 Respect in this case means doing the best we can with what we have.
Does everyone have an opinion about the pandemic? Sure. Is the information presented the most clear or accurate? Probably not. Can we control how our governments and communities react? Not really. What we can do is acknowledge that people are being affected by COVID-19 and take the precautions we can to reduce positive testing. This allows us to:
Get Tested According to the San Francisco government site, anyone living in San Francisco can get tested if they either:
Symptoms of COVID-19:
For essential and frontline workers:Any essential or frontline worker can get tested, regardless of symptoms or exposure. A frontline or essential worker is anyone who leaves their home for work and at least one of the following:
Workers may work for a private organization/company, a small business, a nonprofit, a public entity, or The City and County of San Francisco. Active volunteers who meet the criteria are also eligible. You can find a comprehensive list of testing sites here. My experience with One Medical and Quest Diagnostics I can tell you from personal experience that testing for active infection at One Medical is free. Antibody testing, however, ranges between $75-$125 with or without insurance. I have found similar pricing at Quest Diagnostics. Testing procedures at both locations have been well run, cleanly, and timely. Are Antibody Tests Valid? The accuracy of these tests is still being studied by researchers at UCSF and UC Berkeley: “A project launched by UC San Francisco and UC Berkeley scientists to evaluate some of the more than 120 available antibody test kits – only a handful of which have received Emergency Use Authorization from the Food and Drug Administration – should provide the test performance data these doctors and public health officials need to decide which tests to employ and to understand how reliable the results are. The work is supported by the Chan Zuckerberg Biohub (CZ Biohub), Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield and other local donors. In head-to-head comparisons of a dozen tests, the researchers have already found that many of the tests performed reasonably well, especially two weeks or more after infection, when levels of antibodies in the blood begin to peak. But many of the test kits have false positive rates that may exceed the proportion of people who have been infected in some communities. That means that a large proportion of those testing positive on an antibody test may not actually have had COVID-19.” Bottom Line: Wear a mask and practice social distancing. Reduced positive tests allow us to protect those who are at higher risk and allow local economies to continue to open. Bottom bottom line: Take time to focus on your health. Get outside, eat some healthy things, exercise. Take time to take care of yourself and your mental health.  Serving on the board of the LGBT Chamber of Commerce in San Francisco and being a member of the organization for the last 5 years has taught me a couple lessons on allyship. While this list is far from exhaustive, it sheds a speckle of light on how I began to dig deeper into what is happening in my community and how I could start to make a difference.
1. Listen to what the current struggles are. When I joined the chamber, I thought it was a social club for people who were business owners in the Bay Area and wanted somewhere to be out and proud. Little did I know that one of the main tenets of the organization is to fight for diversity and inclusion when procuring government and corporate contracts. It took me being on the board for several years before fully understanding the importance of this concept and how to fight for it. These battles will not be won overnight. 2. Talk about the issues out loud with people close to you. I have had conversations with my family about different aspects of the LGBT community and racism and the truth is many times I am the only person to put the conversation out there. It can be easy to only interact with people of similar thoughts at work and in your neighborhood, city, or township. This makes it even more imperative to calmly broach the subject with people that are close to you and to revisit it after some time. People need time to process (if they’re going to). We need to stop things like prejudice, racism, and greed from being passed down. To me, this is part of the hard and slow work for progress. It does not come without risk. 3. Try to look at a major political, historical, or life event in the eyes of another. It was painful to see the supreme court uphold the protection of LGBT workers under the Civil Rights Law this past week. Imagine living for decades as a person of the LGBT community and only now in 2020 are your Civil Rights being recognized. While it’s a good thing and I’m happy to see it bring joy to those around me, I can’t believe that these are the conversations that our governments are having today. It goes to show that progress is not brought by our government alone, but by those who stand up and speak out and bring influence. 4. Do business with diverse firms and small businesses. Promote diverse events. Our chamber holds monthly events in which we highlight businesses that are LGBT owned or involved with the chamber. For those that attend regularly, relationships are made over time which in turn builds trust and makes it easy to refer business in the community. Getting involved with events that have an eye towards diversity also makes diversity a habit. 