Medical systems Collaboration and Communications (C2) blog

December 10, 2008

Great mind challenging game! 36 Cube

Filed under: Education, Tactics, Techniques and Procedures — dandeakin @ 19:56
Tags: , ,

http://www.thinkfun.com/Flash/partners/36cubeCartoon/

Educational, developmental learning + adictive play.

December 3, 2008

DR Congo: OCHA Humanitarian Situation Update No. 17 – North Kivu, 26 Nov – 01 Dec 2008

Source:

UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

- A total of 90,000 persons were displaced in the Grand Nord.

- 10,000 Congolese crossed into Uganda on 27 November,

bringing the total number of Congolese who have found refuge

in Uganda since August to 27,000.

- Due to new clashes between CNDP and PARECO since 29

November, humanitarian workers have temporarily evacuated

Masisi center

- The transfer of IDPs from Kibati to Mugunga I began on 28

November.

- Cases of looting by armed groups have been reported in

several localities.

Political and Security Context

- CNDP and PARECO clashed in several localities, notably on

25 November in Kinyandoni (Rutshuru), in the evening of 25

and 26 November in the zone of Kalembe (Masisi) and on 27

November in Kinigi (Masisi). Clashes between CNDP and PARECO

around Masisi center, which created panic within the

population and IDPs, were reported on 30 November.

- Due to the clashes, humanitarian workers from various

agencies (CONCERN, SC-UK, NRC and OCHA) were temporarily

evacuated to Goma on 29 November.

- CNDP confiscated a truck from IRC and three from

Solidarities on 27 and 28 November in Rugari, Rutshuru, to

transport military elements on the Rugari ? Rubare axis. The

trucks were returned afterwards.

- Elements from the National Congolese Police (PNC) which

were in charge of security in the Kibati IDP camp shot at

IDPs during a food distribution on 30 November. Four IDPs

were injured and transported to the hospital.

- Reports of armed groups pillaging several localities

persist. On 26 November, local NGOs reported that Mayi-Mayi

ransacked a goat farm in the village of Kambaila, located 17

Km from Butembo. Another NGO reported that FARDC military

looted houses in Mutiri and Rwenda neighborhoods in Butembo.

UNDSS spoke about the pillaging of houses in the locality of

Bulotwa, South Lubero, by FARDC militaries. Local NGOs in

Kibirizi reported that CNDP elements looted in Kashalira,

Rutshuru.

Population Movements

Kibati

- The transfer of IDPs from Kibati to Mugunga I began on

Friday 28 December, with 92 families and ended on Sunday 30

November when the operation was suspended following a

shooting incident in the camp. On Tuesday 2 December, 150

families from Kibati should have been on route to Mugunga I.

In the meantime, construction work for the Mugunga III site

continues.

- According to Caritas, approximately 9,000 displaced

families were recorded in Kibati. Other newly displaced

families are expected to arrive in the area as a result of

recent clashes in Kiwanja. Certain families live in sheds in

Kibati I or in public areas. Their registration is under

way.

Rutshuru Territory

- On 30 November, local sources reported the return of

populations from Ishasha through the Nyamilima?Ishasha axis.

These returns are believed to be motivated by the current

crop season. ICRC/RRM reported the presence of 9,000

displaced families in Rubare, Kako and Kalengera. Their

registration is in progress.

- MSF-F, in mission on 25 November in Kibirizi, reported the

return of approximately 50% of the locality’s inhabitants.

In Rwindi, on the other hand, no returns have occurred.

Grand Nord

- An estimated 90,000 persons that fled towards the Grand

Nord region are currently situated between the region of

Lubero and Beni. The majority came from the territory of

Rutshuru or the region of Ituri.

- Local NGOs reported that 84 displaced families were

recorded in Kyavinyonge on 26 November. 36 families also

arrived in Lukanga, southeast of Butembo. Their registration

is under way.

Masisi Territory

- Since the beginning of November, a progressive return has

been witnessed in the locality of Bihambwe. As a

precautionary measure, some of the population had moved

towards the localities of Mushaki, Matanda and Kirolirwe

while others went to Buguri, Katale, Lushebere and Masisi

centers.

