Link to 2005 page

2007

Bristol Community College
Fall River, Massachusetts

NEMATYC 2007 was held at Bristol Community College on Friday and Saturday, April 20, 21, 2007. The theme was "Expand Your Horizons". The conference chair was Elaine Previte.

After Friday evening's dinner attendees were regaled by a half-dozen singers, notably including the conference chair and  "Lyrical" - Peter Plourde - a math adjunct professor and accomplished rap artist.

Montage of images

Conference Photos

 
E X P A N D

Your Horizons
NEMATYC 2007
NEMATYC SEAL
Bristol Community College
Fall River, Massachusetts
Bristol Community College Logo





Executive Committee - 2006-2007

President

Andrew Perry

Springfield College

Vice President

Carol Henry

Middlesex Community College

Past President

Elaine Previte

Bristol Community College

Secretary

Dora Ottariano

Middlesex Community College

Treasurer

Lois Martin

Massasoit Community College

Webmaster

Rick Butterworth

Massasoit Community College

Newsletter Editor

Philip Mahler

Middlesex Community College

Newsletter Production Editor

Judy Carter

North Shore Community College

At-Large Member Curtis Mitchell Greenfield Community College

At-Large Member

Javad Moulai

Roxbury Community College

At-Large Member

Bonnie Wicklund

Mt. Wachusett Community College

Membership

Susan Hoy

Johnson & Wales University

Membership

Ted Panitz

Cape Cod Community College

Conference Chair

Elaine Previte

Bristol Community College

NEMATYC
Annual Meeting
April 21, 2007
Minutes

The meeting was convened at 3:30 PM by Andrew Perry, NEMATYC President.  Andrew thanked Elaine Previte, conference chairperson, for a great conference and a job well done.
  1. Treasurer’s Report (Lois Martin)
    Lois reported that we were in good financial condition.  See Treasurer’s Report.
    There was a question about the balance on 3/15/2005.  Lois stated that she received the money from the 2005 NEMATYC Conference at a later date.  
    A motion was made and passed to accept the Treasurer’s Report.
  2. Secretary’s Report (Dora Ottariano)
    A motion was made and passed to accept the Secretary’s Report of April 22, 2006.
  3. Proposed Changes to the Constitution (detailed in Newsletter)
    A suggestion was made to report Constitution changes to the IRS.  A comment was made that the changes make the Constitution more streamline.  There was one correction:  In Article 2, Part b, change experience to experiences.
    A motion was made to approve the Constitution changes and the motion carried.
  4. Executive Board Election
    The following slate was presented by the Nominating Committee:
  • Vice President:  Carol Henry (1 year)
  • Treasurer:  Lauren Brewer (3 years)
  • Member At Large:  Judy King (2 years)
  • Additional nominations were accepted from the floor.  Vanessa Hill and Mary Moynihan were nominated for Member At Large.
The election results were as follows:    
  • Vice President:          Carol Henr
  • Treasurer:                  Lauren Brewer
  • Member At Large:    Judy King
  • Member At Large:    Mary Moynihan
  1. Student Mathematics League Awards
    Lois Martin presented $100 to each of the top scorers from participating NEMATYC schools.  The recipients were:
Middlesex Community College
Massasoit Community College
Bristol Community College
Springfield Technical Community College
Cape Cod Community College
North Shore Community College
Holyoke Community College 
Nathan Gilbert
Thomas Finegan
Carlton     Henderson
Michael Pirro
Emily Cross
Thomas McCarthy
Matthew Bienia
  1. Announcements
    1. NEMATYC 2008:  Springfield Technical Community College will host the annual conference in April 2008.
    2. Fall Dinner Meeting:  Worcester
      The Board voted to try a dinner meeting again in September or October in Worcester.  Elaine Previte volunteered to make the local arrangements.  This year’s meeting will be held at a restaurant rather than at Quinsigamond.
    3. Carol Henry:  Mathematics Across the Curriculum
      Carol addressed the group to see if NEMATYC would be willing to support Middlesex Community College’s Mathematics Across the Curriculum NSF Grant.   The participants at this conference authorized the NEMATYC Board to write a letter of support for NEMATYC participation in the grant.
    4. Steve Krevisky:  MATYCONN April 27; other conferences
      Steve reported that the MATYCONN meeting will take place on April 27,  2007 from 1 to 6 PM at Manchester Community College, Manchester, CT. He spoke about the International Math Education Conference to be held in Monterey, Mexico in July 2008.  He will help anyone who is interested in applying.  Steve will attend the Southeast Regional Meeting in Texas to see how they run such a meeting.  He is still interested in organizing a Northeast Regional meeting.  He also asked the group to support his candidacy for Northeast Vice President.
  2. Other Business
    Thanks were once again given to Elaine Previte for chairing the conference.
  3. Door Prizes
    Door Prizes were then given out.
The meeting was adjourned at 4:15 PM.

