Tag Archive for Brain

| October 15, 2023
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Coffee is the Project Managers Secret Weapon

Coffee is the Project Managers Secret WeaponResearch has found that drinking coffee is just as good as exercise on your job performance. One cup of coffee improves your working memory as much as spending 20 minutes on a treadmill. Coffee can contribute to enhanced cognitive function, including working memory.

caffeine is a natural stimulantThe primary active compound in coffee, caffeine, is a natural stimulant. When consumed, caffeine blocks the action of a neurotransmitter called adenosine, which promotes relaxation and drowsiness. By inhibiting adenosine, caffeine promotes wakefulness and alertness, including enhanced cognitive functions like working memory.

Coffee Improves Working Memory

Working memoryWorking memory is key to our ability to function as a curious human being. It helps the learning process and makes it possible to store information, such as phone numbers or a shopping list, in the short term. Working memory has a significant impact on a project manager’s job performance. Working memory plays a crucial role in many cognitive tasks required to be a successful PM. Here are some ways in which coffee-enhanced working memory can affect your job performance:

Communications

Effective communication is at the core of being a project manager. Effective communication relies on listening, comprehending, and responding to information. A strong working memory capacity enables you to follow conversations, retain key details, and formulate thoughtful responses.

Problem-Solving

Problem Solving

Project managers are always solving problems and making decisions. Working memory is essential for holding and manipulating relevant information when analyzing problems and considering potential solutions.

Information Processing

Working memory is responsible for temporarily holding and manipulating information. As PMs, we need to process and remember information, such as instructions, data, and task sequences.

Learning and Adaptation

Learning new information and skills is a continuous process for PM’s. A good working memory facilitates the acquisition and retention of new knowledge, as it allows individuals to process, connect, and store information for future use.

Time Management

Time Management Time management involves planning and organizing tasks. Working memory helps in keeping track of deadlines, schedules, and task priorities, which is crucial for meeting project-related goals.

Creativity and Innovation

Project managers utilize creative problem-solving to keep projects moving forward.  Creative problem-solving and innovation require holding multiple ideas or concepts in mind, manipulating them, and exploring new connections. Working memory supports these processes, allowing for more innovative solutions.

Task Execution

Project managers must complete tasks efficiently. Completing tasks often involves holding intermediate goals or steps in memory while working toward a larger objective. Working memory assists in task execution and reduces the risk of errors.

Accuracy and Error Reduction

When individuals can hold and manipulate information more effectively, they are less likely to make mistakes or overlook critical details.

Stress Management

Project managers with strong working memory abilities may better manage stress and high-pressure situations by staying organized and focused during challenging times.

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Coffee can improve working memory by increasing alertness, focus, and concentration, promoting faster information processing, and reducing mental fatigue. These effects make coffee the project manager’s secret weapon to boost job performance.

 

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Ralph Bach has been in IT long enough to know better and has blogged from his Bach Seat about IT, careers, and anything else that catches his attention since 2005. You can follow him on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter. Email the Bach Seat here.

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| September 7, 2023
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Rockin’ at the Office

Rockin' at the OfficeAfter the COVID-19 lockdowns, there is a “new normal” emerging in the workplace. The pandemic changed a lot of things, including the nature of office work. In the old workplace, the firm’s focus was worker productivity. However, the pandemic has shown that health is important as it allows staff to work better. One of the things that should change in the new normal work environment is music in the office.

Music at the office helps keep focus There are a number of benefits of listening to music  Music is not just a source of pleasure but there are benefits for the employer and the employee from listening to music at work.

Music at the office helps keep focus

The modern job can be a drudge. The mundane day-to-day office tasks can drag down most people. To make the office more stressful, 70% of U.S. office space is open concept. The open workspaces’ lack of privacy can make the office people feel stressed and decrease their productivity. 

Music at the office helps keep focusIn order to offset the lack of privacy, firms should allow employees to plug in their earphones and listen to music. Listening to music can help the cube dwellers feel happier and more productive. Background music enhances performance on cognitive tasks, improves accuracy, and enables the completion of repetitive tasks more efficiently. 

