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Flock

Flock Safety is an Atlanta-based American technology company founded in 2017 by Garrett Langley, Matt Feury, and Paige Todd, specializing in automated license plate recognition (ALPR) cameras, video surveillance systems, and cloud-based software platforms designed to detect vehicles involved in crimes and enable data sharing among law enforcement, neighborhoods, and businesses. The company's FlockOS operating system integrates these tools to provide real-time evidence capture, with over 80,000 AI-powered cameras deployed nationwide as of 2025, trusted by more than 5,000 agencies across 49 states. Empirical data from adopting departments indicate substantial crime reductions, including over 70% in property crimes for certain neighborhoods and specific cases like a 56% year-over-year drop in overall crime for the Delano Police Department in California. Flock Safety's technology has facilitated the resolution of an estimated 700,000 crimes annually by filling evidentiary gaps in investigations, particularly for vehicle-related offenses that constitute a significant portion of unsolved cases. However, the system has drawn controversies over privacy risks, including allegations of enabling warrantless mass tracking of drivers' movements and data sharing practices that extend beyond immediate investigations, prompting lawsuits and opposition from groups like the ACLU, which have highlighted instances of excessive surveillance such as tracking individuals hundreds of times without clear justification. These criticisms, often amplified by privacy-focused organizations with institutional leanings skeptical of proactive policing tools, contrast with the company's emphasis on objective, time-limited data retention—typically 30 days—and compliance with legal standards to prioritize causal links to criminal activity over broad monitoring.

Biological and Natural Contexts

Animal Aggregations

In , a flock denotes a coordinated aggregation of animals, most commonly during or flight, or domesticated ungulates such as sheep and that graze or move collectively. This term emphasizes group cohesion where individuals maintain proximity and synchronized movement, distinct from looser herds or observed in other taxa. Flocks form transiently or persistently, influenced by environmental pressures like resource distribution and threats. Avian flocks predominate in ornithological contexts, involving species such as starlings (Sturnus vulgaris), pigeons (Columba livia), and geese (Anser spp.), where birds align velocities to sustain formation during or evasion maneuvers. These aggregations range from small groups of 10–50 individuals to vast murmurations exceeding 10,000 birds, as documented in European starling winter roosts, which enhance navigational efficiency through shared information flow. In sheep (Ovis aries), flocks typically comprise 20–200 animals under pastoral management, exhibiting herding instincts that promote uniform grazing patterns and reduce straggling. Goats (Capra hircus) display analogous behaviors, forming flocks for mutual vigilance on rugged terrains. Empirical data underscore adaptive advantages of flocking, including predation dilution—where per-individual risk decreases with group size—and heightened vigilance, as larger flocks detect approaching threats up to 4–5 times faster than solitaries, per experiments with quelea finches (Quelea quelea). A meta-analysis of 201 bird species across global datasets revealed that flocking species exhibit 10–15% higher annual adult survival rates compared to non-flockers, attributable to optimized foraging yields and minimized encounter rates with predators. These gains arise from causal mechanisms like geometric alignment, where animals prioritize nearest neighbors' positions over global coordination, fostering emergent stability without central control. In mixed-species flocks, such as those in tropical forests, subordinate species gain disproportionate benefits via eavesdropping on dominant foragers' detections, though core participants incur kleptoparasitism costs.