Respectfully submitted,

Dora Ottariano
Secretary

Executive Committee - 2006-2007

President

Andrew Perry

Springfield College

Vice President

Carol Henry

Middlesex Community College

Past President

Elaine Previte

Bristol Community College

Secretary

Dora Ottariano

Middlesex Community College

Treasurer

Lois Martin

Massasoit Community College

Webmaster

Rick Butterworth

Massasoit Community College

Newsletter Editor

Philip Mahler

Middlesex Community College

Newsletter Production Editor

Judy Carter

North Shore Community College

At-Large Member

Lauren Brewer

Springfield Technical Com Clg

At-Large Member

Curtis Mitchell

Greenfield Community College

At-Large Member Javad Moulai Roxbury Community College
At-Large Member Bonnie Wicklund Mt. Wachusett Community College

Membership

Susan Hoy

Johnson & Wales University

Membership

Ted Panitz

Cape Cod Community College

Conference Co-Chair

David Cox

Southern New Hampshire University

Conference Co-Chair

Alec Ingraham

Southern New Hampshire University

TREASURER'S REPORT

NEMATYC
Treasurer's Report
4/21/07

Bank Account Balance, March 15, 2006

$8487.44

INCOME:

Interest

$247.27

Membership

100.00

NEMATYC 2005 1170.83
NEMATYC 2006 3912.69
Fall Dinner Meeting 340.00

Scholarship Fund

119.00

$5889.79

EXPENSES:

Newsletter Expenses

$1160.63

Executive Board Meetings

170.63

AMATYC 2006 Support for NEMATYC President

500.00

NEMATYC 2007

500.00

Awards 164.93
Fall Dinner Meeting
Honorarium
100.00
Dinner
398.25
Domain name 50.00

AMATYC Foundation

500.00

$3544.44

Bank Account Balance, March 15, 2007

$10832.79

Respectfully submitted,
Lois A. Martin
Treasurer

Historic End of Year Balances

Date Bank Balance
3/15/98 $2,560.41
3/15/99 3,496.69
3/15/00 4,476.02
3/15/01 6,452.94
3/15/02 8,611.19
3/15/03 9,103.56
3/15/04 10,109.98
3/15/05 10,691.58
3/15/06 8,487.44
3/15/07 10,832.79



CONFERENCE PRESENTATION ABSTRACTS

Friday

FluidMath: A Mathematics Sketching Tool
Donald Carney, Fluidity Software, Inc. and Joseph J. LaViola, Brown University
We will present FluidMath, a revolutionary software tool for creating and exploring dynamic illustrations of mathematical concepts.  Using a Tablet PC or SmartBoard, both teachers and students can associate handwritten mathematics with simple drawings to create visualizations with the promise of more effective learning in mathematics and science.

Are You Considering Teaching Probability?
Roberta Kieronsky, UNH Manchester
When was the last time you worked with counting techniques and probability? Come and see some ways to introduce this material. Different visuals and explanations will be presented as well as common student errors.

The Presentation of Fundamental Math Skills in an Introductory Chemistry Course
James Pelletier, Bristol Community College
Assuaging the anxieties of students relative to their math skills is an immediate challenge for the instructor in the particular course. This instructor has found that an initial review of math skills rewards the student and the instructor with an information base and a skill base which makes the process of learning the chemistry more efficient. Topics such as significant figures, scientific notation and dimensional analysis are then challenged by the student without the intimidation which would result without the initial presentation of the math skills.
This presenter has found that students who would otherwise be doomed to failure in chemistry are elated to find themselves able to succeed...their self image is greatly enhanced and their motivation is greatly improved. It is the intent of the presenter to share some of the methodology that he has found of great benefit to the introductory student and to himself in assisting in student success.

