From: jsa@alexandria (Jon S Anthony)
Subject: Re: Definition of "operator" (was: OO, C++, and something much better!)
Date: 1997/02/18
Date: 1997-02-18T00:00:00+00:00 [thread overview]
Message-ID: <JSA.97Feb17192302@alexandria> (raw)
In-Reply-To: 5de62l$f13$1@goanna.cs.rmit.edu.au
In article <330789FA.40A5@concentric.net> Alan Lovejoy <alovejoy@concentric.net> writes:
> Jon S Anthony wrote:
> >
> > Generally speaking, the terms "operator" and "operation" are used to
> > refer to functions which map an "n-order" set to the "base" or
> > "1-order" set. Let A be a set and A^n be the cross product of A with
> > it self n times (n could be 1). If f is a function from A^n to A,
> > f:A^n -> A, then f is an "n-ary operation". For example, addition is
> > a simple binary operation on N (set of naturals). The identity
> > operation is a simple unary operation for any set. Strictly speaking,
> > the term "operator" is used to refer to the particular symbol for the
> > operation, but in practice (outside a strictly formal account) this is
> > typically "slopped over".
>
> Ok.
>
> So here's a theory: the term "operator" in programming languages was
> coined by applying it to those built-in procedures which were
> intended to be analogs of math functions that formally qualify as
> "operations." Later, other "built-in" procedures also got called
> "operators" by (uninformed) analogy.
That's probably pretty much what happened. It would be interesting to
hear from Robert Dewar on this as he seems to have a lot of insight
(inside info?) on the history of programming language design.
> If the theory is true, then a case could be made that a procedure
> should be called an "operation" (and its name an "operator") if its
> math analog formally qualifies as an "operation" (a function whose
> domain is an n-order set and whose range is a 1-order set, such as
> "f(Complex, Complex): Complex").
Just to be clear, the range is not just any ol' "1-order set" it's the
same set used in defining the n-order domain set.
What I'm having trouble with here (and in the discussion that prompted
this new thread) is what distinguishing the notions of "operator" and
"operation" buys you in the context of CS/PLs. I'm not saying it's
worthless, I'm just not clear on why people think it is useful here.
> Also, if the proposed definition of "operator/operation" is adopted,
> what would be a good term for tokens such as "return" (in C or C++),
> or the return ("^") and assignment (":=") symbols in Smalltalk, that
> represent "built in" actions whose semantics are defined by the
> language?
"Intrinsics"? But then, I think this term is already used for various
other things...
> So the question is: shat should the terms "operator" and "operation"
> mean in computer science? Do you think the meaning of these terms
> should or should not be anologous to their meaning in math? Why or
> why not?
