Ever wanted to read up on interesting developments in science and medicine but found the content too monotonous or difficult to comprehend?
These articles break down new studies into concise, easy-to-understand language.
These articles break down new studies into concise, easy-to-understand language.
Melatonin in Improving IBS Symptoms
Crystal Ma, March 31 2024
Irritable Bowel Syndrome, or IBS, is a chronic condition that is one of the most common gastrointestinal (GI) disorders, affecting up to 15% of the United States population. This condition is characterized by symptoms such as abdominal pain, frequent bowel movements, and changes in stool consistency, causing constant discomfort for individuals affected. As IBS is a disorder in which symptoms vary among individuals, and there is no cure at the moment, current treatments do not fully satisfy all patients’ demands. As a one-size-fits-all treatment remains elusive, there is importance in seeking additional supplements or treatments which can be utilized in conjunction.
Fishy Business: Omega-3s Might be your Mood and Heart's BuddyCharissa Mak, March 31 2024
In a world where the relentless grip of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) and the weight of major depressive disorder (MDD) cast long shadows, a recent scientific exploration unveils a potential ray of hope for those navigating the intricate terrain where heart health meets mental well-being. Dive into the intriguing study that dares to ask: can omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFAs) be the game-changer for the somatic and fatigue symptoms affecting individuals facing the dual challenges of heart-related issues and depression?
The Neuroscience of Love and SeparationEleanor Gorham, March 31 2024
Does absence really make the heart grow fonder? In a recent study a group of researchers led by Dr. Anne F. Pierce conducted a study of voles to investigate the effects of “love” on brain chemistry. Their research provides insight into the relationship between romantic partners, social behavior, and dopamine, a brain chemical that makes you feel satisfaction and pleasure. They also investigated how periods of separation affected these social behaviors and dopamine release. Prairie voles were used to study these because of their monogamous and lifelong partnerships. The formation of these bonds are facilitated by mating, which triggers a release of dopamine and results in observable social preference for mates.
The Potential Future of Cancer TreatmentVarun Chafekar, March 31 2024
Proteins are an essential part of the body as they carry out most functions, such as metabolism and anabolism. However, like any machinery, they have to be dismantled and remade to ensure functionality and efficiency. This is where protein degraders come in. Humans use the ubiquitin-proteasome system, where proteins are tagged for destruction with tags called ubiquitin and then eaten by the proteasome. Certain protein degraders can harness this system to tag peptides involved in disease development for elimination, such as Proteolysis Targeting Chimera (PROTAC).
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The Potential for Weight Loss Drugs to Reduce InflammationMeli Renteria, March 31 2024
Inflammation is the body’s natural response against injury and infection, protecting against harmful events triggered by toxins, or injury. In acute situations, like cuts or infections, inflammation helps to heal and protect the body. However, chronic inflammation, which persists for several months or years, can be harmful and is linked to various health problems like heart disease, diabetes, and cancer. A recent finding has shown that glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs), can also reduce inflammation.
New Vaccine Based on DNA Scaffolding Improves ImmunityEmeline Wagner, March 31 2024
Vaccines are a method of training the immune system to recognize a disease by introducing it to an agent similar to the method of infection, but without the ability to harm the body. Many Americans are already familiar with this concept, especially given the recent vaccine protecting against Covid-19, a disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. One particularly effective form of vaccine is a particulate vaccine, which utilizes a protein scaffold called protein-based virus-like particles (P-VLP) mimicking the virus to deliver antigens or copies of the virus to B-cells: white blood cells that produce antibodies that fight against infection.
PTSD: Separating Sadness from TraumaLuke Porciuncula Gonzales, March 31 2024
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is defined as a disorder where recall of traumatic events leads to negative stimuli with significant effects on an individual’s well-being (American Psychiatric Association). Prior PTSD research has focused on the neural mechanisms underlying non personal memory; however, the correlation between traumatic and nontraumatic memories still remains unclear. In order to better understand this distinction, researchers from the Icahn School of Medicine designed a study to compare and contrast responses to traumatic and nontraumatic memories.
