Alejandro Torres-Sánchez
@torres-sanchez.bsky.social
📤 572
📥 483
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Physicist trying to understand the behaviour of living organisms. Group leader at EMBL Barcelona.
pinned post!
Imagine being an engineer asked to build a material that withstands 100% strain, 150 times per minute—for a lifetime. Now imagine having to build it while it’s already functioning. That’s exactly what the heart does.
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about 1 year ago
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Kristina Stapornwongkul
5 days ago
We’re looking for a new team member! 🚀 Only 3 more weeks to apply to the fantastic Vienna BioCenter PhD program
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Cell - a Cell Press journal
6 days ago
Now online! Deciphering mechanical determinants of morphological evolution
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Deciphering mechanical determinants of morphological evolution
A comparative analysis of cnidarian larval morphogenesis combined with active surface theory identifies a set of mesoscale mechanical modules that predict species-specific shapes. Manipulating these modules reprograms morphology, revealing how variation in tissue-scale mechanics underlies morphological diversity.
http://dlvr.it/TRc1kn
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Aissam Ikmi
6 days ago
Our study on shape diversity in cnidarians is now published. The final version includes extensive new data that substantially extend the original bioRxiv preprint. Congrats to everyone who contributed to this work!
www.cell.com/cell/fulltex...
@embl.org
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Alex Eve
13 days ago
Planarians also reproduce asexually by fission – pulling their body in two & then regenerating the missing halves. Breaking occurs all over development; see this recent
@dev-journal.bsky.social
Review from
@torres-sanchez.bsky.social
,
@rashmi-priya.bsky.social
& colleagues:
doi.org/10.1242/dev....
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Kristina Stapornwongkul
14 days ago
Are you fascinated by self-organised patterning processes? The brand-new Stuart lab at EMBL Barcelona is looking for a lab manager! Hannah
@htstuart.bsky.social
is a fantastic scientist and mentor. Building the lab with her will be a lot of fun!
embl.wd103.myworkdayjobs.com/EMBL/job/Bar...
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Lab Manager - Stuart Group
The European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) is one of the world’s leading life science research organisations. With sites across Europe, EMBL fosters an international, collaborative, and inclusiv...
https://embl.wd103.myworkdayjobs.com/EMBL/job/Barcelona/Lab-Manager---Stuart-Group_JR2656
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Katie Pickup
23 days ago
Really interesting article about fracture in developing tissues. For a deep dive into examples across species, you can also check out
@rashmi-priya.bsky.social
and
@torres-sanchez.bsky.social
's recent Review in Development
@dev-journal.bsky.social
⬇️
journals.biologists.com/dev/article/...
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Quanta Magazine
24 days ago
“In biology, breaking isn’t always a failure,” said the developmental biologist Rashmi Priya (right). “It’s often a necessary step in building something new.”
www.quantamagazine.org/break-it-to-...
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epithelial mechanics fan club
25 days ago
We had covered the history of traction force microscopy (TFM) earlier:
bsky.app/profile/epim...
But what about applying TFM into more physiologically relevant systems, such as those in 3D? I am
@barrasa-fano.bsky.social
and I'll be your guide through this thread on
#3DTractionForceMicroscopy
.
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Quanta Magazine
27 days ago
Sometimes, the only way to build back up is to let everything fall apart. This is certainly true at the cellular level.
www.quantamagazine.org/break-it-to-...
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Break It To Make It: How Fracturing Sculpts Tissues and Organs | Quanta Magazine
Growing tissues can crack, break, and dissociate to form structures that can later withstand immense forces.
https://www.quantamagazine.org/break-it-to-make-it-how-fracturing-sculpts-tissues-and-organs-20260227/
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Leone Rossetti
28 days ago
Interested in a PhD in collective cell migration & mechanobiology? I'm looking to support a candidate applying for a fully funded UK/Home PhD. The project studies the biophysics of migrating cells, using force measurements & optogenetics, with collaborators in Japan.
#mechanobiology
#PhD
eb4bm.org
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Home - Engineering Biology For Biomedicine
Engineering Biology for Biomedicine A UKRI:BBSRC Centre for doctoral training Why EB4BM “ Our graduates bridge fundamental biological design principles with biomedical bottlenecks, delivering engineer...
https://eb4bm.org/
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Carlos Pérez-González
about 1 month ago
I’m thrilled to share that I will join
@gustaveroussy.fr
as a Group Leader! Our objective: to understand how mechanochemical feedbacks regulate tumor dynamics and plasticity, with the overarching goal of bridging tissue mechanobiology and tumor pathophysiology using human organoids.
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Laura Rustarazo-Calvo
about 1 month ago
Excited to share our new review in
@dev-journal.bsky.social
on tissue phase transitions during development!
