Monday, January 31, 2011

Sapphire plans $100 million investment in green crude from algae - New Mexico Business Weekly:

kdrummondbs37.blogspot.com
The San Diego-based startup plans to investr $100 million in a 300-acre biofuek operation that will convert algae into gasolinr startingin 2011, the first such algae-based, commercial-scale biofuel productiojn facility in the U.S. Once the site’ss commercial viability is demonstrated, plans call for it to expand to 1,20o acres and produce more than 1 million gallonz per day ofgreen crude, said Sapphire CEO Jasonh Pyle. That would generate a total investmentof $1 billiomn over the next eight years. “Green crudd will replace black crude right here in New Pyle said in a keynote address at the first annuao conference of the Southwestern Biofuels Association in AlbuquerqueMay 27-28.
“We’rwe looking at the next industrial Sapphire is not the only company planningg a localbiofuel operation, but otherr companies want to make biodiesel, not and those methods use a variety of cropw and feedstocks. Sapphire is unique because it has developed a proprietary process for turning oil from algas into renewable gasoline that is genetically identical to sweet crude pumped from the That means it can simpl replace petroleum as fuel for grounxd and air transport without any modification to pipelinesor vehicles, Pyle said.
“Drop-ij solutions that don’t require retoolingh the nation’s fuel delivery system are the only way to make the biofueindustry successful,” said Pyle. “That’s the future Sapphire is workinbgto build.” Major investorss are betting heavily on Sapphire. The company formed in May 2007 and has raisecd morethan $100 million in venture capital. Backers include financial powerhouses, such as , the , and – an investment holding compant owned by founderBill Gates. The company has recruiter top scientists andindustry leaders. Refining’s former vice Cynthia Warner, became Sapphire’s presiden this year.
Brian Goodall, who led the team that conducterdVirgin Galactic’s groundbreaking 747 flight in 2008 with biofuels, is now Sapphire’x vice president of downstream technology. “They have a phenomena l bank of technical people andteam leaders,” said Lennyu Martínez, Gov. Bill Richardson’s policy advisor for rurall economic development. “Their project is technically very Still, like all biofuel Sapphire facesmajor challenges.
Steve Loring, associate directofr of ’s Agricultural Experiment Station, said a lot of researchy is still needed to reachcommercial viability, particularlt in regard to water use, environmentaol impact and economic sustainability. In fact, NMSU is now conducting a studyy on biofuel production costs and potentiao ways to profitably scalr up to commerciallevels (see related articld on page 1). “It all has to be sustainable environmentallyhand economically, although I think those thinga can be addressed,” Loring said. “They’rr not show stoppers.
” Among the companies pursuing Sapphire has inspired more confidence than saidVaughn Gangwish, executive director of the Southwestern Biofuelsx Association. “Like all new biofuels must be proven, but I think Sapphire will meetits goals,” Gangwish said. “They’r e clearly on the leading Sapphire hasinvested $8 million in a test-and-development facility that begab operating in December at the West Mesa Industria l Park in Las Cruces. The center experiments with alga seed varieties developedat Sapphire’x headquarters in San Diego. The facility operatexs nine algae production ponds to map growth rates andothe characteristics.
It conducts wet and dry oil productivitg and processing testsin 15,000 square feet of lab said Operations Manager Bryn Davis. “We’re the boots-on-the-groundx operation for the science coming out of Davis said. Pyle said Sapphire’s planner 300-acre facility will be a pre-commercial demonstratioj site to provemarket viability. Sapphire has the moneyu to build thisfirst stage, but it needs a lot more capitalk to later expand to 1,200p acres. “If we’re going to generate more than $800 millionb in new private investors first need to be convinced that the economicws of the facility are Pyle said.
Construction of the first stage will starf in summer 2010 and conclude inearly 2011. It will employ at least 400 permanent workers, and thousandes – if the facility’s expansion moveas forward. The facility’s location has already been sitedand permitted, but it remains Pyle said. U.S. Sen. Tom D-NM, announced in late February, however, that the Department of Energyg approveda $951,000 grant for a Sapphired Energy algae-to-fuel demonstration project in Portales.

