Laura Biedermann

Distinguished Member of the Technical Staff

Author profile picture

Distinguished Member of the Technical Staff

lbieder@sandia.gov

Biography

Dr. Laura Biedermann is a physicist in the Ceramics and Materials Physics department at Sandia National Laboratories. In her 15 years at Sandia, her research has impacted energy and water security, nuclear deterrence, and electronic materials development. In 2021, Laura earned a Society of Women Engineers (SWE) Spark Award, which recognizes individuals who have contributed significantly to the advancement of women through mentoring those around them. From 2021—2023 she was a member of the Program on Nuclear Issues (PONI) Mid-Career Cadre sponsored by the Center for Strategic and International Studies. Laura participated in PONI’s international exchanges on nuclear non-proliferation and nuclear security.

Laura leads an ARPA-E ULTRAFAST project to develop nanosecond-responsive surge arresters to protect the electrical grid from electrical transients that may arise from benign switching events, insulation faults, or high-altitude nuclear detonations. These surge arresters will take advantage of the properties of granular metals—a composition of metal nanoparticles within an insulating matrix—to divert sudden and short-lived high-voltage and high-current surges of energy safely away from the grid. Laura’s team has developed novel silicon-nitride based granular metals where the high dielectric strength of silicon nitride supports high voltage operation. These granular metals have an extraordinary non-linear frequency response, critical for operation faster than the existing grid-scale lightning surge arresters.

Education

  • Ph.D. in Physics, Purdue University, 2009
  • B.S. in Physics, University of Illinois at Urbana – Champaign, 2004

Research Interests

  • Electrical transport in granular materials
  • High-voltage breakdown mitigation
  • Grid resilience to electromagnetic pulses and other ultrafast transients
  • Materials aging and reliability

ARPA-E ULTRAFAST Project

  • Coming soon

Featured Publications

  • S. Gilbert, M. McGarry, M. Meyerson, P. Kotula, L. Yates, P. Sharma, M. Siegal, and L. Biedermann, “Structural, chemical, and electronic control in Co-SiNx granular metal high-pass filters.” J. Appl. Phys. (in press).
  • T. Bowman, T. Kmieciak, and L. Biedermann, “Nanosecond Transient Validation of Surge Arrester Models to Predict Electromagnetic Pulse Response.” Accepted by IEEE Transactions on Electromagnetic Compatibility.  DOI: 10.1109/TEMC.2024.3486980
  • M. McGarry, S. Gilbert, L. Yates, M. Meyerson, P. Kotula, W. Bachman, P. Sharma, J. Flicker, M. Siegal, and L. Biedermann, “Interfacial defect reduction enhances universal power law response in Mo-SiNx granular metals.” J. Appl. Phys. 136, 055101 (2024). DOI: 10.1063/5.0211080.
  • A. Sarracino, C. Hammetter, S. Whetten, S. Bishop, C. McCoy, P. Clem, M. Sinclair, L. Biedermann, and M. Abere, “Elastic wave suppression through additively manufactured petal lattice metamaterials,” J. Appl. Phys. 135, 165108 (2024). DOI: 10.1063/5.0196004.
  • T. Bowman, T. Kmieciak, and L. Biedermann, “Early-Time Electromagnetic Pulse Response Validation of Surge Arrester Models,” Proc. 2023 IEEE EMC-SIPI, Grand Rapids, MI, August 2023. DOI: 10.1109/EMCSIPI50001.2023.10241606.
  • S. Gilbert, M. Meyerson, P. Kotula, S. Rosenberg, T. Kmieciak, M. McGarry, M. Siegal and L. Biedermann, “Granular metals with SiNx Dielectrics,” Nanotechnology 34, 415706 (2023). DOI: 10.1088/1361-6528/ace4d2.
  • N. Mork, M. Fronk, L. Biedermann, M. Sinclair, and M. Leamy, “Hierarchical unit cell employing a nonlinear energy sink for passive, low-pass amplitude filtering of acoustic waves,” Extreme Mechanics Letters, 63, 102056 (2023). DOI: 10.1016/j.eml.2023.102056.
  • S. Gilbert, S. Rosenberg, P. Kotula, T. Kmieciak, L. Biedermann, and M. Siegal, “The effect of metal-insulator interface interactions on electrical transport in granular metals,” J. Phys.: Condensed Matter, 34, 204077 (2022). DOI: 10.1088/1361-648X/ac5706. (Invited Paper.)