Researchers studying how background music affects performance on repetitive tasks found it boosted efficiency. Music in the background while working can help a person concentrate better. Research shows that music can help in improving the processing speed of the brain. This is especially true if you can choose your own music. Office workers that are allowed to listen to their preferred choice of music complete tasks more quickly and come up with better ideas than those who have no control over their sound environment. So, next time when you are working make sure to play some music in the background that will help in boosting your mental performance.

Fight stress at work with music

Fight stress at work with musicMost employees feel job-related stress. Music can be an easy and effective stress-buster. Research confirms that music around 60 beats per minute can cause the brain to synchronize with the beat causing alpha brainwaves (frequencies from 8 – 14 hertz or cycles per second). This alpha brainwave is what is present when we are relaxed and conscious. Researchers at Stanford University have said that “listening to music seems to be able to change brain functioning to the same extent as medication.” Listening to music also reduces stress by lowering the stress hormone cortisol. 

The effect of music on the memory

We all receive and process an avalanche of important and trivial information at work or on our own time. Where did I put my keys? Is that car going to stop? When is my next meeting? 

After a point, there is a saturation point of all human beings. When it becomes difficult to remember everything studies suggest that music is also very effective in improving and enhancing the memory of a person. However, this depends on a number of factors such as the type of music that you choose to listen to. Though there are positive results of people being able to remember better when they work listening to music, these results vary. As each of us is different and have different brain functioning.

Music in the office motivates

Music in the office motivatesWe have all been there. There are times when we lack the motivation to work around here it is frequently called February. When you lack the motivation to work, it is time to listen to some music. It is seen that when people listen to fast-paced music, it helps them feel motivated and helps a person work harder.

This is why people working out prefer listening to fast-paced music. Choosing the right tempo of the music leaves a deep impact on the brain and helps motivate a person. However, each person will have a different taste in music. 

Music has a positive impact on mood

There are times when a person can feel low. At such times, it can also affect the way we deal with clients and customers. Many studies show that listening to music can help in improving the mood of a person. One of the ways music affects mood is by stimulating the formation of certain brain chemicals. Listening to music increases the neurotransmitter dopamine.

Dopamine is produced in your body when you listen to a song you really like. It’s the same brain chemical responsible for the feel-good states obtained from eating chocolate, orgasm, or runner’s high. It is dopamine that could put you in a better mood at work and make you more productive. Increased dopamine can also improve your alertness and make you feel less tired.

Enjoying music stimulates the brain hormone oxytocin. Oxytocin has been called the “trust molecule” and the “moral molecule” since it helps us bond with and trust others. There’s evidence that the oxytocin bump experienced by music lovers can make them more generous and trustworthy. 

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Music leaves a deep impact on the minds of people. It is very effective in helping people feel focused on their tasks and stay productive all day long. Office employees seem to enjoy listening to music when they work as it helps with stress and getting better brain activity.

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Ralph Bach has been in IT long enough to know better and has blogged from his Bach Seat about IT, careers, and anything else that catches his attention since 2005. You can follow him on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter. Email the Bach Seat here.

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| April 26, 2023
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Grumpiness it’s a Good Thing

Grumpiness it a Good ThingGrumpiness is the feeling of being slightly annoyed. He all know grumpiness when we see it. The average U.S. adult will be in a bad mood 300 times a year. People can be grumpy for various reasons. According to the interwebs, some of these reasons are: Lack of sleep, Being hangry, Health problems, and Stress. However. Grumpiness could be the secret to success. Meredith Bennett-Smith explains in a article on Quartz that grumpiness has benefits for your job.

professor of psychologyThe author cites studies that say that feeling slightly down seems to make some people more attentive and detail-oriented in their thinking. Joseph Forgas a professor of psychology at the University of New South Wales says that the connection between irritation and attentiveness has evolutionary underpinnings. Mild negative moods can lead to us being more observant, and paying more attention to detail. “Negative mood operates as a mild alarm signal, informing us that we face a new, unfamiliar and potentially problematic situation, and so subconsciously produce a more attentive and focused thinking style.”

