NESEP Archive

Abstract: In modern environmental and biological research, gene mutation by GMOs and DNA oxidation by biphenyl and BPDE intercalation take up critical positions regarding their potential risks to genetic stability. GMOs are monitored for unintended effects, and BPDE pollution is managed due to their carcinogenic potential. Genetic modifications in GMOs are made through precise gene edits, often using techniques like CRISPR-Cas9, to minimize unintended effects. However, off-target mutations or horizontal gene transfer could affect neighboring genes or regulatory sequences. Although GMOs undergo rigorous testing, ongoing research examines the long-term effects of gene edits on genome stability.
This paper investigated DNA Oxidation from Biphenyl and BPDE that arises from environmental pollutants. BPDE, a metabolite of the carcinogen benzo[a]pyrene found in tobacco smoke, intercalates with DNA, disrupting its helical structure and creating oxidative stress. If left unrepaired, this intercalation can produce reactive oxygen species (ROS), leading to strand breaks, nucleotide mispairing, and permanent mutations. We also checked and evaluated the mutations linked to cancer risk, especially in lung, liver, and skin cancers, as they can affect critical genes controlling cell growth and apoptosis.
This research studied both GMO-related and environmental mutagenic effects that underscore the need for vigilance in evaluating genetic stability. 

Keywords: GMO, DNA oxidation, adduct intercalation, mutations, genetic stability

References

1. Heal, G. (2009). Climate economics: A meta-review and some suggestions for future research. Review of Environmental Economics and Policy, 3(1), 4–21. DOI: 10.1093/reep/ren003

2. Jaffe, A. B., Newell, R. G., & Stavins, R. N. (2005). A tale of two market failures: Technology and environmental policy. Ecological Economics, 54(2-3), 164–174. DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolecon.2004.12.027

3. World Economic Forum. (2020). The Global Risks Report 2020. World Economic Forum. DOI: 10.23943/Princeton/9780691201009.001.0001

4. Dasgupta, P. (2001). Human Well-being and the Natural Environment. Oxford University Press.

5. Daly, H. E. (1996). Beyond Growth: The Economics of Sustainable Development. Beacon Press.

6. Barbier, E. B. (2007). Natural Resources and Economic Development. Cambridge University Press.

7. Goulder, L. H., & Schneider, S. H. (1999). Induced technological change and the attractiveness of CO2 emissions abatement. Resource and Energy Economics, 21(3-4), 211–253. DOI: 10.1016/S0928-7655(99)00009-3

8. Stern, D. I. (2004). The rise and fall of the environmental Kuznets curve. World Development, 32(8), 1419–1439. DOI: 10.1016/j.worlddev.2004.03.004

9. International Energy Agency. (2019). World Energy Outlook 2019. OECD/IEA. DOI: 10.1787/weo-2019-en

10. Acemoglu, D., Aghion, P., Bursztyn, L., & Hemous, D. (2012). The environment and directed technical change. American Economic Review, 102(1), 131–166. DOI: 10.1257/aer.102.1.131

11. Grossman, G. M., & Krueger, A. B. (1991). Environmental impacts of a North American free trade agreement. National Bureau of Economic Research. DOI: 10.3386/w3914

12. United Nations. (2015). Transforming our world: The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. UN General Assembly. DOI: 10.1002/9781118391300

13. Neumayer, E. (2003). Weak versus strong sustainability: Exploring the limits of two opposing paradigms. Edward Elgar Publishing.

14. Piketty, T. (2014). Capital in the Twenty-First Century. Harvard University Press.

15. United Nations Development Programme. (2019). Human Development Report 2019: Beyond income, beyond averages, beyond today - Inequalities in human development in the 21st century. UNDP. DOI: 10.18356/78b829e1-en

16. World Bank. (2016). State and Trends of Carbon Pricing 2016. World Bank Group. DOI: 10.1596/978-1-4648-0758-6

17. Romer, P. M. (1990). Endogenous technological change. Journal of Political Economy, 98(5), S71–S102. DOI: 10.1086/261725

18. Nordhaus, W. D. (2007). A review of the Stern Review on the economics of climate change. Journal of Economic Literature, 45(3), 686–702. DOI: 10.1257/jel.45.3.686