5. Treat the cause as your own. We cannot feel that we are doing something good for another community. We must stand up and act on behalf of our community in that we are one in the same. A threat to justice somewhere is a threat to justice everywhere. 6. What about posting on social media? While wearing rainbow clothing and posts of solidarity on social media have their place, if you keep showing up, and you keep listening and watching, there will come a time when it’s hard to stand up. When people would understand if you dropped out of the situation. When you witness ugliness. This is when you must call it out. This is when you must stand and protect the rights of yourself and of your fellow human. Are these thoughts alone enough? Of course not. No one has a step by step action plan, but what we do know is that it starts with each of us taking measured and continued action. This will and should look different for everyone. The work is hard and the road is long, but what else are we here to do? How can you promote equality in your ecosystem? At Ascent, we cherish diversity, respect, and celebration of every human being. We must condemn racism and continue to hold space for progress and inclusion. We must listen to our Black communities and celebrate them. We know that the world is better because of diversity and that the only way through this life is together.   To be honest, I was not a proponent of orthotics for many years. As I moved from having super strong feet as a ballet dancer to the "functional fitness" model that swept across most fitness facilities in the early 2000s, orthotics seemed like more of a bandaid than a fix. Fast forward 8 years and after studying hundreds (if not thousands) of feet I'm changing my tune. Sure proper therapies and rehab should be administered with the specific client or athlete in mind, but what if the damage has been there for 2+ decades? What if the strain from the athletic load or amount of walking around the city (speaking as a walking/public transit commuter) is greater than the structures can bear? The Research As with most alternative treatments, the results are mixed. This is because each individual human system is a special and unique butterfly. If you take one healing modality and apply it across the board, results will be inconclusive. However if are orthotics are recommended after a detailed assessment, there are more desirable outcomes. Research studies that pose positive results study the effect of orthotics on individual cases rather than across multiple cases. How are they customized? Customized orthotics are made based on the three arches of the foot. How you bear weight across these three planes will determine the shape of your foot and potentially the ways injuries or degeneration can result in your foot, knee, hip, shoulder, etc. How do I know if I should get assessed?
So, after much thought and study we now have custom designed orthotics at Ascent! If we've talked about it in the office or you think they may be a good fit for you, contact us to schedule a complimentary foot analysis at hello@ascentsportschiro.com.
 My favorite things to do when I travel are eat and meet people. I’m also a sucker for a great view. That being said, when I come home from traveling or even visiting family in another state, I want to feel relaxed, composed, and energized. This is hard to accomplish if I’m feeling sluggish, bloated, and sleep deprived. Over the years I’ve found that bringing a little intention to how I treat myself when I travel greatly enhances my experience. Due to the nature of my job, I also get to hear about vacation woes from many of clients: “I always feel exhausted when I get back from a trip”. “I can never go #2 when I’m traveling”. “I gain weight when I travel”. “My body is in pain after I fly”. The three areas I put focus on while I travel are: Food, Stress, and Activity Level Food
Water is also important in kidney function, blood pressure, and energy levels. It also makes your skin look great. I think I can stop here. The point is to drink water. Water is not soda, diet soda drinks, coffee, beer. Buying bottled water can be expensive and let’s face it, we don’t need any more plastic bottles in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. Instead, just bring your own bottle. You can fill up at many airports. I also fill up at my hotel and various places I come across as I travel. 16-20oz is a good size and I make it a goal to fill it up and empty it 3x daily. 2. Intermittent Fasting If you’re new to Intermittent Fasting, there’s quite a lot to unpack here. It’s also best to keep in mind that nutrition is still a new and developing field. Many universities are still teaching nutritional concepts there were developed in the 1970s. It is worth noting that a study in the NCBI boasts that intermittent fasting can increase the instance of growth hormones in the body. Growth hormones are what is responsible for fat burning and muscle gain. The same study boasts that short term fasting removes waste material from cells. A study put out by Harvard says that IT is really just about limiting caloric intake. The research and claims go on and on. However, the bottom line is that it works can be an effective tool. I have a difficult time fasting while I’m at work due to the nature of my job and regular activity level. However, when I’m on the East Coast or abroad I find that IT is much more helpful and achievable for a couple of reasons. The first being that when I’m traveling, I’ll naturally be eating out for most, if not all of my meals. This means that portion control and ingredient selection can be more difficult. It also means that eating three full meals can weigh me down and make me feel bloated. If I fast from 8PM to 10/11AM, I’m able to fully digest my larger meals and take time to hydrate. Plus, when I travel it allows me to hit up a local coffee spot in the AM (black coffee doesn’t break the fast) and make a plan for the day. With that being said, if you’re new to Intermittent Fasting, you’ll want to consult a professional. The ideal period of fasting can differ based on your gender, age, activity level, and hormone levels. So, if you’re newb, I would definitely recommend seeking guidance on it first! 