An Application of Bayes’ Rule: The Gambler’s Ruin Problem
Eiki Satake, and Philip Amato, Emerson College
Consider two gamblers with a finite amount of money who repeatedly play the same game against each other. The sequence of fortunes of either of the gamblers forms a probabilistic model called Bayes’ Rule. Using the tools of Bayes’ Rule, we will show how to calculate the probability that one of them runs out of money.

Designing an Effective Writing Assignment
Howard Tinberg, Jean-Paul Nadeau and Michael Geary, Bristol Community College
We will offer both theoretical and practical considerations when crafting writing assignments.   Among the elements that we will discuss as important to successful assignments: Explicit description of the purpose of the assignment (especially as tied to course outcomes and objectives); Useful and realistic models of successful responses; Clear and precise criteria for success (rubric for grading); Careful and explicit attention as to the form and content expected; Practical emphasis on the process and not the just the product of writing; Practical timelines that will promote maximum student effort and chances for success.

Saturday

Connect Math: Facilitating Transfer in Mathematics 
President Jack Sbrega, and Elaine Previte, Bristol Community College, Mary Moynihan, Cape Cod Community College, Ronald Pitt, Bridgewater State College
Mathematics faculty from CONNECT schools have been discussing comparable math courses at their institutions. Goals include developing learning outcomes, aligning learning goals and facilitating the transfer of mathematics courses. We will report on methods used, the nature of the findings and future aspirations. Participants will be asked to share transfer issues.

Conducting Child Interviews:  Connecting Preservice Teachers to Mathematics
Kathleen Rondinone, Southern Connecticut State University
Students taking my mathematics education courses do not always believe that the math I teach is what they will encounter when they teach mathematics.  I have them interview a K-8 student and write a personal reflection paper to help them connect their understanding of mathematics to their teaching of mathematics.

Creating Multimedia Lessons and Tutorials for your Courses

Judy Carter and Beth Lucas, North Shore Community College
See how easy it is to create voice-narrated, animated lessons and tutorials for your courses! We’ve used tablet PCs in combination with Camtasia (software that records still and moving images on the computer screen) to create lessons and tutorials for use in both our in-class and online sections.

Civic Engagement: What’s Math Got To Do With It?
Dora Ottariano, Beth Fraser, Michael Williamson, and Linda Dart-Kathios, Middlesex Community College, and  Becky Warren, Lowell National Historical Park
This session provides an opportunity to highlight The Lowell Civic Collaborative, a unique civic engagement partnership between Middlesex Community College and its outstanding community resources, Lowell National Historical Park and Minute Man National Historical Park.  Participants will be provided with ideas on how to embed civic engagement knowledge and skills into math courses of all levels.  Materials will be shared.

Exploring New Horizons in Calculus: Learning with Innovative Technology
Robert E. Kowalczyk and Adam O. Hausknecht, University of Massachusetts – Dartmouth
With minimal effort and new technology, you can add lively visual demonstrations to your mathematics class that enhance the learning and understanding of the core calculus concepts. Want to convince your students that the trajectory of a thrown ball follows a parabolic path? Take a short video clip of two of your students throwing (and catching) a ball, import the frames of the video into our software package TEMATH, mark the position of the ball in each frame on a set of coordinate axes, fit the resulting data with a quadratic function, and your students will be convinced for life that the path of the ball is parabolic! This entire process can be done within 10-15 minutes and the best part is that it always works!

An Introduction to Design Theory
Stephanie Costa, Rhode Island College
The statistician F. Yates has been credited with being the first to introduce the idea of a block design. Yates showed how block designs could be used to design statistical experiments. I will introduce some of basic material on block designs, Latin squares and tournaments and show examples of how one could incorporate these topics into a general education mathematics course.

MyMathLab: Commercial Presentation
Kevin O’Brien, Addison Wesley and Prentice-Hall
During this presentation, the Addison Wesley and Prentice-Hall representatives will present two web-based resources being offered with their math texts.  These web resources would be of interest to instructors looking to offer easily accessed online homework, quizzes, practice problems and tutorials to enhance a traditional course, as well as those teaching hybrid and online courses.  Both these resources correlate directly with the scope and sequence of math texts that Addison Wesley and Prentice-Hall  publishes

Reading in Mathematics
Amanda Hattaway, Wentworth Institute of Technology
This talk offers a few strategies for motivating students to read their mathematics textbooks, their course lecture notes and online material.  I will show how I have done this in my college math, calculus and linear algebra courses.