- Local authorities reported the presence of 3,906 displaced

families staying in Masisi with host families, in schools or

churches. Others have fled from Kinigi, Kaniro, Shugi, Luke,

Muhanga, Buabo and from other localities due to constant

clashes between CNDP and PARECO and are now in Loashi and

Nyabiondo.

Uganda

- Approximately 10,000 Congolese crossed the Ugandan border

on 27 November, after a prior wave of 3,000 persons had

crossed in the previous two days. According to UNHCR, this

carries the total number of Congolese refugees in Uganda

since August to about 27 000. The majority of the newcomers

are from the city of Rutshuru and the villages of Kafeguru,

Kiseguru, Kiwanga and Kinyandonge, which are located between

50 and 70 km from the Ugandan border. Today, Uganda shelters

approximately 50,000 Congolese refugees which are among the

150,000 refugees within the entire country.

Gaps

WASH

- The water installations in the village were destroyed

during a clash between different armed groups, leaving the

returned populations in Bihambwe facing a grave water

scarcity.

- Once again the IDP site at the Kilmani School in Masisi

center experiences a problem of latrines. Only one block of

5 door latrines is currently functional out of the 9 blocks

that were previously constructed. NRC asked IDPs to start an

excavation of pits in exchange for monetary compensation.

- Oxfam-GB reported an inadequate usage of the health

facilities that are at the disposition of IDPs in the Kibati

site due to lack of health information and education.

Health/Nutrition

- Returned populations in Bihambwe (Masisi) need healthcare

assistance. The Health Center has not been re-stocked since

September. The Kitsule Health Centre, in the health zone of

Masisi, ran out of medical supplies earlier this week.

- Cases of diarrhea (and suspected cholera) were recorded

among the populations from the region of Kinyandoni, and

among the displaced in Rugarama and Kabirizi. According to

FAO, a dozen fatalities were recorded.

- 223 of 2,206 children examined in the Masisi Health Zone

demonstrated signs of acute malnutrition.

Protection

- The Territorial Conflict Commission against Sexual Acts of

Violence (CTVS) recorded 45 cases of rape during October

2008 and 49 cases until 28 November in the territory of

Walikale. Both civilians and armed men are among the

perpetrators.

Education

- In the territory of Rutshuru, schools remain closed due to

insecurity.

- Eleven schools in the city of Goma are still occupied by

IDPs at night, creating an unhealthy educational environment

for children due to the high risks of cholera. Out of the

si- schools in Kibati, one is being occupied by militaries

and three by IDPs.

- In Mugunga, Action Aid is in the process of finishing the

construction of si- classrooms made of durable materials.

UNICEF will assist with the provision of school supplies but

it lacks the necessary funds for blackboards.

Assistance

Food

- Humanitarian organizations distributed 292 tonnes of food

on 1 December to 35,195 IDPs in Jomba. IDPs in the vicinity

of this locality, that is 24,905 persons, will benefit from

another food distribution on 2 December.

- WFP concluded its distribution of food in the camps of

Kibati. This week, the agency plans to concentrate on IDPs

located east of Rutshuru and on the Nyanzale axis.

NFI

- Between 24 November and 1 December, IRC and Solidarities

distributed NFI kits to 19,866 families in Rutshuru and

Kiwandja, 4,903 in Tongo, 9,000 in Kako, Kalengera and

Rubare using RRM funding.

- ICRC provided 500 NFI kits to the Red Cross/Butembo for

IDPs that newly arrived in Butembo from South Lubero. The

NFI cluster requested local NGOs to distribute 1,500 kits to

IDPs that will not receive ICRC kits.

Health/Nutrition

- On 26 November, MSF Switzerland reported the disinfection

of houses in which suspected cases of cholera were recorded

in Kasindi and Kasindi Port. The NGO also supported two

health structures with the provision of medical supplies. On

the same day, MSF-F went to Lunyasenge, on the west coast of

the Lake Edward, to provide technical support to the local

health post. Beforehand, the NGO had sent medical supplies

after suspected cases of cholera had been reported in the

area.

- Starting 1 December, Save the Children UK will provide

nutritional assistance to eight locations in Butembo, Katwa,

Musiene and Lubero. The nutritional screening carried out on

a sample of 428 children indicated rates of 0.2% of severe

malnutrition and 3% of moderate malnutrition.

