Veterans Affairs Now Owns Largest Genomic Database In World

Veterans Affairs MVP Genome

Holy Batman, the Department of Veterans Affairs “Million Veteran Program” genomic database just eclipsed 500,000 veteran volunteers making it the biggest in the world.

The database, launched in 2011, catalogs the DNA extracted from veterans who have volunteered for the program. Researchers believe the database may help solve mysteries that have eluded researchers in the past in disease prevention and treatment.

When veterans volunteer for the program, they provide researchers secure access to their electronic health records. They also agree to be contacted about future research. Samples of their data are supposedly coded to protect their identity.

Perhaps that explains why your VHA health care records from CPRS are such a mess? Rather than focus on making sense to outside readers, VA has created an extrapolation system engineered to make research easy?

In 2011, I spoke with some of the inside VA contract officers responsible for coordinating deals with government contractors.

They lauded the program that was said to revolutionize medical research.

When I asked if a participant veteran can look at the research or use the system to evaluate the likelihood of a disease or injury being service-connected, they blinked at me blankly.

No one had apparently thought that veterans who are making the research database possible may also want to see how their information is being used.

The contract officers did not have an answer.
But a quick look at the Million Veteran Program (MVP) website explains:

“It will not be possible to give participants results of the blood tests. Due to regulations under the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA), we are legally unable to return research results to participants. Results from the blood tests will not be placed in participants’ electronic health record. Participants should discuss any health concerns with their doctor or other health care provider, who can arrange any necessary and appropriate tests.”

Would it kill VA to make data like this available to the veteran in the event that it benefits their disability compensation claim?

How is it that Veterans Benefits Administration is still using antiquated data on TBI and related while they brag about how advanced their research is out of the other side of their mouth?

Source: https://www.providencejournal.com/news/20160821/veterans-journal-million-veteran-program-is-now-largest-genomic-database-in-world

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34 Comments

  1. Hi, haven’t been here in a while as I’ve been taking care of my husband. The VA keeps sending this crap p to our home and I distrust these crooks so much I would never a allow this with my husband.

    These are the same people that have diagnosed my husband with a genetic predisposition to kidney and colon cancer, with no testing and he would be the first in his family to have ever had this. This is just another area of government control in our lives. I would not trust the VA with a wooden nickel.

    Sign up if you wish but they lie, cheat, steal a nd abuse vets… not my husband in this life time.

    Hope everyone is well. I’m keeping up but ju st way too busy with him to stop.

    Love you guys!

    1. That’s interesting. If they ask you again, you should say you might be interested in this testing, then ask them how they know he has a genetic predisposition to those diseases.

      Seems to me they have already done some testing.

  2. The article that Ben links to his article provides the following quotes from Dr. David Shulkin the Under Secretary for Health Veterans Health Administration. To me it makes it very clear Dr. Shulkin is only concerned with research and not Veterans Health.

    “We believe MVP will accelerate our understanding of disease detection, progression, prevention and treatment by combining this rich clinical, environmental and genomic data,” said Dr. David Shulkin, VA Undersecretary for Health. “MVP will allow the nation’s top researchers to perform the most cutting edge science to treat some of the nation’s most troubling diseases.”

    As one of Ben’s articles earlier this year points out that researchers apparently concluded Veterans were not humans. This troubling conclusion allowed the participant researchers to fail to seek informed consent from the 572 recipients of Kidney Transplants involving experimentally harvested kidneys.

    How can anyone trust the Veterans Administration with their health care?

    Clearly the undersecretary is primarily concerned about using veterans and their medical problems as nothing more than non-human laboratory animals. The money provided Via Congress by the taxpayers not going to maintain systems that benefit Veterans with their health care but instead going to provide medical researchers with access to our records. Solely for the benefit of big Pharma, Medical device Manufactures, Surgical researchers, … et cetera.