3. Bringing snacks I’ll pack my favorite snack bars, bring nuts, or buy some fruit. That way when hunger strikes, I’m not forced to make a bad decision, like purchasing food on an airplane. 4. Communicate with your travel buds It’s best to communicate how many times you’re down to get pizza while you’re in New York. Or if you share meals that you’re seeking some healthy sides. Traveling is a wonderful way to experience new foods and culture, so being open to eating new things but selecting some veggie rich meals can help find balance. Stress 5. Sleep This one may sound trivial. But warrants a #5 on my list. 6. Make time for work if you have to As much as we all need time away from our daily activities of work and career, for some it can be more stressful not to work that to spend a couple of dedicated hours on work. Instead of letting it bubble up under my skin, I’ll pick out a local cafe to pop over for coffee (helps with the Intermittent Fasting) and do an hour or two of work before heading off to spend time with loved ones or go sightseeing. These few hours that I spend help me put my business in perspective and help me come back with a fresh approach and outlook. 7. Take time for self reflection or meditation Typically of you’re on holiday, you don’t have a real schedule. That means if you take three minutes in the morning to try not to think about anything, you might be better for it. Of course there are lots of apps out there that are super useful in getting you into the meditative mode, I am a huge fan of binaural beats. They even have decent playlists on Spotify for meditation purposes. Activity Level 8. Select Hotels with gyms. Working out at local gyms is a fun and typically educational experience. Most gyms that allow drop in clients have a community vibe and members will typically try to point you in the right direction when it comes to local experiences. However, finding a gym and then getting onto the right transit to get there can be overwhelming and stressful. Making sure there is a gym in or close to where you’re staying can give you some options to work with, even if it means working out solo. 9. Bring exercise bands with you. I’m a huge fan of bringing a couple exercise bands with me. Especially when visiting family or just being in a new place, the day’s plan can take over quickly and you’re left with too many rest days in a row. Typically I’ll bring one band for my upper body and one for my lower body. I also bring some lacrosse balls, especially to roll out my t-spine after sitting in the plane or car all day. 10. Walk! Use sightseeing as a means for exercise. Walk halfway before you call a cab or schedule a hike. People often think that they really have to get their blood pumping in order for exercise to be effective, but that’s simply not true. Typical exercise works the larger vessels of the heart while walking works the smaller, collateral vessels. An article from Harvard Health suggests that: “Exercise dramatically increases blood flow through the coronary arteries. The inner lining of the arteries responds to this "stress" much as it does to the stress of atherosclerosis, by stimulating collateral blood vessels to elongate, widen, and form new connections.” So remember as you walk around the streets of your vacation destination, that it is not only good for your soul, but for the physical vessels of your heart organ. 11. Support your spine! It is important to use these supports before you start to feel pain or discomfort. The idea is to maintain the natural curves of the spine. The spine has three natural and healthy curves in it. However, when you sit in a plane and most automobiles these curves quickly vanish and a more C-shaped spine takes hold. Not to mention that most vehicle seats are made to protect humans in the event of a crash or accident, not to prevent their spines from degenerating. The trick to maintaining the lumbar or low back curve is to use a lumbar support. This can come in the shape of simple pillow or can even be a rolled up sweatshirt or blanket. Neck support on the other hand can be pretty difficult to achieve. However if you maintain your lumbar spine in a good position then your neck has a fighting chance. Using a neck pillow when sleeping upright can also help a little, but you have to understand that your neck is still just hanging there..which is not so great for the vertebra. The best way to combat neck stiffness from flying is to stretch your neck muscles. So there you have 11 intentional travel tips to help ward off inflammation, stress, and fatigue. Pick one that resonates with you, travel safe, and enjoy your time wherever you go!  1. What is it?