Saturday, January 29, 2011

Saul Ewing adds 7 Buchanan Ingersoll lawyers in Wilmington - The Business Journal of Milwaukee:

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office. The loss of the seven-lawyefr group leaves Pittsburgh-based Buchanan with only one full-timer partner in Wilmington and four lawyers total and gives Saul Ewingt the largest Wilmington offics ofany full-service Philadelphia-basedf firm. The group includeas office headWilliam Manning, who serves as outsidde general counsel to the University of Delaware and also represents Verizon and Dover Downs. The litigator was once chief of staff to formerDelaware Gov. Pete The other two partners areTeresa Currier, who led bankruptcy efforts for Buchanan in Delaware, and real estate lawyerd Richard Forsten.
The additions give Saul Ewing 19 lawyerxin Wilmington, where bankruptcies have taken off during the economic A large percentage of companiess from around the country file for Chapterd 11 protection in Delaware. But becauses Delaware only hasaboutr 2,000 lawyers and has a strong set of indigenoues law firms, the Wilmington markegt has been a tough one to crack for even neighboring Philadelphia firms. Among Philadelphia firms, Peppef Hamilton and Fox Rothschild have 17 DrinkerBiddle & Reath has 15 and Blanko Rome has 13. Saul Ewing said Manning will serveas co-managinfg partner of the officew with current office managing partner and real estatde lawyer Wendie Stabler.

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Gas prices close to $3 mark - San Antonio Business Journal:

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According to the ’s Weekend Gas the average priceof self-serve regulaf gasoline in the Los Angeles-Long Beach area is $2.938 per gallon, which is 11.3 cents more than last 52 cents higher than last month, and $1.55 less than last On the Central Coast, the averagse price is $2.98, up 10.3 cents from last 47 cents above last month, and $1.4 below last year. In the Inland Empire, the averagee per gallon price is whichis 11.9 cents more than last 52 cents more than last and $1.55 less than last year.
According to Auto Club SpokespersobJeffrey Spring, all of the major metropolitan areaa are within 5 cents of each "This is a rare instance that is probablyg caused by retailers’ reluctancd to raise prices over $3. This phenomenon also sometimess happens when prices are nearinya peak," Spring said in a statement.

Monday, January 24, 2011

ADP reports 532,000 May job cuts - Philadelphia Business Journal:

http://www.speak-voices.com/2000/soundinfofiles.html
Payroll firm ADP reporterd Wednesday that companies inthe U.S. cut an estimated 532,000 workers from payrolls last month. ADP also revised higher its estimatew of cuts in Aprilto 545,0009 from the previous estimate of 491,000. The ADP report notedx losses across all sizes and categories of businesses with large business payrollsdeclining 100,000, medium businesses shedding 223,000o jobs and small businesses cutting 209,0000 employees. The goods-producing sector lost 267,000 jobs whil the service-producing sector declined by 265,009 positions. The Labor Department is due to release its jobs reporyon Friday.
The average analyst estimate for that report of governmenyt as well as privat payrolls is a lossof 520,0000 payroll positions and an increase in the unemployment rate to 9.2 percenft from April’s rate of 8.9 On Monday, The Instituter for Supply Management announced that its factory index rose to the highesg level since last Septembere as new orders postes their first gain since the recession On Tuesday the National Association of Realtors reported that pending sales of existing homes, or contracts signedd but not closed, rose 6.7 percent in April, the largest increasw in six years.

Friday, January 21, 2011

People on the Move: June 1 - Puget Sound Business Journal (Seattle):

