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US companies spending billions each month to return staff back to work

Huma

Getting businesses back up and running and employees back to work is critical to the US economic recovery. However, there’s confusion between employers and anxiety for workers returning to work. Digital health and therapeutics company Huma asked 5,000 US employees and 2,000 US employers about their views on returning to work. Only one in five businesses feel suitably informed on the specific policies/procedures they need to ensure a safe working environment for their employees. Yet employers are spending loads of money to reopen workplaces safely. Employers estimate that they will spend $3.4 billion per month overall, and $61.23 per employee each month to ensure employee health and safety. Nearly 9 in 10 employers (86%) have instituted new hygiene protocols, updated workplace layouts, and have a smaller workforce. While employers are readying the workplace, they have not planned for managing COVID-19 cases. Few employers have made accommodations for managing COVID-19 exposure. Only one-fifth of employers have updated sick leave policies (22%) or communications policies for exposure (19%). Economic realities are scaring employees more than health and safety risks Shockingly, two-thirds of employees believe their health and safety could be compromised in the workplace. Despite these fears, most employees are eager to get back to work, with over half of workers (52%) ready to get back to work today. Of those employees who have already returned to their workplace, only one in four (27%) employees are confident in the measures in place to ensure their safety and wellbeing. What’s driving employees’ concerns are interactions with other people, with respondents citing their co-workers’ hygiene (17%) and commuters (25%) as two of the three factors they were worried about, along with the workplace environment (21%). What causes the greatest fear for nearly three-quarters (72%) of employees is their coworker’s hygiene, which they rank as the single most significant factor in COVID-19 transmission at the workplace. Managing employee health for a safe workplace Employers have invested in the physical workplace, but have not put systems in place to manage employee health and COVID-19 case communications to ensure safer workplaces. Overwhelmingly, two-thirds (67%) of employees would be willing to do a daily symptom check-in with their employers, and the majority (75%) would be comfortable with employers tracking their symptoms. Moreover, nine in ten businesses (87%) are comfortable monitoring their employees' symptoms. This research shows that there’s a willingness on both sides to manage employee health, yet few are doing so. Dan Vahdat, founder and CEO of Huma, commented : “What this research identifies are the concerns of employers and employees in managing health and safety at the workplace during the COVID-19 era. Employers are spending millions to create a safe work environment, but not on solutions to manage employee health.” “Employers need new solutions and guidance on how to manage their health and wellbeing of their employees and provide assurance that they are prepared for COVID-19. Without new solutions to help manage workplace safety, businesses and the economy are going to take longer to recover.” Digital health and therapeutics company Huma is helping businesses and employees return to work safely. Huma Health Shield gives employees an easy-to-use mobile app to confidentially self-report their symptoms, track vital signs, and see their exposure risk. Employers have access to a secure web-based portal to see their workforce’s overall health while still protecting employee privacy. Ends Notes the editor Research findings based on a survey of 5,000 US employees and 2,000 US companies conducted in September 2020. About Huma Huma partners with scientists, technologists, and healthcare professionals to understand, treat, and ultimately prevent ill health. Giving knowledge and power to those with medical conditions, while saving clinicians time, energy, and valuable resources. Because, by collectively benefiting from the data we individually generate, we can all live our longest, fullest lives. www.huma.com Contact Details Bilal Mahmood +44 7714 007257 bilal.mahmood@huma.com Company Website https://huma.com/

September 16, 2020 09:30 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Venture X® Coming to Holyoke, Massachusetts