    Again, I have to ask, how can anyone trust the Veterans Administration with their health care?
    ~
    ~
    Prior article by Ben that I mentioned can be found at:

    “Portland VA: Human Experiments Unethical, No Consent”, by Benjamin Krause, “DisableVeterans.org”, April 27, 2016

    “https://www.disabledveterans.org/2016/04/27/portland-va-human-experiments-unethical-no-consent/”

    1. Shulkin is saying nothing more than a sales pitch.
      Hey Dr. Bigbucks, now do we have a deal for you!
      For the low, low rate of only 100,000 a year, you can have a license to access this data. Of course access cannot be exclusive, but your findings are completely proprietary and exclusive to you.
      Included with this great deal is access to the very medical, treatment and exposure records of each of the test subjects, so you will know exactly what exposures have resulted in detailed genetic changes or abnormalities and resultant diseases. Be it Agent Orange, Burn Pits, Sarin gas or depleted uranium, you can have it all for this amazingly low price.

      ACT NOW! And we will throw in the ability to sort by location and gender FOR NO EXTRA COST!!!

      Please sign here, and take note of the fine print attesting you will keep confidential exactly what data you have access to.

      Oh, and that percentage of any profits made is just something our lawyers wanted added. Nothing to worry about, really.

      PS. For an additional 50,000 per year, we stand ready to perform any additional medical or pharmaceutical test on any subject you desire, and as often as YOU want!

      1. Hey 91Veteran,

        Her is another scary thought about the VA and this Genomic Database.

        In 2008, by China’s own admission, over 95 per cent of transplants came from executed prisoners. Many of the organs are taken from prisoners of conscience, mainly the persecuted Falun Gong religious minority.

        This is due to the Falun Gong abstinence of drug or alcohol use and their belief in maintaining a healthy diet. In China when Falun Gong members are arrested a blood sample is taken at the time of their arrest.

        Recently published research by author Ethan Gutmann, former Canadian politician David Kilgour and lawyer David Matas claims China is performing 60,000 to 100,000 organ transplants a year. They say this dwarfs the Communist regime’s estimates of about 10,000.

        Here in our country thanks to a whistle blower and news coverage by a number of news organization including AJ Lagoe and Steve Eckert at KARE 11 we know that thousands of Veterans have died as a result of the mismanagement of the Veterans Administrations transplant program.

        Ben’s recent article on the coverage Titled: “VA Organ Transplant Scandal Exposed By Whistleblower”, August 17, 2016 by Benjamin Krause. Provides more details.

        Is this new Genomic Database also going to be used as a listing of possible donors for organs?

        Given the VA’s history and the direction of the current organ transplant program seems geared to prevent Veterans from receiving organ transplants who is going to Benefit?

        Will the veteran donors die of natural causes or is the VA going to assist them and who is going to receive the harvested organs?

  3. And some of y’all on here, plus almost all others in America, believe the German Nazi’s (medical and scientific experiments) actually lost the war! Not so!
    How many were brought here? Not all were brought to trial. How many continued experimenting on U.S. citizens?
    What is occurring after WWII is just a continuation of what occurred during the war!
    Think about all the chemicals, biological and others being used for war and civilian use!
    (For example: If y’all aren’t aware, Agent Orange was used next to railroad tracks until 1972! Where foliage was a problem!)

    Yesterday I mentioned a movie called, “War Dog”!
    One of the ‘lines’ in it is,
    “War is a business! Anyone thinking otherwise is either a fool or stupid!”
    As the “gun runners” were brokering a deal, ie; weapons and lots of ammo for money!

    We can see our military complex readying for something big. As we can also see other countries, China for one, readying for something big! As what’s occurring in the South China Sea, and was reported on today in “Millitary.com”!

    What’s it going to be brothers and sisters!?

  4. Not to worry at all folks. This genetic soup is just the VA attempting to produce a never-ending-self-replicating meat loaf for their no star cafeterias in VAMC’s.

    For this to be successful the VA need only genetically clone *any* AFGE Upper Management and you will have that loafing meat. 🙂 Just make sure not to clone the VA OIG Master Masturbator please! 🙂

    1. Or else what.? All they have to say. When asked about it. Under council’s advise. I plead the fifth. !

      Work’s every time. !

  5. I went to the MyHealthyVet web site on this and clicked on MVP. Then I clicked on Participation and scrolled to the question: How will the survey completed by participants be stored? It says each sample is given a Certificate of Confidentiality and it also more or less states that the sample cannot be subpoenaed or used by any other agency. Wheter any of that means anything or not I don’t know because we all know how the VA likes to do!

    1. A “Certificate of Confidentiality” to the VA is about as noteworthy as whatever prize was found in that particular VA employee’s cereal box that morning and just as forgettable.