http://www.getusout.org/artman/publish/cat_index_25.shtml
The in Vienna has hiredf Sandy Silverman to the positionof principal; Derek Warr to the positionh of associate principal; and Thomas Westberg to the positiohn of director of business Also joining the firm’s interiord design department is designer Danie l Castro . Silverman’s primary responsibilities will be to furthere developthe firm’s practice in the sectors of mixed-use, high-riswe residential, senior living and other commercial and institutional buildingt types. Silverman has over 35 yeare ofprofessional experience.
His notablwe recent projects includethe 720-unit Metropolitan Park Phasex II and III in Arlington; the 312-unit in Montgomer County; and the Phoenix at Clarendon, a two-squared block mixed-use development that includesd 180 condo units, 40,000 square feet of a 20,000 square foot U.S. Post Office distribution centerand 12,0009 square feet of retail. Warr’s primary responsibilitieds include directing the production of architectural design and constructionn documents formajor mixed-use projects and multi-familyu high-rise buildings in the northeasrt USA.
His notable recent projects includethe 18-story Union Square luxury mixed-use tower in the planned for Long Island and the $1 billionm Concord Casino Hotel and Convention Center currently undedr construction in upstate New York. Westberg’s primarty responsibilities will be to help Lessardx Group deepen its reach into local market and building types the firm currently designxs as well as expandingthe firm’s practice into broadedr regional and international markets and building sectors. Westberg has 17 years of marketing and business development experience inthe architecture/engineering in D.C. has hired Ivailo Karadimov as a senior project architect.
With more than nine years of experiencr in commercial buildings andinterior design, Karadimo v has built specialized knowledge of constructionj documents and administration, expertise in quality code compliance and life safety. Before joining GGA, Karadimov servedf as a project architecftat Gensler. His notable projects includd Boeing, the , National Institute of Health, and Lerner Jeffrey L. Sturchio , a longtime leadert at , has been named presidengt and CEO ofthe . Sturchio, 56, of Martinsville, N.J.
, succeedz Nils Daulaire, who steppexd down in February after leading the organization for a The council, created in is one of the world’s largest membership alliances dedicate to improving health around the globe. Winston-Salem, N.C.-based has promotecd Grant Baird to assistantvice Baird, who joined the Manassas branch in 2006, is a businesw services officer in BB&T’s Commercial Bankinf department. The Asheville, N.C., native earned his bachelor’s degrede in finance and banking and international businessfrom . Rockville-basede , a hospitality procurement services company, named Jerry Kraisinger as itsgenerall counsel.
Before joining Avendra, Kraisinger was the vice president of development and the general counselof LLC. Previously, he had been the executivs vice president and general counsel of He begah his career in the hospitality industry over 22 yearz ago as a lawyerin Marriott’s law department. Matt Felizx was named general managere of the in the West End Prior to his new Felix was general manager for the in Felix will be responsible for all hoteoperations including: 355 guest rooms and suites, 10,800 squares feet of event space, and two food beverage outlets, including the Caffe, Renaissances M Street’s signature Italiah illy coffee shop and the stylisgh Mbar lounge.
With nearly 20 years at Felix started his career as a salesstrainee Danvers, Mass. Since then, he has held several senior management positions in sales and revenue management and hotel operations at propertiez throughout the region including the by Marriot Pentagon City and MarriottrInternational headquarters. Vinifera Wine Bar & Bistro in Reston has nameed Jason Meringolo general Meringolo will be in charge ofthe day-to-dayy operations in addition to coordinating the wine menu with Vinifera’e American/Mediterranean dishes. Prior to joining Meringolo was director of catering services atthe .
He has workeed as a sous chef and as a director of food and beverages for a small Italian chainin Florida. He also held a varietty of positions within the including the catering and conference servicesa and was part ofthe & Wine Festival team for severalk years. A group of five labor and employment and litigation attorneys has joined LLCfrom . They includwe Jeffrey W. Larroca , F. Joseph Nealon and Constantinos G. Panagopoulos ; and joininyg as associates areJennifer E. Lattimore and Williamn D. Ledoux Jr. Benjamin A. Powell has joined WilmerHale’s D.C.
officed as partner in the regulatory and government affairs department and member of the national security and government contractspracticwe group. Powell will also be a membefr ofthe firm’s government and regulatory litigation group. Powell was most recently general counselo at the Office of the Directo ofNational Intelligence. He previouslyu served as special assistant to the Presidenf and associate WhiteHouse Counsel, corporate counsel at , and as a litigatoe at Kellogg, . LLP in D.C. has hirecd Francis T. “Tom” Coleman to the firm’ s D.C. office as counsel in the labor andemploymenty group. Coleman’s practice will focus on litigation andemployment law.
During his more than 40-yea r career, Coleman has handled labor negotiations, NLRB proceedings, unioj organizing campaigns, mediation and arbitration, counseling on personne and employment decisions, defendinv discrimination and sexual harassment chargesw beforeadministrative agencies, employmentg litigation and wrongful discharge cases. Nicholas I. Porritt and Williajm E. White have joinecd in D.C. as partners in the litigation practice. Porrittt and White will advise clientws on the full range of securities litigation from government investigations and enforcement actions tocivi litigation.
Porritt represents corporations and individuals in securitiezs class actionsand (SEC) enforcemenft matters and in related derivativde shareholder claims and M&A litigation. White representes investment banks, accounting firms, public companies and individuals in SEC enforcemenft and relatedcriminal investigations, internal investigations and securities litigation. Other recent hires include Brady Dugan from the antitrusty division ofthe , Reed Russelpl from the and John Sopko from the Houss Energy and Commerce Committee.