Venture X

Venture X , a professional, flexible workspace community for freelancers, entrepreneurs and businesses, is excited to announce its newest location will be opening in Holyoke, Massachusetts in early 2021. This 16,000 square foot workspace at 98 Lower Westfield Rd., will be located at the intersection of I-91 and I-90, adjacent to the Holyoke Mall at Ingleside. Venture X is a global coworking community with locations throughout the United States and Canada, as well as internationally. The workspaces are well appointed with many amenities, frequently sanitized and cognizant of social distancing. They offer a variety of options from virtual offices to dedicated desks to private individual and team offices. Venture X caters to professionals looking for a business casual work environment where they can always feel comfortable bringing their clients. The Venture X membership is diverse and includes entrepreneurs, creative professionals, freelancers, remote workers, startups, non-profits, small businesses, and teams from Fortune 500 companies. “As a fourth generation Barowsky from Holyoke, I am very proud and excited to bring the Venture X concept to our area,” said Ned Barowsky, Owner. “I believe that Venture X will be a great asset to the Holyoke market and will fill a need as Holyoke and the surrounding communities are lacking premium coworking space.” Venture X Holyoke will be located within a building owned by Barowsky at the busiest intersection in Western Massachusetts on the access road to the Holyoke Mall. The property has recently been updated with an additional 90 parking spaces added for a total of 300. “We are thrilled to be opening our second Venture X location in Massachusetts and our first in the Western part of the state,” said Jason Anderson , president of Venture X. “The Venture X brand is growing exponentially, and we look forward to providing professional, coworking options to Holyoke and the surrounding communities.” In addition to office space, Venture X offers event space and meeting room rentals for the day or by the hour for members and non-members. Additional details on Venture X’s workspace options and services are available at https://venturex.com/memberships/ . About Venture X Venture X is a shared workspace and community that is a blend of boutique hotel and modern office styles, with a high level of design that feels professional and welcoming. We are designing beautiful spaces and developing an environment and community that people love coming to work every day. Venture X is part of a successful group of affiliated companies and brands under the United Franchise Group (UFG) and has been recognized by Inc. as one of the best co-working spaces in the United States. For more information about locations visit  www.VentureX.com  and for information about franchise opportunities visit  www.venturexfranchise.com .  About United Franchise Group Led by Founder and CEO Ray Titus, United Franchise Group is home to an affiliated family of brands, including Signarama, Fully Promoted, Experimax, Jon Smith Subs, SuperGreen Solutions, Transworld Business Advisors, Accurate Franchising, Venture X, The Great Greek Mediterranean Grill, Network Lead Exchange and Resource Operations International (ROI). With over three decades in the franchising industry and more than 1,600 franchisees throughout the world, United Franchise Group offers unprecedented leadership and solid business opportunities for entrepreneurs. Contact Details Brittny Fuchs +1 561-812-6032 bfuchs@ufgcorp.com Company Website https://venturex.com/

September 09, 2020 09:03 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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ACCURATE FRANCHISING, INC. NAMED A TOP FRANCHISE SUPPLIER BY ENTREPRENEUR MAGAZINE

Accurate Franchising, Inc.

Accurate Franchising, Inc. , is a franchise management company that specializes in helping businesses expand through franchising. The brand is proud to announce that they recently ranked in Entrepreneur magazine’s third annual list of the Top Franchise Suppliers. This list recognizes top companies that provide services and support to franchisors and franchisees in ten categories: Accounting, Banking/Financing, Franchise Broker/Referral Networks, Franchise Consulting/Development, Legal Services, Marketing, Merchant Services, Other Technology Services, Public Relations, and Real Estate Services. Accurate Franchising was ranked # 15 in the Franchise Consulting/Development category. “We are honored to be recognized by Entrepreneur Magazine for our dedication to helping companies franchise their business and creating a custom business plan to match their desired level of success,” said Tipton Shonkwiler, Accurate Franchising Brand President. "Now more than ever franchisors and franchisees need service providers they can rely on to help them build and run their businesses as efficiently as possible," says Entrepreneur's editor in chief, Jason Feifer. "We at Entrepreneur are proud to help by presenting this list of the most trusted suppliers in the industry." To determine who the Top Franchise Suppliers are, Entrepreneur surveyed more than 700 franchisors to find out which service providers they and their franchisees use, and what their satisfaction is with the quality, cost, and value of those suppliers’ services. Each supplier was scored based on the results of this survey. Accurate Franchising’s position on the ranking illustrates its position as a trusted service provider in the franchise community. To view the full ranking, visit entrepreneur.com/franchise/top-franchise-suppliers . The list can also be seen in the September 2020 issue of Entrepreneur . About Accurate Franchising, Inc. Accurate Franchising is the only franchise development consulting firm that actually owns and operates its own franchise brands. The company has first-hand experience with franchising, giving it an intimate understanding of what a franchisor needs to succeed. Accurate works with clients to help their franchises grow and thrive, while also working with its sister companies—Signarama, Venture X, and others—to keep those franchise brands strong. Accurate franchising has worked with more than 200 brands in over 80 countries. For more information, visit AccurateFranchising.com . Contact Details Brittny Fuchs +1 561-812-6032 bfuchs@ufgcorp.com Company Website https://www.accuratefranchising.com/