Publications

Sean Bishop, Daniel Lowry, Amanda Peretti, Mia Blea-Kirby, Perla Salinas, Eric Coker, Edward Arata, M. Rodriguez, Shannon Murray, Jacob Mahaffey, Laura Biedermann, (2022). Processing, structure, and thermal properties of ZrW2O8, HfW2O8, HfMgW3O12, Al(HfMg)0.5W3O12, and Al0.5Sc1.5W3O12 negative and zero thermal expansion coefficient ceramics https://doi.org/10.2172/1890063 Publication ID: 80302

Simeon Gilbert, Samantha Rosenberg, Paul Kotula, Thomas Kmieciak, Laura Biedermann, Michael Siegal, (2022). The effect of metal–insulator interface interactions on electrical transport in granular metals Journal of Physics. Condensed Matter https://doi.org/10.1088/1361-648x/ac5706 Publication ID: 80499

Christopher Moore, Paul Clem, Laura Biedermann, William Miller, Mark Stavig, Christian Turner, (2020). Encapsulant Void Breakdown Voltage Modeling & Experiments https://doi.org/10.2172/1808742 Publication ID: 71647

Laura Biedermann, Ricky Tang, Joseph Howard, (2019). Surface flashover of semi-conductive ceramics https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1643036 Publication ID: 65990

Javier Leo, Elizabeth Paisley, Sean Smith, Laura Biedermann, Jon Ihlefeld, Jon-Paul Maria, Kevin Ferri, Bonnie McKenzie, Michael Apodaca, Patrick Finnegan, Elliot Fuller, Albert Talin, Kim Celio , (2019). Epitaxial PZT Thin Films on Low Dielectric Constant Single Crystal Substrates https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1642035 Publication ID: 64955

Curtis Mowry, Laura Biedermann, Michael Hibbs, Victor Pinon, Adam Pimentel, Kevin Zavadil, Craig Stewart, (2019). Supported Graphene Oxide (GO) Membranes for Cleaner Water – Characterization Performance and Advantages https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1598455 Publication ID: 65410

Mary Gucik, Laura Biedermann, Brad Jones, Christian Arrington, Ronald Goeke, Ryan Goodner, Timothy Lambert, Michael Sinclair, David Wheeler, (2018). Spun Coat Bragg Crystal Development https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1592258 Publication ID: 59076

Laura Biedermann, Michael Hibbs, Curtis Mowry, Ryan Haggerty, Raegan Johnson, Victor Pinon, (2018). Optimizing Permeance of Graphene Oxide\Polymer Membranes https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1526811 Publication ID: 62586

Michael Hibbs, Curtis Mowry, Victor Pinon, Adam Pimentel, Craig Stewart, Laura Biedermann, (2018). Preparation and Properties of Graphene Oxide/Polymer Desalination Membranes https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1525942 Publication ID: 62448

Craig Stewart, Laura Biedermann, Michael Hibbs, Curtis Mowry, Adam Pimentel, Victor Pinon, Kevin Zavadil, (2018). Optimization of structural support and chlorine tolerance in graphene oxide desalination membranes https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1518542 Publication ID: 62208

Andrea Martinez, Laura Biedermann, Sarah House, Elizabeth Paisley, (2018). DC Breakdown of Glass Microballoon Filled Epoxy https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1518554 Publication ID: 62222

Laura Biedermann, Christopher Moore, Christian Turner, (2018). PIC-DSMC model for breakdown in voids https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1511112 Publication ID: 61882

