Student Showcase

Permanent URI for this collection

https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14394/91

UMass Amherst students (undergraduate and graduate) are invited to submit their sustainability related papers and projects. Click on ""Submit Article"" in the right side navigation bar of this page. Submissions are reviewed by Sustainable UMass for approval within 48 hours. If accepted, your work will be published on this page. For theses and dissertations, go to: http://scholarworks.umass.edu/etds/

Winners of the annual Undergraduate Sustainability Research Award are automatically included in this Student Showcase.

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Why Waste The Wind? A Look into Small Scale Wind Energy
(2014-01-01) Negus, Mitchell; Swanton, Jon; Chilcoat, Ben; Settembrino, Mark
The human race’s dependence on fossil fuels for energy generation has started to cause major changes in the environment. Climate change is a universal issue and it is evident that our current energy schematic is not sustainable. At the University of Massachusetts, small-scale wind power has the potential to be a key component in UMass’ energy portfolio as the university shifts from reliance on fossil fuels to renewable energy. Strategically placed turbines would produce clean, renewable energy, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and help to decentralize energy dependence on the Central Heating Plant. Small-scale turbines, like the eddyGT, are tested technologies that show promise for on-campus applications. In addition to starting UMass’ transition to renewable energy, monetary savings from wind-energy investment could even be put towards future renewable energy endeavors. And, though current turbine technology suffers from limited energy production capabilities, this issue is addressed by high altitude turbines which access stronger and more consistent winds. While still in the process of development, high altitude wind turbines have the potential to be an important renewable energy source in the future. Implementation of small scale wind energy at UMass will require research on wind speeds throughout campus. This data will facilitate determination of ideal locations and types of small-scale wind turbines for the campus, the first step in achieving UMass’ independence from fossil fuels.
Longitudinal Differences in Brook Trout Density and Mean Length in Headwater Streams of Western Massachusetts
(2014-01-01) Cooney, Kathryn
Abstract: Brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) face many threats throughout their native range in the eastern United States including climate change, invasive species, and recreational angling. Understanding the habitat requirements and distribution of young of the year and adult brook trout in small headwater streams is essential for the conservation of the species. With this research, we sought to better understand the distribution pattern of young of the year, detect seasonal movement of adults before and during the spawning season, and determine if young of the year and adults preferentially inhabit stream reaches of different sizes. To explore these fish-habitat relationships, we electrofished 30 meter reaches with catchment areas ranging from 0.09 km2 to 4.90 km2 in the headwater systems of two western Massachusetts watersheds. Sampling was conducted during the spring and fall of 2014. We used generalized linear mixed models to evaluate young of the year density and linear density, adult density and linear density, and mean length of all fish sampled. The results for young of the year indicate that their distribution is quadratic or increases with stream size. We found no seasonal differences in adult densities. We also did not find a longitudinal difference in mean length. These results lead us to believe that the catchment sizes included in this study are equally important for brook trout persistence and should all be considered conservation priorities. This study demonstrated a need for additional research in the upper reaches of headwater streams since our models did not explain a significant proportion of the variability in the data. Additional landscape variables should be measured to better understand how brook trout population dynamics vary longitudinally in headwater streams and how the streams should be managed in the future.
Hope in School Gardens: The Amherst School Gardens Project
(2015-01-01) Salazar, Xochiquetzal F
The Amherst School Gardens Project connects UMass Amherst Stockbridge undergraduate students to Amherst Public Elementary Schools in order to facilitate shared learning in the outdoor classroom. Our mission is to provide elementary school level children with hands on gardening experience, empowering knowledge of their foods’ origins, lessons that correspond with the U.S. Department of Education’s “Common Core State Standards,” and a community that encompasses the varying citizens of Amherst. The environmental, social, and economic implications of this program are boundless. In essence, the project transforms inert grass lawns on Amherst elementary school sites into productive gardens contributing to the biodiversity of the ecosystems they exist within, simultaneously educating children about the food systems that they are a part of. This invites them to explore sustainable practices, creating a greater demand for these within many of the systems we exist in. The result is an increase in interest regarding environmental impact and science in general, as well as a greater consumption of vegetables/fruits in-school/at home demonstrated through personal observations and affirmed by a number of scientific studies.