Flocking Mechanisms and Empirical Studies

Flocking in birds arises from decentralized local rules where individuals adjust their to with nearby conspecifics, thereby producing coherent group motion without central control. Empirical observations confirm three primary interaction rules: , in which a orients its direction toward the average heading of neighbors; , maintaining proximity to the group center; and separation, avoiding immediate collisions through short-range repulsion. These rules, analogous to those in computational models, have been validated through field data on species like European starlings (Sturnus vulgaris), where stereo videography tracks trajectories of thousands of individuals simultaneously. Key empirical studies on starling flocks, conducted in Rome, Italy, from 2006 to 2008, reveal that interactions are topological rather than strictly metric: each bird responds to a fixed number of nearest neighbors (approximately 6–7), independent of distance, enabling scalability across flock sizes from dozens to over 3,000 birds. This topology sustains long-range correlations, with velocity fluctuations propagating scale-free across the entire group, as quantified by analyzing 25 flocks totaling over 5,000 bird trajectories. Unlike metric-based models like the Vicsek model, which assume fixed interaction radii and predict breakdown in dense or large groups, topological rules match observed coherence, where order parameters (measuring alignment) remain high (>0.9) even in flocks spanning 10–100 meters. Further analyses derive microscopic theories from data, showing that flocking transitions mimic changes in statistical physics, with thresholds (from environmental perturbations) determining disordered-to-ordered states. In turning maneuvers, collective rotations emerge from anisotropic local forces, where birds on the flock's edge initiate bends that propagate inward via neighbor coupling, observed in high-resolution tracking of spontaneous turns in natural flocks. Comparable mechanisms appear in other taxa, such as pigeon flocks, where GPS-tracked groups of 10–20 birds exhibit alignment over distances up to 50 meters, though with shorter topological ranges (3–4 neighbors) than starlings. These findings underscore that empirical flocking relies on minimal, robust local sensing—primarily visual cues of neighbors' positions and velocities—sufficient for global order amid uncertainty.

Social and Religious Contexts

Human Groups and Congregations

In religious traditions, particularly within , the term "flock" metaphorically designates a of believers under the oversight of a leader, evoking the image of sheep dependent on a for protection, guidance, and sustenance. This usage originates from ancient Near Eastern economies, where sheep symbolized vulnerability requiring vigilant care, a embedded in biblical texts to illustrate divine-human relations. In , "flock" specifically denoted parishioners or congregation members entrusted to for doctrinal instruction and moral direction. The frequently portrays as Yahweh's flock, as in Psalm 100:3, which states, "Know that the is . It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture." This imagery persists in the , where declares in John 10:11, "I am the . The lays down his life for the sheep," contrasting sacrificial leadership with hirelings who abandon the flock during peril. The Apostle extends this to church governance, urging elders in 1 Peter 5:2 to "be shepherds of 's flock that is under your care, watching over them—not because you must, but because you are willing," emphasizing voluntary, non-coercive rooted in to . Ecclesiastically, a pastor's flock encompasses all individuals within their or purview, distinct from a "congregation," which more narrowly refers to those assembled for services. This distinction underscores the shepherd's ongoing beyond periodic gatherings, including visitation, counseling, and crisis response, as modeled in apostolic directives. Historical documents, such as those from early councils, reinforce this by charging bishops with overseeing scattered flocks amid or dispersion. In broader social contexts, "flock" occasionally describes human groups exhibiting coordinated, conformist behavior analogous to animal herding, though less formally than in religious usage. Sociological observations note spontaneous flocking in crowds, where individuals align direction and pace without central command, driven by local interactions rather than hierarchy. Experimental studies in social psychology reveal that participants in decision-making tasks converge toward majority behaviors, termed "flocking," due to implicit social pressures rather than rational deliberation, mirroring sheep's instinctual grouping for safety. Such dynamics highlight causal mechanisms of imitation and aversion to isolation, but lack the intentional guardianship central to congregational flocks.

Materials Science

Flocking in Textiles and Manufacturing

Flocking in textiles involves the application of short, cut fibers—known as flock—to an adhesive-coated fabric to produce a raised, velvety surface . The process enhances tactile qualities, properties, and aesthetic appeal in products such as , apparel linings, and automotive . Fibers typically range from 0.25 to 3 millimeters in length and 15 to 40 microns in diameter, commonly sourced from , , or for durability and adhesion. The technique originated in around 1000 BC, where rudimentary methods applied fibers to surfaces for decorative purposes, evolving through medieval European in the 12th century using beaters or brushes to embed fibers. Industrial-scale adoption occurred in the United States around 1910, with electrostatic —employing high-voltage fields to orient fibers —developed in the 1930s, enabling precise, uniform deposition over alternatives. In electrostatic , the is grounded and coated with adhesive, while fibers are charged positively in a , accelerating them vertically onto the surface at rates up to several million fibers per second, followed by drying and excess fiber removal via brushing or . methods, relying on or air without charge, yield less orientation and lower efficiency, limiting their use to simple applications. In , improves functional properties empirically demonstrated in studies: for instance, adding long flock fibers to base fabrics increases thermal resistance by up to 249% with only a 20-24% rise in mass and thickness, aiding thermophysiological comfort in . Applications span production for suede-like finishes in garments—where flock predominates for abrasion resistance—and broader for non-slip grips, sound-absorbing panels, and conductive coatings in . The global flocking fabric market reached approximately USD 1.5 billion in 2024, projected to grow to USD 2.5 billion by 2033 at a 6.3% CAGR, driven by demand in East Asian apparel and automotive sectors. Advantages include expanded surface area for better , , or , alongside decorative versatility on irregular substrates, outperforming smooth coatings in and grip. However, flocked surfaces exhibit reduced resistance compared to unflocked fabrics, necessitating durable adhesives and fibers to mitigate in high-traffic uses like . Electrostatic methods enhance efficiency for large volumes, achieving uniform coverage unattainable mechanically, though they require specialized and controlled environments to avoid fiber clumping from .

