President & CEO of L'Oréal Canada said that "it was important for L'Oréal Canada to step up and help an essential health organization such as Canadian Blood Services. Their mission, as Canada's biological lifeline, is of utmost importance for Canadians and this donation is our way of recognizing their important role. It was a natural addition to our COVID-19 Solidarity program, which includes donation of hand sanitizers and skincare products to hospitals, frontline healthcare professionals and charities helping vulnerable women. "
"During these unprecedented times, our dedicated frontline staff and incredible donors and volunteers continue to show up to our donor centres across the country, day after day, to ensure that lifesaving blood products are there for patients in need," said Dr. Graham Sher, CEO of Canadian Blood Services.
"At Canadian Blood Services, the health and wellness of those on the frontlines is a top priority, and we are grateful to L'Oréal Canada for stepping forward to help us maintain our enhanced wellness protocols, which includes effective hand hygiene. When a donor, employee, or volunteer walk through our doors, they can take comfort in knowing that we have taken proactive steps to limit the risk of infection", Dr. Sher continued.
Since March 2020, L'Oréal Canada has re-tooled its production operations in Montreal to manufacture hydro-alcoholic gels and distribute them free of charge to those on the frontlines, as part of the fight to help curb the spread of COVID-19. The solidarity program, also launched in Europe, Asia and the United States by the L'Oréal Group, aims to support various stakeholders who are fighting on the frontlines to mitigate the spread of the novel coronavirus. This list includes hospitals and health professionals, hairdressing salons, distributors and suppliers with microenterprise or SME status, who are particularly exposed and fragile in the face of the economic crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and associations that support vulnerable or disadvantaged populations – particularly, women in situations of domestic violence: https://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/l-oreal-canada-launches-a-canada-wide-coronavirus-solidarity-program-832674926.html
About L'Oréal Canada
L'Oréal Canada is a wholly-owned subsidiary of L'Oréal Group, the largest cosmetics company in the world. Headquartered in Montreal, the company had sales of $1.2 billion in 2019 and employs more than 1,450 people. The company holds a portfolio of 37 brands, encompassing all aspects of beauty, and is present across all distribution networks: mass market, department stores, salons, pharmacies, drugstores, and branded retail. L'Oréal Canada, whose operations are carbon neutral, supports the L'Oréal Foundation's programs such as L'Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science, which has promoted the advancement of women in science in Canada since 2003, Beauty for a Better Life, a social reintegration program in hairdressing for immigrant women since 2017, and the recently launched Women in Digital support program.
About Canadian Blood Services
Canadian Blood Services is a not-for-profit charitable organization that operates independently from government. Regulated by Health Canada as a biologics manufacturer and primarily funded by the provincial and territorial ministries of health, Canadian Blood Services operates with a national scope, infrastructure and governance that make it unique within Canadian healthcare. In the domain of blood, plasma and stem cells, the organization provides services for patients on behalf of all provincial and territorial governments except Québec. The national transplant registry for interprovincial organ sharing and related programs reaches into all provinces and territories, as a biological lifeline for Canadians. Canadian Blood Services also has a unique relationship with Héma-Québec, the provincial blood system operator that provides products to patients and manages Québec's stem cell donor registry. The two organizations work closely to share blood products in times of need. For more information on how Canadian Blood Services is responding to COVID-19, visit blood.ca/covid19.
SOURCE L'Oréal Canada Inc.
Arthritis Research Canada new research to address impact of COVID-19 on medication use and mental health for people with arthritis
VANCOUVER, May 4, 2020 /CNW/ - Arthritis Research Canada's research scientist Dr. Mary De Vera and her team have launched a new study, UNIFIED. This study seeks to better understand the experiences of individuals with rheumatic diseases and immunosuppressive conditions during the COVID-19 pandemic.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, we know that people living with arthritis, such as rheumatoid arthritis, gout, and lupus, are more vulnerable to infection because of their arthritis and the medications used for their treatment. What we do not know is how the pandemic has impacted people with arthritis and how we can better support arthritis patients.