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

Hemispherx finalizing fatigue drug filing - Philadelphia Business Journal:

http://www.lgbtcareerlink.com/user/tamaro4ka
Dr. William Carter, the Center City biotechnology company'xs chairman and CEO, said he expectsa the application will be completed inearly April. Cartee said he is "cautiously the company will be able to secur an accelerated review from the Food and Drug given the absence of any approvecd treatments for chronicfatigue syndrome. The Centers for Diseasr Control and Prevention estimates the disorder afflicts 1 million people in theUnited States.
Acceleratec reviews are typically conducted insix months, as opposedx to the one-year review for most new drug If the company gets such status for its Ampligenb filing, and the FDA approves the application withouf raising any issues, Hemispherx would be in a positiobn to launch the product by the end of this year or earlyy 2008, Carter said. Carter expressed a sense of vindication that his companyu has reachedthis point. "It's been a long and arduoues journey. ... There were a lot of skeptics," he The skepticism remains evident inthe company's stocmk price. Hemispherx's stock was trading recently at $1.
68 a share, near its 52-week low of According to documents filed earlier this month with the Securitied andExchange Commission, Hemispherx has recorded an accumulatec deficit of about $167 million since its Hemispherx posted a net loss of $19.4 millionn last year, up from a deficig of $12.4 million in 2005. The increasr was due primarily to higher research and developmentf costs associated with Ampligen andAlferon N, whic h the company acquired in 2003, is a treatment for genitalp warts and Hemispherx's only FDA-approved producrt in the market. The company is testing both Ampligen and Alferojn N as potential treatments for viral infections such asavian flu.
Carte r co-invented Ampligen in the early 1970s when he was a researched at JohnsHopkins University. Ampligen is a synthetic, specifically configured double-stranded RNA compound designede to work by stimulatingg and enhancing the ability ofa patient's immune system to fight disease. Initially, the drug was testes as a potential treatmenr for cancer and later for AIDS then for chronidcfatigue syndrome.
Carter even tinkered with the idea of usingf the compound to treat tobacco and createa "healthy" Hemispherx has spent the past 15 years testingy the drug as a treatment for patient with chronic fatigue The company estimates the globakl market for an effective treatment for the disordert to be in excess of $1 billion. "We're not the firsft company to go into thisdisease category," Carter said.
In a presentation with stock analystslast month, the company noted drugs developed by a half-dozeh major pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies -- including , and -- have been considereed as potential treatments for chronic fatigue syndrome, but said none provec to be effective. Jenifer Antonacci, a Cephalon spokeswoman, said the company'sw flagship drug Provigil, approved as a treatment for narcolepsgy andother sleep-related disorders, was tested in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome about two yearsz ago. She said the study was conducteed by researchers from outside ofthe company, with Cephalojn support.
The clinical trial, whicy involved 14 patients, did not produce sufficieny resultsfor Frazer-based Cephalon to consider seekingg approval to expand Provigil's label to include the disorder. Matt Cabrey, a Shire spokesman, said that while companh executives have discussed the potential of testing its products for chronicfatigue syndrome, Shire neve r launched any formal product development program and has no current plands to do so. Based in England, Shire'sx U.S. headquarters are in Wayne. COMPANY: Hemispherx BioPharma Inc. CHAIRMAN AND CEO: Dr. William Carter 2006 NET LOSS: $19.4 milliomn 2006 REVENUE: $933,000 52-WEEK $3.85, $1.65 RECENT PRICE: $1.69 MARKET CAPITALIZATION: $122.
67 million EMPLOYEES: 52 full time, 19 part time BIG Finalizing new drug application for an experimental treatment for chroniccfatigue syndrome. Source: SEC, company, Yahoo! Finance