Coastal Erosion in Cape Cod, Massachusetts: Finding Sustainable Solutions
(2015-01-01) Roberts, Michael D; Bullard, Lauren; Aflague, Shaunna; Sleet, Kelsi
The Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management (CZM) and the Cape Cod Planning Commission have identified coastal erosion, flooding, and shoreline change as the number one risk affecting the heavily populated 1,068 square kilometers that constitute Cape Cod (CZM, 2013 and Cape Cod Commission 2010). This paper investigates natural and anthropogenic causes for coastal erosion and their relationship with established social and economic systems. Sea level rise, climate change, and other anthropogenic changes increase the rate of coastal erosion. The impacts associated with coastal erosion include habitat loss, property loss, infrastructure damage, and beach loss. These impacts will affect economic, ecological, and social systems in Cape Cod. We explore the relationships between socio-ecological systems in Cape Cod. There are structural and non-structural solutions that will help communities in Cape Cod adapt to challenges posed by coastal erosion. Structural solutions include coastal landscaping, beach nourishment, and soft infrastructure. Non-structural solutions include policy, economic compensation, education, and community involvement. In the future, Cape Cod should search for sustainable solutions to the problems associated with coastal erosion.
Evaluating the Benefits of and Barriers to Building with Structural Insulated Panels
(2014-01-01) Moynihan, Alison E
Changing climate and increasing costs of energy are putting pressure on the building industry to adapt to higher performance building systems. One technology that can improve building performance is structural insulated panel (SIP) construction. The purpose of my practicum is to evaluate the possible benefits of SIPs and to identify obstacles to SIPs gaining a larger portion of the building industry. Using the information from practicum I intend to evaluate current design tools and suggest my own tools. The benefits of SIPs are lower thermal bridging and air infiltration leading to lower operating costs and minimal material usage. Findings include the identification of obstacles to increased adoption of SIP technology. Recommendations are made to overcome these obstacles.
New2U Impact Report: Fostering Sustainability and Student Engagement at UMass
(2023-01-01) Welch, Sarah
This report presents a cost-benefit analysis of the New2U reuse and waste reduction program at the University of Massachusetts Amherst (UMass). Rooted in the university's strategic goals, New2U addresses the environmental impact of landfill waste generated during student move-outs. The program, initiated in 2014, has diverted 80,000 pounds of waste, saving 127 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) by redistributing items through a tag sale during move-in.
“Trash Talk” - Rethinking The Notion of Waste
(2023-01-01) Salhotra, Shivaangi
In the twenty-first century, waste has become a ubiquitous problem. Images of things like the Great Pacific Garbage Patch have ceased to become jarring, and pictures of overflowing landfills and statistics about plastic in the ocean have become so commonplace that they are “memed”. Yet despite increasing awareness and changes in policy, global waste production and its deleterious effects continue to rise. Dominant narratives surrounding waste tend to focus on how individuals can properly dispose of their waste, which, while certainly important, is not the full story. It doesn't question why we produce so much waste in the first place, and not much focus tends to be given to the question of where that waste ultimately ends up. This project explores the latter, questioning the commonly accepted notion of "disposability" and how that may translate onto places and even people. This project primarily focuses on institutions like the global waste trade, as well as the implications of the geographic locations of structures like landfills and incinerators, to paint a deeper picture of global waste that goes beyond sorting out recycling and buying "eco-friendly" products. The paper uses a wide array of sources from a variety of disciplines, geographic locations, and institutions to holistically address the issues it discusses. I argue that our alienation from our waste, at least in part, contributes to the continued creation of it, and that this alienation enabled by societal structures of marginalization and oppression.