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New Alzheimer’s Drug Sees Success, FDA ApprovalBlake Schultz, December 29 2023
With the median age of Americans increasing, certain neurodegenerative diseases may be on the horizon for the aging population. Affecting an estimated 6.7 million Americans aged 65 and older, Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive neurological disorder that results in memory and cognitive decline. It is often characterized by confusion, forgetfulness and/or inability to perform daily functions. Despite the high prevalence (roughly one in ten seniors) and extreme effects on the most vulnerable members of the population, there is no cure for Alzheimer’s.
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Low Ovarian Reserve: Does this Impact the Ability to Give Birth?Autumn Jackson, December 29 2023
Many women have low ovarian reserve, which can affect their ability to have children. Generally, women are born with a set number of eggs and gradually lose these eggs as they grow older. Low ovarian reserve causes a woman to have fewer eggs than normal for her age, which may result in her having trouble having children without medical assistance. If a woman is experiencing infertility, doctors can perform tests to diagnose low ovarian reserve.
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New Insights in the Potential of Liposome-CRISPR TechnologyMeli Renteria, December 29 2023
You may have heard the excitement around CRISPR in the science world and may be wondering— what is it? ‘CRISPR’ stands for Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats. It is a genome editing tool that allows precise changes to DNA sequences, therefore correcting mutations and potentially treating various diseases. CRISPR/Cas9 technology is made up of two components: a Cas9 nuclease, functioning like molecular scissors that cleave DNA strands, and a guide RNA (gRNA), a series of nucleotides serving as a roadmap directing Cas9 where to cut.
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Trigger Warnings: Not As Helpful as You ThinkCrystal Hsueh, December 29 2023
Trigger warnings are alerts about content within a piece of text or media that may contain sensitive topics and themes related to the reader’s past negative experiences. The use of trigger warnings, also known as content warnings, has been increasingly encouraged throughout social media and online news sites. Advocates of trigger warnings argue that warnings help readers emotionally prepare for or have the opportunity to avoid distressing material, claiming that they are a necessary form of disability accommodation.
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The Effects of Physical Education on Academic PerformanceLuke Gonzales, December 29 2023
Physical education (PE) has become a staple in modern education due to its positive impact on the physical fitness of growing students. While many venerate PE for this attribute, few studies have been conducted on the effects of PE class on a student’s academic performance in other subjects. One recent study was conducted on this basis to investigate the effects of PE during different times of the school day.
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Medical Student Well-being: Insights and SolutionsSatvik Saripalli, December 29 2023
A recent study from Nature analyzed medical student’s well-being to determine causes of distress and possible solutions. Medical students often experience stress, burnout, and other indicators of distress which negatively affects their health. Researchers have linked these indicators to many factors such as low test scores and mistreatment from faculty. However, there are proposed solutions such as implementing pass/no-pass classes, increasing social interaction, and reducing unnecessary information in courses.
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Babies and their Super Immune ResponseEleanor Gorham, December 29 2023
Babies are known for a lot of things. One of them is being snotty, a trait sometimes found displeasing and unendearing. However, a new study has shown that this mucus provides a strong level of protection against COVID-19 infection. Compared to adults, infants and young children produce antibodies against COVID-19 that last longer and have an overall faster immune response to the virus. A healthy immune response has multiple parts to it: the innate immune response and the adaptive immune response.
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Polygenic Testing Produces Poor ResultsAndrew Camacho, December 29 2023
As disease screening becomes a more widely accessible tool for people to assess their health, it is becoming important to understand how reliable these preventative measures can be. A recent study conducted by University College London showed that polygenic testing yielded inaccurate and misleading results when employed in a large population. This study utilized the data published in a Polygenic Score Catalog from April 2022 for a secondary analysis by calculating detection and false positive rates.
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The Benefits and Risks of CaffeineWayne Chiang, December 29 2023
Caffeine is a widely available and consumed compound that is commonly found in coffee, tea, soft drinks, and more. More than 85% of the adult population in the US consume caffeine daily. It is often consumed for its properties as a stimulant, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and pain management and can be found in multiple over-the-counter medications. Due to caffeine's wide usage and few adverse effects, considerable research has been done on its potential medical benefits.
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Playing Video Games May Lower Depression SymptomsCrystal Ma, September 16 2023
Depression is a mood disorder that currently affects approximately one in every four American adults a year. Individuals with depression can experience symptoms such as constant feeling of sadness, suicidal thoughts and tendencies; these symptoms are felt at different intensities according to an individual’s level of depression. Subthreshold or mild depression, where individuals show some signs of depression, can quickly turn into major depression, a condition that significantly burdens one’s daily life.