Abstract: Polysomnography is a frequently used tool for diagnosing disorders like sleep-related hypermotor epilepsy (SHE) and rapid-eye-movement sleep behavior disorder (RBD). It is highly inefficient because often-infrequent seizure events are required to reach a diagnosis. Also, SHE and RBD are difficult to differentiate due to the overlap in symptoms and presence of ictal (during seizure) and interictal (between seizure) abnormalities in electroencephalographic (EEG) data. Therefore, it is important to ascertain whether non-seizure EEG data can be used to distinguish between SHE and RBD with new methods. The FOOOF package was used to calculate the EEG aperiodic components (exponent, offset)—historically ignored by clinicians—for polysomnographic recordings of 62 subjects during non-seizure sleep, and t-tests and effect size calculations to determine significance and quantify differences between disorders. Both the aperiodic exponent and offset proved to be able to distinguish between SHE, RBD, and healthy subjects in S2 and S3 sleep (α = 0.05). In addition, effect size calculations showed that the aperiodic exponent was better at differentiating than the offset in all cases, and that the frontal electrode was most effective. Using aperiodic components in polysomnography may yield improvements in efficiency, accuracy, and patient affordability.

Keywords: aperiodic component, sleep-related hyper motor epilepsy, rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder, differential diagnosis, power spectrum

References

1. Azril, A., Awaluddin, I., Irwansyah, M., & Idris, Y. (2022). Temporary residential design analysis type of hex house for disaster survival in Indonesia. International Journal of Social Science, Educational, Economics, Agriculture Research and Technology (IJSET), 2, 947-956. https://doi.org/10.54443/ijset.v2i1.104

2. Bingaman, M. (2023, June 20). Housing NOW: Revolutionizing Affordable Housing Solutions by Using Bamboo. Solve.com. https://solve.mit.edu/articles/housing-now-revolutionizing-affordable-housing-solutions-by-using-bamboo

3. Emergency shelter solutions and standards. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://emergency.unhcr.org/emergency-assistance/shelter-camp-and-settlement/shelter-and-housing/emergency-shelter-solutions-and-standards

4. Frearson, A. (2014, October 1). Teak and bamboo structures accommodate Burmese refugees in a Thai village. Dezeen. https://www.dezeen.com/2014/10/01/mae-tao-dormitories-thailand-agora-architects-temporary-accommodation-burmese-refugees-bamboo/

5. Geleff, J. (n.d.). Infrastructure in flight: 8 architectural designs imagined for migrant and refugee populations. Architizer. Retrieved from https://architizer.com/blog/inspiration/collections/architecture-for-refugees/

6. McKnight, J. (2016, April 14). Architects for Society designs low-cost hexagonal shelters for refugees. Dezeen. https://www.dezeen.com/2016/04/14/architects-for-society-low-cost-hexagonal-shelter-housing-refugees-crisis-humanitarian-architecture/

Abstract: The Union for Reform Judaism’s North American Federation for Temple Youth (URJ NFTY) is a nonprofit organization serving North American Reform Jewish teens. The URJ and NFTY hold strong values tied to Jewish history that are utilized to discuss and advocate for political and social issues, and to mediate teens' relationships to Judaism. URJ NFTY offers teens year-round opportunities to convene, learn, and grow together while forging lasting relationships.
Over the past 10 years, NFTY and its related programming (particularly URJ owned
summer camps) have experienced a significant decrease in participation, causing a gradual decrease in revenue. As a result, the URJ made difficult decisions, including the closure of the URJ Kutz Camp, one of their oldest standing summer programs. A recent trend brought additional financial instability to the organization, causing employment terminations throughout the URJ and across all nineteen NFTY regions. With fewer leaders to guide teens and NFTY/camp alumni, it has become difficult for NFTY to recruit and train its next generation of leaders to advocate against injustice and preserve the Jewish spirit.

Keywords: URJ, NFTY, URJ Kutz Camp, Judaism,  North American Federation

References

1. Arquilevich, Ruben. “With Joy, Gratitude & Love, an Update on Summer 2021.” Union for Reform Judaism, 4 Feb. 2021, urj.org/blog/joy-gratitude-love-update-summer-2021.