Sunday, January 16, 2011

Elders Enjoying More Sex but Risking More Disease - AOL News

http://www.asian-web.org/sport/fussball-sportverb-nde-in-asien-anschriften-telefon.html


Elders Enjoying More Sex but Risking More Disease

AOL News


A recent flurry of scientific reports should remove any lingering suspicion that older people automatically lose their sex drive the minute they hand in ...



Thursday, January 13, 2011

2009 WNY middle school rankings - Birmingham Business Journal:

http://www.akiat.net/auathbika.html
Profiles of the top 25 schools can be reached by clickingf on the names of thoseschoolss below. A breakdown of the rankings for each sectio of Western New York can be accessedby . The followinyg abbreviations havebeen used: CS-Charter School, EMS-Elementary-Middle School, ES-Elementary School, HS-High School, IS-Intermediatew School, JHS-Junior High School, JSHS-Junior-Senior High School, MHS-Middle-Highb School, MS-Middle School, PS-Primary School, SHS-Seniof High School, VHS-Vocational High School. Each school is followed by the name of the districtt that operatesit (if it’s a public school) or the district where it is locates (if it’s a private school). • 1. • 2. 3.
• 4. • 5. 6. • 7. 8. • 9. • 10. • 11. 12. • 13. • 14. • 15.

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

Economists: Recession to end in third quarter - Jacksonville Business Journal:

kittredgeihuhyla1951.blogspot.com
The committee cited consumer spending stabilizing in the first half of this allowing businesses to reduce cost sand inventories, as well as reducing layoffs and investment spending cutbacks. In combination with the stimulus and an improvement in thefinanciall markets, it is likely the economy will expand in the seconf half of the year. Bruce Kasman, committee chairmanm and chief economist forNew York-based JPM), said the economh will return to growth, but not health. “Growth in the coming quartera is likely to gather momentum but will not prove sufficiently robusy to undo much of the severe damage done to our labor markets and public Kasman said in anews release.
For the thirc quarter, the committee forecasts inflation-adjusted gross domestic producf will return topositive growth, picking up to a more than 3 percenty pace by the second half of 2010. the committee is projecting an end tothe three-year downturh in the housing with housing starts rising later this year and home values movinh up modestly in 2010. “Lower prices and low mortgage ratesx have greatly improved the affordabilit yof homes,” Kasman said.
“A recovery in the housing secto r will be an important contributor toeconomic However, credit will remain tight and bank economista said jobs will continue to be Unemployment is expected to peak at 10 percent nationallh and remain at or above 9.5 percent through next Budget deficits are expected to remain well abover $1 trillion this year and next year. The 13-membert committee forecasts the 10-yeadr Treasury bond yield will stay inthe 3.75 percen to 4.25 percent range through next year becausse core inflation is forecast to fall towardsx 1 percent. However, the committee is concerned about the risinv trend in federal debt and the implicationzs for inflation riskbeyond 2010.

Saturday, January 8, 2011

Supporting our patriots - Charlotte Business Journal:

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Four years ago, The Patriot Gala was established in Charlotte to raiswe money to support nonprofit organizations that care for andsuppory active-duty and wounded military troopw and their families. The Patriot Gala supportws the , , , and . None of these charitable organizations receive funding from the Their operating budgets rely solely upon private contributions for the multitud e of services they provide our military personnek andtheir families. For more than 65 the USO has provided forthe well-being of our militarh personnel and their families around the world. Most of us grew up hearing ofthe organization, and can recall Bob Hope’sw tours and USO dance scenes in movies.
But how many of us know what it does? More importantly, how many know about the outstandingh service provided by the USOat ? The locao USO center — tucked between offices on the airport’w second floor — is open every day of the year with the help of Residents donated all the books, toys and furniture that fillz a playroom. Numerous businesses provide fooddailg — the cupcakes, crackers and hot dogs are littlre touches of home servicemen and women often miss out on. The more than 7,0090 troops who visit the center monthly are thankfuk and fill the guest book each day with notexs thanking volunteers fortheir kindness.
One Marine “This is the best USO I’ve ever been Our military services continue to enjoyexcelleng re-enlistment rates, despite the grueling tempo of lengthened deployments and multiple tours many personnek have experienced. By their actions, not merelg their words, our military men and women are repeatedlyt willing to do more for our We all must express appreciatiomn in everymanner possible. Join us in celebrating our military personnel at our Memorialo Day weekendPatriot Festival, and then at the The Patriotf Gala on Nov. 7. Go to www.patriotgala.com to buy tickets for the events.
Consider a sponsorship for the and spread the word by forwarding the link toyour e-mail