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Forgot to Take Your Pills? This Medication Can Help With That.Kruthica Dama, September 16 2023
Pills, or small capsules with a measured amount of drugs inside, have become one of the most recognizable and common forms of medication. Advances in medicine have allowed patients to live longer with a better quality of health, yet when people don’t take their medicine regularly nor at the proper times, these benefits can be limited.
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Pollution and Influenza Amongst Expecting MothersAndrew Camacho, September 16 2023
Vulnerable populations, such as immunocompromised people, may suffer greatly from air pollution, especially in urban areas. In a recent study, a group of researchers determined that pregnant mothers were more likely to have a more severe reaction to influenza when exposed to ultrafine particles (UFP) in the air. This study was conducted on a group of pregnant mice who were subject to UFP exposure to test if the particles led to an abnormal immune reaction which increases infection severity.
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Could an Injection be the Answer to Obesity in Children?Sabrina Ghalambor, September 16 2023
Obesity has been a rising issue in the United States over the past few decades. Not only has it affected the health of over 42% of Americans, it has also affected nearly 20% of American children. There have been many initiatives in the past to encourage more activity and healthier eating for children over the last decade, such as First Lady Michelle Obama’s efforts to make school lunches more nutritious, but the problem still looms and poses a threat to the health of children across the US. However, the public conversation surrounding obesity has shifted over the last year due to a new medication that entered the scene: semaglutide.
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Hearing Loss and DementiaMichelle Yeung, September 16 2023
Dementia is a loss of cognitive thinking such as memory, emotions, and reasoning caused by failed nerve cell function. Some forms of dementia include Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and vascular dementia. Contrary to popular belief, dementia is not a part of normal aging. Yet, one in ten Americans age 65 and older have dementia. These people suffer from forgetfulness, difficulty concentrating or learning, mood shifts, and coordination issues. Recently, scientists have been exploring hearing loss as a risk factor for cognitive decline and dementia.
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A New Approach for Treating EpilepsyOlivia Zhou, September 16 2023
Epilepsy is a brain disorder in which sudden changes in the brain’s electrical activity cause recurrent seizures, which in turn manifest as involuntary changes in movement, sensation, or consciousness. For instance, seizures may range from a few muscle jerks to severe convulsions. While drug, diet, and surgery options exist for treating epilepsy, their use depends on restrictive criteria; for example, the diet treatment is mainly effective in children with a specific type of epilepsy. Similarly, surgery is only considered for specific types of epilepsy and would not result in major complications.
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New Drug for Type 2 Diabetes in the WorksAnnie Liang, September 16 2023
The occurrence of type 2 diabetes in America is no surprise, with more cases emerging within younger children and teens. Individuals with type 2 diabetes have issues with regulating sugar due to insulin resistance, leading to high blood sugar levels. While the disease currently has no cure, there are ways to manage the disease: exercise, maintaining a healthy diet, and other medications. To add on to the current standard of care, a drug called tirzepatide was recently approved for the treatment of type 2 diabetes and works by targeting naturally occurring hormones responsible for controlling blood sugar levels.
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Intratumoral Microbiome and its Role in CancerOlivia Zhou, April 2 2022
The tumor microenvironment (TME)—or the environment around the tumor consisting of numerous components such as different kinds of cells, blood vessels, or extracellular matrix—plays a significant role in the development of cancer. Complex interactions between the tumor and the TME contribute to cancer progression.
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Effects of Aerobic Exercise on Parkinson’s Disease SymptomsCrystal Ma, April 2 2022
Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a nervous system disorder that can cause a gradual decline in the ability to perform daily tasks. For instance, PD can cause an individual to experience slowed movements, stiffness, and dementia. This disease has become widespread over the years with 8.5 million individuals being diagnosed with PD as of 2019. Because PD is a condition that has no known causes and manifests later on in an individual’s life, there are currently no ways to prevent the disease.
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REMS Triage Method Breakthrough
Anna Chassion, April 2 2022
In emergency medicine, everything is fast-paced. Responders must make pressured decisions in order to provide the best possibility of a positive outcome for the most patients. These decisions determine how serious a patient’s illness is and what kind of care they will receive, as well as how likely the patients are to die. This decision-making process is called triage and it works by a standardized formula. This formula is then tweaked to better predict patient outcomes.