2. CampaignWire. “Rising Stars: 18 Members of America's Next Political Generation.”
   Medium, The Campaigner, 23 Feb. 2016, medium.com/campaigner-2016/rising-stars-18-members-of-america-s-next-political-gene ration-de18ab114afa#.raebue8kl. No. 14: Jeremy Cronig

3. Jacobs, Rick. “Beyond 2020: Upcoming Changes at the URJ.” Union for Reform Judaism, 1 Oct. 2020, urj.org/blog/beyond-2020-upcoming-changes-urj.

4. Jacobs, Rick. “Financials: 2019 URJ Annual Report.” URJ Annual Report, www.2019annualreport.urj.org/financials.

5. Jacobs, Rick. “Financials: URJ 2015 Annual Report.” Flipbook, media.urj.org/flipbook/index.html?page=24.

6. Jacobs, Rick. “Financials: URJ 2017 Annual Report.” Flipbook, media.urj.org/flipbook2017/index.html?page=39.

7. Jacobs, Rick. “Financials: URJ 2018 Annual Report.” URJ Annual Report, www.2018annualreport.urj.org/financials.

8. Jacobs, Rick. “Reform Jewish Movement Leadership Statement: ‘We Must All Expect
   More from the President of the United States.’” Union for Reform Judaism, 3 Sept. 2019 urj.org/press-room/reform-Jewish-movement-leadership-statement-we-must-all-expect-
   more-president-united.

9. “Joe Biden's Plan to End Gun Violence: Joe Biden for President.” Joe Biden for President: Official Campaign Website, 12 Oct. 2020, joebiden.com/gunsafety/.
   11. Levy, Maya. “Reimagining the Future of NFTY.” NFTY, 11 June 2020, nfty.org/future/

Abstract: According to the UN, 95% of the agricultural land will be degraded and twice as much water will be needed to produce food in the future. One-quarter part of world’s agriculture is located in regions with water scarcity, which has led to the irrigation of crops with the sewage. This has become usual, causing serious health problems due to the consumption of vegetables grown in those conditions. Hidalgo’s environmental problem is largely caused due to the residual water that comes from Mexico City and flows into Tula de Allende´s region. This contains hydrocarbons, cyanide, lead, pesticides, herbicides and have led to the increase in diseases that go from stomachache to cancer. Every day, 4,890,240 liters of residual water arrive to Hidalgo and 62,200 hectares of crops, belonging to 46,511 producers in the Mezquital Valley, are irrigated. Technological advances to improve human nutrition and quality of life in the future depend on solving the main problem: agricultural food production and irrigation of crops with sewage in the region of Tula de Allende; for this reason, it was decided to innovate the application of SMART FARMING and create a space to develop sustainable agriculture at home and thus have fresher, healthier and more nutritious cultivated foods that are quick to consume, irrigated with clean (drinking water) and reusable water (rain water). SMARTFARMING-HOME works with digital smart sensors that measure humidity using LOD technology and renewable energy for growing vegetables inside home.

References

1. UNCCD Global Land Outlook 2 - This report by the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification highlights the alarming pace of land degradation worldwide and its implications for food security and human health. It discusses the need for sustainable land and water management to counteract these trends, with particular attention to regions facing water scarcity, including agricultural areas irrigated by wastewater due to limited water resources (UNCCD, 2023)​

2. The Global Environment Facility (GEF) Report - This document outlines strategies for achieving land degradation neutrality (LDN) by 2030. It emphasizes the importance of sustainable land management practices to maintain food security and ecosystem health, highlighting innovative finance models that support sustainable agriculture and promote climate-resilient farming practices (GEF, 2024)​

3. UNESCO World Water Development Report - This report covers water scarcity challenges globally, focusing on the impacts on agriculture and the increased reliance on reclaimed or wastewater irrigation in arid regions. It addresses how these practices impact public health and calls for improved water management and sustainable agricultural solutions to meet future demands (UNESCO, 2023)​

4. UNCCD Global Land Outlook 2 - This report from the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification outlines the rapid pace of land degradation and its threat to food security, underscoring the need for sustainable land management practices to maintain agricultural productivity (UNCCD, 2023)​