      The VA refuses to even follow the Laws and Regulations set-forth for the VA to follow so I hardly foresee the VA honoring any such “Certificate of Confidentiality”. Especially when I have been told in past by VA medical staff that we Vets have NO privacy at the VA. (honestly was told that a few times)

      Maybe the VA Claims Process is going full-blown “Minority Report” with our DNA. Any DNA found to be “Degenerate” (the term the Nazi’s utilized), will be promptly shredded, along with any living tissue remaining. It could happen, since the VA just LOVES their shredders.

      1. Yeah…that comment was a ‘bit’ dark, but this entire idea of the VA doing ‘research’ on Veteran’s DNA means each of the top 20 highest bidding Big Pharma companies as well as herbicide companies (DuPont, anyone), will all have their hands on that DNA.
        In the same sense I would not trust the VA going stem cell research with Vets.

        Why?
        Because it seems very logical for the VA to work on what they have problems with rather than a shiny PR Campaign that ultimately is the VA dangling the Veteran Carrots out for the highest bidders to get started. No thanks.
        What’s next? Science Fiction again predicting the future and VA is responsible for “Terminator” series in their collaboration with Raytheon to produce the best DNA Modified Super Soldier from the very best Veteran pices and parts?
        Do not laugh. People scoffed at the idea of the Space Shuttle way back in the artist’s mind of original 5 cent comic book called Buck Rogers.
        However, the VA’s Terminator Veterans would become self-aware of the smell of fraud and corruption and attack all AFGE VA Employees into submission for the “Terminator: Judgment Day” by Vets. 🙂

        I would not trust the VA to feed my cat, let alone change the litter box responsibly.

        Rant for today Out.

  6. Newborn DNA screening program in all the States/ District of Columbia/ its territories/Worldwide turn the samples over to 3rd parties unless you sign a form to have the sample destroyed. Held in office buildings are the DNA databank of every person born. Law enforcement can request it. Private companies can buy it.

    VA is not the only go to place for researchers but when the DoD is involved its concerns are weapons, staying a step ahead of friend-enemy’s & eventually weeding out undesirable DNA before it has a chance to enlist just like was done if you had flat feet or put them on the front lines as disposable or choosing from birth who will be required to Join, who will make the perfect soldier. Think Seal Team DNA perfecto. VAisLying, millions & trillions of dollars unaccounted for, corporations are lying, hell the whole world lies.

    The Supreme Court ruled in 2013 that human genes found in nature cannot be patented. They found that synthetic forms of DNA are patent eligible. China is surpassing us with few restrictions on their research. We must be first to build AI[Artificial intelligence] warbots & this medical/other research will indeed be very valuable. The promise that ‘coding’ keeps individuals identity secret is a myth. The databanks that are not shared, if there are any of those, I hope have safeguards from being ‘hacked’.

  7. Since Kaiser is the military, I just want to add to this that many of the female employees (most of the employees are female and minorities) were given vaccines, even when pregnant. The other is kaiser demanding that I give blood for a test that already had been done by them some years earlier upon filing for an employment ) or get fired. Kaiser stated in that demand letter of having to take the blood test that it was their policy and state law but no policy or law was on that interdisciplinary action demand letter given. It is too bad that I didn’t know more at the time to not give out any blood or be subjected to taking vaccines. Many of us ended up sick later on with no etiology known, It’s all still a muster. I plan on leaving my girls some money for an independent autopsy to find out the mysterious ailments I’ve suffered. because of what kaiser gave to me with out my consent.

    Our UNION was SEIU which is one of the biggest unions in the country as well as being in the VA. and they did nothing on my behalf to stop the disciplinary demands. or action to be taken had I not given my kaiser my blood sample. I believe too, that because kaiser is military, they have free access to countless employees at any given time for experimentation to collect AND OR harm. As far as I am concerned this is nothing but NAZI crap and I believe this with everything I am and the faschists bastards have infiltrated every level of government/military and making many billions if not more just like they did in WW11, MAKING bucu bucks while harming millions. I cannot think of anyone else other than there are mobsters involved too right here in our own country. This is where the unions come in.
    I would say that I Hope that they all rot in hell, but that that is even too good for the bastards.