Shouldn't the first questions be: What use is there in distinguishing
these terms in CS/PLs? And, why would you want to do that (what's the
point)?
/Jon
--
Jon Anthony
Organon Motives, Inc.
Belmont, MA 02178
617.484.3383
jsa@organon.com
next prev parent reply other threads:[~1997-02-18 0:00 UTC|newest]
Thread overview: 379+ messages / expand[flat|nested] mbox.gz Atom feed top
1997-01-16 0:00 OO, C++, and something much better! Jon S Anthony
1997-01-17 0:00 ` Don Harrison
1997-01-16 0:00 ` Matthew Heaney
1997-01-17 0:00 ` Alan Lovejoy
1997-01-17 0:00 ` Norman H. Cohen
1997-01-17 0:00 ` Alan Lovejoy
1997-01-18 0:00 ` Fergus Henderson
1997-01-17 0:00 ` Alan Lovejoy
1997-01-20 0:00 ` Damon Feldman
1997-01-19 0:00 ` Alan Lovejoy
1997-01-20 0:00 ` Graham Hughes
1997-01-21 0:00 ` Alan Lovejoy
1997-01-21 0:00 ` Marc Robertson
1997-01-24 0:00 ` Mark Windholtz
1997-01-27 0:00 ` David Hanley
1997-01-28 0:00 ` Eric Clayberg
[not found] ` <32EE2FEE.62FE@p <32EE8415.2F5B@netright.com>
1997-01-28 0:00 ` Eric Clayberg
1997-01-29 0:00 ` David Hanley
1997-01-29 0:00 ` Eric Clayberg
1997-01-28 0:00 ` David Hanley
1997-01-28 0:00 ` Alan Lovejoy
1997-01-29 0:00 ` Matt Kennel
1997-01-30 0:00 ` Alan Lovejoy
1997-01-30 0:00 ` Black box or white box (Re: OO, C++, and something much better!) David L. Shang
1997-01-30 0:00 ` OO, C++, and something much better! David L. Shang
1997-01-29 0:00 ` Jun Nolasco
1997-01-21 0:00 ` Matt Kennel
1997-01-22 0:00 ` Fergus Henderson
1997-01-22 0:00 ` Eric Clayberg
1997-01-22 0:00 ` Graham Hughes
1997-01-23 0:00 ` Eric Clayberg
1997-01-23 0:00 ` Claus Reinke
1997-01-25 0:00 ` Eric Clayberg
1997-01-25 0:00 ` Lawrence G. Mayka
1997-01-25 0:00 ` Fergus Henderson
1997-01-28 0:00 ` Claus Reinke
1997-01-24 0:00 ` Don Harrison
1997-01-24 0:00 ` Eric Clayberg
1997-01-28 0:00 ` Don Harrison
1997-01-23 0:00 ` Mark Woodruff
1997-01-24 0:00 ` Richard A. O'Keefe
[not found] ` <E4voIF.86o@world.std.com>
1997-02-12 0:00 ` Ulf Schuenemann
1997-01-23 0:00 ` Matt Kennel
1997-01-25 0:00 ` Eric Clayberg
1997-01-27 0:00 ` Jon S Anthony
1997-01-23 0:00 ` Robb Nebbe
1997-01-23 0:00 ` David Hanley
1997-01-25 0:00 ` Eric Clayberg
1997-01-24 0:00 ` Fergus Henderson
1997-01-24 0:00 ` Alan Lovejoy
1997-01-26 0:00 ` Fergus Henderson
[not found] ` <32E9BAAC. <5ce8t3$6gv@mulga.cs.mu.OZ.AU>
1997-01-28 0:00 ` Alan Lovejoy
1997-01-28 0:00 ` Alan Knight
1997-01-29 0:00 ` Nick Leaton
1997-01-29 0:00 ` Fergus Henderson
1997-01-30 0:00 ` Alan Lovejoy
1997-01-24 0:00 ` Richard A. O'Keefe
1997-01-22 0:00 ` Fergus Henderson
1997-01-25 0:00 ` Joachim Durchholz
1997-01-27 0:00 ` Ed Shirk
1997-01-27 0:00 ` Rolf Breuning
1997-01-20 0:00 ` David Hanley
1997-01-21 0:00 ` Alan Lovejoy
1997-01-22 0:00 ` Fergus Henderson
1997-01-22 0:00 ` Alan Lovejoy
1997-01-23 0:00 ` Bob Jarvis
1997-01-20 0:00 ` Bill Gooch
1997-01-22 0:00 ` Damon Feldman
1997-01-29 0:00 ` Joachim Durchholz