Michael Hibbs, Curtis Mowry, Victor Pinon, Kevin Zavadil, Adam Pimentel, Craig Stewart, Mary Gucik, Laura Biedermann, (2018). Graphene oxide-based desalination membranes https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1503093 Publication ID: 61151

Craig Stewart, Laura Biedermann, Michael Hibbs, Curtis Mowry, Adam Pimentel, Victor Pinon, Kevin Zavadil, (2017). Graphene Oxide/Polymer Desalination Membranes: Structural Improvements Enhance Performance https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1510600 Publication ID: 53464

Andrew Fierro, Christopher Moore, Weng Chow, Laura Biedermann, Matthew Hopkins, (2017). Simulation of a laser triggered vacuum switch https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1481355 Publication ID: 53988

Mary Gucik, Laura Biedermann, Brad Jones, Ronald Goeke, Timothy Lambert, Michael Sinclair, David Wheeler, Christian Arrington, (2017). Polymer Bragg Crystal Development https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1510613 Publication ID: 53491

Curtis Mowry, Laura Biedermann, Michael Hibbs, Marion Hightower, Adam Pimentel, Victor Pinon, Craig Stewart, Kevin Zavadil, (2017). GO (Graphene Oxide) ? Improving Treat-to-Need Water Reuse Through Efficient Chlorine-tolerant Desalination Membranes https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1471969 Publication ID: 58535

Laura Biedermann, Michael Hibbs, Marion Hightower, Curtis Mowry, Adam Pimentel, Victor Pinon, Craig Stewart, Mary Gucik, Kevin Zavadil, (2017). Cross-flow desalination of cooling tower water with graphene oxide/polymer membranes https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1462929 Publication ID: 57717

Christopher Moore, Andrew Fierro, Roy Jorgenson, Harold Hjalmarson, Ashish Jindal, Matthew Hopkins, Paul Clem, Laura Biedermann, (2017). Kinetic simulation of breakdown for gaps with and without dielectric particles https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1367296 Publication ID: 56453

Curtis Mowry, Laura Biedermann, Michael Hibbs, Marion Hightower, Adam Pimentel, Victor Pinon, Craig Stewart, Kevin Zavadil, (2017). GO (Graphene Oxide) ? improving treat-to-need water reuse through efficient chlorine-tolerant desalination membranes https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1427108 Publication ID: 53327

Mark Rigali, James Miller, Susan Altman, Laura Biedermann, Patrick Brady, Stephanie Kuzio, T. Nenoff, Susan Rempe, (2016). DESALINATION AND WATER TREATMENT RESEARCH AT SANDIA NATIONAL LABORATORIES https://doi.org/10.2172/1333271 Publication ID: 47821

Stanley Chou, Brian Swartzentruber, Matthew Janish, Kristin Meyer, Laura Biedermann, Serdal Okur, David Burckel, C. Carter, Bryan Kaehr, (2016). Laser Direct Write Synthesis of Lead Halide Perovskites Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jpclett.6b01557 Publication ID: 47358

Christopher Moore, Andrew Fierro, Paul Clem, Harold Hjalmarson, Roy Jorgenson, Matthew Hopkins, Laura Biedermann, (2016). Seed Electron Generation Mechanisms in the Presence of a Dielectric Particle https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1399333 Publication ID: 47013

Andrew Fierro, Christopher Moore, Stan Moore, Laura Biedermann, Matthew Hopkins, (2016). PIC-DSMC simulation of a triggered vacuum switch with a copper/beryllium cathode https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1399205 Publication ID: 52703

Laura Biedermann, (2016). Low-energy chlorine-tolerant desalination membranes https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1399826 Publication ID: 47097

Curtis Mowry, Laura Biedermann, Michael Hibbs, Marion Hightower, Adam Pimentel, Victor Pinon, Craig Stewart, Kevin Zavadil, (2016). Graphene Oxide Desalination Membrane Development and Testing for Greywater Reuse Applications https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1527227 Publication ID: 52213

