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Nicolaï BM, Xiao H, Han Q, Tran DT, Crouch E, Hertog MLATM, Verboven P. Spatio-temporal dynamics of the metabolome of climacteric fruit during ripening and post-harvest storage. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY 2023; 74:6321-6330. [PMID: 37317945 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/erad230] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2023] [Accepted: 06/13/2023] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Fruit quality traits are determined to a large extent by their metabolome. The metabolite content of climacteric fruit changes drastically during ripening and post-harvest storage, and has been investigated extensively. However, the spatial distribution of metabolites and how it changes in time has received much less attention as fruit are usually considered as homogenous plant organs. Yet, spatio-temporal changes of starch, which is hydrolyzed during ripening, has been used for a long time as a ripening index. As vascular transport of water, and hence convective transport of metabolites, slows down in mature fruit and even stalls after detachment, spatio-temporal changes in their concentration are probably affected by diffusive transport of gaseous molecules that act as substrate (O2), inhibitor (CO2), or regulator (ethylene and NO) of the metabolic pathways that are active during climacteric ripening. In this review, we discuss such spatio-temporal changes of the metabolome and how they are affected by transport of metabolic gases and gaseous hormones. As there are currently no techniques available to measure the metabolite distribution repeatedly by non-destructive means, we introduce reaction-diffusion models as an in silico tool to compute it. We show how the different components of such a model can be integrated and used to better understand the role of spatio-temporal changes of the metabolome in ripening and post-harvest storage of climacteric fruit that is detached from the plant, and discuss future research needs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bart M Nicolaï
- BIOSYST-MeBioS, KU Leuven, Willem de Croylaan 42, B-3001 Leuven, Belgium
- Flanders Centre of Postharvest Technology, Willem de Croylaan 42, B-3001 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Hui Xiao
- BIOSYST-MeBioS, KU Leuven, Willem de Croylaan 42, B-3001 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Qianyun Han
- BIOSYST-MeBioS, KU Leuven, Willem de Croylaan 42, B-3001 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Dinh Thi Tran
- Department of Food Processing Technology, Faculty of Food Science and Technology, Vietnam National University of Agriculture, Vietnam
| | - Elke Crouch
- Department of Horticultural Sciences, Faculty of AgriSciences, Lombardi Building, c/o Victoria and Neethling Street, Stellenbosch, South Africa
| | | | - Pieter Verboven
- BIOSYST-MeBioS, KU Leuven, Willem de Croylaan 42, B-3001 Leuven, Belgium
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Joseph M, Postelmans A, Saeys W. Characterization of bulk optical properties of pear tissues in the 500 to 1000 nm range as input for simulation-based optimization of laser spectroscopy in diffuse transmittance mode. J FOOD ENG 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jfoodeng.2022.111306] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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3
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Ngaffo Mekontso F, Duan W, Cisse EHM, Chen T, Xu X. Alleviation of Postharvest Chilling Injury of Carambola Fruit by γ-aminobutyric Acid: Physiological, Biochemical, and Structural Characterization. Front Nutr 2021; 8:752583. [PMID: 34869526 PMCID: PMC8637291 DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2021.752583] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2021] [Accepted: 10/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Chilling injury is a physiological disorder affecting the quality of carambola fruit. In the present study, the effect of exogenous γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) on CI development in carambola fruit during storage at 4°C for 15 days was investigated. The results showed that 2.5-mM GABA reduced CI index, maintained pericarp lightness, and decreased the electrolyte leakage (EL) and malondialdehyde content (MDA) while increased the superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), and catalase (CAT) enzyme activities. Endogenous GABA content was significantly higher in the treated fruit than in the control fruit during the whole storage. Besides, the treatment promoted the accumulation of proline and ascorbic acid (AsA) under chilling stress. Compared to the control, GABA-treated fruit exhibited a higher activity of phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) and total phenolic compounds, and a lower activity of polyphenol oxidase (PPO). In addition, the Safranin O/fast green staining revealed via microscopic images that the GABA treatment reduced the cell walls degradation of carambola fruit. Moreover, the results displayed a lower activity of phospholipase D (PLD) and lipoxygenase (LOX) enzymes, which coincided with a higher content of oleic acid (C18:1), linoleic acid (C18:2n6), and α-linolenic acid (C18:3n3) after 15 days of treatment, leading to the maintenance of the integrity and prevention of the membrane of the rapid softening of carambola fruit. The findings of the present work showed particularly new insights into the crosstalk between GABA and fatty acids. GABA might preserve the pericarp of carambola fruit by increasing the content of the unsaturated fatty acid (UFA) γ-linolenic acid and reducing the saturated fatty acid (SFA) such as caproic acid (C6:0), caprylic acid (C8:0), myristic acid (C14:0), and palmitic acid (C16:0) progressively. GABA can be used as an appropriate postharvest technology for improving the quality of carambola fruit during low-temperature storage.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Wenhui Duan