- UNICEF is pursuing emergency vaccination against measles,

including vaccination against polio, the supplementation of

vitamin A and parasite removal for children of less than 5

years of age on the Massi?Kitshanga?Mueto?Kilolirwe axis.

UNICEF also provided medical supplies to the Health Centers

of Kirosthe and Mweso to ensure free of charge health care

for IDPs and other vulnerable populations.

Protection

- On 28 November, SC-UK reported the presence of 45 children

separated from armed forces and groups in the Transit and

Orientation Centre in Beni. Ten other children separated

from armed forces and groups and four unaccompanied children

have been accommodated with host families.

Education

- Since 24 November, 66,828 primary school students and

1,119 teachers have benefited from the distribution of

school kits in 162 schools throughout the territory of

Masisi, around Kibati and in the area of Mugunga. All

schools that accommodate more than 20% of displaced students

received pupils/teachers kits.

- JRS, with financing from UNICEF, intervened in the Mugunga

area for emergency education, training of teachers and

distribution of school kits.

- RRM financed the construction of latrine posts in schools

in Ishasa and Nyamilima. They also provided black boards and

desks. Classrooms were rehabilitated or reconstructed.

WASH

- RRM financed the construction of latrines posts and

showers as well as the installation of bladders and water

chlorination points in Rutshuru, Kiwandja, Sake, Mubambiro,

Nzulu, Lunyasenge, Kitchanga, Mweso, Ishasa, Nyakakoma,

etc..

Logistics

- South African engineers and UNOPS began the rehabilitation

of the damaged portion of the Sake?Masisi road. An

interagency mission (WFP, UNOPS and MONUC) went on 28

November to Masisi to evaluate the situation.

Minova (Sud-Kivu)

Education

- 12,278 students benefited from a distribution of

scholastic supplies in Minova where there are 5,300

displaced children of school age. Only 21% of these children

are accommodated in 21 schools throughout Minova and its

surrounding areas. UNICEF and Save the Children will

intervene to set up five accelerated learning centers which

will receive 1,450 students.

Coordination

- During the course of the Liaison Committee Meeting,

chaired by OCHA, in Kitchanga on 28 November, a

recommendation was made to advocate with CNDP authorities

against their practice of confiscating humanitarian

vehicles.

For more information, please visit our humanitarian website

: http://www.rdc-humanitaire.net

Contacts :

- Gloria Fernandez, Head of Office, OCHA RDC,

fernandez11@un.org, +243 813 330 146

- Christophe Illemassene, Information Manager, OCHA RDC,

illemassene@un.org, +243 819 889 195

- Noel Tsekouras, Desk Officer, OCHA New York,

tsekouras@un.org, + 1 917 367 93 67

Attachments:

Full_Report.pdf:

http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/retrieveattachments?openagent&docid=5F3506B3FC4889A5492575140006010F&file=Full_Report.pdf

Online training available from S2 Institute

Filed under: Uncategorized — dandeakin @ 20:07
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December 2, 2008

US Air Force launches Second Life World – MyBase

Filed under: Uncategorized — dandeakin @ 23:09
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MyBase Launches in Second Life

1_001 The U.S. Air Force first began talking about a multipurpose virtual world, MyBase, back in February. The goals of the virtual world would be to recruit and inform civilians, train cadets, and help active airmen prepare for specific missions and ongoing projects. The MyBase RFP was only issued in September and closed in October, but the first stage, recruiting and informing, appears to have gone live today in Second Life. [SLURL] “MyBase is a set of regions dedicated to sharing the history and learning about the U.S. Air Force,” explains the sim.

While the exhibits are interactive and educational, they’re definitely geared more at public outreach than internal training. Visitors can fly a virtual P51C Mustang, try a challenge course and shooting range, listen to Air Force band music, and see what military life is like.
1_002
While there were automated bots on the site, no actual humans were present. There is an option for visitors, if interested, to access a website to talk to a recruiter about an Air Force career.

Other options are still under consideration, though.