Laura Biedermann, Harold Hjalmarson, Christopher Moore, Rebecca Coats, Paul Clem, (2016). Dielectric-Directed Control of Atmospheric High Voltage Breakdown https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1366843 Publication ID: 50690

Laura Biedermann, Michael Hibbs, Marion Hightower, Curtis Mowry, Victor Pinon, Craig Stewart, Kevin Zavadil, (2016). GO Desalination Membranes https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1366848 Publication ID: 50695

Christopher Moore, Andrew Fierro, Harold Hjalmarson, Roy Jorgenson, Matthew Hopkins, Laura Biedermann, Paul Clem, (2016). Development of Kinetic PIC-DSMC Model for Breakdown in the Presence of a Dielectric https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1366833 Publication ID: 50671

Laura Biedermann, Weng Chow, Christopher Moore, Stan Moore, Andrew Fierro, Matthew Hopkins, Juan Elizondo-Decanini, (2016). Development of PIC-DSMC Model for Laser-Triggered Vacuum Switch https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1366830 Publication ID: 50680

Laura Biedermann, Laura Biedermann, Susan Altman, Susan Altman, Michael Hibbs, Michael Hibbs, Michael Hightower, Michael Hightower, Curt mowry, Curt mowry, Trey Pinon, Trey Pinon, Craig Stewart, Craig Stewart, Kevin Zavadil, Kevin Zavadil, (2016). GO desalination membranes https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1345090 Publication ID: 48497

Nelson Bell, Stanley Chou, Laura Biedermann, (2015). Exfoliation of Aluminum Oxide Nanosheets from a Glycothermal Precursor https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1328095 Publication ID: 45848

David Perkins, Laura Biedermann, Blythe Clark, Rachel Thayer, Amber Dagel, Vipin Gupta, Michael Hibbs, Roger West, (2015). Creating Fantastic PI Workshops https://doi.org/10.2172/1226790 Publication ID: 46106

Christopher Moore, Stan Moore, Matthew Hopkins, Jeremiah Boerner, Keith Cartwright, Laura Biedermann, (2015). Timestep Constraints for Accurate PIC-DSMC Simulation of Breakdown: From Arc Initiation to Stable Arcs https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1333479 Publication ID: 46075

Katharine Harrison, Laura Biedermann, Kevin Zavadil, (2015). Mechanical Properties of Water-Assembled Graphene Oxide Langmuir Monolayers: Guiding Controlled Transfer Langmuir https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.langmuir.5b01994 Publication ID: 43760

Harold Hjalmarson, Laura Biedermann, Fred Zutavern, Christopher Moore, Kenneth Williamson, Jane Lehr, (2015). Electrical Breakdown Involving a Gas-Solid Interface https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1331569 Publication ID: 44086

Kenneth Williamson, Laura Biedermann, Harold Hjalmarson, Rebecca Coats, (2015). Electrical Breakdown with Intervening Granular Materials https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1257161 Publication ID: 43903

Christopher Moore, Harold Hjalmarson, Laura Biedermann, Kenneth Williamson, Peter Schultz, Roy Jorgenson, (2015). Development of PIC-DSMC Model for Breakdown in the Presence of a Dielectric https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1256021 Publication ID: 43768

Kenneth Williamson, Laura Biedermann, Harold Hjalmarson, Rebecca Coats, (2015). Experimental Control of Electrical Breakdown Variance https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1255782 Publication ID: 43693

Michael Moseley, Andrew Allerman, Mary Crawford, Jonathan Wierer, Michael Smith, Laura Biedermann, (2015). Defect-enabled electrical current leakage in ultraviolet light-emitting diodes Physica Status Solidi (A) Applications and Materials Science https://doi.org/10.1002/pssa.201570422 Publication ID: 37843