The Oak & the Mailbox: The Social Impacts of Tree Loss
(2023-01-01) Fabian, Madeline D
Last fall, I was strolling through the woods near Sylvan Residential Area and stumbled upon a mysterious mailbox residing about 20 feet away from a marvelous oak tree. Inside, the mailbox held a black-and-white composition notebook containing poetry, artwork, and love stories left by passersby. While reading, I was struck by the soulful connection so many strangers had felt to the large oak tree, and. I began to contemplate the social impacts of trees-- and tree loss. I tracked down the artist who started the notebook and decided to pursue the story for my Narrative Journalism class. I spoke with several UMass researchers in the Department of Environmental Conservation, read their journal publications, read a few books about trees/nature, researched through online databases, and continued to spend time observing at the oak tree. My semester-long quest to understand the social implications of trees and tree loss resulted in a 3500-word narrative piece that weaves together my mailbox discovery, tree anecdotes, and thorough research. Sustainability is at the core of this piece. In Massachusetts alone, around 5,000 acres of forest are lost each year, equal to about half the size of Provincetown. Trees and humans are beautifully interconnected. Without them, our social world faces a whirlwind of psychological, communal, and physical burdens. My piece tells the story of just one tree’s impact on the health, community, and well-being of the people who’ve crossed its path, and will make readers think about why we should care about tree loss.
Thermal Efficacy of Green Walls in Building Structures in the Northeast United States
(2023-01-01) Wright, Nathaniel
Climate change is one of the most threatening issues that humankind faces in the 21st century and there is indisputable evidence that our planet is experiencing global temperature rise, shrinking of ice sheets and sea level rise, warming oceans, and extreme weather events at an alarming rate. Urbanization drives these changes and creates the Urban Heat Island (UHI) effect. One method to mitigate this issue is urban greening, specifically the construction of green walls which take advantage of unused vertical exteriors of buildings. Despite existing literature on green walls especially in Europe and Asia, green walls must be researched more in all climates to better understand how different variables impact overall thermal performance. This will ultimately inform effective design, making green walls more cost-effective. This study will examine the thermal performance of a small-scale green wall in the cold climate region of New England in the United States. A hot box apparatus will be used to measure the heat flux through the green wall and the R-value will be estimated and compared to that of a bare wall. Heat3 will be used to perform fluid modeling and SAP2000 will be used to perform structural analysis.
Anaerobic Digestion: Awareness, Implementation, and Simulation
(2022-01-01) Tay, Kieran; Sbalbi, Nicholas; Forozis, Michael; Sabatini, Flo
Anaerobic digestion (AD) is the process in which organic matter is fermented in an oxygen-deprived environment to produce renewable biogas. Our project is multi-faceted, with the overall goal of raising public awareness of AD as a transitional energy source. To that end, our group has named itself Undergraduates Raising Awareness for Anaerobic Digestion (URAAD). We are approaching this goal on three fronts, including (i) a website, (ii) a physical lab-scale digester, and (iii) a computer simulation of anaerobic digestion. The first component, the website, was developed with the aim of serving as a resource for the public. It includes educational resources written in a “digestible” manner, explaining how AD works and its potential benefits. The website also includes a user-friendly economic calculator, which can be used to conduct rough estimates of AD’s economic feasibility. The main factor holding back the growth of AD has traditionally been its low economic potential, but with newer technology and government incentives, we believe AD is economically viable under specific contexts, and our work aims to make clear what those conditions are. The website also hosts info about our group and a timeline of our accomplishments. It is currently hosted publicly at the link: https://umassuraad.github.io/ and has been optimized for both desktop and mobile use. The website is currently featured on the UMass Integrated Concentration of Science (iCons) page and we are making ongoing efforts to increase its searchability/impact. The second component is a lab-scale biodigester meant to be an educational demo/experiment for students on campus. Participants will be able to insert a batch of compost and then observe the anaerobic digestion process in action, while also collecting the biogas at the end for further analysis. The biodigester equipment was funded through the UMass Sustainability, Innovation, and Engagement Fund (SEIF) grant that was won in April 2020. Since then, it has been under construction in a Chemical Engineering lab on Campus property and is sourcing the organic feedstock from UMass’s Office of Waste Management’s compost inventory. The third component is a computer simulation of AD being conducted as an undergraduate thesis by team member Kieran Tay. It is being conducted using Chemical Engineering department supplied software so that our group can incorporate feedstock, product, and reactor engineering elements into a robust simulation so that we can then implement those models in the AD calculator. Literature review was conducted through the use of the UMass Library’s online resources for both the simulations and the website resources. This project is ongoing (having been originally founded in the winter of 2019) and we aim it to be passed down from year to year, continuously growing in scope and impact.