5. FAO’s State of the World’s Land and Water Resources - The Food and Agriculture Organization highlights that over 95% of food production depends on healthy soil, emphasizing the urgent need for soil and water resource conservation to sustain future food production in the face of increasing demand and climate stress (FAO, 2022)​

6. FAO on Soil Degradation and Erosion - Addressing the impact of soil erosion, this report predicts a significant reduction in crop production by 2050 if current soil degradation trends continue, which could destabilize food systems and increase poverty (FAO, 2022)​

7. MDPI Review on Soil Degradation and Food Security - This paper discusses how soil degradation and land scarcity threaten food security, advocating for sustainable agricultural practices and soil conservation measures to mitigate these challenges (MDPI, 2016)​

8. Global Environment Facility (GEF) Report on Land Degradation Neutrality - This report explores efforts to achieve Land Degradation Neutrality by 2030, discussing innovations in sustainable agriculture and the need for policies that support soil and water health to enhance food security (GEF, 2024)​

Abstract: Emergency shelters are essential for meeting basic needs and upholding the dignity of displaced populations following catastrophic events. Utilizing sustainable materials and efficient construction methods adapted to local contexts is also important in creating safe and dignified living environments. 

Millions of people in Southeast Asia face displacement due to natural disasters and political conflicts. Two innovative approaches to refugee housing in Southeast Asia are the Hex House developed by Architects for Society and bamboo structures designed by Agora Architects. By examining the strengths and limitations of each approach, key considerations for future shelter development in the region become apparent. The Hex House, developed by Architects for Society, represents a groundbreaking solution by rapidly deploying dwellings with a focus on cost-effectiveness, sustainability, and resilience. Its modular design allows for easy on-site transportation and assembly, promoting self-reliance and community integration. In Indonesia, where natural disasters are frequent, the Hex House shelter emerges as a promising solution, meeting essential criteria for post-disaster housing and offering hope for recovery and rebuilding. Similarly, Agora Architects addresses the need for temporary housing solutions for refugees arriving from the Burmese border by designing timber and bamboo huts. These low-cost and easy-to-assemble residences provide immediate relief to refugees while aligning with sustainability goals through the use of recycled materials. Overall, Agora Architects can effectively apply innovative approaches to not only meet the urgent housing needs of refugees but also contribute to sustainable architectural practices and community resilience in the Southeast Asian region using local materials.

Keywords: Emergency shelters, sustainability, displaced populations, refugee relief, structural design, sustainable material

References

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2. Akei, H. S., Brandt, E. B., Mishra, A., Strait, R. T., Finkelman, F. D., Warrier, M. R., ... & Rothenberg, M. E. (2006). Epicutaneous aeroallergen exposure induces systemic TH2 immunity that predisposes to allergic nasal responses. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, 118(1), 62- 69.

3. Alemán Navas, R. M., & Martínez Mendoza, M. G. (2010). Case report: late complication of a dry socket treatment. International journal of dentistry, 2010.

4. Birse, S. C., & Bittner, G. D. (1981). Regeneration of earthworm giant axons following transection or ablation. Journal of neurophysiology, 45(4), 724-742.

5. Cooke, S. J., Suski, C. D., Ostrand, K. G., Tufts, B. L., & Wahl, D. H. (2004). Behavioral and physiological assessment of low concentrations of clove oil anaesthetic for handling and transporting largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides). Aquaculture, 239(1-4), 509-529.

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7. Koritsánszky, S., & Hartwig, H. (1974). The regeneration of the monoaminergic system in the cerebral ganglion of the earthworm, Allolobophora caliginosa. Cell and Tissue Research, 151(2). https://doi.org/10.1007/bf00222221

8. Lee, B. T., Shin, K. H., Kim, J. Y., & Kim, K. W. (2008). Progress in earthworm ecotoxicology. In Advanced environmental monitoring (pp. 248-258). Springer, Dordrecht.

9. Ohlsen, L., & Englesson, S. (1980). New anaesthetic formulation for epicutaneous application tested for cutting split skin grafts. British journal of anaesthesia, 52(4), 413-417.