Laura Biedermann, Susan Altman, Michael Hibbs, Curtis Mowry, Kevin Zavadil, (2015). GO desalination membranes https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1504359 Publication ID: 42174

Michael Moseley, Andrew Allerman, Mary Crawford, Jonathan Wierer, Michael Smith, Laura Biedermann, (2014). Electrical current leakage and open-core threading dislocations in AlGaN-based deep ultraviolet light-emitting diodes Journal of Applied Physics https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4891830 Publication ID: 37427

Kevin Zavadil, Laura Biedermann, (2013). Mechanical Properties of Water-Assembled Graphene Oxide Monolayers: Guiding Controlled Transfer https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1296995 Publication ID: 31716

Khalid Hattar, Thomas Beechem, Jon Ihlefeld, Laura Biedermann, Edward Piekos, Douglas Medlin, (2013). Evidence of ion mixing increasing the thermal boundary conductance across aluminum/silicon interfaces Advanced Functional Materials https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1121147 Publication ID: 31721

Calvin Chan, Laura Biedermann, Paul Kotula, Gary Kellogg, (2013). Structural Studies of Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) Deposited TiO2(B) Nanosheets https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1116637 Publication ID: 36447

Matthew Marinella, Laura Biedermann, Kevin Zavadil, Robert Kaplar, Stanley Atcitty, (2013). Influence of Barrier Design on Current Collapse in High Voltage AlGaN/GaN HEMTs https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1078886 Publication ID: 33106

Robert Kaplar, Matthew Marinella, Sandeepan DasGupta, David Hughart, Laura Biedermann, Stanley Atcitty, Jerry Simmons, (2013). Wide-Bandgap Power Semiconductor Research at Sandia National Laboratories https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1658058 Publication ID: 32586

Laura Biedermann, Robert Kaplar, Matthew Marinella, Kevin Zavadil, Stanley Atcitty, (2013). Influence of Barrier Design on Current Collapse in High Voltage AlGaN/GaN HEMTs https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1145383 Publication ID: 32048

Robert Kaplar, Sandeepan DasGupta, Matthew Marinella, Laura Biedermann, Andrew Armstrong, Stanley Atcitty, (2013). Characterization and Reliability of SiC- and GaN-Based Power Transistors https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1649859 Publication ID: 32103

Stanley Atcitty, Robert Kaplar, Sandeepan DasGupta, Matthew Marinella, Andrew Armstrong, Laura Biedermann, Min Sun, Tomas Palacios, Mark Smith, (2013). GaN-based wide-bandgap power switching devices: From atoms to the grid ECS Transactions https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1064370 Publication ID: 28764

Calvin Chan, Laura Biedermann, Cristian Diaconescu, Taisuke Ohta, Gary Kellogg, (2012). Low-&#173Energy Electron Microscopy (LEEM) Studiesof TiO2(B) Nanosheets Deposited by Langmuir-&#173-Blodgett Technique https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1649762 Publication ID: 26499

Wahid Hermina, Alyssa Kolski, Jerry Simmons, Robert Biefeld, Robert Kaplar, Laura Biedermann, Andrew Allerman, Juan Torres, Rene Sells, (2012). WBG Workshop Out Brief https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1649710 Publication ID: 26363

Laura Biedermann, Jordan Fleischer, Katharine Harrison, Kevin Zavadil, (2012). Gas permeability of graphene oxide membranes https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1116211 Publication ID: 26270

Laura Biedermann, Robert Kaplar, Matthew Marinella, Kevin Zavadil, Stanley Atcitty, (2012). The Role of Barrier Structure in Current Collapse of AlGaN/GaN High Electron Mobility Transistors with Thick AlGaN Barriers Proposed for publication in Applied Physics Letters. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4772503 Publication ID: 30548

Laura Biedermann, Robert Kaplar, Matthew Marinella, Kevin Zavadil, Stanley Atcitty, (2012). Influence of Barrier Design on Current Collapse in High Voltage AlGaN/GaN HEMTs https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1111316 Publication ID: 30585