Creating Online Math Tutorials: An Interactive Approach
Mary E. Sullivan, Cape Cod Community College
Would you like to create engaging, interactive learning materials?  Learn how to use Adobe Captivate to easily create Flash-based e-learning content that will increase comprehension and improve student outcomes.

The Road From Outcomes To Assessment
Lois Martin, Kerryn Snyder, Jack Keating, and Marianne Rosato, Massasoit Community College
The mathematics faculty at Massasoit Community College worked for several years writing outcomes for the courses they offer. With the outcomes in place, the work on assessment began. Departmental final exams were analyzed to determine if they reflected the outcomes and item analyses were done to identify problem areas.

Science, Math and the Role of the Community College

Ed Blomdahl, Cape Cod Community College
Albert Einstein’s Special Theory of Relativity was written just over 100 years ago – 1905. Despite its fundamental acceptance in the worldwide physics community, there have always been not a few scientists – including myself – who have firm doubts of its veracity. When I tried to have my scientific papers published, I was met with closed minds and politics. My experience has led me to reevaluate the role of the two-year college and the relationship between student, instructor and institution.

An Introduction to Eduspace.com
Chris Kelly, Houghton Mifflin
EduSpace is a web-based online learning system that provides instructors with powerful course management tools and text-specific content to support both lecture and online classes. Key features include functionality for online homework with auto grading, assessment tools, and access to Houghton Mifflin learning tools in an electronic format. New courses available for Fall, 2007 classes will include several enhancements. This includes a symbol palette for entering answers, an improved user interface, and textbooks in an online, multimedia format. Our presentation will highlight these new enhancements.

Tablet PCs: What Works for Me
Rick Butterworth, Massasoit Community College
I will compare and contrast various strategies and software; e.g., Journal, One Note, Math Journal, Word, and PowerPoint. I will explain strengths and weaknesses I have discovered in each. Plus, I will demonstrate how I actually use a tablet and the software.

Using Activities to Stimulate Mathematical Thinking in Developmental Math Classes
Fran Seigle, New Hampshire Community Technical College

In this hands-on session, I will present ideas concerning the use of activities that stimulate mathematical thinking in developmental classes. After two years of development and classroom testing, I am happy to share these activities with participants. Students have enjoyed them and they have been quite successful in my classes.

Improving Student Success in Statistics Courses
Mary Kehoe Moynihan,  Cape Cod Community College
During the Fall 2006 semester, I completed a sabbatical project with the goal of improving the statistics curriculum at Cape Cod Community College. Tasks included developing learning outcomes with the CONNECT schools and surveying the topics taught in introductory statistics courses at other colleges such as UMass Amherst, UMass Boston, UCal Poly, and the University of Minnesota, and attending the AMATYC conference and webinars on improving statistics. I will share my findings with participants.

Incorporating Geometer’s Sketchpad into Developmental Algebra
Frank Cabral, University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth
I have spent extensive time on research projects integrating technology into existing curriculum.  One of the software packages that I am especially fond of is Geometer’s Sketchpad.  It is engaging and allows for a high level of cooperative learning for students.   I urge schools that teach Geometry, and pre-calculus to make use of this software to keep up with the mandate that we integrate technology into the Mathematics Classroom. Sample lessons will be shared with participants.

An Assessment Procedure for a First Semester Calculus Course

Eric Johnson, United States Coast Guard Academy
Today, the number of students who take their first calculus course in high school is greater than the number who take calculus for the first time in college.  The Mathematics Department is interested in investigating the preparedness of our students in the Calculus I course.  To this end, we give an exam the second class meeting.  The test is a thirty-seven (37) question multiple choice exam developed and published by Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.  The same exam is given on the last day of classes.  Scores on both exams plus correlations with high school experience, SAT scores, AP Scores, and Algebra and Trigonometry diagnostic exams will be presented.