@karengrace12.bsky.social
@nicolettapetridou.bsky.social
🔗
doi.org/10.1242/dev....
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Tissue phase transitions in development: more than just mechanics
Summary: Tissue material phase transitions are classically thought to regulate tissue deformability. This Review emphasises their unexpected roles in directly influencing growth and patterning signall...
https://doi.org/10.1242/dev.205219
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EMBL
about 1 month ago
Our cells are experts at navigating inherently noisy and complicated environments. EMBL researchers are using theoretical physics approaches to uncover fundamental principles behind how cells use complex information to self-organise.
www.embl.org/news/science...
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Kristina Stapornwongkul
about 1 month ago
We‘re looking for a motivated Master student to join our team! Do you want to optogenetically control metabolic activity to see how metabolism affects patterning and morphogenesis? 💡🧫🧬🔬 Then please apply!
#optogenetics
#metabolism
#devbio
#hESCs
Please RT. Thank you!🙏
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Development builds... But it also breaks! Planarians split to reproduce. Hydra tears open a mouth. Embryos fracture to make cavities. Failure? No. Fracture is essential to development. Our new review on fracture physics and its uses in development:
journals.biologists.com/dev/article/...
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about 1 month ago
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Doug Aoki
about 1 month ago
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Brugues Lab
3 months ago
Excited to share Alison's
@alisonkickuth.bsky.social
paper from the lab out in
@nature.com
this week! We uncovered how a mechanical ratchet mechanism drives cytokinesis in early
#zebrafish
embryos. Read more in this thread 🧵 and at
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
🤩
@poldresden.bsky.social
@mpi-cbg.de
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Pierre-François Lenne
3 months ago
Interested in the biophysics of organoids? We just published a review in Dev Cell—take a look!
dlvr.it/TPyTb8
#Organoids
#Biophysics
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Biophysics of organoids
In this review, Weichselberger, Moore et al. discuss how physics-based approaches illuminate organoid development and homeostasis by integrating mechanical, chemical, and informational processes. They...
http://dlvr.it/TPyTb8
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Marco MILAN LAB
3 months ago
elpais.com/ciencia/2026...
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El pastelero que patentó una molécula contra el cáncer que se ha vendido por 7.000 millones de euros
El biólogo Eduard Batlle, criado en la pastelería de sus padres, es uno de los seis inventores del petosemtamab, un revolucionario tratamiento experimental contra los tumores
https://elpais.com/ciencia/2026-01-04/el-pastelero-que-patento-una-molecula-contra-el-cancer-que-se-ha-vendido-por-7000-millones-de-euros.html
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Adam Rutherford
3 months ago
Empire. Oil. Guyana.
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Development
3 months ago
Transitions in development – an interview with Alejandro Torres-Sánchez We caught up with Alejandro
@torres-sanchez.bsky.social
from
@embl.org
Barcelona to talk about his path to becoming a group leader, ongoing collaborations and addressing gender imbalance in the lab.
doi.org/10.1242/dev....
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Guillaume Charras
3 months ago
How does signalling control cortical tension? Using optogenetics and AFM, we show that myosin recruitment and cortical tension increase proportionally with RhoA signalling. More here:
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
Super work by Pierre Bohec with Guillaume Salbreux and
@dianakhorom.bsky.social
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Agathe Chaigne
3 months ago
My lab is hiring a postdoc (ERC funded)! If you're interested, get in touch!
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youtu.be/JUCs_JEl5bY?...
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|Extrechinato y tu| Abrazado a la tristeza
YouTube video by XtremayDura
https://youtu.be/JUCs_JEl5bY?si=b2_MQGIFxkDOVPhI
4 months ago
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EMBL
4 months ago
Researchers at EMBL Barcelona have launched LimbNET, a new online platform that integrates computer modeling, experimental data, and 2D live simulations for limb development.
www.embl.org/news/science...
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Maria Bernabeu
4 months ago
Come to Biomalpar xxii!!! We have an outstanding line up of speakers!!! It is a true honor to be an organizer of Biomalpar. It was the first conference I ever attended during my 2nd PhD year so it feels special. And don't miss the beautiful poster image from Hannah Fleckenstein!
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Wolfgang Huber
4 months ago
Join EMBL's Interdisciplinary Postdoc Programme! 3 years funding, self-designed interdisciplinary project co-led between EMBL PI and PI in one of EMBL's actual, prospect or associate member states. In particular: AI&Theory, use mathem. models, physics principles and AI
www.embl.org/about/info/p...