  8. a lot of veterans did not volunteer for this program i didn’t and if i found out there this particular survey that my blood samples where collected i will go to court over this. am not a felon nor did i sign any release documents stating that am a test subject either . veterans i would do the same . ben might have another story

  9. It would be interesting to see if your name/DNA is on the VA’s list of “Volunteers”??

  10. How can they use antiquated data while claiming cutting edge research?
    Easy. Sell access to the research data to whoever is willing to pay for it. Nobody pays for old TBI data.
    Why not give access to veterans? Well, that would negate any exclusive access to those willing to pay for it.
    Why give access to veterans when they could potentially find out they have had a serious health problem for years, and the VA missed it in favor of a prescription to treat a symptom. Wouldn’t want additional FTCA’s.

    Finally, how many veterans are truly given the choice of participating? How many are included in this genome database without their knowledge from the frequent blood draws?

    Typically VA providers are pushing the latest fad research project whenever you see your PCP. I have never heard of this, but wonder if I have “volunteered” anyway.

  11. VA receives tax money to provide safe, dignified health care to military veterans. Providing FREE research to for profit corporations, who SELL health care that veterans can NOT afford, is NOT in VA’s charter. NOTE TO VA: First things first, answer the phones, tell the truth and no alcohol, no cocaine and no marijuana while on duty. Then we can talk about subsidizing your corporate cronies.

  12. The Nazis were also keenly interested in determining the appropriate human through genetics. They correctly believed that any individual derermined to be genetically “faulty” would be an unnecessary burden on their government system. They believed also that using genetic information would improve the human condition. They also created Protcol Akton T4 Committees which were formed to determine who had a life worth living and who would benefit from relief from that life. Many persons were flagged by this committee.

    The doctors of the time were at odds with each other. The doctors in private practice outside of VA, oops I mean Nazi, were aghast at the idea that doctors were attempting to manipulate nature for the beneift of the larger Nazi agenda. Nazi doctors inside of the German border were protected by government regulation and a government that assumed responsibility for any wrongdoing of their doctors.

    The doctors collecting this data about humans and eugenics were protected from any wrongdoing the VA, oops I mean Nazis. The Nazi doctors had grandiose notions about using the genetics to improve the human condition, and to relieve those suffering through a life not worth living of that suffering.

    I wonder if the VA Nazis (oops, slipped there) can be trusted to use this information for good instead of evil? in my personal history I have witnessed uncountable VA officials engage in misconduct and falsehood. Brother Nesler of VA Lies, Vets Die fame noticed the same thing. In fact, ao many Americans have noticed that VA cannot be trusted that they have funded VA Lies billboardsVA, there have been countless activists fighting this, and too many US presidents to name who have identified publicly the same thing.

    So my question is this; who among us reading these words believes that VA can be trusted to keep promises? What stops VA from transfering this data to anyone within the federal government for ANY use they deem in the best intereats of Homeland Security? Can VA keep their promises?

    If you believe they can,
    I have a pill for that and know a safe place you can go. Just put down the iPad and step away slowly….

  13. Wouldn’t it be really *swell* in an ideal world if the freaking VA would concentrate on Gulf War Illness, Agent Orange, PTSD, Veteran Suicide Prevention, instead of branching-out and reinventing the wheel?

    “Reinventing The Wheel”…I say this because as aforementioned, “The Human Genome Project” which started back in 80’s to present day has ALREADY done EXTENSIVE Genetic Probability Mapping and Historical Data that is even utilized in computer online apps and companies that show these markers.
    Hell, the entire medical field is using data from that already paid for program, which is International, mind you, in current blood tests to determine if presence of certain tumor and cancer risk factors….so WHY is the VA NOT using data already available? Well, it HAS to be for the $$$$$$$$$ grab, none less and maybe some new “anti-chemical weapon antidotes” akin to what all were given stateside and overseas-bound for Gulf War, which some even speculate GAVE some Vets Gulf War Syndrome.