Statistics Using Excel

Barry Woods, Unity College
Designed to engage and challenge students in using Excel, this presentation offers statistics faculty new modes of expanding Excel’s capabilities to include Box Plots, Normal Probability Plots, Descriptive Statistics (no Data Analysis ToolPak), Z and t-tests for one mean, Z-tests for proportion(s), along with other formulas if time permits.

Think Outside the Book! Affordable, Online, Textbook-free College Math Courses from Content on Demand
Key College Publishing - Commercial Presentation
John Remington, Key College Publishing Join us to learn about these materials, built inside leading platforms, that are easy to use, fully customizable, and are lesson based (lessons are constructed of text, video, animation, practice, testing, review and more). They are also more affordable than text and/or text/access codes. Attendees will be eligible to winan iPod Nano.

Psychology, Math and Credit Card Debt
Evelina Lapierre and Cheryl Almeida, Johnson & Wales University
In an effort to demonstrate the various applications of mathematics, Johnson & Wales University offers a series of inter-disciplinary lectures.  The lecture we are planning to present involves statistics and psychology.  In this lecture we share data collected from our students concerning locus of control and credit card usage. Through this example we illustrate the application of research methods and comparison of means.

Girolamo Cardano and Solutions of Cubic Equations
Andrew Perry, Springfield College
Girolamo Cardano (1501-1576), dubbed “the most bizarre character in the whole history of mathematics”, did groundbreaking work in discovering a method to solve the general cubic equation . We’ll look at the deceit, treachery, and triumph of Cardano’s stormy mathematical career.

Timely Reflection ↔ Fast-Serve Feedback
Adele Miller and S. Louise Gould, Central Connecticut State University
Come learn how elementary education students and their instructors profit from students reflecting electronically on ideas presented in class. See example reflection assignments, students writing about concepts and feelings, and instructor responses.

Go International with AMATYC!
Steve Krevisky, Middlesex (CT) Community College
Come hear about the world of international math conferences!  The presenter will show slides of his trips to conferences in such places as Brazil, Japan and South Africa!  Hear about what goes on at these gatherings, and make plans to attend ICME-11 in Mexico in 2008! 

Department Chairs’ Sharing Session
Jerry LePage, Bristol Community College
This session will provide an opportunity for mathematics department chairs to network and discuss common concerns. In addition, information may be shared concerning curriculum issues. If participants wish, they may also compile a listing of available adjunct faculty who may wish to teach at multiple institutions.

Adjunct Faculty Sharing Session
Judy King, New Hampshire
This session will offer adjunct faculty the opportunity to discuss issues they face in the daily conduct of their duties. Other issues may include  unionization (not all adjunct faculty have union protection).





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Exhibitors & Sponsors 2007

Thanks to our sponsors/exhibitors!