Advantages of grumpiness

PessimistEvidence suggests that pondering the worst has some clear advantages. Pessimists may be superior negotiators, more discerning decision-makers and cut their risk of having a heart attack. They can expect more stable marriages, higher earnings and longer lives – though, of course, they’ll anticipate the opposite. At the center this is the fact that our feelings are adaptive. They have they evolved to serve useful functions and help us thrive.

In a 2009 study Matthijs Baas at the University of Amsterdam found that students that were “a bit angrier” but not “driven to full-blown fits of rage,” produced more ideas. Their contributions were also more original, repeated by less than 1% of the study’s participants. They were better at moments of haphazard innovation, or so-called “unstructured” thinking. Professor Baas explains. “Anger really prepares the body to mobilize resources – it tells you that the situation you’re in is bad and gives you an energetic boost to get you out of it.”

The brain

The brainTo understand how this works, first we need understand with what’s going on in the brain. When you face stressful situations, your body releases hormones which prepare you for action. Then it’s up to chemical signals in the brain to get you riled up. The brain release different hormones when you are grumpy. Some of these hormones are:

  • Cortisol: This is a stress hormone that is released when we feel threatened or anxious.
  • Adrenaline: This is another stress hormone that is released when we face danger or excitement. 
  • Testosterone: This is a sex hormone that is associated with dominance and aggression.

It is believed that this physiological response has evolved primarily to prepare the body for physical aggression. However,  this reaction is also known to have other benefits. It boosts motivation and gives people the intestinal fortitude to take mental risks. In fact, scientists are increasingly recognizing that grumpiness may be beneficial to the full range of social skills – improving language skills, memory and making us more persuasive. Professor Forgas explains. “Negative moods indicate we’re in a new and challenging situation and call for a more attentive, detailed and observant thinking style.”

Grumpiness encourages people to act better

In line with this, research has also found that feeling slightly down enhances our awareness of social cues. Professor Forgas used the dictator game to demonstrate that grumpiness encourages people to act in a better way towards others. The dictator game is a simple economic game that tests how people behave when they have the power to allocate resources between themselves and others.

It turns out that happier participants keep more of the prize for themselves. While those in a sad mood are significantly less selfish. “People who are feeling slightly down pay better attention to external social norms and expectations, and so they act in a fairer and just way towards others,” says Forgas.

Defensive Pessimism

Grumpiness creates a “Defensive pessimism” outlook. Murphy’s Law, the universal constant that whatever can go wrong, will go wrong is at the center of Defensive pessimism. By anticipating the worst, you can be prepared when it actually happens.

Defensive PessimismDefensive pessimism works like this. As an example, you have a presentation due at work. With defensive pessimism all you do is think of the worst possible outcomes. There is a traffic jam heading in to the office, your are late for the meeting, your PPT file is corrupt, your boss is going to ask hard questions. These worries spin and spin in your brain. So you need to think of some solutions to be prepared. As Andy Grove wrote, Only the paranoid survive.

Happiness is not the answer

Happiness carries far more serious risks that grumpiness. Happiness is associated oxytocin, the cuddle hormone. Studies have shown that oxytocin reduces our ability to identify threats. It prevents us paying due attention to dangers such as binge drinking, overeating and unsafe sex.

Happy haze“Happiness functions like a shorthand signal that we’re safe and it’s not necessary to pay too much attention to the environment,” Professor Forgas says. Those in a continuous happy haze may miss important cues. Instead, they may be over-reliant on existing knowledge – leaving them prone to serious errors of judgement. In one study, Forgas and colleagues found that those in a good mood were less able to think skeptically and were significantly more gullible.

Gabriele Oettingen from New York University found that optimism about the future may have the most ironic effects. Positive fantasies about the future can be profoundly de-motivating. She says, “People feel accomplished, they relax, and they do not invest the necessary effort to actually realize these positive fantasies and daydreams.”