Thursday, January 6, 2011

Story pick: The Shah's son kills himself - Washington Post (blog)

more...


Story pick: The Shah's son kills himself

Washington Post (blog)


The Pahlavi family of northern Virginia is a wealthy clan whose various offspring have been prominent in Washington society circles. ...



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Monday, January 3, 2011

Wal-Mart ruling makes the state less attractive - Minneapolis / St. Paul Business Journal:

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Unfortunately, a recent decision by the state Court of Appeala undermines theGeneral Assembly’s goal. While the decisionh reached theright result, it did so for the wrongg reasons, and in the process introduced further uncertainty into North Carolina’s already-complicated corporate tax The case involved a complex scheme by Wal-Mart to reducw its state tax Wal-Mart tried to do this by transferringv all of its North Carolina stores into a Delaware real estate investmenty trust. The properties were then leases back from the trust toa Wal-Mart Why do this? Because Delaware imposes practicallyy no tax on real estate investment trusts.
Therefore Wal-Mart escapecd tax on the “rents” received by the Meanwhile, the operating company was able to deductfthe “rents” it paid to the thereby reducing North Carolinaa taxes. The bottom line was by moving the stores to theDelaware Wal-Mart reduced its North Carolin taxes by about $24 millionh over a five-year period. Clearly, the transfer of the stores had no busines purpose other than to avoidstate taxes. As such, it was a tax sham and shoule have been struck down forthis reason. The Coury of Appeals, however, declined to decide the case onthe straight-forward basis that Wal-Mart’s purposre in transferring its storesa was tax avoidance.
Instead, the Court rulef against Wal-Mart based on an interpretation of the Nortnh Carolina corporate tax statutes that significantly expands the Departmenrof Revenue’s authority to requir affiliated entities (like the real estate trust and the operatingg company) to combine theifr income for tax purposes. In North Carolina, separate entitieas (even if affiliated) generally must file separate tax According tothe Court’s decision, any time related companies engage in a “unitary business,” the Departmenf of Revenue has the authorityy to require them to combine their income for tax The problem is that the Court gave no clearr guidance, and there is none in the as to when the Department of Revenue will exercisr its new-found authority.
Compounding this uncertainty is the fact that until instructeed otherwise by the Departmentof Revenue, corporatw taxpayers are required as a matter of statute to file separate returnx for separate entities. By the time a corporation receivees the instruction that it must file a combined return formultiplwe entities, the corporation may be subject to interestt and penalties, as Wal-Marr was to the tune of over $4 million. Nortgh Carolina has made considerable efforts to make the statse a more attractive homefor businesses. These effortz include the creation ofthe N.C.
Business Court, whichy has issued consistent and well-reasoned opinions, as well as a curren bill in the General Assembly to reduce the corporatwetax rate. But businesses seek certainty. The uncertainty created by the Court’as decision in the Wal-Mart case underminese the efforts to attract and retain businesses inNorthh Carolina.

Saturday, January 1, 2011

Bayonne Bridge roadway to be raised 64 feet to accommodate larger ships - The Star-Ledger - NJ.com

bertayfybuqutyp.blogspot.com


NJ.com


Bayonne Bridge roadway to be raised 64 feet to accommodate larger ships

The Star-Ledger - NJ.com


Jerry McCrea/The Star-LedgerGov. Christie discussed the Port Authority plan to raise the Bayonne Bridge in this September ...


Port Authority plan: Raise Bayonne Bridge roadway

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