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EIPOD-LinC Fellowship Programme – Postdoctoral Programme
https://www.embl.org/about/info/postdoctoral-programme/eipod-linc-exploring-life-in-context/
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epithelial mechanics fan club
4 months ago
It’s time to talk about epithelial geometry and cancer. How can the architecture of an epithelium affect how tumors will grow and spread? In this thread,
@jorgealmagro.bsky.social
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Ulrich Schwarz
4 months ago
📢 Paper alert 📢 Chirality is known to be important for the movement of microorganisms and active matter. In our new paper out today in
@natphys.nature.com
, we show that chirality is used by malaria parasites to control their motion patterns:
doi.org/10.1038/s415...
Here comes a 🧵 ... (1/9)
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4 months ago
1/ Cerebral malaria is a severe form of malaria that causes damage to the blood vessels in the brain. With a #HealthResearch grant,
@mariabernabeu.bsky.social
#HealthResearch
uses analytical techniques and human 3D models of blood vessels to ⬆️ our understanding and test new therapies.
https://tinyurl.com/2vtjnwn6
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Alejandro Torres-Sánchez
epithelial mechanics fan club
5 months ago
Which features of tissue flows are most robust and how do they emerge from
#EpithelialMechanics
? I’m
@alex-plum.bsky.social
(
@mattiaserra.bsky.social
group) and I’ll be sharing some papers on characterizing and controlling avian gastrulation flows.
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Institute of Molecular Biotechnology
5 months ago
In our latest interview, Kristina Stapornwongkul, the newest group leader at IMBA, shares her journey to joining the institute, why she chose IMBA as the next step in her career, and her vision for her lab exploring how metabolism shapes embryonic development:
https://imba.science/49fCrxl
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Xavier Trepat
5 months ago
📣Announcing the 4th edition of the EMBL‑IBEC Conference on “Engineering Multicellular Systems”, taking place 11–13 March 2026 in Barcelona. Exploring organoids, mechanobiology, embryo models, organ-on-chip systems, multiomics and more. Abstracts open now!
events.ibecbarcelona.eu/embl-ibec-co...
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Maria Bernabeu
5 months ago
Pre-print alert 🚨 We answer a longstanding question in the field. Do immune cells cause cerebral malaria? The answer is YES!!!! And independently of P. falciparum accumulation in the brain.
www.biorxiv.org/cgi/content/...
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Innate immune responses to Plasmodium falciparum disrupt the blood-brain barrier
Plasmodium falciparum accumulation at the blood-brain barrier (BBB) is a hallmark of cerebral malaria, a life-threatening complication. Conversely, the contribution of the immune response to vascular ...
https://www.biorxiv.org/cgi/content/short/2025.10.20.683440v1
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Zebrafish Rock!
5 months ago
Zebrafish embryo undergoing gastrulation. Credit to Dr. Gopi Shah at EMBL.
#ZebrafishZunday
🧪
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Maria Bernabeu
5 months ago
Just hot out of the press! Rory developed a 3D microvessel model that recapitulates physiological pericyte coverage. We found that Plasmodium falciparum egress products disrupt the barrier and halt ang-1 secretion. The activator AKB-9778 could rescue barrier disruption! Congratulations, Rory!
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Quanta Magazine
6 months ago
Biophysicists are realizing that there is an undervalued element at play in early development: Aside from genes, mechanical forces also steer the growth of embryos.
@annademming.bsky.social
reports:
www.quantamagazine.org/genes-have-h...
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Genes Have Harnessed Physics to Help Grow Living Things | Quanta Magazine
The same pulling force that causes “tears” in a glass of wine also shapes embryos. It’s another example of how genes exploit mechanical forces for growth and development.
https://www.quantamagazine.org/genes-have-harnessed-physics-to-help-grow-living-things-20251010/
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Markus Deserno
6 months ago
I am super excited to announce that we have a tenure-track faculty position in biophysics open in the Department of Physics at Carnegie Mellon! 🧪 Interfolio link:
apply.interfolio.com/174360
PLEASE, share widely across the blue skies! Let me briefly explain what we're looking for: 1/10
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Jan Rombouts
6 months ago
Please allow me to introduce... our new preprint 🎉 Together with Michael Zhao, Anna Erzberger and Alexander Aulehla, we investigate pattern formation due to aggregation in confined systems. You can find it at
arxiv.org/abs/2509.08533
@michaelzhao.bsky.social
@erzbergerlab.bsky.social
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Maria Bernabeu
7 months ago
Have you ever wondered what happens with your microvessels after exposure to high temperature in fever? In this preprint former postdoc (ans soon to be PI) Viola Introini found that high temperatures cleaves glycocalyx , having severe consequences in malaria
www.biorxiv.org/cgi/content/...