Computing and Algorithms

Simulation Models like Boids

The Boids model, developed by computer graphics researcher Craig Reynolds in 1986, simulates emergent flocking behavior in groups of autonomous agents termed "boids," representing bird-like objects, through decentralized rules mimicking natural animal aggregations such as bird flocks or fish schools. Each boid operates independently, evaluating local environmental data from nearby agents to compute steering forces, resulting in cohesive group motion without hierarchical control or pre-scripted paths. This approach contrasts with earlier animation techniques reliant on manual keyframing, enabling scalable simulations of hundreds or thousands of agents on 1980s-era hardware. The model's core consists of three weighted behavioral rules applied iteratively to each boid's : separation, which directs the to avoid overcrowding by steering away from excessively close neighbors; , which adjusts to match the average direction of nearby ; and , which propels the toward the of local flockmates' positions. These rules are combined via summation, with parameters tunable for desired outcomes like flock density or ; for instance, stronger separation prevents collisions, while balanced and produce smooth, murmuration-like formations. for a single boid update typically involves perceiving a fixed-radius neighborhood (e.g., 100 units), computing rule vectors, and applying the resultant clamped to a maximum speed (e.g., 5 units per frame). Empirical tuning in Reynolds' demonstrated that flocks of 20–100 could achieve realistic vortices and waves, validated visually against footage of murmurations. Reynolds formalized the model in his 1987 SIGGRAPH paper, "Flocks, Herds, and Schools: A Distributed Behavioral Model," where it was demonstrated animating flocks for and games, influencing tools like those used in early productions. Subsequent extensions incorporate obstacle avoidance via additional repulsion forces or goal-seeking behaviors, as in multi-UAV path planning where variants enable while evading threats. Similar models, such as orientation-based simulations like Flock2 (introduced in 2024), build on by emphasizing directional cues over positional averaging to replicate social flocking in flying s, showing improved stability in high-density scenarios through numerical experiments. These decentralized paradigms underpin broader applications in and crowd dynamics, where agent-based simulations reveal phase transitions from disorder to ordered motion under varying rule strengths, corroborated by agent counts up to 10,000 in computational studies. Despite successes, limitations include to selection—e.g., excessive can yield unrealistic clustering—and computational scaling issues for real-time rendering beyond 1,000 agents without optimizations like spatial partitioning.

Software Applications

Flocking algorithms, exemplified by Craig Reynolds' model introduced in , are integrated into and software to generate emergent group behaviors for virtual entities such as birds, fish, or crowds, relying on rules for separation, alignment, and cohesion rather than individual path scripting. These implementations enable scalable simulations of hundreds or thousands of agents, reducing computational demands compared to keyframe animation. In commercial film production, Boids-derived techniques first appeared in Batman Returns (1992), where they animated the coordinated movements of an army of 100,000 penguins without manual posing. The approach was subsequently adapted for herd simulations in The Lion King (1994), particularly the wildebeest stampede sequence involving over 152,000 animals rendered with flocking-like behaviors to mimic panic and evasion. Such applications in tools like proprietary animation pipelines at demonstrated the model's utility for realistic, non-deterministic motion in . Game development engines embed for procedural AI and environmental interactions. Unreal Engine's system, documented since 2018, employs four prioritized behaviors— to draw agents toward the flock center, separation to avoid collisions, to match velocities, and reversal for obstacle handling—facilitating dynamic enemy swarms or wildlife groups in titles like open-world simulations. Similarly, , an open-source platform for and , provides a canonical implementation since at least 2007, used in interactive sketches to visualize with adjustable parameters for agent count and perception radius. Beyond entertainment, modules appear in research and for environments, where they model crowd dynamics or multi-agent coordination, as in Unity-based prototypes for training scenarios. These tools prioritize local decision-making to achieve global patterns, with empirical tuning of parameters like neighborhood radius (typically 100-500 units) ensuring stability in rendering.