Through surveys and interviews, the UNIFIED study will ask people living with arthritis how COVID-19 has affected access to and use of their arthritis medications and how COVID-19 has impacted their mental health. The study will also assess patients' experiences with care and accessing their physician in this time of difficulty. This includes the telehealth (telephone or video), treatment decisions, and mental health check-ups.
"We have seen that information sharing has been key to understanding COVID-19 and decisions made around it. Our study is important because we hope to gather information specific to people living with arthritis who we know are being seriously affected by COVID-19," said Dr. De Vera. "I am particularly interested in issues related to medication use and mental health as these are related to my ongoing research studies at Arthritis Research Canada."
We need patient input so that decisions made by doctors and healthcare systems can be informed and optimized during the pandemic and beyond. For more information, please visit www.arthritisresearch.ca
Arthritis Research Canada is the largest clinical arthritis research institution in North America. Our mission is to transform the lives of people living with arthritis through research and engagement. Led by world-renowned rheumatologist, Dr. John Esdaile, Arthritis Research Canada's scientific team of over 100 are creating a future where people living with arthritis are empowered to triumph over pain and disability. With four centres across Canada in British Columbia, Alberta and Quebec (Laval and McGill Universities), Arthritis Research Canada is leading research aimed at arthritis prevention, early diagnosis, new and better treatment, and improved quality of life.
SOURCE Arthritis Research Canada
Prophylactic vaccines lagging, only counting for 31% of for COVID-19 drug pipeline, says GlobalData
The COVID-19 pandemic that has swept the globe has led to a massive search for a drug with which to combat this deadly virus. Yet, despite many pharmaceutical companies continuing to pour their resources into a cure, the development of prophylactic vaccines for COVID-19 appears to be lagging, which may hamper future plans to halt the spread of this virus says GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company.
According to GlobalData’s Pharma Intelligence Center Pipeline Database and the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) dashboard, there were 80 therapeutic drugs in Phases I, II, and III as of 23 April that may be able to treat COVID-19, but only nine prophylactic vaccine drugs in Phases I and II. This indicates that while a possible cure for COVID-19 may be imminent, a prophylactic vaccine to combat the pandemic may need more time to come to fruition.
Quentin Horgan, Analyst for the Drugs Databases at GlobalData, comments: “The response from pharma and biotech companies globally to find a COVID-19 vaccine has contributed to 438 unique drugs to treat COVID-19: 298 therapeutic drugs and 140 prophylactic vaccines, spread across all stages of development (discovery, preclinical, Phase I, Phase II, and Phase III). This is especially remarkable considering that the virus was only identified at the beginning of this year. The lack of late stage prophylactic vaccines is most probably due to the difficulties in developing a vaccine for the coronavirdae family of vaccines, which includes SARS ad MERS, but still does not bode well for governments trying to combat the virulence and spread of COVID-19 within their respective countries ”
Pharmaceutical professionals say employee safety and supply chain disruption are top COVID-19 concerns in latest GlobalData survey
Pharmaceutical industry professionals around the world believe that employee safety and supply chain disruption are their businesses’ number one concerns from COVID-19, the latest survey data from GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company, suggests.
Fiona Barry, Associate Editor, PharmSource at GlobalData, commented: “The risk of employees catching the disease at work is a factor. Shortages in personal protective equipment (PPE) worldwide are affecting clinical workers.
“Safety measures during the pandemic make it difficult to move employees between sites. Furthermore, training new, highly skilled employees to replace quarantined workers brings a high cost.”
The industry’s other major concerns were clinical trial disruption (cited as the main concern by 16% of respondents); business development (10%), and contract research organization (CRO) disruptions (10%). The survey revealed differences in business priorities between company types.
Barry continues: “Concerns about sales representatives’ access to physicians and business development were understandably highest among companies with marketed drugs. These companies need to continue selling their therapies to maintain revenue.