1997-01-25 0:00 ` Jon S Anthony
1997-01-25 0:00 ` Eric Clayberg
1997-01-26 0:00 ` Robert Dewar
1997-01-27 0:00 ` Bob Jarvis
1997-01-27 0:00 ` Robert Dewar
1997-01-27 0:00 ` Robert A Duff
1997-01-29 0:00 ` Robert Dewar
1997-01-27 0:00 ` Eric Clayberg
1997-01-29 0:00 ` Robert Dewar
1997-01-29 0:00 ` Robert A Duff
1997-01-29 0:00 ` Eric Clayberg
1997-01-27 0:00 ` Matthew Heaney
1997-01-27 0:00 ` Eric Clayberg
1997-01-27 0:00 ` Samuel S. Shuster
1997-01-27 0:00 ` Richard Kenner
1997-01-29 0:00 ` Robert Dewar
1997-01-30 0:00 ` Eirik Mangseth
1997-01-28 0:00 ` Jun Nolasco
1997-01-29 0:00 ` Robert Dewar
1997-01-29 0:00 ` Richard Kenner
1997-01-29 0:00 ` David Hanley
1997-01-29 0:00 ` Richard Kenner
1997-01-30 0:00 ` Nick Leaton
1997-01-30 0:00 ` Robert Dewar
1997-01-30 0:00 ` Richard Kenner
1997-01-30 0:00 ` Nick Leaton
1997-01-28 0:00 ` Robert I. Eachus
1997-02-08 0:00 ` Robin Rosenberg
1997-01-27 0:00 ` Eric Clayberg
1997-01-29 0:00 ` Joachim Durchholz
1997-01-29 0:00 ` Fergus Henderson
1997-01-27 0:00 ` Jon S Anthony
1997-01-27 0:00 ` David Hanley
1997-01-29 0:00 ` Joachim Durchholz
1997-01-29 0:00 ` Dennis Smith
1997-01-28 0:00 ` Eric Clayberg
1997-01-28 0:00 ` Matt Kennel
1997-01-28 0:00 ` David Hanley
1997-01-28 0:00 ` Luther Hampton
1997-01-28 0:00 ` Robert I. Eachus
1997-01-28 0:00 ` David Hanley
1997-01-28 0:00 ` Jacqueline U. Robertson
1997-01-29 0:00 ` David Hanley
1997-01-29 0:00 ` Fergus Henderson
1997-01-30 0:00 ` Robert C. Martin
[not found] ` <5cr068$gpa@uni.library.ucla.edu>
1997-06-27 0:00 ` David Shang
1997-06-28 0:00 ` Mike Stark
1997-06-28 0:00 ` Ronald E Jeffries
1997-06-29 0:00 ` Mike Anderson
1997-06-29 0:00 ` Robert Dewar
1997-06-30 0:00 ` Kohler Markus
1997-01-29 0:00 ` Joachim Durchholz
1997-01-29 0:00 ` Jon S Anthony
1997-01-29 0:00 ` David Hanley
1997-01-29 0:00 ` Eric Clayberg
1997-01-29 0:00 ` Eric Clayberg
1997-01-29 0:00 ` Rolf Breuning
1997-01-20 0:00 ` Fergus Henderson
1997-01-19 0:00 ` Alan Lovejoy
1997-01-25 0:00 ` Robert Dewar
1997-01-27 0:00 ` Bob Jarvis
1997-01-27 0:00 ` Robert Dewar
1997-01-28 0:00 ` Alan Lovejoy
1997-01-25 0:00 ` Robert Dewar
1997-01-26 0:00 ` James O'Connor
1997-01-26 0:00 ` Robert Dewar
1997-01-26 0:00 ` George Wolke
1997-01-27 0:00 ` Jerry van Dijk
1997-01-28 0:00 ` Robert A Duff
1997-01-28 0:00 ` Jerry van Dijk
1997-01-29 0:00 ` Stanley R. Allen
1997-01-30 0:00 ` Robert A Duff
1997-01-28 0:00 ` Alan Lovejoy
1997-01-28 0:00 ` Jon S Anthony
1997-01-29 0:00 ` Robert A Duff
1997-01-19 0:00 ` Soren Skogstad Nielsen
1997-01-20 0:00 ` Joachim Durchholz
1997-01-26 0:00 ` Joachim Durchholz
1997-01-29 0:00 ` Multiple Type Interfaces Jon S Anthony
1997-01-28 0:00 ` Norman H. Cohen
1997-01-28 0:00 ` david scott gibson
1997-01-28 0:00 ` Matthew Heaney
1997-01-29 0:00 ` david scott gibson
1997-01-29 0:00 ` Robert A Duff
1997-01-29 0:00 ` david scott gibson
1997-01-28 0:00 ` Dave Gibson
1997-01-28 0:00 ` Robert A Duff