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Manipulating Genetics in Mice to Explore ADHD Treatments
Anjali Roy, April 2 2022
Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder, or ADHD, is one of the most common neurodivergent conditions diagnosed amongst youth in the United States, and the symptoms can continue well into adulthood. Characterized by lapses in attention, restlessness, and impulsivity, ADHD was diagnosed in about 9.8% of American children ages 3-17 in 2019, and in about 4% of American adults ages 18–44.
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Mono & College Students: Implications of the Latest FindingsCatherine Lirtsman, April 2 2022
The infectious disease mononucleosis, or mono, can affect anyone, yet teenagers and young adults should beware. It is increasingly frequent between the ages of 15–24 because of how strongly the immune system reacts to the virus that causes it, the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). Common mono symptoms are fatigue, swollen lymph nodes, sore throat, swollen liver and/or spleen, and more. These symptoms can last from two weeks to six months. One of the major complications associated with mono is an enlarged spleen.
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How Urban Areas Affect Students
Varun Chafekar, April 2 2022
The colleges and universities in major cities are melting pots for students coming from all over the globe. The places these young adults hail from can range from urban areas to rural towns, and, as such, the change in environment can have a large impact on students. Life in urban cities can be difficult to adjust to, and researchers wanted to observe how this type of environment would affect adolescent mental health.
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Concussions and an Early Return to School
Andrew Camacho, April 2 2022
Children are often susceptible to receiving concussions due to falling, contact sports, or other reasons. As a result, they are forced to miss school in order to fully recover. There is little information known on the amount of school absence a concussed child should receive, leaving it entirely up to the family’s discretion. However, a recent study has shown that children with concussions may experience a lower symptom burden (nausea, confusion, headache, dizziness, etc.) and an overall faster recovery by returning to school earlier instead of later.
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Beneath the Polish: Are Manicures Dangerous?Erin Tabornal, April 2 2022
In recent years, going to the nail salon to get your nails done has become an integral part of many individuals’ self-care regimens. While this hobby is enjoyable and seemingly harmless due to its superficial nature, the technology involved with the process has raised concerns about an increased risk in skin cancer. A recent in-vitro study demonstrated that radiation emitted by ultraviolet nail polish dryers can damage DNA and lead to mutations.
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The Father's Brain during the Transition to ParenthoodJenna Hartstein, December 28 2022
The transition to parenthood can be an exciting time, but also a time filled with many changes in sleep, physical habits, and overall stress. Because of the importance of this period, becoming a parent has been deemed a critical window for determining future health outcomes for parents. Much of the existing research focuses solely on the mother during this critical window. However, evaluating the role of fathers provides an interesting perspective as they do not directly experience pregnancy, and are generally understudied. This will allow public health officials to enact better guidelines to best support fathers during this transition.
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A New Way to Detect an Undetectable DiseaseAnnie Liang, April 2 2022
Alzheimer’s disease is a neurodegenerative disorder where the neurons in the brain gradually stop working. It results in commonly known symptoms: memory loss, difficulty thinking, and much more. The disease is usually in the form of late-onset Alzheimer's. This means there aren't any symptoms for the first 15–20 years, but the symptoms manifest after the age of 65. Due to the delayed onset, it is often difficult to detect the disease. However, With the recent discovery of a potential early marker for Alzheimer's, it may be possible to detect the disease up to 17 years before symptoms begin showing up.
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Eating Late at Night Could be a Risk Factor For ObesityYuki Duong , December 28 2022
Obesity is associated with high blood pressure, increased blood sugar, and a higher risk for heart disease and type II diabetes. But it’s not a disease with a simple cause. So many factors can influence weight gain, such as genetics, diet, and environment. For example, according to a recent research study from Northwestern University, one of the possible risk factors for obesity is the time you eat. Specifically, their study suggests that late-night snacking could lead to weight gain.
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Psychedelic Drugs as Inspiration for Safer AntidepressantsAnjali Roy, December 28 2022
Depression is one of the most common mental health illnesses in America. It is characterized by feelings of low self-esteem, unhealthy alterations in sleep or eating patterns, fatigue, difficulty concentrating, etc. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, approximately 8.4% of the U.S. population experienced at least one major depressive episode in 2020. Current treatment plans include talk-based therapy or prescribed antidepressants, such as serotonin-reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), which function by increasing serotonin levels in the brain—a hormone that positively regulates emotions.