“Whereas companies with drugs in the pipeline but not yet on the market are still in research and development mode. So they are more concerned with clinical trial disruption, contract research organization (CRO) disruptions, and money-raising. Because these pipeline-only companies are not yet profitable, they are dependent for money on their ability to raise capital.”
Since the first case was diagnosed in Wuhan, China, in December 2019, COVID-19 cases have continued to rise rapidly across the globe. Extreme interventions have been necessary to contain the spread of the virus, resulting in temporary disruption to pharmaceutical supply chains in some regions.
Barry added: “Across all company types and regions, 92% of those surveyed say COVID-19 poses a risk to their companies’ imports/exports.”
A total of 136 pharma company staff, including C-level executives, from around the world participated in the survey, which was fielded from March 13, 2020 to March 24, 2020.
Popular Hedbanz™ Game Transformed into Personal Protection Equipment for Front-line Healthcare Workers
Game-Maker Spin Master Produces 200,000 Face Shields for Hospitals, Nursing Homes and Shelters
TORONTO, May 1, 2020 /CNW/ - Spin Master Corp. ("Spin Master" or the "Company") (TSX:TOY, www.spinmaster.com) a leading global children's entertainment company, has transformed its popular family guessing game, Hedbanz, to produce much-needed face shields for front-line healthcare workers in the fight against COVID-19.
With a long history of giving back to the community, Spin Master employees felt compelled to help with the growing need for PPE for front-line healthcare workers. In just three days, the Company's product development team came up with an ingenious solution using existing headbands from the Hedbanz game, along with plastic (polyethylene terephthalate or PET) inserts, to create a face shield for healthcare workers.
Close to 200,000 face shields have been produced in three facilities in Mexico and are now in use in over 100 hospitals, nursing homes and shelters across North America including Toronto, New York, California and Mexico. Spin Master is committed to manufacturing the face shields, currently producing more than 20,000 a day for healthcare workers, as long as they are needed.
"One of the most powerful tools we have in this fight is our imagination, and it's amazing what the people at Spin Master have done with theirs. The face shields they've created are helping our teams care for our ill patients and look after pregnant women and newborns. Our mobile teams are using them as they track COVID-19 in long-term care homes and shelters, and our doctors as they perform urgent cancer surgeries - they're making a difference everywhere." Dr. Ruth Heisey, Chief of Family and Community Medicine and Medical Director Peter Gilgan Centre for Women's Cancers, Women's College Hospital.
"Front-line healthcare workers are risking their lives and spending countless hours away from their families to help those suffering from COVID-19. Together, with our employees, we are helping to provide some level of comfort and ease anxiety for nurses, doctors, admitting staff, personal service workers and so many more people who are the real heroes in this pandemic," said Ronnen Harary, Co-CEO of Spin Master.
An internal team at Spin Master is coordinating requests from outside organizations and arranging for deliveries daily. The shields, which are non-medical grade, have been individually packed in a sanitary environment and offer protection for those on the front lines.
To request face shields for front-line healthcare workers please email communications@spinmaster.com with the subject line: Face Shield Request. Spin Master teams are working around the clock in an effort to meet every request.
About Spin Master Spin Master (TSX:TOY; www.spinmaster.com) is a leading global children's entertainment company that creates, designs, manufactures, licenses and markets a diversified portfolio of innovative toys, games, products and entertainment properties. Spin Master is best known for award-winning brands including Zoomer®, Bakugan®, Erector® by Meccano®, Hatchimals®, Air Hogs® and PAW Patrol®. Since 2000, Spin Master has received 110 TIA Toy of The Year (TOTY) nominations with 30 wins across a variety of product categories, including 13 TOTY nominations for Innovative Toy of the Year. To date, Spin Master has produced nine television series, including the relaunched Bakugan: Battle Planet and current hit PAW Patrol, which is broadcast in over 160 countries and territories globally. Spin Master employs over 1,800 people in countries around the world including Canada, United States, Mexico, France, Italy, United Kingdom, Russia, Slovakia, Poland, Germany, Sweden, the Netherlands, China, Hong Kong, Japan, Vietnam and Australia.