1997-01-21 0:00 ` OO, C++, and something much better! Matthew S. Whiting
1997-01-22 0:00 ` Fergus Henderson
1997-01-22 0:00 ` Don Harrison
1997-01-22 0:00 ` John Kuszewski
1997-01-23 0:00 ` Don Harrison
1997-01-23 0:00 ` Travis Griggs
1997-01-23 0:00 ` Tansel Ersavas
1997-01-24 0:00 ` Fergus Henderson
1997-01-22 0:00 ` Alan Lovejoy
1997-01-22 0:00 ` Eric Clayberg
1997-01-23 0:00 ` Don Harrison
1997-01-27 0:00 ` John Woods
1997-01-28 0:00 ` Alan Lovejoy
1997-01-23 0:00 ` Combining dynamic and static typing Don Harrison
1997-01-24 0:00 ` Erik M. Buck
[not found] ` <01bc0b21$6a8293e0$7df2ad80@wkst01.milagro.austin.tx.us>
1997-01-25 0:00 ` Nathan M. Urban
1997-01-28 0:00 ` David L. Shang
1997-01-28 0:00 ` Nathan M. Urban
1997-01-29 0:00 ` Russ McClelland
1997-01-29 0:00 ` David L. Shang
1997-01-28 0:00 ` Luther Hampton
1997-01-29 0:00 ` Marc De Scheemaecker
[not found] ` <5d0efr$meb@news.xmission.com>
1997-02-09 0:00 ` daniel damian burden
1997-01-27 0:00 ` Robert I. Eachus
1997-01-27 0:00 ` David L. Shang
1997-01-28 0:00 ` Robert C. Martin
1997-01-29 0:00 ` David L. Shang
1997-01-24 0:00 ` OO, C++, and something much better! Andy Bower
1997-01-25 0:00 ` Robert Dewar
1997-01-26 0:00 ` Eric Clayberg
1997-01-26 0:00 ` Robert Dewar
1997-01-26 0:00 ` Robert Dewar
1997-01-25 0:00 ` Robert Dewar
1997-01-26 0:00 ` William Clodius
1997-01-27 0:00 ` Robert C. Martin
1997-01-29 0:00 ` Robert Dewar
1997-01-29 0:00 ` Robert A Duff
1997-01-21 0:00 ` Matthew S. Whiting
1997-01-24 0:00 ` Tansel Ersavas
1997-01-25 0:00 ` Damon Feldman
1997-01-26 0:00 ` Felix Beer
1997-01-28 0:00 ` Robert C. Martin
1997-01-28 0:00 ` Matt Kennel
1997-01-29 0:00 ` Del Archer
1997-01-24 0:00 ` Tansel Ersavas
1997-01-25 0:00 ` Robert A Duff
1997-01-26 0:00 ` Robert Dewar
1997-01-26 0:00 ` James O'Connor
1997-01-26 0:00 ` TanselErsavas
1997-01-26 0:00 ` Robert Dewar
1997-01-27 0:00 ` Eric Clayberg
1997-01-28 0:00 ` Antoine Trux
1997-01-29 0:00 ` Robert Dewar
1997-01-26 0:00 ` Bob Haugen
1997-01-26 0:00 ` Robert Dewar
1997-01-26 0:00 ` TanselErsavas
1997-01-27 0:00 ` Samuel S. Shuster
1997-01-26 0:00 ` Larry J. Elmore
1997-01-26 0:00 ` Eric Clayberg
1997-01-27 0:00 ` David Hanley
1997-01-25 0:00 ` Fergus Henderson
1997-01-24 0:00 ` Tansel Ersavas
1997-01-27 0:00 ` David Hanley
1997-01-28 0:00 ` OO, C++, and more and more useless arguments! Robert C. Martin
1997-01-28 0:00 ` OO, C++, and something much better! Al Christians
1997-01-28 0:00 ` Alan Lovejoy
1997-01-29 0:00 ` Alan Lovejoy
1997-02-21 0:00 ` Chris Bitmead
1997-02-21 0:00 ` Eric W. Nikitin
1997-02-21 0:00 ` Brian Rogoff
1997-02-24 0:00 ` Jon S Anthony
1997-02-24 0:00 ` Brian Rogoff
1997-02-25 0:00 ` Eric W. Nikitin
1997-01-21 0:00 ` Norman H. Cohen
1997-01-22 0:00 ` Eric Clayberg
1997-01-23 0:00 ` Static vs. Dynamic typing again (was Re: OO, C++, and something much better!) Richie Bielak
1997-01-23 0:00 ` Eric Clayberg