Community Classroom of Hope: Permaculture Garden & RAP
(2023-01-01) Gould, Hannah; Fuchs, Joanne
College classrooms are long overdue for an overhaul. As the next generation of students are bombarded with the most challenging questions of our time, including those of climate resilience, sustainable farming, and community development, universities need classrooms and curricula that inspire. Outdated lecture halls and the lack of engagement, discussion, and generative conflict in classes stands as an obstacle to creating new ways of thinking and being. It’s paramount that college classes represent the change, hope, and curiosity they aim to inspire in their students. This project bridges forefront research in transformative classroom practices with survey and interview data on gaps in the UMass Amherst campus community in skillful communication skills and in experiential hands-on social learning. The results propose a residential permaculture garden program as a solution to address these competency gaps. The components of this program include a research-supported outdoor curriculum in student-led facilitation, Nonviolent Communication (NVC), insight dialogue, Earth stewardship projects, circling, and mindfulness. The project seeks to propose a solution for the feelings of hopelessness, loneliness, and pessimism that affect college students robbed of meaningful community and connection on their campuses. This is done through the medium of permaculture, a regenerative and holistic way of farming that engages communities and prioritizes “Earth Care, People Care and Fair Share” ethics and encourages “constructive hope”. This project aims to inspire the foundation of a new program at UMass Amherst and serve as a model for similar community and hope-strengthening projects at other colleges and universities in the United States.
Anaerobic Membrane Bioreactors as a Treatment for Wastewater and Biogas Production at University of Massachusetts Amherst
(2021-01-01) Norton, Marley; Bell, Brady; Fine, Ariel
Achieving carbon net neutrality at UMass by the year 2032 would require an unprecedented scale of renovation. However, we stand before an opportunity to set a nationwide standard in college campus sustainability. The usage of water also requires energy, as both are inextricable commodities, high in demand and often non-renewable. The central heating plant (CHP) distributes heat across the 1,400+ acre campus and consumes copious amounts of natural gas. A viable solution to relieving the dominant reliance on non-renewable energy without leaving the CHP as a stranded asset revolves around the implementation of a hybrid low temperature hot water system (LTHW) combined with an anaerobic membrane bioreactor (AnMBR). With impending urgency to meet the 2032 deadline, our research offers a hypothetical solution for this energy-water nexus. The CHP currently utilizes steam to heat the campus, whereas a LTHW system would use hot water. Distributed hot water with a temperature of 49-60℃ requires a significantly lower amount of energy to be heated (and cooled) compared to steam. Using hot water would save energy and mitigate non-renewable energy consumption, but using hot water implies the possibility of using more water than a steam heating system. In order to offset the predicted additional water consumption of a LTHW system, a deliberation of an AnMBR for municipal wastewater treatment was conducted, with the intention of recycling reclaimed water into the LTHW system with the specifications of UMass. By augmenting the LTHW system to utilize a recycled water supply, and assimilating a self-sustaining AnMBR wastewater treatment facility, the CHP will require little non-renewable energy consumption. Wastewater should not be considered a waste, as this would not fulfill the cyclical life cycle of reliably sustainable systems. An AnMBR has the potential to convert the biodegradable organic carbon in wastewater into usable energy in the form of biogas. AnMBR technology utilizes a permeable membrane lined with a mature culture of anaerobic bacteria that continuously consumes organic matter (OM) and filters other unwanted contaminants from the water, producing non-potable (for the purposes of UMass) effluent. The anaerobic bacteria, membrane composition, and mechanical configuration of the AnMBR are the primary variables that can be altered to be configured to the current Amherst wastewater treatment facility. This nascent technology could greatly decrease water and energy consumption, while allowing UMass to continue being its own self-sustaining microgrid, with the possibility of providing resources for the Amherst community as well. We can create a system that allows for renewable heating, cooling, and wastewater treatment, that is, a sustainable energy-water nexus, bringing us closer to achieving our carbon mitigation goals.