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Signaling the Immune System to Eat Tumor CellsOlivia Zhou, December 28 2022
Neuroblastoma is a cancer of immature nerve cells, and most commonly affects infants and children. In general, it has one of the lowest survival rates for pediatric cancers, as the five-year survival rate is 50% for high-risk neuroblastoma patients. Furthermore, 60% of the high-risk group will relapse, and their five-year survival rate drops down to less than 5%. Current treatments include chemotherapy combined with anti-GD2 antibodies that target GD2, a molecule overexpressed (present at high levels) in neuroblastoma. Antibodies can target molecules and block them from binding to whatever they normally bind to, thus inhibit their normal effect.
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How Much Sleep is Best?Varun Chefkar, December 28 2022
Sleep is one of the most important needs of the human body. To stay healthy, good sleeping habits are a must. However, how much sleep should the average person be getting per day, and how exactly does the amount of sleep one gets affect the body? A research group decided to tackle these questions. The study shows that a lack of sleep is much more detrimental to the body than just feeling groggy when waking up early. It physically affects the brain, an essential organ for most actions.
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How a Tiny Machine Creates Inequality in HealthcareKruthica Dama , December 28 2022
Hemoglobin proteins work as tiny delivery trucks in the bloodstream to make sure that oxygen is delivered from the respiratory system to the rest of the body. If hemoglobin proteins don’t carry enough oxygen in the blood, a state known as hypoxemia, the rest of the body may not work properly. To easily check blood oxygen levels at home without drawing blood, a device called a pulse oximeter was created. Pulse oximeters use lasers to estimate oxygen saturation, the amount of oxygen carried by hemoglobin. Because they use light as a sensor, changes to surface color, such as adding nail polish or having a darker skin color, affect the way that they read the oxygen values.
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The Potential Effects of Light Exposure at NightMichael Lee, December 28 2022
In the growing digital age, it’s hard to go about our day normally without being exposed to the light constantly emitted from the screens all around us. Exposure to light, including the light that comes from our everyday phones or computers, greatly affects the body’s circadian rhythm, or “biological clock.” Essentially, the circadian rhythm’s job is to regulate how we act and behave depending on the time of day. For example, it tells us when we want to go to sleep in response to the darkness of night, and also helps us wake up in response to the morning light.
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Early Bird Gets the Worm...But not Diabetes or Heart Disease?Erin Tabornal, December 28 2022
For centuries, the phrases “early bird” and “night owl” have often been used to describe an individual’s preferred duration of wakefulness and productivity. It is a common recommendation that the average human adult should get about seven to nine hours of sleep each day in order to function their best, regardless of when they wake up. However, a recent study from researchers at Rutgers University highlights that early risers may have a lower risk of diabetes and heart disease than late risers.
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Social Camouflaging and its Impacts on Autistic AdultsWayne Chiang, December 28 2022
Autism spectrum disorder, also known as ASD, is a condition that changes how a person interacts with other people and their environment. This includes struggling in several social situations, from being unable to distinguish social cues to having difficulty communicating with others. Under such circumstances, individuals diagnosed with autism face immense societal pressure to try and seem “normal” through social camouflaging. Social camouflaging is the deliberate act of suppressing characteristics associated with autism in social settings.
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Hair Straighteners and Uterine CancerAndrew Camacho, December 28 2022
Although hair straighteners seem harmless and are often used for cosmetic purposes, recent findings have revealed a possible risk associated with their use. Researchers found a connection between using hair straighteners and the occurrence of uterine cancer. This eleven-year study consisted of 33,437 women ranging from ages 35–74. Participants were initially evaluated using a questionnaire that asked if the women had used hair products such as hair dye, straighteners, relaxers, pressing products, and perms. Other factors such as race, ethnicity, weight, physical activity, and alcohol consumption were taken into account with the questionnaire.
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Physical Exercise Aids Treatment of Depression and AnxietyCrystal Ma, December 28 2022
Depression and anxiety are common disorders today with depression affecting 17% and anxiety disorders affecting 31.9% of adolescents in the United States. Adolescents with depression are also extremely likely to have anxiety, with three-quarters of children experiencing both. These mental health illnesses affect the lives of adolescents drastically, causing negative interferences with their education, as well as their daily life and function.
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