September 02, 2020 08:44 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Uyghurs for Sale

21Wilberforce

Seventy-five years after the Holocaust concentration and labor camps are still in existence. Today the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is interning more than one million Uyghur Muslims in concentration camps – striping them of their fundamental rights to peacefully practice their faith. Now new information has surfaced showing that not only is the Communist Party oppressing Uyghur Muslims, they are profiting from them – and worse – Americans are at risk of being duped into paying for it . Groups working on international religious freedom issues have now added their voice to a coalition of civil society organizations and trade unions calling for fair labor practices. Spearheaded by 21Wilberforce and other organizations working through the International Religious Freedom Roundtable , religious freedom advocates are asking Congress to quickly pass the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (H.R.6210 / S.3471). This legislation would make it more difficult for products produced by people enslaved by the CCP because of their faith to enter Western markets . “We commend Congressman McGovern (D-MA) and Senator Rubio (R-FL) for their bipartisan efforts to confront this horrific exploitation of people because of their religion,” said Randel Everett, President of 21Wilberforce. “One hundred fifty (150) organizations and experts of different beliefs and ideologies have come together to ask Congress to pass this important legislation.” 21Wilberforce encourages Americans to reach out to their representatives in Congress and ask them to enlist more co-sponsors, give speeches, and make statements in support of stopping the Chinese Communist Party from exploiting and profiting from religious discrimination and slavery. Citizens can make a difference by using and sharing a free online tool that directly connects Americans with their elected representatives. Dr. Everett noted that “Our namesake, William Wilberforce, was a man of faith who stood up to free people who were enslaved based on their race. Today we stand up to free those enslaved for their faith.” 21Wilberforce is a Christian human rights organization dedicated to defending the universal rights of religion, belief, and conscience for all people. Our vision is to empower people to collaboratively support persecuted communities, challenge repression, and expand freedom of religion and belief globally. Contact Details Lou Ann Sabatier +1 703-216-2941 Lsabatier@21Wilberforce.org Company Website https://21Wilberforce.org

August 26, 2020 08:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Daniel Gaston Promoted to Vice President at Cloud Conventions/Convey Services