    The VA handling Veteran “volunteers” DNA. What could possibly go wrong? May want to keep an eye on your file name because if they mix-up your DNA you may find your name is now Elaine instead of Eli. 🙂

    Maybe the VA Witch Dr.’s are just cooking something special on the slab in their lab & getting ready for Halloween Hungry, Hungry Hippos? 🙂 Genetically Modified Hippos (GMH)

    1. Namnibor,

      The non VA medical profession is governed by a arcane notion that medical ethics play a role in decisions about studies like these. There are huge ethical concerns and therefor constraints about how this data is collected, from whom, informed consent, and a litany of ethical concerns validated by historical reference. Humans have learned that physicians must adhere to a strict ethical standard. The grotesque consequences receal themselves again and again throughout history when we dispense with this idea.

      VA medical professionals are not constrained by the same ethical concerns. From what I can see they do not factor ethics into any decision at all. All decisions at VA tend to be reactionary, ill conceived, poorly executed, then covered up to cover the asses of the jack asses involved. This is a core VA value and is a direct indicator that medical ethics have no place in government because nobody in government will ever suffer consequences for violatiing ethics.

      It is like posting a speed limit, but the sign underneath informs motorists that all VA drivers cannot be cited for speeding. VA drivers promise they will not speed, or at least their
      public relations firm makes the promise. Will VA drivers speed? hmmmm, let us think this through; no ticket, no consequences if they wreck and kill somebody, and VA will replace the car if it is damaged from speeding, and will put a DBC flag on any veteran officer that complains about it. hmmmmm.

      The VA data is unique because they have no ethical constraints with consequences. So they take from vets something unique and individual, but who among those vets understands how their God born identity is to be used? Who among them understands the full extent of what they have given to the government? Can the government use the data to develop more effective chemical weapons? Yep. Can the samples be used to clone? Yep. Can the data be used to deny care? Yep.

      Namibor, the data they are excited about is being gathered outside of ethical constraints and so it unique in that respect. It is undeniable that the medical experiments the Germans did on Jewish victims advanced medical knowledge decades. The data the VA has gathered has a price tag and it is not cheap. Mark my words, a thing as valuable as a vast medical database gathered without normal ethical concerns will be seen as enormously valuable.

      The bad guys have already figure out how to exploit this treasure. Anything this valuable is not a secure thing. Unless the VA can be trusted.

      1. You being up a good point…using this database to deny care.

        What if I submit a claim for service connection, and the VA denies it claiming it is a pre-existing condition based on a genetic predisposition for a certain disease?
        This is a very real scenario.

        Some years ago, there was research into Gulf War research, several projects dealing with genetic testing. Early research was showing some Gulf War veterans were showing signs of a genetic predisposition to being affected in a certain manner by vaccines we were given, or by chemical agent exposures.
        If you had genetic marker X, you would be more likely to exhibit disease Y if exposed to vaccine D.

        The question that was always out there was, you might be affected with X if you got vaccine A, but what if you got vaccine A and B? Or vaccine A and C? Or if you got vaccine B and were exposed to chemical D?

        What synergistic effects are there from these multiple exposures?

        The question seemed to be telling vets, you can claim a disease is caused by vaccine A for the rest of your life, but we will claim that disease will only result if you were given vaccine A, exposed to chemical D and had chicken loaf for breakfast on Tuesdays.

    2. 91Veteran,

      The likely scenario of denying care is far more insideous and luring for them. Let’s say your genes show a likelihood of a terminal illness which you have yet to contract.

      When the question comes up, “Can we give this man a life saving transplant?” you know what the answer will be. A lifetime drinker and alcoholic cannot get a transplant until they demonstrate abstinence. The answer to the above question is, “…yes, because the alcoholic has shown abstinence and the transplant will not therefor be wasted.”

      But now switch the question for the same transplant but genetics show a likelihood of terminal Alzheimers Disease, but the veteran has not manifested symptoms yet. Do you see the ethical dilemna? If it is reasonable to deny the alcoholic a transplant because of disease, then it is but a short step in logic to conclude the same thing about a person that is predisposed to Alzheimers Disease shown in their genes. “Contraindicated” is the death sentence that is stamped in a patients medical record who needs a transplant.

      This is exactly and precisely why this database falls squarely into the ethical nightmare that it can become. The road to Hell is paved with good intentions. I wonder where this road will lead?

  14. I NEVER trusted the VA before. What makes VA think I’ll begin to trust them now!
    Like namnibor and Seymore eluded to, how many vets were actually “volunteers”?