SOURCE Spin Master
Staying strong while staying at home
With nearly five million Canadians (or 40 percent of the workforce) currently working from home, many of us are starting to feel the effects of being cooped up with limited options for physical activity and no time to destress. But according to Kim Lavender, GoodLife Fitness Vice President of Group Experience, now is when we need to move more and take care of our bodies and minds.
Not having access to the gym can pose a problem for some, but Lavender says there are plenty of workout options at home using whatever you have around you. But she cautions it’s important to create the right environment for home-based fitness. Make sure the space is clear of tripping hazards and has sufficient room for your exercises. Also, remember to wear appropriate footwear and have some water nearby to ensure you stay hydrated.
No weights? No problem.
If you’re used to strength training, it can be tough to match a workout with weights or kettlebells. But there are lots of household items you can use to add resistance to your workouts. Lavender suggests using full dish soap bottles, cans of soup, large jugs of laundry detergent, or paint cans as hand weights for bicep curls, triceps kickbacks, or just to add some extra weight to functional exercises like lunges and squats.
Fill a backpack with books or other heavy items and wear it on your back or carry in front in your arms while you do walking lunges down the hall. You can even get creative and #squatyourdog or use your significant other or a family member as resistance with some partners exercises like leg lifts or push ups.
Furniture fitness
A good workout is as close as your living room, or kitchen, or hallway. Set your oven timer and get to work while dinner cooks, or while you keep an eye on the kids. Lavender suggests trying push ups off the countertop, step ups onto a kitchen chair (make sure it’s stable), chair squats onto an armchair, or maybe glute bridges with feet on the couch. After you put your shoes on, do some tricep dips from the bench in the hall or a timed wall sit.
Outdoor exercise ideas
If you have a patio, a yard, or a set of stairs, you have enough space for a quick high-intensity interval training workout to build your cardio endurance and burn calories. Lavender suggests picking 4-5 main exercises and doing them in a sequence for 45 seconds at a time, with a short rest in between. Push-ups, jumping jacks, burpees, step-ups, mountain climbers, speed skaters. Sprint up and down the stairs, or just carry your groceries up and down a couple of times to get your heart pumping and take your mind off your worries for a while.
As with any physical activity, Lavender reminds Canadians to always make time to warm up and cool down, as well as do some dynamic stretching. In her free daily online workouts through #GoodLifeatHome she tells participants to brace their core and listen to their body to avoid injury.
Lavender is available to talk more about home workout ideas and the importance of staying physically active to build resilience and boost the immune system so we can push through tough times.
Samsung Health Monitor app may disrupt South Korea’s blood pressure monitors market, says GlobalData
Samsung Electronics has recently received Software as a Medical Device (SaMD) approval for its over-the-counter and cuffless blood pressure monitoring application ‘Samsung Health Monitor app’ from South Korea’s Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS). The app will allow users to check blood pressure using a smartwatch and has the potential to disrupt the country’s blood pressure monitors (BPM) market, says GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company.
GlobalData’s research reveals that the South Korean blood pressure monitors market, which accounted for around 4% of the Asia-Pacific BPM market in 2019, is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 5.5% through 2025.
Rohit Anand, Medical Devices Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “The number of Korean adults suffering from high blood pressure is increasing and it is likely that a part of this population remains undiagnosed. Monitoring blood pressure digitally through an app is relatively convenient and this could be a path-breaking solution for the diagnosis and management of high blood pressure.”
Samsung Health Monitor app can be used with Galaxy Watch Active2 and users will have to calibrate app manually using traditional blood pressure cuff. Users need to calibrate their device every four weeks to ensure accuracy. The app is expected to be available on the device within the third quarter of 2020.
Anand concludes: “The demand for wearable devices with features such as sleep and exercise tracking has seen an explosive growth in the past. Companies are now trying to add more healthcare and Internet of Things features as a part of their brand expansion strategy and to capture a larger market share.
“Samsung Health Monitor app may have an impact on South Korean BPM market as this app will augment blood pressure tracking. This will also help Samsung to compet
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