Convey Services

Convey Services, parent company of Cloud Conventions a full featured virtual event technology solution today announced the promotion of Daniel Gaston to Vice President of Business Development. Gaston is chartered with developing and expanding the marketplace for virtual events, creating both a direct and channel focus to offer capabilities to event managers, associations, nonprofits, tradeshow operators and channel resellers. “Danny joined Convey five years ago and has been pivotal in growing the marketplace for Convey’s channel program for master agencies and suppliers, as well as for InterAct LifeLine’s addiction and recovery platform,” said Carolyn Bradfield founder of Convey. “Now that Convey has expanded its Cloud Conventions technology to address the explosive need for virtual conferences, tradeshows and events, Danny will drive the effort to grow revenue and expand the customer base for fully managed or self-managed virtual and hybrid events.” Prior to COVID, the marketplace for live expositions globally exceeded 33,000 with $50 billion in revenue annually. Although thousands of live events cancelled in 2020 and should begin to return in 2021, the demand for a virtual solution will continue to strengthen as event operators offer virtual-only or hybrid event options. Cloud Conventions automates every aspect of delivering a virtual event from attendee onboarding to exhibit booths, creating a content-rich environment with enhanced views of marketing materials, educational classes and product resources. The platform analyzes every attendee interaction and delivers detailed reports to the event host and their exhibitors. “Danny brings a unique skill set in being able to strategically understand how to address an emerging market, combined with the tactics needed to generate an appropriate sales process,” added Bradfield. “He has been integral in every aspect of our development of Cloud Conventions from product design, to creating processes for managing an event, to offering strategic support to clients that are creating their first virtual experience. He has identified market segments with the greatest need and a process to address them effectively.” Gaston graduated from Kennesaw State University summa cum laude with a degree in Applied Science, Industrial and Organizational Psychology. About Cloud Conventions Cloud Conventions is a Virtual Trade Show and Conference Platform from Convey Services that brings new capabilities to a marketplace looking for solutions to replace the thousands of live trade shows, annual conferences and association meetings cancelled in the wake of COVID-19. Originally launched as ConveyLive, Cloud Conventions automates exhibitors and virtual booths, attendee registration, speaker sessions and reminders, invitations and email communication, while at the same time producing detailed analytics on attendee, session and exhibitor activity. Trade Associations and event managers can explore all of the Cloud Conventions solutions by visiting https://cloudconventions.com or contacting info@cloudconventions.com or call 888-975-1382. Cloud Conventions™, Conduct™, One-Touch Email Share™, Hub & Spoke™, 360° Virtual Exhibit Hall & Lobby Experience™ and ListLock™ are trademarks of Convey Services LLC Contact Details Bruce Ahern +1 770-580-0810 bahern@conveyservices.com Company Website https://cloudconventions.com

August 13, 2020 04:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time

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United Franchise Group Launches Resource Operations International (ROI)

Resource Operations International

United Franchise Group , a powerhouse association of multiple award-winning companies, announced today the launch of its newest brand, Resource Operations International (ROI). ROI is an unmatched outsourcing franchise, designed for ambitious entrepreneurs who are passionate about helping small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) become agile and profitable. With a large network of industry experts specializing in technology, creative, professional services, digital marketing, and cost savings solutions, ROI has the team and resources available to support franchisees as they grow a successful business. This low-cost, flexible opportunity will equip franchisees with the tools to deliver exemplary services to SMBs in need of expansion, process efficiency, cost savings and increased revenue generation. Resource Operations International franchisees will be able to fulfill the needs of their business clients using consulting strategies developed to bring SMBs the best ROI. “If you are an ambitious entrepreneur seeking a flexible, low-cost franchise opportunity, this is the best time to build and grow an outsourcing agency,” Walter Seltzer, Resource Operations International Brand President. “This is the business for anyone wishing to facilitate success through automation and process efficiency… and ROI makes outsourcing easy.” Backed by its fellow United Franchise Group brands and led by lifelong entrepreneur, Ray Titus, ROI has the support and expertise needed to grow exponentially, both stateside and abroad. United Franchise Group has over 30 years of experience and more than 1,600 franchisees in over 80 countries. ROI is currently accepting franchisee opportunities across the United States. For more information about ROI, visit ROIntl.com . About Resource Operations International As the global solution to cost management and operational expansion, Resource Operations International (ROI) is an unmatched outsourcing franchise, designed for ambitious entrepreneurs who are passionate about helping small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs). ROI strives to help entrepreneurs scale their business and increase their profits. To learn more about the franchising opportunities available, visit ROIntl.com . About United Franchise Group Led by Founder and CEO Ray Titus, United Franchise Group is home to an affiliated family of brands, including Signarama, Fully Promoted, Experimax, Jon Smith Subs, SuperGreen Solutions, Transworld Business Advisors, Accurate Franchising, Venture X, The Great Greek Mediterranean Grill and Network Lead Exchange. With over three decades in the franchising industry and more than 1,600 franchisees throughout the world, United Franchise Group offers unprecedented leadership and solid business opportunities for entrepreneurs. Contact Details Brittny Fuchs +1 561-812-6032 bfuchs@ufgcorp.com Company Website https://www.rointl.com/

August 13, 2020 09:05 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Government Marketing University Offers Online “Power Hour”