Laura Biedermann, Jordan Fleischer, Kevin Zavadil, (2012). Langmuir-Blodgett Assembly of Graphitic Membranes https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1116231 Publication ID: 30718

Laura Biedermann, Robert Kaplar, Matthew Marinella, Kevin Zavadil, Stanley Atcitty, (2012). The Role of Barrier Structure in Current Collapse of AlGaN/GaN High Electron Mobility Transistors with Thick AlGaN Barriers Proposed for publication in Applied Physics Letters. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4772503 Publication ID: 29715

Laura Biedermann, Robert Kaplar, Matthew Marinella, Kevin Zavadil, Stanley Atcitty, (2012). Influence of Barrier Design on Current Collapse in High Voltage AlGaN/GaN HEMTs https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1073270 Publication ID: 28822

Laura Biedermann, Stephanie Teich-McGoldrick, Jose Cruz-Campa, Isaac Ekoto, Summer Ferreira, Lisa Hall, Xiaohua Liu, Yanli Liu, Dorina Sava Gallis, (2012). Postdoctoral program guidelines https://doi.org/10.2172/1044950 Publication ID: 27686

Taisuke Ohta, Kevin McCarty, Thomas Beechem, W. Pan, Laura Biedermann, Anthony Ross III, Carlos Gutierrez, (2011). Enabling graphene nanoelectronics https://doi.org/10.2172/1029775 Publication ID: 24562

Laura Biedermann, (2011). Electrostatic Transfer of Epitaxial Graphene https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1109245 Publication ID: 22904

Stephen Howell, Laura Biedermann, Thomas Beechem, W. Pan, Anthony Ross III, Taisuke Ohta, (2011). Characterization and comparison of devices fabricated from epitaxial graphene on SiC and electrostatically transferred graphene https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1108782 Publication ID: 22038

Thomas Beechem, Laura Biedermann, Thomas Friedmann, Kevin McCarty, Taisuke Ohta, W. Pan, Anthony Ross III, Cody Washburn, (2011). Enabling Graphene Nanoelectronics https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1120848 Publication ID: 21344

Stephen Howell, Thomas Beechem, Laura Biedermann, Carlos Gutierrez, Thomas Friedmann, Kevin McCarty, Taisuke Ohta, W. Pan, Anthony Ross III, (2011). Characterization and Comparison of Devices Fabricated From Epitaxial Graphene on SiC and Electrostatically Transferred Graphene https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1120859 Publication ID: 21404

Laura Biedermann, Thomas Beechem, Anthony Ross III, W. Pan, Taisuke Ohta, Stephen Howell, (2010). Electrostatic transfer of epitaxial graphene to glass https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1035659 Publication ID: 20931

Laura Biedermann, Taisuke Ohta, Anthony Ross III, Thomas Beechem, W. Pan, (2010). Characterization of devices fabricated from electrostatically transferred graphene: comparison with epitaxial based devices https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1121643 Publication ID: 20428

Stephen Howell, Laura Biedermann, Igal Brener, (2010). Theory and measurement of casimir forces https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1021084 Publication ID: 19052

Taisuke Ohta, Laura Biedermann, Thomas Beechem, Stephen Howell, (2010). Growth Mode and Substrate Symmetry Dependent Strain in Epitaxial Graphene Not submitted at this time https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1123545 Publication ID: 18545

Laura Biedermann, Thomas Beechem, Taisuke Ohta, Stephen Howell, (2010). Electrostatic Transfor of Patterned Epitaxial Graphene from SiC (001) to Glass New Journal of Physiscs https://doi.org/10.1088/1367-2630/12/12/125016 Publication ID: 18884

Laura Biedermann, (2009). Vibrational spectra of nanowires measured using laser doppler vibrometry and STM studies of epitaxial graphene : an LDRD fellowship report https://doi.org/10.2172/973355 Publication ID: 16768

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