- College of Food Science and Engineering, Hainan University, Haikou, China
| | | | - Tianye Chen
- College of Food Science and Engineering, Hainan University, Haikou, China
| | - Xiangbin Xu
- College of Food Science and Engineering, Hainan University, Haikou, China.,Key Laboratory of Food Nutrition and Functional Food of Hainan Province, Haikou, China
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Xiao H, Piovesan A, Pols S, Verboven P, Nicolaï B. Microstructural changes enhance oxygen transport in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) fruit during maturation and ripening. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2021; 232:2043-2056. [PMID: 34480758 DOI: 10.1111/nph.17712] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2021] [Accepted: 08/26/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Climacteric ripening of tomato fruit is initiated by a characteristic surge of the production rate of ethylene, accompanied by an increase in respiration rate. As both activities consume O2 and produce CO2 , gas concentration gradients develop in the fruit that cause diffusive transport. This may, in turn, affect respiration and ethylene biosynthesis. Gas diffusion in fruit depends on the amount and connectivity of cells and intercellular spaces in 3D. We investigated micromorphological changes in different tomato tissues during development and ripening by visualizing cells and pores based on high-resolution micro-computed tomography, and computed effective O2 diffusivity coefficients based on microstructural features of the tissues. We demonstrated that mesocarp and septa tissues have larger cells but small and more disconnected pores than the placenta and columella, resulting in relatively lower effective O2 diffusivity coefficients. Cell disintegration occurred in the mesocarp and septa during ripening, indicating lysigenous air pore formation and resulting in a gradual increase of the effective O2 diffusivity. The results suggest that hypoxic conditions caused by the increasing size and, hence, diffusion resistance of the growing fruit may induce an increase of tissue porosity that results in a greatly enhanced O2 diffusivity and, thus, helps to alleviate them.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Xiao
- BIOSYST-MeBioS, KU Leuven, Willem de Croylaan 42, Leuven, B-3001, Belgium
| | - Agnese Piovesan
- BIOSYST-MeBioS, KU Leuven, Willem de Croylaan 42, Leuven, B-3001, Belgium
| | - Suzane Pols
- BIOSYST-MeBioS, KU Leuven, Willem de Croylaan 42, Leuven, B-3001, Belgium
| | - Pieter Verboven
- BIOSYST-MeBioS, KU Leuven, Willem de Croylaan 42, Leuven, B-3001, Belgium
| | - Bart Nicolaï
- BIOSYST-MeBioS, KU Leuven, Willem de Croylaan 42, Leuven, B-3001, Belgium
- Flanders Centre of Postharvest Technology, Willem de Croylaan 42, Leuven, B-3001, Belgium
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Piovesan A, Vancauwenberghe V, Van De Looverbosch T, Verboven P, Nicolaï B. X-ray computed tomography for 3D plant imaging. TRENDS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2021; 26:1171-1185. [PMID: 34404587 DOI: 10.1016/j.tplants.2021.07.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2021] [Revised: 07/05/2021] [Accepted: 07/21/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
X-ray computed tomography (CT) is a valuable tool for 3D imaging of plant tissues and organs. Applications include the study of plant development and organ morphogenesis, as well as modeling of transport processes in plants. Some challenges remain, however, including attaining higher contrast for easier quantification, increasing the resolution for imaging subcellular features, and decreasing image acquisition and processing time for high-throughput phenotyping. In addition, phase contrast, multispectral, dark-field, soft X-ray, and time-resolved imaging are emerging. At the same time, a large amount of 3D image data are becoming available, posing challenges for data management. We review recent advances in the area of X-ray CT for plant imaging, and describe opportunities for using such images for studying transport processes in plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agnese Piovesan
- Katholieke Universiteit (KU) Leuven, Division MeBioS (Mechatronics, Biostatistics, and Sensors) - Postharvest Group, Willem de Croylaan 42, BE-3001 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Valérie Vancauwenberghe
- Katholieke Universiteit (KU) Leuven, Division MeBioS (Mechatronics, Biostatistics, and Sensors) - Postharvest Group, Willem de Croylaan 42, BE-3001 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Tim Van De Looverbosch
- Katholieke Universiteit (KU) Leuven, Division MeBioS (Mechatronics, Biostatistics, and Sensors) - Postharvest Group, Willem de Croylaan 42, BE-3001 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Pieter Verboven
- Katholieke Universiteit (KU) Leuven, Division MeBioS (Mechatronics, Biostatistics, and Sensors) - Postharvest Group, Willem de Croylaan 42, BE-3001 Leuven, Belgium.