CBD or cannabidiol is the second most prevalent active ingredient in cannabis (marijuana), according to Harvard Health. It is one of 115 different cannabinoids found in the cannabis plant. There is no psychoactive component to CBD which means that there isn’t a “high” associated with its use. This is what makes it more attractive for those who seek to use it for its medicinal properties. 2. Is it legal? Maybe? Because CBD can be prescribed for seizures, the FDA is hesitant to allow widespread use until more research has been conducted. The legislation on this changes almost monthly. For now CBD products are legal, however they must not claim effects that have not been proven through research. If CBD products are made from hemp they are legal. If they’re made from the marijuana plant they are legal in most states, but they are not legal federally. 3. Is it safe? When marijuana became legal in Colorado, consumers saw issues with how products were produced, especially in food products where the THC molecules were not being evenly distributed throughout a batch. This resulted in some products sold having extremely elevated doses of THC. A JAMA study shows that we are seeing similar issues arise in CBD products, with some products having more or less CBD than is listed on the label. States like California passed a bunch of legislation that regulates products sold in dispensaries. This allows testing to be done to find any heavy metals and fungus that the plant may have absorbed. It also means that the dosage on the label should be accurate. CBD may also interfere with how you metabolize other medications or how quickly you break them down. According to CBD Project, it inhibits the cytochrome P450 enzyme which is involved in metabolizing many drugs. So if you are taking medications, you want to be sure to consult your doctor before using CBD products. 4. Does it show up in competition drug tests? According to the US Anti-doping Agency cannabidiol is not prohibited. The problem is it seems fairly difficult to isolate CBD from THC, the psychoactive component of the cannabis plant. This means that you may test positive for marijuana in a blood test done before competition. A study published by the American Medical Association in 2017 showed that THC was detected (up to 6.43 mg/mL) in 18 of the 84 samples tested. If you have a competition that does blood testing coming up in the next couple of months, the USADA recommends avoiding the use of CBD products. In other words (and written in bold on the USADA site): “The use of any CBD product is at the athlete’s own risk.” There are also plenty of CBD products that come from hemp which has no THC, but that also means you have to know and trust the brand. 5. How does it work? The body has its own endocannabinoid system that produces cannabinoids and is reward-based. During exercise, research shows that endocannabinoid signaling is indeed intensity dependent. That means that with greater exercise intensity comes a greater endocannabinoid response which some people may associate with exercise induced euphoria or a “runner’s high”. Essentially CBD could be tapping and feeding into a system that is already working naturally in our bodies. The CBD molecule also passes through the blood-brain barrier which could explain the cognitive claims and effects. 6. What are some benefits? Alternatives? There are a variety of claims that have yet to be widely proven. These include claims that CBD can elevate mood, speed recovery by fighting oxidative damage, and reduce pain through anti inflammatory properties. The fact is that many of these studies were performed on rats and much more research and regulation is needed. So in the meantime, remember that exercise and nature elevate mood, antioxidant-rich foods help fight oxidative damage, and rest days allow the body to recover from an inflammatory state and renew itself. Questions? For questions about CBD, cannabinoids, and other substances contact the USADA Drug Reference Line at drugreference@usada.org or call (719) 785-2000, option 2. 
Really there are about 376 things that I want you to know, but let's start here.