Cooked Nature: What Three Classic Books on the American Lawn Can Tell Us About Our Current Struggle to Mitigate Climate Change
(2022-01-01) Poelker-McKee, Gregory N
My essay, “Cooked Nature: What Three Classic Books on the American Lawn Can Tell Us About Our Current Struggle to Mitigate Climate Change,” attempts to explain the dissonance between our collective desire for sustainability and our inability to reduce our own carbon footprints. Through the history of the American lawn, one can learn how culture and industry have shaped the landscape of our country, and how they continue to shape our lives today. This paper grew out of my lifelong confusion regarding our lawns. Why do they exist? Why is it often expected that they be perfectly green year-round? Why is it desirable that they be composed of a single variety of grass? It was only after beginning to research these questions that I realized the interconnections between our lawns and climate change. Not only do lawns have immense potential as carbon sinks, but also our current treatment of them is indicative of the cultural challenges involved in creating a sustainable society in the United States. I wrote this essay as my research project for SUSTCOMM 533: Urban Greening Theory & Practice, taught by Professor Theodore Eisenman. This class focuses on the process of integrating green space into cities, with an emphasis on the multitude of benefits provided by plants in the landscape. For my research, I drew upon the library’s JSTOR database, as well as several books. My approach to this project is interdisciplinary, combining elements from both the natural and social sciences.
Urban Greening Techniques in U.S. Cities: Public Welfare or Social Warfare?
(2022-01-01) Klumpenaar, Gwynnevere
This paper examines ways in which urban greening techniques, such as rain gardens, parks, micro-mobility measures, etc. might not serve entire communities, even gentrifying them in some cases. It addresses the following research question: how have urban greening techniques excluded marginalized groups from ecological services and gentrified low-income neighborhoods in the United States? Lastly, recommendations for how to improve access to ecological services provided by urban greening techniques are made.
Wall-E: Sustainability
(2021-01-01) Rashid, Fatimah
Sustainability can never only be an individual choice, it is intrinsically tied to the environment we operate inside of. The violence of our institutions always, always seeps into the (sustainable) choices we (try to) make. Thinking of sustainability reminded me of helplessness before anything else. Wall-E is one of my favorite movies. Wall-E, holding the plant with so much wonder and care has always been crazy to me. I imagine that’s what it’s like when you have so little of something left. So, I wanted to explore the idea of abundance with Wall-E. The fact that we have so many plants (I think Wall-E would’ve malfunctioned from trying to save them all), so many things to save! (all with sustainable choices... but also, it isn’t as easy as making a choice) Kashmir (my home) is deeply and violently occupied. In the video, when I say “how do I begin to save it all?'', I'm referring to trying to live sustainably, trying to do something for the environment when you have no state autonomy and have other, more important priorities like surviving. I do whatever I can, even when it is exhausting, even when I feel helpless. I made this art/video to remind myself how badly I've wanted to hold this earth and save its bits. I made this video because I'd like to think that I've begun.
Over the Rainbow
(2021-01-01) DiDonato, Jenna
The way I express my emotions and deep feelings are through movement so when I thought about how I could convey my appreciation for our environment, I knew I would dance. I wanted my piece to be filled with light, air and earth as a way to show the beauty we are surrounded with and often take for granted. This past year, I developed a deeper understanding of how our human choices have been negatively affecting the environment and it has awakened and disappointed me. I could have made a dance about the anger I felt; I was planning on it at first, but instead I decided to take a different route. I took the route of co-existing with our Earth and showing that sustainability happens when we work with what we have, rather than against it. I want to inspire a connection within ourselves and the environment. Let’s find where our feet can wander freely in the dirt, where our bodies can sway with the wind, and where our souls can explore but respect the ecosystem, we are living in. We should not give up or wait until we find a perfect place over the rainbow, because all of us here right now, can make a difference. My hope is that through my piece, we will all go in search of that deeper connection because in order to see the change externally, we have to find it internally.