  15. The VA can try to boast all they want but The Human Genome Project is REAL SCIENCE, rather than the junk science the VA is attempting to perform and you cannot tell me that these Veteran profiles will not be utilized to help develop newer BioWeapons for the DoD Industrial Complex. Hell, the VA might even GIVE unsuspecting Vets a little something ‘extra’ while supposedly taking a “genetic sample”, **just** to see how that Veteran fairs with that new BioWeapon…but not to worry, the unsuspecting Veteran will help develop a compound to combat said effects BUT the unsuspecting Veteran will more than likely NOT receive said “cure” because it will be sold to highest bidder then sold back to the VA for an exorbitant $$$ amount, making it unobtainium for the “volunteer”.

    Also, what’s to say Veterans are even “volunteering”? Never stopped the VA or DoD before.

    Rest assured that the VA will find a way to turn your double helix DNA into a square knot any Navy Vet would be proud of! 🙂 That square knot made of your DNA comes with a complimentary “Joker Smile”. 🙂

    1. Now many suicides are not actually suicide. But the VA doing testing on new drugs and the dead veterans are the result.

      Something fishy here to me. 22 veterans commit suicide each day. Then changed to 20 a day.

      I personally. So not think that the suicide story. Is the real story. !

      I think the VA is using the veteran population as Ginny pigs and trial and error on the drug’s they use for mental health problems.

      That would be so easy. To accomplish. As veterans are not doctor’s and trust their care givers and take want ever medication they dish out.

      Sorry. But the track record of lieing by the VA and cover ups. I would put nothing past them.

      Big. Pharmaceuticals paying big buck’s for human testing. !

      Hell. If they are willing to falsify veterans record’s to show the veterans are receiving disability. !

      But the veterans ate sent letters stating their claim was denied. When In fact the claim had been approved hand those fund’s syphoned off into their own secret bank accounts.

      Of really amazes me on how veterans are dupped. Remember what I said a group of people can commit genocide and when caught They receive 10 ten year’s in prison. No more than ten year’s.

      If someone told you. If you go to jail for ten year’s. Federal prison and you stashed away say 25 million dollars

      And they know with good behavior you can get out early for GOOD behavior. Would you agree or at least think about it.

      Can you make. $ 25 million in 5 year’s on a government salary.

      They are thinking outside the box and so should we. What if it’s happening for real and the VA is getting away with murder.

  16. Anyone who listened to the VA and volunteered is a fool.

    Currently, DNA collection is mandatory in all fifty states for certain felony crimes, mostly sexual assaults and homicides. 47 states also require DNA samples to be taken from all convicted felons. Also, some states have also implemented mandatory DNA testing for juvenile offenders.

    Some states have even gone so far as to require mandatory DNA testing for all suspects who have been arrested. For example, in California, all suspects who have been arrested for a felony must submit to DNA testing. Some states may also require DNA sampling for certain misdemeanor crimes.

    Because of the fact that suspects may be required to submit to DNA testing even before they are found guilty, the constitutionality of DNA testing is often subject to debate.

    The Combined DNA Index System, also known as “CODIS”, is a type of DNA database. It uses computer systems to store DNA profiles that are generated by crime laboratories.

    The DNA profiles may be connected with either federal, state, or local criminal violations. CODIS provides authorities with the ability to browse the database in order to identify suspects to a crime. Thus, if a person has previously submitted to DNA testing, the record of the DNA profile is likely being held in the CODIS system.

    Message to anyone who volunteered. You will not receive any benefit from submitting your DNA and more likely then not have just opened the door to be used as nothing but a Laboratory animal.

    To believe even for a moment that your DNA will not be added to the CODIS Data Base if foolish.

    Oh and CODIS is the largest DNA data base used by law enforcement.

    1. Your comment brings a question.

      Suppose I knowingly or unknowingly participate in this database. Along comes a Dr. Shinazi type who is looking for a payday with a new pill, and he happens to find I and many other veterans have a genetic predisposition for a disease contracted in service.

      How quickly do you think a VA provider would act in convincing you the only treatment available just happens to be a new drug being pushed by someone looking for a payday?

    2. The DNA can also be used to see if you’re related to any criminal DNA database since it can seek out suspects with related DNA, such as brother ,father, sister, child. When you give your own you expose relatives too. They will have no say if a search is made to see similar genetic profiles.

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