Prentice Hall/Addison Wesley
www.prenhall.com
www.aw-bc.com

Houghton Mifflin
www.hmco.com

Kendall-Hunt
www.kendalhunt.com

Key College Publishers

www.keycollege.com

McGraw Hill
www.mcgraw-hill.com

Thomson Publishing
www.thomson.com


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Registration List 2007

Almeida Cheri Johnson & Wales University
Alfano Shirley Providence College
Alfano Joseph Johnson & Wales University
Alpert Cliff Guest
Amaral, student Natasha Bristol Community College
Asher, student Andrew Bristol Community College
Avidikian Dan Bristol Community College
Balanovich Lioudmila University of New Hampshire - Manchester
Barney Sally Massasoit Community College
Barrette, student Ryan BCC/UMD
Berglund, student Jesse Massasoit Community College
Bhatt Vasu Central Connecticut State University
Blomdahl Edward Cape Cod Community College
Brewer Lauren Springfield Technical Community College
Butterworth Rick Massasoit Community College
Cabral Frank University of Massachusetts - Dartmouth
Cantin Robert Middlesex Community College
Carney Donald Fluidity Software
Carter Judy North Shore Community College
Caruso Marie Middlesex Community College
Chen Yanjun (June) Bristol Community College
Connelly Lora North Shore Community College
Cooney Rick Johnson & Wales University
Costa Stephanie Rhode Island College
Cox David Southern New Hampshire University
Dart-Kathios Linda Middlesex Community College
DelMonaco Joanna Middlesex Community College
DeSantis Lynne Hesser College
DeVoe Jane Massasoit Community College
Diogo, student Amanda Bristol Community College
Duston Mark Johnson & Wales University
Elman, student Rachel Bristol Community College
Falcone Elaine Mount Wachusett Community College
Fernandes Orland Mass Bay Community College
Fraser Beth Middlesex Community College
Garrido, student Ann Bristol Community College
Geary Michael Bristol Community College
Gibson Seth Community College of Vermont
Gonzalez, student Justina Bristol Community College
Goodwin Regina Middlesex Community College
Gould S. Louise Central Connecticut State University
Gray, student Lianna Plymouth State University
Hattaway Amanda Wentworth Institute of Technology
Hausknecht Adam University of Massachusetts - Dartmouth
Hay Carol Middlesex Community College
Heath Ruth New Hampshire Technical Institute
Heist Ken Bristol Community College
Henderson, student Carlton Bristol Community College
Henry Carol Middlesex Community College
Henry, student David Massasoit Community College
Hill Vanessa Springfield Technical Community College
Hoy Susan Bristol Community College
Jacobs John Mass Bay Community College (retired)
Jacobs Gina Guest
Johnson Eric United States Coast Guard Academy
Jones, student Cliff Bristol Community College
Keating Jack Massasoit Community College
Kieronski Roberta University of New Hampshire - Manchester
Kieronski Joe University of New Hampshire - Manchester
King Judy New Hampshire Technical Institute
Kolesnik Michael Community College of Vermont
Kowalczyk Robert University of Massachusetts - Dartmouth
Krevisky Stephen Middlesex (CT) Community College
LaPierre Evelina Johnson & Wales University
Laverty Paul Mount Wachusett Community College
LaViola Joseph Brown University
LePage Jerry Bristol Community College
Libova Rita Mt.Wachusett Community College
Ligos Lucy Johnson & Wales University
Luca Magdalena Massachusetts College of Pharmacy
Lucas Elizabeth North Shore Community College
Magnan Jerry Bristol Community College
Mahler Philip Middlesex Community College
Manfred Ernest United States Coast Guard Academy
Martin Clifford Massasoit Community College
Martin Lois Massasoit Community College
Masagutova Rurniya North Shore Community College
Mazmanian Charles Johnson & Wales University
McCart Donna Southern Vermont College
Medeiros, student Ruben Bristol Community College
Miller Adele Central Connecticut State University
Mitchell Curtis Greenfield Community College
Mogan-Vallon Mary Middlesex Community College
Moulai Javad Roxbury Community College
Moynihan Mary Cape Cod Community College
Nadeau JP Bristol Community College
O'Connell Robert Massachusetts Bay Community College
O'Connor Kathy Quinsigamond Community College
O'Shea Ann North Shore Community College
Oster Joyce Johnson & Wales University
O'Toole, student Kevin Bristol Community College
Ottariano Dora Middlesex Community College
Pelletier James Bristol Community College
Perry Andrew Springfield College
Pitt Ronald Bridgewater State College
Previte Elaine Bristol Community College
Raja Vijay Bristol Community College
Robinson Suellen North Shore Community College
Rondinone Kathleen Southern Connecticut State University
Rosato Marianne Massasoit Community College
Roy Al Bristol Community College
Satake Eiki Emerson College
Sbrega President Jack Bristol Community College
Sbrega Joanne Guest
Seigle Fran N H Community Technical College
Shea, student Ryan Massasoit Community College
Snyder Kerryn Massasoit Community College
Soares Sandra Bristol Community College
Stethares Greg Bristol Community College
Stone Walter North Shore Community College
Sullivan Mary E. Cape Cod Community College
Takvorkian Kenneth Mount Wachusett Community College
Tataronis Gary Massachusetts College of Pharmacy
Tinberg Howard Bristol Community College
Vallese Carmine Johnson & Wales University
Vanga Vijaya Middlesex Community College
Vieira, student Michael Bristol Community College
Vieira, student Louis Bristol Community College
Warren Becky National Park Service
Wicklund Bonnie Mount Wachusett Community College
Williamson Michael Middlesex Community College
Willis Kathy Southern New Hampshire University
Woods Barry Unity College
Zannella Edward Community College of Rhode Island

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