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Grumpiness is good for you. The next time someone tells you to “cheer up” tell them you are improving your improving language skills, memory, persuasiveness, and sense of fairness. Then you can have the last cynical laugh.

 

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Ralph Bach has been in IT long enough to know better and has blogged from his Bach Seat about IT, careers, and anything else that catches his attention since 2005. You can follow him on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter. Email the Bach Seat here.

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| March 2, 2023
Comments Off on 4 Things About Personality Tests HR Won’t Tell You

4 Things About Personality Tests HR Won’t Tell You

Four Things About Personality Tests HR Won't Tell YouThe job market is an enigma right now. Tech companies are terminating employees by the thousands, yet the unemployment rate fell to 3.4%. That is the lowest jobless level since May 1969. What means that their is a lot of hiring going on right now. Job seekers are likely to encounter personality tests at some point during the hiring process. A per-employment personality test is an assessment used by employers to reveal particular aspects of a candidate’s personality and estimate the likelihood that they will excel in such a position.

Personality tests – Big business

Personality tests are big business. A 2017 Society for Human Resource Management report says that 32% of HR staff use personality tests to vet executive roles, and 28% use them for middle-management positions. The personality test business is expected to be a $6.5 billion industry by 2027. Today, there are more than 2,500 different personality tests on the market. The Myers-Briggs test is the most commonly used personality test. The Myers-Briggs Company website brags that their test is used by more than 88 percent of Fortune 500 companies.

One of the things that Myers-Briggs claims to measures is how introverted or extroverted you are. In basic terms, introverted people direct their energy inward to their own feelings and thoughts, while extroverted people direct energy outward to other people and their environment. In reality, personality is far more complex. Laurel Steinberg, PhD, a licensed psychotherapist in private practice told Insider that most people fall somewhere in between these two types.

Friederike Fabritius, a neuroscientist who has worked with companies like Google and Deloitte on how to attract and retain top talent, found that employers tend to favor extroverts. In an article for CNBC, Ms. Fabritius warns that introverts should not be overlooked. She argues that introverts have four highly coveted skills that set introverts apart from everyone else.

Introverts think more

BrainGray matter, which exists in the outer most layer of the brain, serves to process and release new information in the brain. Ms. Fabritius cites a study that found that introverts’ brains work differently, and have thicker gray matter compared to extroverts. In people who are strongly extroverted, gray matter was consistently thinner. Introverts also showed more activity in the frontal lobes, where analysis and rational thought take place. Another study that scanned brains of both introverts and extroverts found that, even in a relaxed state, the introverted brain was more active, with increased blood flow.

Introverts can focus longer

Albert EinsteinBecause they enjoy spending time alone, introverts tend to be more willing than extroverts to put in the hours alone necessary to master a skill. The author cites the case of the most famous introvert, Albert Einstein. As a child his teachers thought he was a quiet loner who seemed a million miles away, lost in his thoughts. Einstein said, “It’s that I stay with problems longer.” This ability to focus intensely is a key characteristic of introverts, who often have more extended focus than extroverts.

Introverts are often “gifted”

Ben FranklinOn average, introverts and extroverts are the same in terms of intelligence. But statistics show that around 70% of gifted people are introverts. People are considered “gifted” when they exhibit above-average intelligence or a superior talent for something, such as music, art or math. Ms. Fabritius contends that your workplace is dominated by extroverts who criticize those who prefer to work alone — or skip after-work cocktails — as “not team players,” it may inadvertently alienate gifted people.

Introverts do the right thing

Dara knot represents inner strengthIntroverts tend to be less swayed by external events and driven more by their inner moral compass. The author cites a 2013 study on social conformity found that extroverts are more willing to go along with the opinion of the majority, even if it’s wrong. Extroverts are more likely than introverts to succumb to social pressure. The researchers concluded: “The higher the pressure, a larger number of conforming responses are given by extroverts.” In contrast, “there is no difference in conforming responses given to high- and low-pressure levels by introverts.”