1. No static stretching before a workout.
Congratulations on spending some of your focus on warming up before your chosen activity. Your head is in the right place! But think again. Static stretching (stretching your hamstrings by bending forward and reaching for your toes) puts strain on muscles without necessarily increasing blood flow. Research shows that static stretching before a workout can actually lead to increased injury. Of course there are exceptions, but think of it as a general rule of thumb. Dynamic stretching (bear walks, walking lunges, Russian baby makers, etc.), is essentially getting a stretch in (activating your nervous system) while you're moving. This allows you to load your muscles, joints, fascia while moving without putting undo strain on them. The idea is to take your joints through their basic ranges of motion and achieving a little stretch at that end range. Here is the RBM in action in my San Francisco apartment:
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2. Don't just think about pain - Get screened! While it's true that many people come into my office when they are in bad shape, that doesn't have to be the case! There are signs of injury (decreased muscle firing, posture asymmetries) long before pain rears its ugly head. Sometimes by the time pain is present, the damage has already been done (tears in soft tissue, disc herniation, etc.). It takes little to no effort to come in, get a structural and functional exam, and get some insight on how to not only prevent injury, but give your performance a boost. Even if you believe you are firing on all cylinders, there is always room for improvement; Which makes it fun, right? 3. Don't put off seeing someone if you need it. That gentle or nagging ache is your body asking for change. The longer you leave something untreated, the more degenerated it becomes. Many times people are afraid of getting their injuries assessed because they are anxious about getting surgery. However, chiropractic is a safe way to condition your injuries to heal, without the use of surgery (or drugs). Which brings me to my next point. 4. If you are scheduled to get surgery, don’t. Unless you have to. But don’t. 5. Stop the movement before it starts to hurt and don't skip your mobility. Okay, that's two things. Often times I will hear athletes tell me that their neck felt "a little bit off", but it didn’t hurt that bad, so they kept going. Again, this is your body asking for help. Stop the movement, do some mobility and basic muscle activation and see if you can resume the movement. If it still hurts, it's time to see a professional. By that same token, don't workout in pain. Of course many professional athletes and competitors will work out with injuries under the care of a pack of healthcare professionals. They are (hopefully) making a well calculated sacrifice in the name of sport. When you workout in pain, you reinforce those pain pathways in the brain. This is often how injuries become chronic. Are there exceptions to this rule? Of course. However, I would check with your local body mechanic (i.e. sports chiro). 6. Let me know what your last workout/ training session was. Tell me what you've been doing with yourself. What was your last workout? Did you feel off or have any soreness? Have you been doing your corrective exercises? Did you have some pain overhead or notice that one shoulder tends to want to travel up into your ears? Did you just get off a 5 hour flight? Keeping me in the loop allows me to hone in and assess you at each visit and give you the most specific adjustments and correctives possible. It's truly a team effort! Sincerely, Your Sports Chiropractor  Yes, it is true - Even I have a hard time getting myself to roll out of bed to go hit the gym on a Monday morning. I work hard, I do a lot of things, I deserve to rest and relax (and also I love bed). Most people who know me know that fitness is very important to me, so I am often asked how I stay motivated.
Motivation does take some thought, so grab a pencil. 1. Step one is putting on active clothing. Usually if I can muster enough gusto to put on a bunch of bright spandex, I will then be motivated to travel to the gym. Acquire some workout clothes that you like and that are fun for you to wear. It is true that the uniform can make the man (or human if you will). 2. I work out before I know who I am in the morning. Like I said, my workout is the first thing that I do for the day. I finally fully wake up about half way through the warm up. (Thank heavens I walk and do not drive to the gym). There are so many things that can come up throughout the day that can make your workout seem less important. (i.e. dinner, happy hour, laundry, running to the store, last minute meeting, children). Plus, when you have your workout done first thing, whatever else you accomplish that day is a bonus. Edit: I stole this blog from my old site because I liked it. And you know what? Things change. Now I workout at lunch: 1. I'm hydrated. 2. I've had some fuel (food and maybe some caffeine) 3. It feels like recess and 4. I'm more productive for the afternoon. 3. Think of yourself as a skilled participant in your sport. If you think of yourself as an athlete or a yoga goddess, you will start to treat yourself like you are. Visualizing the person that you want to be is a good start to help with the other habits that come with exercise such as diet, sleep and hydration. 