10. Otani, I. M., Kuhlen Jr, J. L., Blumenthal, K. G., Guyer, A., & Banerji, A. (2015). A role for vancomycin epicutaneous skin testing in the evaluation of perioperative anaphylaxis. The journal of allergy and clinical immunology. In practice, 3(6), 984.

11. Park, C. K., Kim, K., Jung, S. J., Kim, M. J., Ahn, D. K., Hong, S. D., ... & Oh, S. B. (2009). Molecular mechanism for local anesthetic action of eugenol in the rat trigeminal system. PAIN®, 144(1-2), 84-94.

12. Podolak-Machowska, A., Kostecka, J., Librowski, T., & Plytycz, B. (2013). The use of selected anaesthetic drugs in search of a method for improving earthworms’ welfare. Journal of Ecological Engineering, 14(3).

13. Sadeghi, P., & Zacny, J. P. (1999). Anesthesia is a risk factor for drug and alcohol craving and relapse in ex-abusers. Medical hypotheses, 53(6), 490-496.

14. Scanlon, G. C., Moeller-Bertram, T., Romanowsky, S. M., & Wallace, M. S. (2007). Cervical transforaminal epidural steroid injections: more dangerous than we think?. Spine, 32(11), 1249-1256.

15. Scheu, S. (1991). Mucus excretion and carbon turnover of endogeic earthworms. Biology and Fertility of Soils, 12(3), 217-220.

16. Shende, P. K., Gaud, R. S., Bakal, R., & Yeole, Y. (2016). Clove oil emulsified buccal patch of serratiopeptidase for controlled release in toothache. Journal of Bioequivalence & Bioavailability, 8, 134-139.

17. Sullivan, D., & Seladi-Schulman, J. (2019, September 9). What You Need to Know About Clove Essential Oil. Healthline. https://www.healthline.com/health/clove-essential-oil#benefits

18. Yeo, D. C., Balmayor, E. R., Schantz, J. T., & Xu, C. (2017). Microneedle physical contact as a therapeutic for abnormal scars. European journal of medical research, 22(1), 1-9.

Abstract: Energy is essential for economic and societal development. Economic growth is closely tied to technological innovation, which can drive efficiency improvements and the development of cleaner technologies.  However, economic growth often leads to increased resource consumption, which can exacerbate environmental issues. Sustainable economic growth involves decoupling economic development from resource consumption through resource efficiency and sustainable consumption patterns. Mitigating climate change requires transitioning to low-carbon energy sources, improving energy efficiency, and implementing adaptation measures to cope with its impacts. This research studied innovation in renewable energy for a sustainable society, leading to reduced environmental impacts and more sustainable growth. Since many developing countries still lack access to reliable energy sources, hindering their economic growth and quality of life, this paper also discusses how equitable access to energy is available to promote sustainable development. This study aims to achieve a sustainable environment that requires integrating energy and economic considerations into policymaking, encouraging innovation and technological advancement. 

Keywords: Energy, economic growth, societal development, sustainable environment

References

1. Heal, G. (2009). Climate economics: A meta-review and some suggestions for future research. Review of Environmental Economics and Policy, 3(1), 4–21. DOI: 10.1093/reep/ren003

2. Jaffe, A. B., Newell, R. G., & Stavins, R. N. (2005). A tale of two market failures: Technology and environmental policy. Ecological Economics, 54(2-3), 164–174. DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolecon.2004.12.027

3. World Economic Forum. (2020). The Global Risks Report 2020. World Economic Forum. DOI: 10.23943/Princeton/9780691201009.001.0001

4. Dasgupta, P. (2001). Human Well-being and the Natural Environment. Oxford University Press.

5. Daly, H. E. (1996). Beyond Growth: The Economics of Sustainable Development. Beacon Press.

6. Barbier, E. B. (2007). Natural Resources and Economic Development. Cambridge University Press.

7. Goulder, L. H., & Schneider, S. H. (1999). Induced technological change and the attractiveness of CO2 emissions abatement. Resource and Energy Economics, 21(3-4), 211–253. DOI: 10.1016/S0928-7655(99)00009-3

8. Stern, D. I. (2004). The rise and fall of the environmental Kuznets curve. World Development, 32(8), 1419–1439. DOI: 10.1016/j.worlddev.2004.03.004