Government Marketing University

Government Marketing University (GMarkU), an innovative community-based learning platform for public sector marketers, announced details of its August virtual “Power Hour” aptly focused on “The Customer Journey: Harnessing the Power of Your Data.” “Marketing has become more data-driven, but the real challenge for marketers is not whether you have enough data. The key to taking your marketing to the next level is knowing which data is important and how to utilize valuable insights to improve the way you engage with your prospects,” said Stephanie Geiger, Chief Operating Officer and Co-founder, Government Marketing University. WHO: GMarkU in collaboration with Government Executive Media Group and data driven government industry marketing experts WHAT: The online event cultivates a learning environment for government marketers in all stages of their careers. Participants will learn how to increase prospect engagement and build loyalty by taking advantage of data. WHEN: August 20, 2020, 10:00 - 11:00 a.m. ET. WHERE: Register online at https://cvent.me/E51bE9 WHY: Participants who attend Power Hour will walk away with valuable insights and improvements to marketing data, including: Increased marketing efficiency with a data-driven approach to discovering, analyzing, and influencing your customers’ journeys. Enhanced ability to generate more qualified leads by combining marketing data with a lead scoring system to create and identify sales-qualified leads. Better marketing and sales alignment for engaging high-priority accounts by tapping into better visibility and insights into buying habits. Tools to conquer your quest for integrated marketing by learning the resources available for enabling multiple-touch campaigns. Government Marketing University (https://www.gmarku.com/) is an innovative learning platform that applies a collaborative, community-based approach toward knowledge sharing and skills development in the field of public sector marketing. Experts from all corners of the U.S. public sector marketplace — marketers, thought leaders, government, media and sales — are contributing their knowledge to this unique, content-rich platform. Government Marketing University offers training, research, certifications, mentoring, and community resources all in one place. Contact Details Duyen "Jen" Truong +1 703-584-5645 dtruong@aboutsage.com Company Website https://www.gmarku.com

August 12, 2020 09:03 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Cloud Conventions Prepares for Hybrid Tradeshows & Events to Flourish in 2021

Convey Services

Cloud Conventions , a full featured virtual tradeshow, conference and event technology solution is now offering hybrid event capability to blend an enhanced virtual and digital experience with live events as they begin to return in 2021. Hybrid events expand the audience at tradeshows and conferences, extend the time attendees can engage with exhibitors and sponsors and provide a storehouse for content, session recordings and education on-demand. Cloud Conventions is upgrading its technology to offer integration with services like Experient and Cvent that manage both live and virtual attendee registration. “Prior to COVID, the global marketplace for live expositions exceeded 33,000 events, producing $50 billion in revenue,” said Carolyn Bradfield founder of Convey . “The pandemic forced the cancellation of tens of thousands of events in 2020, but as they return in 2021, the strategy to connect attendees to exhibitors, training and content will evolve with the addition of a virtual component. It will increase the options for audiences to participate and engage and support attendees who either don’t want to travel or are concerned about risk.” Cloud Conventions automates every aspect of delivering a virtual tradeshow, conference or event from attendee onboarding to virtual exhibit booths. It creates a content-rich environment with enhanced views of marketing materials, educational classes, and product literature that live events can’t deliver. The platform analyzes all attendee interactions and presents them in detailed reports for the event host and exhibitors. Cloud Conventions supports any brand of conferencing solution, including Zoom Video Webinar, PGi GlobalMeet, GoToWebinar, Vonage Meetings or Microsoft Teams to execute keynotes or educational sessions. “The marketplace for live events will never be the same after COVID-19, but we think it’s going to evolve, grow and become more versatile,” added Bradfield. “Conferences and tradeshows are vital to the worldwide economy because they connect suppliers to buyers that keep their shelves, warehouses and online stores stocked with the latest merchandise. They offer professionals a forum for education, licensing renewal and connections. Hybrid events ensure that those activities will continue uninterrupted no matter what 2021 holds.” Hybrid events offer a coordinated way for attendees to register for both a live or virtual environment, as well as for exhibitors to have a physical and a virtual booth, and for content and education to be consumed in person or on-demand. Cloud Conventions is a virtual event SaaS platform from Convey Services . For ideas on how the industry is using Cloud Conventions to make their virtual events informative and engaging, visit the Online Resource Center at www.CloudConventions.com . About Cloud Conventions Cloud Conventions is a Virtual Trade Show and Conference Platform from Convey Services that brings new capabilities to a marketplace looking for solutions to replace the thousands of live trade shows, annual conferences and association meetings cancelled in the wake of COVID-19. Originally launched as ConveyLive, Cloud Conventions automates exhibitors and virtual booths, attendee registration, speaker sessions and reminders, invitations and email communication, while at the same time producing detailed analytics on attendee, session and exhibitor activity. Trade Associations and event managers can explore all of the Cloud Conventions solutions by visiting https://cloudconventions.com or contacting info@cloudconventions.com or call 888-975-1382. Cloud Conventions™, Conduct™, One-Touch Email Share™, Hub & Spoke™, 360° Virtual Exhibit Hall & Lobby Experience™ and ListLock™ are trademarks of Convey Services LLC Contact Details Bruce Ahern +1 770-580-0810 bahern@conveyservices.com Company Website https://cloudconventions.com