“One possible long-term use for this technology is to open a private site in a three-dimensional world, yet to be determined, where active-duty Airmen can attend virtual training and are tracked to receive 3 course credit,” reports the official Air Force Link. “Offering virtual-based training could offset the cost of travel to training sites around the world which often includes lodging and other expenses.”

That will raise different security questions if the Air Force decides to pursue Second Life as a platform, but with new options for a firewalled experience on the way, it may be an option.

IMED 2009 ABSTRACT DEADLINE EXTENDED TO 12 DECEMBER 2008

Filed under: Uncategorized — dandeakin @ 15:49
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CALENDAR (16): IMED 2009 ABSTRACT DEADLINE EXTENDED TO 12 DECEMBER 2008

***********************************************************************

A ProMED-mail post

<http://www.promedmail.org>

ProMED-mail is a program of the

International Society for Infectious Diseases <http://www.isid.org>

Date: 1 Dec 2008

From: ProMED-mail <promed@promedmail.org>

Subject: IMED 2009 abstract deadline

Conference Location: Vienna, Austria

Dates: 13-16 Feb 2009; NEW abstract deadline 12 Dec 2008

Website: <http://imed.isid.org>

We are pleased to announce that we are able to extend the abstract deadline for IMED 2009 until 12 Dec 2008. This will allow the most timely and up-to-date abstracts to be presented at IMED.

Now is the time to submit your abstracts. Accepted abstracts may be presented as posters during 2 dedicated poster sessions, and selected abstracts will be presented in 3 platform sessions.

Topics for abstracts at IMED 2009 include:

* Animal reservoirs for emerging pathogens

* Emerging zoonoses

* Emerging vectorborne diseases in humans and animals

* Models of disease surveillance, detection and reporting

* Outbreak control

* Surveillance using informal sources

* Syndromic surveillance

* Regional disease surveillance

* Laboratory surveillance

* New pathogen discovery

* Avian influenza

* Agents of bioterrorism

* Antibiotic resistance

* Climate change

* Vaccines against emerging diseases

The program for IMED 2009 is nearly finalized, and we are pleased to announce an outstanding roster of plenary lectures and symposia. This meeting, to be held in Vienna, Austria from 13-16 Feb 2009, is being co-sponsored by ProMED-mail along with OIE, the European Commission, the Wildlife Conservation Society, and the European CDC. This meeting follows the highly successful IMED 2007, which drew over 600 participants from more than 60 countries and at which more than 300 abstracts were presented.

IMED 2009 promises to bring together the public health community, scientists, health care workers, and other leaders in the field of emerging infectious diseases. The meeting will include poster presentations and oral presentations of submitted abstracts. Once again, this meeting will fully embrace “one health” and welcomes the full participation of both the human and veterinary health sectors.

The conference will cover a wide range of emerging disease and surveillance issues including outbreak preparedness, prediction maps, climate change, emerging zoonoses, vaccines against emerging pathogens, and vectorborne diseases, along with many other topics in an exciting 3-day meeting.

IMED confirmed speakers include:

Barnett, Elizabeth (Boston University, USA) Capua, Ilaria (Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, Padova, Italy) Cetron, Martin (CDC, USA) Charrel, Remi (University Marseilles, France) Duse, Adriano (NHLS and School of Pathology of the University of Witwatersrand, South Africa) Ergonul, Onder (Marmara University, Altunizade, Turkey) Fedorka-Cray, Paula (USDA-ARS Bacterial Epidemiology and Antimicrobial Resistance Research Unit, USA) Formenty, Pierre (WHO, Switzerland) Gotuzzo, Eduardo (Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru) Hayes, Edward (Barcelona Center for International Health Research (CRESIB), Spain) Karesh, William (Wildlife Conservation Society, USA) Kitron, Uriel (Emory University, USA) Laxminaryan, Ramanan (Resources for the Future, USA) LeFrancois, Thierry (Centre de Cooperation Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour le Developpement (CIRAD), Guadeloupe) Leventhal, Alex (Public Health Services, Ministry of Health, Israel) Lipkin, Ian (School of Public Health at Columbia University, USA) Luby, Stephen (ICDDR,B, Dhaka, Bangladesh) Lubroth, Juan (FAO, Italy) MacLachlan, James (University of California, Davis, USA) Marano, Nina (CDC, USA) Margolis, Harold (International Vaccine Institute, Seoul, South Korea) Markel, Howard (University of Michigan, USA) Monath, Thomas, (KPCB, Menlo Park, CA, USA) Polgreen, Philip (University Iowa, USA) Reiter, Paul (Institut Pasteur, France) Rosling, Hans (Karolinska Institutet and Gapminder Foundation, Sweden) Setbon, Michel (University Marseilles, France) Subbarao, Kanta (NIH, USA) Teo, Chong-Gee (CDC, USA) Thompson, Dick (WHO, Switzerland) Torres, Jaime (Instituto de Medicina Tropical, Universidad Central de Venezuela, Venezuela) Vallat, Bernard (OIE, France) Wilde, Henry (Chulalongkorn University, Thailand)