Introvert-friendly workplace

Ms. Fabritius offers some ways that a manager can create a work environment that introverts can flourish in.

Respect boundaries – It takes up to 23 minutes for a person to regain focus after they’ve been interrupted. Don’t expect people to answer every email or Teams message immediately.

Shorten meetings  – Many introverts are not fans of meetings. Let go of the idea that the entire office has to be invited to every meeting so that no one feels left out.

Don’t force a certain type of communication – The introverts in your office may prefer emails. Allow people to decide how they want to communicate, even if it differs from yours.

Provide the option of privacy – Introverts tend to need privacy. The solution is a flexible work environment that provides silence and private space for introverts.

Dangers of using personality tests

Dangers of using personality testsThere are consequences for using personality tests during the employment process.

In 2018 Best Buy settled a U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) case where Best Buy had violated Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 by using personality tests during the application process.

CVS Caremark Corporation was charged by the EEOC with using personality testing to discriminate against employees. After receiving the charge, CVS stopped using the personality tests.

In 2015, the EEOC discovered that Target had been using pre-hire employment assessments to discriminate against candidates. Target paid $2.8 million for violating both the Civil Rights Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act.

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As an introvert, I resent being pigeon holed by a test. I have had to take personality tests as part of the per-employment process (mostly in early career where the jobs were low paying.) What I see now – like it or not, the future of work is all about more choices, autonomy, and a culture that embraces different ways to work.

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Ralph Bach has been in IT long enough to know better and has blogged from his Bach Seat about IT, careers, and anything else that catches his attention since 2005. You can follow him on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter. Email the Bach Seat here.

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| March 19, 2022
Comments Off on 6 Ways to Exercise While Working From Home

6 Ways to Exercise While Working From Home

6 Ways to Exercise While Working From HomeFollowers of the Bach seat have known for a while that your desk is killing you. Here are 6 ways to exercise while working from home. One of the worst parts about sitting at a desk for eight or more hours a day is the fluid that accumulates in the lower legs. This can make your legs swell. Long hours of sitting increases the risk of atherosclerosis (plaque buildup in the arteries) as well as diabetes, obesity, and depression. One study even found a direct relationship between time spent sitting and risk of early mortality of any cause.

Heart healthThere is exercise equipment that can encourage blood flow and prevent fluid buildup throughout the day while you are working from home. Studies have found that periodic five minute sessions of movement can do good things for your health. Short sessions of exercise can lift your mood, restore energy levels without losing focus, and are more beneficial than taking a single long walk.

Working out intermittently throughout the day can also keep your head in the game and your mind sharp. Many users report huge increases in work-productivity after adding an exercise routine to their workplace. This post looks at some of the equipment you can use to feel better, lose weight and maybe even save your life while working from home.

Resistance bands

Resistance BandsResistance bands are a must-have part of you work from home office workout. The oversized rubber bands are great to use for any workout, any time  throughout the work day. The bands provide enough challenges where you can build your strength. They help you strengthen your natural body movement patterns. Resistance bands can be used with popular workout programs such as yoga and Pilates, meaning they are great for both the office and home. The bands help with stretching, strength training, or injury recovery. The best stretch bands are heavy duty, inexpensive and can be made of eco-friendly latex.

Under-desk bike pedal exercisers

Under-desk bike pedal exercisers are good for a work from home space. They allow you to get some cardio activity done in a quiet and discreet manner while you are working. Desk bikes can create higher strain and muscle activation on higher resistance settings. They enable those seeking an actual workout while at their desk rather than a tool to simply stay active and moving at work. It is a time saver in that it may allow you to cut down on your workout time outside of the office. Their low profile and wide base is great for many different types of office spaces.

Under-desk elliptical exercisers

Under-desk elliptical exercisersUnder-desk elliptical exercisers have make forward/back motion as opposed to the circular motion of cycles. Elliptical’s let you to exercise throughout the day without really thinking about it. Desk elliptical s can be lower impact on your legs and joints than desk bikes. They allow you to keep your posture correct and is a discreet machine to slip under your desk so you can continue to work your way up to a greater level of fitness while sitting thru another Zoom meeting.