1997-01-23 0:00 ` Richie Bielak
1997-01-24 0:00 ` Eirik Mangseth
[not found] ` <32E85588.1978@parcplace.com>
1997-01-26 0:00 ` Paul Perkins
1997-01-26 0:00 ` Robert A Duff
1997-01-29 0:00 ` John Gale
1997-01-30 0:00 ` Robert A Duff
1997-01-28 0:00 ` Damon Feldman
1997-01-28 0:00 ` Eric Clayberg
1997-01-23 0:00 ` Richie Bielak
1997-01-23 0:00 ` Rolf Breuning
1997-01-23 0:00 ` Eric Clayberg
1997-01-24 0:00 ` Richie Bielak
1997-01-24 0:00 ` Bob Jarvis
1997-01-24 0:00 ` Richie Bielak
1997-01-27 0:00 ` Eric W. Nikitin
1997-01-25 0:00 ` Robert A Duff
1997-01-30 0:00 ` Damon Feldman
1997-01-30 0:00 ` Fergus Henderson
1997-01-30 0:00 ` Defintion, again, was Re: Static vs. Dynamic typing again David L. Shang
1997-01-30 0:00 ` Static vs. Dynamic typing again (was Re: OO, C++, and something much better!) Robert A Duff
1997-02-09 0:00 ` Piercarlo Grandi
1997-02-10 0:00 ` Matt Kennel
1997-02-14 0:00 ` Piercarlo Grandi
1997-01-24 0:00 ` Robb Nebbe
1997-01-25 0:00 ` OO, C++, and something much better! David N. Smith
1997-02-15 0:00 ` Static vs. Dynamic typing again (was Re: OO, C++, and something much better!) Pieter Schoenmakers
1997-02-16 0:00 ` Piercarlo Grandi
1997-01-27 0:00 ` Jun Nolasco
1997-01-28 0:00 ` Mark Windholtz
1997-01-28 0:00 ` Richie Bielak
1997-01-23 0:00 ` Bill Gooch
1997-01-28 0:00 ` Alan Knight
1997-02-08 0:00 ` Static vs. Dynamic typing again (was Re: OO, C++, and something mu Joachim Durchholz
1997-01-23 0:00 ` OO, C++, and something much better! Norman H. Cohen
1997-01-24 0:00 ` Eric Clayberg
1997-01-27 0:00 ` Norman H. Cohen
1997-01-28 0:00 ` Tim Ottinger
1997-01-29 0:00 ` Ted Dennison
1997-01-24 0:00 ` traymond
1997-01-27 0:00 ` Norman H. Cohen
1997-01-28 0:00 ` traymond
1997-01-25 0:00 ` Tansel Ersavas
1997-01-27 0:00 ` Norman H. Cohen
1997-01-27 0:00 ` Brian Rogoff
1997-01-28 0:00 ` Reflection in Ada (was: Re: OO, C++, and something much better!) Norman H. Cohen
1997-01-29 0:00 ` Eric W. Nikitin
1997-01-30 0:00 ` OO, C++, and something much better! Tim Ottinger
1997-01-23 0:00 ` James O'Connor
1997-01-29 0:00 ` Stanley R. Allen
1997-01-30 0:00 ` Robert A Duff
1997-01-27 0:00 ` Jon S Anthony
1997-01-19 0:00 ` Keith Thompson
1997-01-22 0:00 ` Don Harrison
1997-01-23 0:00 ` Norman H. Cohen
1997-01-24 0:00 ` Don Harrison
1997-01-27 0:00 ` Norman H. Cohen
1997-01-29 0:00 ` "(Sub)type" -safety Don Harrison
1997-01-29 0:00 ` Jon S Anthony
1997-01-30 0:00 ` Don Harrison
1997-01-23 0:00 ` OO, C++, and something much better! Robert I. Eachus
1997-01-20 0:00 ` Ole-Hjalmar Kristensen FOU.TD/DELAB
1997-01-24 0:00 ` Jon S Anthony
1997-01-26 0:00 ` Eric Clayberg
1997-01-27 0:00 ` Jon S Anthony
1997-01-27 0:00 ` Jon S Anthony
1997-01-27 0:00 ` Jon S Anthony
1997-01-28 0:00 ` Jon S Anthony
1997-01-29 0:00 ` Stephen J Bevan
1997-01-21 0:00 ` Joachim Durchholz
1997-01-22 0:00 ` Richard A. O'Keefe
1997-01-27 0:00 ` Robert Dewar
1997-01-27 0:00 ` Robert A Duff