For more details, visit the IMED 2009 website:

<http://imed.isid.org>

The abstract deadline is extended to 12 Dec 2008, and the early registration deadline is 22 Dec 2006, so register now.

I look forward to seeing you in Vienna.

Larry Madoff, MD

Editor, ProMED-mail

<http://www.promedmail.org>

[see also:

Calendar 2008 (11): IMED 2009, Vienna, Feb 2009, 1st announcement 20080519.1667] ………………………………..lm/msp/lm

December 1, 2008

3D Training, Learning and Collaboration (3D TLC) Conference Announced

Filed under: Uncategorized — dandeakin @ 22:35
Tags: , , , ,

As regular readers already know, 3D virtual worlds have broad implications for business not the least of which is cost savings and energy conservation. In today economic climate expect to see more companies evaluating and adopting virtual worlds solutions. Clearly two dominate virtual worlds uses are now emerging: 1) consumer communication and entertainment, and 2) and business solutions, primarily training, learning and collaboration.

With this evolution we are too are evolving to address the market need. In October we announced the re-branding of Virtual Worlds 2009 to Engage! Expo. Engage!, taking place NYC on March 10-11, 2009, will focus exclusively on key success drivers for consumer-focused virtual worlds and the 3D Web. Engage! is all about immersive and engaging solutions to capture audience.

Today we are pleased to announce a new conference dedicated to the business use of virtual worlds and immersive 3D solutions. 3D Training, Learning and Collaboration, or 3D TLC, will take place April 20-21, 2009 in Washington, DC at Ronald Reagan Building & International Trade Center.  Attendees will hear valuable insight, information, and best practices about what innovators and early adopter organizations are doing right now, including what works and why.  More details to follow shortly.

November 30, 2008

University uses Second Life for nurses training

Filed under: Uncategorized — dandeakin @ 16:05
Tags: , , , , ,
The department of teaching and learning technology virtually prepares nursing students in prepping for surgery, conducting home handicap assessments and using EKG machines.

By Andy Greenhaw

Monday, November 24th, 2008

A student sitting at a computer in England walks into a virtual waiting room and sits next to a student in Denmark. A student nurse in Seattle, calls the British patient’s name moments later and prepares her for anesthetic surgery. A doctor at the University of Kansas Medical Center in Kansas City, Kan., takes over the procedure from the online nurse, and the computer simulation ends.

Student nurses in the department of teaching and learning technology virtually practice surgery prep, handicapping houses and using Second Life. The department purchased a Second Life island in August 2007.

Student nurses in the department of teaching and learning technology virtually practice surgery prep, handicapping houses and using Second Life. The department purchased a Second Life island in August 2007.

That’s the scenario that played out in 2005 when the KU department of teaching and learning technology demonstrated how Second Life, a multi-player virtual world, could bring a new dimension to education. KU Med has since purchased an island in the virtual world to prepare nursing and physical therapy students for the real world. Now, physical therapy and occupational therapy students use Second Life to evaluate handicap hazards in virtual homes, recommend improvements and apply changes.

David Antonacci, director of teaching and learning technology, said first-year nursing students will start using the program next June to practice prepping patients for anesthetic surgery.

The application of Second Life in the classroom, Antonacci said, will allow students to execute complicated procedures in a simple, computer-simulated environment.

“There’s no physical interaction; they just have to know the executive routine: what needs to be done and when,” he said.

Antonacci’s department began exploring the possibilities of Second Life in 2004, but he said it took faculty a while to understand how it could be used in the classroom.