Improving Access to Trails and Green Space: Brightwood Neighborhood, Springfield, Massachusetts
(2021-01-01) Poelker-McKee, Gregory N; Conrad, Alena; Holland, Cameron Joshua; Grigorian, Eli
Accessibility has been an issue with the Connecticut River Walk and Bikeway (River Walk) since its completion in 2003. Our project focuses on designing better connections between this Springfield, MA rail trail and the local environmental justice communities it is meant to serve. As a team of four undergraduate design students, we have spent three months conducting a comprehensive research study on the trail. Ultimately, we will be turning over our research to the Appalachian Mountain Club which intends to use it for reference in their efforts to secure funding for improving River Walk access in the city of Springfield. As part of an undergraduate design studio class under the instruction of Professor Michael DiPasquale, our team conducted extensive research on the Connecticut River Walk and Bikeway. Looking through the lens of equity, we identified a cogent lack of access to this rail trail from the Brightwood neighborhood, to which it runs parallel. Similar environmental justice issues in Springfield have been studied by UMass students in the past, such as “Making Connections — Envisioning Springfield’s North End,” and "Healthy Place-Making: Revitalizing Springfield’s Medical District," completed in graduate urban design studios in 2009 and 2019, respectively. Our work this semester builds upon these previous studies, while also delineating itself through our focus on the River Walk specifically. Our study consists of four parts: research, community engagement, design solutions, and deliverables. Much like a traditional planning project, these objectives were completed in a partially chronological fashion. Our approach consisted of overlaps between each component — as much as our research informed our engagement, what we learned from our engagement also informed our research, and so on. With the ultimate goal of providing the Appalachian Mountain Club with a wealth of information supporting the need for funding for improvements to the Connecticut River Walk and Bikeway, our team combined the results of our research, engagement, and design into this document: our deliverable for the project.
Goddess of Earth
(2021-01-01) Tanikella, Sruthi
As a person of South Asian descent, I understand the importance of being sustainable especially because I do go to India every once in a while. In Amherst, we may not see the effects of climate change as much as in a city with 7 million people. I believe that being sustainable means mankind is getting closer to Nature while continuing to advance. My piece, Goddess of Earth shows this relationship with nature in a mandala art format. Mandala art is spiritual art based in Hinduism and Buddhism. As someone who is American with South Asian descent, I have used both influences of Eastern and Western art in my mandala. I have also used a color scheme that starts with light, radiant colors which pan out into darker colors to show how pristine environments have been polluted. But, there is a glimmer of hope that we, one day, will be able to get to a place where we can get closer to nature and become more environmentally friendly. The use of mandala art was to also bring together the eastern and western influences I grew up with in terms how we think about nature. There are zentangle designs as well as mandala designs. I really hope you enjoyed my piece and thank you for this opportunity!
Joppa Flats
(2021-01-01) Lee, Jin
This painting illustrates myself in front of an almost empty net with one Kinglet caught. The setting is at the Joppa Flats Mass Audubon bird banding station in Plum Island where we were expecting flocks of migratory birds for the early fall season of 2019. However, we had a shockingly low number of birds throughout the entire season and this inspired me to paint this painting. The birds in this painting are Golden Crowned Kinglets, Fox sparrows, and a tree sparrow which are migratory songbirds. The top left corner of the painting is the data recording chart used at the banding station to record the data recorder, species, age, sex, weight, capture time, and more. We had several birds caught in the nets in 2019 but in 2018, we had very few birds caught per day. The birds with the blue silhouettes are the birds that are gone because of the population decrease. They are present in the painting but the real birds in the painting are only the birds without the blue aura. I was not at the station in 2018 but I’ve heard from the station manager that 2018 fall was very busy because hundreds of migratory birds were caught in the nets, which is very contrasting to what I have experienced in 2019 fall. This experience opened my eyes to how real climate change is because I could visually see the changes in bird populations as climate change has continuously impacted them.
Reusable to-go Containers at UMass Amherst
(2020-01-01) Haber, Levente; Dreishpoon, Margaret; Lau, Wavery
This research paper addresses the implementation of a reusable to-go container pilot program at Berkshire Dining Commons using an internal management system with 1,000 reusable to-go containers. This is a system where participating students receive a credit on their UCard which they can exchange on entrance to the dining hall to get a clean container. Then they can use the container as they please and return it to the dish return for their UCard credit back. Dining services will clean the used containers and return them into circulation. The purpose of our project is to eliminate single use containers. UMass Amherst spends $278,378 (6) over a five year period on these single use containers at Berkshire dining commons and transporting them to landfills alone (3). We would spend about $8,200 (10) for one time implementation costs along with about $420 on water usage (8), and an estimated $4,095 on broken containers, which will give us a net savings of $265,563 over five years, accounting for all costs and savings. This will also reduce trash by about 20 metric tons (3) by eliminating single use containers. Not to mention the 100 metric tons (3 and 9) of carbon emissions we will avoid over a five year period from reduced transportation of trash and the manufacturing of the single use containers. This proposal will have the most significant and positive impacts on campus sustainability in the next five years.

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