1997-01-29 0:00 ` Robert Dewar
1997-01-27 0:00 ` Robert A Duff
1997-01-27 0:00 ` Bob Jarvis
1997-01-28 0:00 ` Travis Griggs
1997-01-28 0:00 ` Russ McClelland
1997-01-28 0:00 ` Norman H. Cohen
1997-01-27 0:00 ` John Woods
1997-01-22 0:00 ` Eric Clayberg
1997-01-23 0:00 ` Joachim Durchholz
1997-01-24 0:00 ` Joachim Durchholz
1997-01-29 0:00 ` Multiple Type Interfaces Joachim Durchholz
1997-01-25 0:00 ` OO, C++, and something much better! James O'Connor
1997-01-26 0:00 ` Lawrence G. Mayka
1997-01-26 0:00 ` James O'Connor
1997-01-25 0:00 ` Eric Clayberg
1997-01-25 0:00 ` Tansel Ersavas
1997-01-27 0:00 ` Norman H. Cohen
1997-02-07 0:00 ` Richard A. O'Keefe
1997-02-07 0:00 ` Alan Lovejoy
1997-02-12 0:00 ` Piercarlo Grandi
1997-02-13 0:00 ` Alan Lovejoy
[not found] ` <yf3ybcsm5ce.fsf@sabi.demon.co.uk>
1997-02-14 0:00 ` Alan Lovejoy
1997-02-16 0:00 ` Piercarlo Grandi
1997-02-16 0:00 ` Alan Lovejoy
1997-02-17 0:00 ` Piercarlo Grandi
1997-02-13 0:00 ` Richard A. O'Keefe
1997-02-13 0:00 ` Alan Lovejoy
1997-02-18 0:00 ` Richard A. O'Keefe
1997-02-19 0:00 ` richard
1997-02-19 0:00 ` Mike Klein
1997-02-19 0:00 ` William Clodius
1997-02-19 0:00 ` Mike Klein
1997-02-15 0:00 ` Jon S Anthony
1997-02-16 0:00 ` Piercarlo Grandi
1997-02-16 0:00 ` Jon S Anthony
1997-02-18 0:00 ` Richard A. O'Keefe
1997-02-20 0:00 ` Matt Kennel
1997-02-20 0:00 ` Anders Pytte
1997-02-16 0:00 ` Definition of "operator" (was: OO, C++, and something much better!) Alan Lovejoy
1997-02-19 0:00 ` Dave Schaumann
1997-02-19 0:00 ` Anders Pytte
1997-02-17 0:00 ` OO, C++, and something much better! Alan Lovejoy
1997-02-17 0:00 ` Jon S Anthony
1997-02-17 0:00 ` Definition of "operator" (was: OO, C++, and something much better!) Alan Lovejoy
1997-02-19 0:00 ` David L. Shang
1997-02-21 0:00 ` Jon S Anthony
1997-02-24 0:00 ` David L. Shang
1997-02-25 0:00 ` Jon S Anthony
1997-02-17 0:00 ` OO, C++, and something much better! Jon S Anthony
1997-02-19 0:00 ` Piercarlo Grandi
1997-02-17 0:00 ` Jon S Anthony
1997-02-19 0:00 ` Piercarlo Grandi
1997-02-19 0:00 ` Mike Klein
1997-02-18 0:00 ` Bernard Badger
1997-02-18 0:00 ` Jon S Anthony [this message]
1997-02-18 0:00 ` Jon S Anthony
1997-02-19 0:00 ` Piercarlo Grandi
1997-02-19 0:00 ` Piercarlo Grandi
1997-02-21 0:00 ` Jon S Anthony
1997-02-24 0:00 ` Piercarlo Grandi
1997-02-22 0:00 ` Jon S Anthony
1997-02-22 0:00 ` Jon S Anthony
1997-02-25 0:00 ` Richard A. O'Keefe
1997-02-22 0:00 ` Jon S Anthony
1997-02-22 0:00 ` Jon S Anthony
1997-02-22 0:00 ` Jon S Anthony
1997-02-23 0:00 ` Definition of "operator" (was: OO, C++, and something much better!) Richard Katz
1997-02-24 0:00 ` David L. Shang
1997-02-25 0:00 ` OO, C++, and something much better! Jon S Anthony
1997-02-25 0:00 ` Jon S Anthony
1997-02-27 0:00 ` Clayton Weaver
1997-02-25 0:00 ` Jon S Anthony
1997-02-26 0:00 ` Mike Klein
1997-02-25 0:00 ` Jon S Anthony
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