Hybrid desks

Standing deskStanding desks allow you to be in an upright position, strengthening your bones, cartilage, tendons and ligaments by straining them — in a good way. Being upright also encourages better posture, pumps more blood to the heart, increases airflow to the lungs, and burns more calories than you would sitting down. Sit/stand desks can also help with arthritis, as the regular movement prevents joints from getting stiff and can minimize joint pain overall. This is an effective way to add in some quality exercise throughout the day while multi-tasking. It increases you energy and reduces joint pain so you can stay in shape and make long-term changes to your healthy lifestyle.

Hybrid desks integrate work out equipment with a standing desk. They are typically more expensive than the previous items. But they tend to use less floor space in your work from home office by combining a desk with exercise equipment

Standing desk exercise bike

Standing Desk Exercise BikeCycling while working, even if you’re hardly exerting yourself, will increase your blood flow, keep your legs limber, and even burn some calories all while maintaining your productivity. A standing desk exercise bike can be used both in formal or informal offices. Their versatility is impressive. Utilizing a desk bike offers a number of benefits including, but not limited to:

• Strengthening muscles
• Increases in metabolism
• Burning of fat/Weight loss
• Sleep pattern improvement
• Mental health benefits

Desk bikeA standing desk exercise bike is a good answer for people who are interested in owning both a desk bike and a standing desk, while also being a versatile tool for all sorts of other work and play applications! Standing desk exercise bikes pairs a traditional exercise bike with an effective work space, enabling you to sit atop what feels like an actual bicycle while working from home.

You can use the the adjustable-height desktop as a standing desk, or remove the desktop and use the machine solely as an exercise bike. This is a strong option for those who are serious about both their work from home productivity and personal fitness.

Standing desk recumbent exercise bike

The standing desk recumbent exercise bike combines a workspace and a recumbent exercise bike. The seat of a recumbent exercise bike puts the body in a more natural position. It is typically easier on your joints and back during exercise. The body position is like sitting on a piece of furniture with adequate seat coverage and a back rest. The seat is typically larger, provide more lumbar back support, and have pedals positioned out in front of the body, making it a much more comfortable to workout from home than an upright bike desk.

A standing desk recumbent exercise bike comes with an adjustable desktop to hold your laptop, tablet or notebook. You can burn calories while working, checking emails, or attending a virtual meeting. And you can also use the device as a standing desk without cycling.

Treadmill desk

Steelcase WalkstationI introduced the Steelcase Walkstation to Bach Seat followers in 2009. This is the most expensive way to exercise while working form home. A treadmill desk is large and bulky, and not very discreet. On the other hand a treadmill desk can multi-task and serve as a standing desk. It also saves you time where you get your steps in throughout the day while you are working, without going to the gym. This device keeps you from living a sedentary life while you are working from home.

How to choose the best WFH exercise equipment

Choosing the best exercise equipment for work from home can be tough. There are a lot of options out there at many different price points. Ask your self these questions:

  1. How well the exercise equipment fit to your body and its needs?
  2. Does it have enough weight capacity?
  3. If you have physical limitations or problems, such as back problems, can it be adjusted so that you’re comfortable and safe while working out?
  4. How to choose the best WFH exercise equipmentWhat kind of workout you want. Do you want a heavy-duty, full-body, high cardio-burning session? Do you you just keep moving while answering emails?
  5. Do you have the real estate in your WFH office for the equipment?
  6. Finally, consider the cost. The exercise equipment we looked at in this post come in a wide range of prices. Even if you’re on a budget, you can still find exercise equipment that help you feel fitter.

 

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Ralph Bach has been in IT long enough to know better and has blogged from his Bach Seat about IT, careers, and anything else that catches his attention since 2005. You can follow him on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter. Email the Bach Seat here.

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