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Febrile temperature enhances Plasmodium falciparum cytoadhesion by disrupting the endothelial glycocalyx
Fever, a universal host defense in infection and inflammation, paradoxically contributes to neurological complications in malaria. While febrile temperatures enhance the expression of parasite virulen...
https://www.biorxiv.org/cgi/content/short/2025.09.07.674757v1
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Mike Dorrity
7 months ago
Very excited to share - the ERC StG is a game-changer for us 🙏 We're going to learn the rules for timing control across cell types in the embryo and we think we can tune them too 🎛️ ⏳📈- reach out if you’d like to be involved !
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Jan Rombouts
7 months ago
The theory was part of my PhD work at KU Leuven with
@lendertgelens.bsky.social
, experimental work by colleagues in Leuven, the Yang lab (U Michigan) and Ferrell lab (Stanford). Find the paper here:
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
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Mechanistic origins of temperature scaling in the early embryonic cell cycle - Nature Communications
Researchers reveal mechanisms underlying non-Arrhenius temperature scaling of early embryonic cell cycle timing, using modeling, cross-species data, and reconstituted oscillations in frog egg extract.
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-025-62918-0
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Nicoletta Petridou
8 months ago
We are searching for an enthusiastic scientist to join our team and establish annual killifish as a model system for early developmental biology and biophysics!
@embl.org
@embldbunit.bsky.social
Apply here:
embl.wd103.myworkdayjobs.com/EMBL/job/Hei..
. Please re-post 🙏
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epithelial mechanics fan club
8 months ago
Papafilippou, E., Baldauf, L., Charras, G., Kabla, A. J., & Bonfanti, A. (2025). Interplay of damage and repair in the control of epithelial tissue integrity in response to cyclic loading. Current opinion in cell biology, 94, 102511.
#EpithelialMechanicsReview
buff.ly/Qzj8OWl
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Maria Bernabeu
8 months ago
We are happy to show one ourt first exciting papers. We have developed a blood-brain barrier model to study the disruptive effects caused by the malaria parasite, Plasmodium falciparum. First, congratulations to the fearless
@liviapiatti.bsky.social
and
@alinabatzi.bsky.social
rdcu.be/ezBl7
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Plasmodium falciparum egress disrupts endothelial junctions and activates JAK-STAT signaling in a microvascular 3D blood-brain barrier model
Nature Communications - Here the authors show that Plasmodium falciparum egress products disrupt endothelial barrier and activate JAK-STAT and interferon type response in a 3D blood-brain barrier...
https://rdcu.be/ezBl7
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Rashmi Priya
8 months ago
Out now! Our very first
[email protected]
, an impressive feat by
@tobyandrews.bsky.social
where we show how a developing heart grows and scales up its morphological complexity to keep beating...an excellent summary below ⬇️
www.cell.com/developmenta...
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Claire Dessalles
8 months ago
Our study on endothelial mechanics made the news! 🤩 Super nice and clear article on our findings and their implications.
www.snexplores.org/article/how-...
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Here’s why your blood vessels don’t burst under pressure
Cells lining the blood vessels reorganize their inner structures to handle stressful boosts in pressure.
https://www.snexplores.org/article/how-blood-vessels-handle-pressure
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Quanta Magazine
9 months ago
Between his code-breaking work during World War II and his death in 1954, Alan Turing proposed a mechanism for pattern formation that has been identified in the arrangement of bacteria, stripes on seashells and even the distribution of human settlements.
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Turing Patterns Turn Up in a Tiny Crystal | Quanta Magazine
The mechanism behind leopard spots and zebra stripes also appears to explain the patterned growth of a bismuth crystal, extending Alan Turing’s 1952 idea to the atomic scale.
https://quantamagazine.org/physicists-spot-turing-patterns-in-a-tiny-crystal-20210810
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Pau Guillamat
9 months ago
New preprint out! We show how cellular nematic order can be harnessed to program tissue-wide force fields and guide 3D shape transformations. The tissue morphogenesis logic, now engineered into living, programmable materials.
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
#ActiveMatter
#TissueEngineering
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University of Oxford
9 months ago
A study from
@compscioxford.bsky.social
finds Uber’s dynamic pricing leads to higher fares for riders, lower earnings for drivers, and more revenue for the company. Read more ⬇️
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New Oxford research reveals Uber’s algorithmic pricing leaves drivers
A new study from researchers in the University of Oxford’s Department of Computer Science has found that Uber’s use of dynamic pricing has led to higher fares for passengers and lower earnings for
https://www.ox.ac.uk/news/2025-06-23-new-oxford-research-reveals-uber-s-algorithmic-pricing-leaves-drivers-and-passengers
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