In August 2007, the health center decided to buy a virtual island from Second Life for $980. It pays a $150 monthly leasing fee. Antonacci said the prices were reduced for educators.

Antonacci’s department built a virtual health clinic on the island, complete with fully equipped exam rooms, furnished lobbies and realistic operating equipment. It also designed houses for students to practice conducting home assessments for handicapped patients.

To give the environment an authentic look, a technologist took digital photos of cabinets, furniture and medical equipment, and superimposed them onto objects and structures in the environment.

“Students and professors were amazed at how realistic it all looked,” Antonacci said.

Stephanie Gerald, an education support technologist who works on the project, said students begin the simulation by logging into the virtual world and walking into the hospital. They click on different objects, such as blood pressure cuffs, oxygen masks and laryngoscopes, and attach the appropriate objects to patients.

“Some objects require more choices from the user, like choosing where to attach the EKG leads to the patient, and which color will go to a particular spot on a patient’s chest,” Gerald said. “There are some parts of the simulation where students will have to click on a button on the touch screen or click on the syringes and choose how much of some drugs are given to the patient.”

She said the simulation records every step of the process and sends the results to the instructor.

Sheila Miller, Manhattan senior, said she hadn’t used Second Life in the classroom yet, but she said the concept sounded a lot better than the simulations she was used to. Instead of virtual simulations, she said students practiced on mannequins, which professors talked through.

She said the procedure was awkward and not taken seriously.

“Our generation is a computer generation so it just seems natural that they’d teach us through that kind of venue,” Miller said.

Antonacci said his department was trying to educate more KU administrators about the possibilities of Second Life and how it could be expanded to more programs at the University.

Some foreign language departments, he said, have considered using the program to allow KU students to communicate with students in other countries. He said some professors have asked him to create virtual-world offices for faculty members to meet with students online. He said his department has also considered building a virtual, walk-in heart for students to explore.

“There’s a very active group working on ways the University could benefit from Second Life,” Antonacci said.

The University of Kansas isn’t the only institution using Second Life. Architecture students at the University of Colorado use the program to design buildings. Bradley University uses Second Life to train its students in the field of qualitative research methodology.

The National Oceanography Air and Space Museum even owns an island in Second Life, which it uses to simulate tsunamis, exhibit real-time weather patterns and demonstrate geological plate tectonics.

Antonacci said his department would continue to explore new possibilities for Second Life, and welcomed any suggestions from students or faculty.

— Edited by Ramsey Cox

November 18, 2008

Training Video’s on special populations and individual readiness

Filed under: Uncategorized — dandeakin @ 21:18
Tags: , , , ,

Allentown Volunteer Medical Reserve Corps (AVMRC)is featuring two important public awareness tools on emergency preparedness.  Get Ready 2 Get Connected, aimed at the needs of special populations, and Get Ready, a more general video on preparedness, are now online, and you can access them either by going to the AVMRC website, www.avmrc.org, and clicking on the names of the videos at the far right of the headers on the top of the home page, or by clicking on the links below:

http://www.avmrc.org/videos/getready2.html

http://www.avmrc.org/videos/getready.html

November 13, 2008

Special Operations Medical Assosiation (SOMA)

December 15th – 18th 2008
Tampa, FL

Chinook will be exhibiting at the SOMA conference. The planning committee for this activity has determined that our SOF assets require accurate, timely, mission specific training. Such training must now extend beyond the academic to include the specifics of practicing field medicine in the operational area. This educational activity is designated for physicians, military SOF personnel and their civilian counterparts. No special prerequisites are required to attend this educational activity. More Details.

Colorado State EMS Conference

Filed under: Uncategorized — dandeakin @ 06:14
Tags: , , ,

November 6-9, 2008
Keystone, CO

Chinook exhibited at Colorado’s premier EMS conference. First rate EMS educators from within Colorado and across the nation brought the greatest variety of courses ever offered. The schedule of pre-conference workshops along with six (6) tracks of classes, including anatomy and dissection, offered many choices of programs. The Colorado EMS Skills Challenge tested  teams’ skills against others from across the state. Teams were tested on a variety of skills during a single, real-time scenario. More Details.

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