Surveillance and Security Technology

Flock Safety Systems

, established in 2017 in , , by electrical engineer Garrett Langley and software engineer Matt Feury, develops and deploys automated license plate recognition (ALPR) systems aimed at enhancing public safety through vehicle tracking. The company's primary hardware consists of pole-mounted, solar-powered cameras equipped with infrared illuminators and high-resolution sensors capable of capturing license plate data, vehicle make, model, color, and partial images up to 35 miles per hour in various lighting conditions. These devices transmit data wirelessly to a cloud-based platform, where processes the information to generate searchable records without retaining facial recognition data or personal identifiers beyond plate numbers and timestamps. The systems operate on a subscription model, with Flock Safety retaining ownership of the hardware and managing , which is automatically deleted after 30 days to limit retention. Cameras are installed at strategic locations such as intersections, neighborhood entrances, and commercial sites, integrating with databases to provide real-time alerts for vehicles matching hot lists of stolen or suspect plates. Additional features include compatibility with gunshot detection sensors and AI-enhanced video analytics for broader event correlation, though the core functionality centers on objective vehicle evidence collection. As of , the supports over 1,200 cities, emphasizing through modular deployments that avoid permanent changes. Flock's differentiates from traditional fixed ALPR by prioritizing and low-maintenance , with batteries recharged via panels allowing placement in remote or off-grid areas. The software interface enables users—ranging from police departments to HOAs—to query data via web portals or mobile apps, filtering by plate, location, or time without exporting raw images unless for investigative purposes. Company claims highlight 99% accuracy in plate reads under optimal conditions, though performance can vary with weather, angle, or plate , as verified in independent tests commissioned by early adopters.

Deployments and Empirical Effectiveness

Flock Safety systems, consisting of automated license plate recognition (ALPR) cameras, have been deployed in thousands of U.S. communities, with over units operational nationwide as of September 2025. These installations span agencies, residential neighborhoods, businesses, and schools, primarily in 49 states, enabling real-time vehicle tracking for investigations into , violent crimes, and missing persons cases. Deployments often involve solar-powered cameras mounted on poles, integrated with shared databases accessible to subscribing agencies within a regional . Empirical assessments of effectiveness primarily derive from company-conducted analyses rather than , peer-reviewed . A 2024 evaluation by personnel, drawing on surveys of 477 customer agencies (123 analyzed after filtering) and FBI Uniform Crime Reporting , reported that one ALPR camera per sworn officer correlates with a 9.1% rise in overall clearance rates, with additional gains from software adoption and proximity to other users (1% increase per 20 nearby customers). The study employed multivariate regression but acknowledged limitations, including self-reported issues, aggregation precluding crime-type specifics, and difficulties in isolating ALPR contributions from other factors. Flock attributes 10% of U.S. reported crimes—approximately 700,000 annually—to its technology, based on customer clearance attributions, though this claim has been contested by academics for lacking robust verification and relying on selective agency data. Critics highlight methodological biases, such as Flock's control over data inputs, pressure on consultants for favorable framing, and focus on low-crime small agencies to inflate impacts, with participating researchers later distancing themselves from promotional interpretations. Localized data, such as in , post-2024 rollout, show elevated violent crime clearance rates shortly after installation, prompting endorsements from groups like the for aiding objective vehicle-linked investigations. Neighborhood deployments claim up to 70% crime drops via deterrence and evidence provision, per customer reports, but lack controlled comparisons to validate causality. Overall, while Flock systems facilitate vehicle-related leads, independent evaluations remain scarce, underscoring reliance on proponent-sourced metrics.