August 12, 2020 08:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Cloud Conventions Virtual Event Platform Introduces Licensing Program

Convey Services

Cloud Conventions , a full featured virtual tradeshow and event technology solution today introduced a new Licensing Program for event management firms, tradeshow producers or others who want greater flexibility in customizing features or to resell a white-labeled platform. Licensing allows companies to enter the market quickly, customize their offerings and deliver fully managed or self-managed virtual events. “ Convey Services , Cloud Conventions’ parent company, began engineering this technology over eight years ago to deliver sophisticated content and marketing portal networks,” said Carolyn Bradfield founder of Convey. “When the pandemic crippled the market’s ability to conduct live tradeshows, or in-person conferences, Convey transformed its portal capability to deliver full-featured, content-rich, automated events. Our new licensing program allows event operators to collapse time-to-value by quickly deploying a robust technology solution. We offer three levels of licenses, with flexibility to take advantage of the common codebase, along with upgrades or use the software as a platform to independently develop customized capabilities.” Cloud Conventions automates every aspect of delivering a virtual tradeshow, conference or event from attendee onboarding to virtual exhibit booths. It supports a content-rich environment with enhanced access to marketing materials, continuing education classes, videos and product literature. The platform analyzes all attendee interaction and presents detailed reports for the event host and exhibitors. Cloud Conventions supports any brand of conferencing solution, including Zoom Video Webinar, PGi GlobalMeet, GoToWebinar, Vonage Meetings or Microsoft Teams to execute keynotes or educational sessions. “The underlying software of Cloud Conventions was developed in an Agile environment and the technology is modern and constantly updated,” added Bradfield. “We offer a white-label option with a shared common codebase, hosted in the Rackspace OpenStack® Private Cloud. You also can request custom feature sets exclusively for your clients or license the code for a completely customized environment, delivered and managed by your development team.” For more information on licensing options visit: Cloud Conventions Licensing or contact Convey at licensing@conveyservices.com . About Cloud Conventions Cloud Conventions is a Virtual Trade Show and Conference Platform from Convey Services that brings new capabilities to a marketplace looking for solutions to replace the thousands of live trade shows, annual conferences and association meetings cancelled in the wake of COVID-19. Originally launched as ConveyLive, Cloud Conventions automates exhibitors and virtual booths, attendee registration, speaker sessions and reminders, invitations and email communication, while at the same time producing detailed analytics on attendee, session and exhibitor activity. Trade Associations and event managers can explore all of the Cloud Conventions solutions by visiting https://cloudconventions.com or contacting info@cloudconventions.com or call 888-975-1382. Cloud Conventions™, Conduct™, One-Touch Email Share™, Hub & Spoke™, 360° Virtual Exhibit Hall & Lobby Experience™ and ListLock™ are trademarks of Convey Services LLC Contact Details Bruce Ahern +1 770-580-0810 bahern@conveyservices.com Company Website https://cloudconventions.com

August 11, 2020 01:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time

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