9. International Energy Agency. (2019). World Energy Outlook 2019. OECD/IEA. DOI: 10.1787/weo-2019-en

10. Acemoglu, D., Aghion, P., Bursztyn, L., & Hemous, D. (2012). The environment and directed technical change. American Economic Review, 102(1), 131–166. DOI: 10.1257/aer.102.1.131

11. Grossman, G. M., & Krueger, A. B. (1991). Environmental impacts of a North American free trade agreement. National Bureau of Economic Research. DOI: 10.3386/w3914

12. United Nations. (2015). Transforming our world: The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. UN General Assembly. DOI: 10.1002/9781118391300

13. Neumayer, E. (2003). Weak versus strong sustainability: Exploring the limits of two opposing paradigms. Edward Elgar Publishing.

14. Piketty, T. (2014). Capital in the Twenty-First Century. Harvard University Press.

15. United Nations Development Programme. (2019). Human Development Report 2019: Beyond income, beyond averages, beyond today - Inequalities in human development in the 21st century. UNDP. DOI: 10.18356/78b829e1-en

16. World Bank. (2016). State and Trends of Carbon Pricing 2016. World Bank Group. DOI: 10.1596/978-1-4648-0758-6

17. Romer, P. M. (1990). Endogenous technological change. Journal of Political Economy, 98(5), S71–S102. DOI: 10.1086/261725

18. Nordhaus, W. D. (2007). A review of the Stern Review on the economics of climate change. Journal of Economic Literature, 45(3), 686–702. DOI: 10.1257/jel.45.3.686

Abstract: Coronavirus disease -19 (COVID-19) has gained widespread interest in the field of mathematical epidemiology in order to inform the public on basic statistics surrounding COVID-19. However, the age-standardized mortality rates (ASMRs), which adjust age and population discrepancies between different regions by comparing a subpopulation to a standard population, have not been shown publicly. Usually, COVID-19 ASMRs have not been calculated due to the lengthy process required to calculate them; however, ASMRs for COVID-19 have occasionally been calculated, but their effectiveness have been hindered due to the use of a hand-written formula and graphical manual methods. My study involved the development of a deep learning algorithm to calculate ASMR and to instantly graph the ASMR of a subpopulation versus the crude mortality rate of the standard population. This algorithm was used to compare the ASMRs for COVID-19 in American states to the crude mortality rate of the standard population, America. In this study, the algorithm shows efficiency with a consistent runtime of time≤5seconds, within 95% confidence interval error bars among trials. ASMRs show statistically significant differences in expected COVID-19 deaths among most populations. There is at least 95% confidence (p≤0.05) that differences in ASMR are independent of age and population distributions. These findings suggest that there are more factors than just age discrepancy that affect COVID-19 mortality rates.

Keywords: COVID-19, Age-Standardization, Mortality Rate, Algorithm, Deep Learning

References

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Abstract: Women have traditionally been underrepresented in jobs that require physical strength, speed, or stamina. There is good reason.  A firefighter, for example, must prove he can carry 100 pounds down a ladder if it is necessary to rescue someone from a burning building.  Some women have claimed that this unfairly discriminates against them because they lack the physical strength to pass the mandated tests. As a result, some fire departments have provided exemptions to women who apply for these positions, reducing the speed or strength that is required for their male counterparts.  Does gender equality supersede policies even when they involve human health and safety. ​Statistically, women earn about 80 cents of every dollar that men earn. This has prompted many to claim that the gender pay gap is a result of discrimination against women.  Could it be that other factors are in play? Women tend to gravitate more often to lower-paying jobs such as sales clerks and receptionists.  Is this somehow the result of systemic sexism?  Jobs that are considered dirty, physically demanding, or dangerous are much more often filled by men than women. Do employers pay higher wages for these jobs due to market demand (since no one will take the job if it doesn’t pay well), or are they being paid more simply because they are men? Shouldn’t the real question be not what they make but why men and women make the salaries that they do?

References

1. Ansel, B., Boushey, H. (2017, October). Modernizing U.S. labor standards for 21st-century families (The Hamilton Project, Policy Proposal 2017-08). Retrieved from https://www.hamiltonproject.org/assets/files/modernizing_us_labor_standards_21st_century_families.pdf

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