4. It has to be something you actually enjoy. This can change. I danced ballet for 20 years and did dance team in grad school. Soon I found myself lifting heavier and heavier in the gym between practices, so I naturally started doing crossfit. After a bout of whiplash left me having a difficult time getting out of bed, suddenly snatches didn’t look so fun. I became a hot yoga devotee for the next year and half. Then, I gained enough stability and I am back to PR-ing my lifts. My fitness has changed so much throughout my life and it will always continue to. You never know when I will get an inkling to get back in the pool and swim some laps, or pretend that I love trail running during the fall months. Your fitness can change just as you do. 5. You gain a community. Fitness can be performed alone, however if you choose to perform fitness with other people, in my experience, the effect multiplies. (This has even held true for my group meditation experiences). I love group classes. I go harder because I know people around me are going hard too. I am held accountable. If you go to a regular class, people will notice when you are not there and may give you some light digging (only because they want you to succeed). Plus, If you weave fitness and being active into your social fabric, it becomes your way of life. 6. Anchor to something larger than this week. If I am super failing to release my clutches from my nicely blanketed bed, I force myself to take a look at future Krystal. Future Krystal is 80 years old and kickin butt. She is active daily, travels, reads, and goes on plenty of social outings. 80 year old Krystal lives this way because she gets her butt out of bed in the morning. Your anchor is going to be something that is personal to you. To create a habit, you have to have reasoning that goes beyond your day to day and perhaps even beyond yourself. Many people want to stay in shape so they can be active with their children or grandchildren. Whatever it is, think of something that you value above all else that goes beyond looking good naked (which doesn’t hurt). 7. Success in fitness parallel success in life. The mental acuity that is necessary to become disciplined to be active regularly and to refine your body movement will drive you in all areas of your life. When you workout when you don’t want to, when you press on through a workout even though your muscles are depleted, when you take a deep breathe and master a new skill - you expand your drive and realm of experience. You will find that you do not let trivial things bug out your day. When it is Friday afternoon and you’d rather leave early after a long week, you will dig a little deeper and push out another idea. This concept is better articulated by an exert from a book that comes required reading at Harvard and Columbia Business Schools, "Compelling People" by John Neffinger & Matthew Kohut. “While we cannot rewire our natural responses completely, we can still create change when we need it through brute force of will. Focus on why the task is important and how it connects to your values and your sense of how you want to be in the world. Then resolve to do it, no matter how it feels. Finally, make yourself do what needs to be done, even if that is not at all what comes naturally to you in the situation.” In other words, practicing strength, even physical strength and regular fitness, bleeds power and confidence into all areas of life. What better excuse for working out is better than that? Stay iron willed my friends, Dr. Drwencke  Happy New Year! I know all that sugar and cheese has got you thinking about becoming a workout Queen (or King). Maybe you’re thinking that by the end of January you are going to be working out 5 days a week… heck with that, you're pulling 2-a-days y’all. Good on ya. But first ask yourself some questions.
What was my routine like before the holidays? If you had a strong fitness routine before the holidays, chances are you can ease back in without too many hiccups. However, if you just coming off a desk job during the week, and binging college football or netflix on the weekends, or *insert wintertime activity*, then you might take pause. Am I in this for the long haul, or am I going to come on strong and maybe fade off by the time March Madness*insert spring distraction* rolls around? Usually the first two weeks are the hardest. Energy is low, muscles are sore and it hurts to get in and out of the car, let alone sit down to go the bathroom :x So be understanding to yourself. Set ridiculously easy goals. Think about being active twice a week. It adds something to your schedule without overloading it. It gives your body time to recover and hydrate while also gets you use to doing more laundry :P When you start hitting twice a week consistently and can get in and out of chair without too much pain, CELEBRATE! Buy a new sports bra, or some new socks, and then kick it up to 3 days week. And then 4 days week. And then, well, I think you get it. Remember that life gets busy. But rather than throwing everything out the window and moving up to the next notch in your belt. Remember that twice a week can still keep you moving in the right direction. Keep twice a week in your life for your health, your mindset, or if you’re me, to at least to avoid the leg numbing soreness. Habitually Yours, Dr. Drwencke  First off, let’s start by saying that no ankle injury is the same. Each one affects different ligaments, muscles, and bony surfaces. Each one is handled differently by a person’s unique brain, peripheral nervous system, and previous conditioning and training. Second, I hear over and over again from people who have sprained one or both ankles 3, 6, and even 10 times throughout their lives. However, when they come to see me they aren’t seeking treatment for their ankles, but the ensuing knee pain, low back pain, etc. Think they’re related? How do we avoid the downward trajectory of these injuries?
3. Don’t get stuck with a chronic injury. The greatest risk for injury is previous injury. While some ankle sprains can heal up fairly quickly, others make take months - with consistent rehab and treatment. The alternative is to ignore it and have ankle issues for a lifetime. The good news is you don’t have to do it alone! Find a sports chiropractor, clinical bodyworker, sports acupuncturist, movement based physical therapist to get you moving in the right direction. You can see some of personal ankle rehab journey here >> here. Look for help in the right places, Dr. Drwencke Huge shoutout to everyone that has come through our doors to be apart of our fitness family and community. Enjoy some photos from the Grand Opening Party on May 1st, 2018! |
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