Criticisms and Privacy Debates

Flock Safety's automated license plate recognition (ALPR) systems have drawn widespread criticism for facilitating mass surveillance that tracks the movements of vehicles—and by extension, individuals—without individualized suspicion or warrants, raising Fourth Amendment concerns under the U.S. Constitution. Privacy advocates, including the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), argue that the technology creates expansive networks capturing millions of plate reads daily, enabling retroactive geofencing of personal travel patterns across public and private spaces, which they characterize as a form of unprecedented dragnet monitoring disproportionate to public safety needs. Legal scholars have questioned whether law enforcement access to Flock's databases constitutes a "search" requiring judicial oversight, citing precedents like Carpenter v. United States (2018), which mandated warrants for prolonged cell-site location data, and noting that vehicle tracking similarly reveals intimate details of daily life. Data retention practices have intensified debates, as Flock's default policy stores encrypted images and for 30 days before automatic deletion, allowing agencies to query historical data during that window for any reason, including non-criminal investigations. Critics contend this period is sufficient for compiling detailed dossiers on innocent residents, particularly in jurisdictions with overlapping camera networks spanning thousands of devices, and point to instances where data was shared with federal entities like the Department of without transparent public disclosure, prompting Flock to pause such pilots in August 2025 amid backlash over undisclosed practices. for Justice has dismissed these pauses as superficial, arguing they fail to curb local police retention of exported data or prevent broader interoperability risks. Allegations of misuse have further fueled opposition, including reports of employing Flock cameras to surveil seekers, victims, or political activists by cross-referencing plates with hotlists, as highlighted in investigations revealing targeted operations post-Roe v. Wade overturn. In , the ACLU sued the city in October 2025 for withholding Flock records under laws, alleging secrecy exacerbates risks of unchecked abuse in a where private-sector outpaces regulatory oversight. While Flock maintains it does not sell data to third parties and restricts access to authorized , detractors from groups like the (implied in broader ALPR critiques) warn that vendor agreements often permit indefinite local archiving, undermining deletion promises and amplifying equity issues in lower-income or minority-heavy neighborhoods with denser deployments. Proponents counter that privacy safeguards, such as geofencing to private property and human verification of alerts, mitigate overreach, yet empirical gaps persist: independent audits of error rates (estimated at 10-35% for misreads under varying conditions) suggest potential for false accusations, though company-commissioned studies emphasize crime-solving benefits without addressing systemic privacy trade-offs. These tensions have spurred legislative pushes, including bans or warrants requirements in states like Michigan and Virginia, reflecting ongoing debates over whether technological efficiency justifies eroded expectations of anonymity in public transit.

Arts and Entertainment

Music

The Flock was an jazz-rock formed in in 1965 by Fred Glickstein and Rick Canoff, initially as a garage outfit before evolving into a jazz-rock ensemble distinguished by its use of and horn sections. The group gained recognition for its innovative blend of , rock energy, and classical influences, with violinist Goodman emerging as a key figure whose virtuosic playing foreshadowed his later role in the . They signed with and released their self-titled debut album in 1969, featuring extended tracks like the 11-minute "The Flock" that showcased free-form jamming and modal structures inspired by contemporaries such as . Their follow-up, Dinosaur Swamps, arrived in 1970, incorporating denser arrangements and tracks such as "" and "Mediterranean," which highlighted the band's experimental edge but failed to achieve significant commercial breakthrough amid competition from more streamlined acts. The Flock disbanded in the early after internal shifts and lineup changes, including Goodman's departure, though retrospective assessments credit them with pioneering violin integration in contexts and influencing Chicago's scene. Lineup instability and limited radio play contributed to their cult status rather than mainstream appeal, with core members like Glickstein on guitar and Tom Malachi on drums providing continuity across recordings. In , Flock refers to a London-based experimental formed around 2021, comprising musicians Bex Burch, Sarathy Korwar, Al MacSween, Danalogue, and Tamar Osborn, who draw from , North African trance, and traditions in their self-titled 2022 debut on Strut Records. This release, featuring hypnotic percussion-driven pieces like "Open" and "Movement 1," emphasizes communal and global rhythms, earning praise for its textural depth without vocals or conventional song structures. A follow-up, Flock II, was released in 2024, continuing the group's boundary-pushing approach in the UK's circuit. Additionally, Irish rock band issued an titled Flock in 2005, a melodic effort with tracks exploring personal themes through layered guitars and harmonies, though it remains secondary to the band's core discography.

Video Games and Simulations

Flocking algorithms simulate collective animal behaviors in video games, enabling non-player characters to exhibit emergent such as herds, swarms, or crowds without centralized . These systems typically rely on three rules—separation to avoid collisions, to match velocities, and to stay near group centers—producing realistic movements observed in birds or . In games, enhances unit by allowing groups to navigate obstacles collectively, reducing computational load compared to individual A* algorithms while mimicking intelligent formation-keeping. A 2015 study analyzed 's application in RTS titles, finding it improves group responsiveness and realism in scenarios like military squads or hordes, though it requires tuning to prevent unnatural clustering. Video game Flock, released on July 16, 2024, by developer Hollow Ponds and publisher , integrates mechanics in a co-operative multiplayer format where players herd flying creatures across procedurally generated skies. Players collect and nurture diverse aerial species, fostering emergent flock formations that emphasize and gentle over . The game's design draws on natural for creature AI, allowing herds to respond dynamically to player actions and environmental cues. Simulation tools like Unity's Flock Box, released in , provide developers with customizable Boids-based systems for integrating flocking into custom games, supporting behaviors tunable via visual editors without scripting. Such assets have been used in prototypes for simulating flocks or swarms, demonstrating scalability for large agent counts in performance-critical engines.

Literature and Other Media

In literature, "The Flock" refers to a 1906 novel by depicting the lives of shepherds and their sheep in the region of , drawing from the author's personal observations of rural herding practices. The work explores themes of isolation, nature, and subsistence farming among and other immigrant herders. James Patterson's Maximum Ride young adult fantasy series, beginning with The Angel Experiment in 2005, prominently features a group of genetically engineered avian-human hybrids known as "the Flock," consisting of protagonists Maximum, , Iggy, Nudge, Gasman, and , who evade capture while uncovering conspiracies. The series, spanning nine main novels through 2015, sold over 20 million copies worldwide and emphasizes themes of , , and against scientific exploitation. More recent fiction includes Kate Stewart's 2018 romance novel , the first in the Ravenhood , where the term metaphorically denotes a secretive, tight-knit group influencing the protagonist's romantic entanglements and personal growth in a small-town setting. The book achieved New York Times bestseller status and explores loyalty, deception, and forbidden relationships. In poetry, Anna Akhmatova's 1917 collection White Flock (Белая стая) compiles lyric verses reflecting personal introspection amid early 20th-century Russian turmoil, with the title evoking purity and collective vulnerability. Other media adaptations include the 2007 thriller film The Flock, directed by and starring as a federal agent monitoring sex offenders, who suspects a parolee in a kidnapping during his final days on the job. The film, released on August 3, 2007, received mixed reviews for its tense plot but was criticized for pacing and character development.

People

Notable Individuals with Surname Flock

The Flock family from , gained prominence in early American through siblings , Truman "Fonty," and , who competed professionally in the 1940s and 1950s. Their father, Carl Lee Flock Sr., operated a garage and encouraged mechanical aptitude and bootlegging runs that honed driving skills during . Sisters Reo and Ethel also participated in racing events, with Reo becoming one of the earliest female competitors in the sport. Tim Flock (May 11, 1924 – March 31, 1998) achieved the most success among the brothers, securing championships in 1952 driving a and in 1955 with a , amassing 40 wins across 189 starts for a 21% victory rate. He was inducted into the in 2014 and known for innovations like employing a rhesus named Jocko as a co-pilot in a 1953 race, which he won at Atlanta Speedway on May 16. Flock's career spanned 13 seasons from 1949 to 1961, including early modified division successes. Fonty Flock (March 21, 1921 – July 15, 1972), the eldest racing brother, won the 1947 National Championship Stock Car Circuit title with seven victories in 47 starts, predating 's formal inception. He competed in 154 events over nine years, earning four wins and notoriety for racing in , including a 1952 Daytona Beach road course event. Inducted into the Automobile Racing Hall of Fame in 2004, Fonty also excelled in modified racing, claiming the 1952 Modified championship. Bob Flock, another brother, raced alongside his siblings in the late 1940s, securing four victories, including the 1949 race at the old Atlanta Speedway, before shifting focus away from full-time competition. The family's collective contributions helped legitimize as a professional sport amid its moonshine-running origins.

Miscellaneous Uses

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