| | - Bart Nicolaï
- Katholieke Universiteit (KU) Leuven, Division MeBioS (Mechatronics, Biostatistics, and Sensors) - Postharvest Group, Willem de Croylaan 42, BE-3001 Leuven, Belgium; Flanders Centre of Postharvest Technology (VCBT), Willem de Croylaan 42, BE-3001 Leuven, Belgium
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Benkeblia N. Physiological and Biochemical Response of Tropical Fruits to Hypoxia/Anoxia. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2021; 12:670803. [PMID: 34335647 PMCID: PMC8322732 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2021.670803] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2021] [Accepted: 06/23/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Aerobic respiration and oxygen consumption are indicators of routine metabolic rate, and dissolved oxygen in plant tissues is one of the most important environmental factors affecting their survival. The reduction of available O2 leads to hypoxia which causes a limitation of the oxidative phosphorylation; when O2 is absent, tissues generate ATP by activating the fermentative glycolysis to sustain glycolysis in the absence of mitochondrial respiration, which results in the production of lactate. Overall, hypoxia was reported to often decrease the respiration rate (O2 uptake) and delay the climacteric rise of ethylene in climacteric fruits by inhibiting action, thus delaying their ripening. Much research has been done on the application of postharvest hypoxia and anoxia treatment to temperate fresh crops (controlled or modified atmosphere), however, very few reported on tropical commodities. Indeed, the physiological mode of action of low or absence of oxygen in fresh crops is not well understood; and the physiological and biochemical bases of the effects low or absence of O2 are also yet to be clarified. Recent investigations using omics technologies, however, have provided useful information on the response of fresh fruits and vegetables to this abiotic stress. The aims of this review are to (i) report on the oxygen exchange in the crops tissue, (ii) discuss the metabolic responses to hypoxia and anoxia, and (iii) report the physiological and biochemical responses of crops tissues to these abiotic stresses and the potential benefits of these environmental conditions.
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Ambaw A, Fadiji T, Opara UL. Thermo-Mechanical Analysis in the Fresh Fruit Cold Chain: A Review on Recent Advances. Foods 2021; 10:1357. [PMID: 34208183 PMCID: PMC8230901 DOI: 10.3390/foods10061357] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2021] [Revised: 06/02/2021] [Accepted: 06/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
In agro-food research and industry, mathematical models are being used to develop and optimize preharvest and postharvest operations, and their use has grown exponentially over the last decade. Generally, transport phenomena (such as airflow, heat, and mass transfer) during the cooling of horticultural products are complex; therefore, the use of computational modeling techniques is a valid alternative to expensive and difficult experiments because computers continuously become more powerful and less expensive, the software is readily available, and once a model is validated, it is a versatile tool to evaluate the effects of the operating and design parameters involved. In this review, thermo-mechanical modeling studies during postharvest handling are overviewed regarding the experimental, analytical, and computational approaches. The airflow, cooling kinetics, cooling uniformity, and the material and mechanical safety behavior of fresh fruit packaging boxes will be analyzed. Current concerns, challenges, and opportunities are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alemayehu Ambaw
- SARChI Postharvest Technology Research Laboratory, Africa Institute for Postharvest Technology, Faculty of AgriSciences, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch 7602, South Africa; (A.A.); (T.F.)
| | - Tobi Fadiji
- SARChI Postharvest Technology Research Laboratory, Africa Institute for Postharvest Technology, Faculty of AgriSciences, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch 7602, South Africa; (A.A.); (T.F.)
| | - Umezuruike Linus Opara
- SARChI Postharvest Technology Research Laboratory, Africa Institute for Postharvest Technology, Faculty of AgriSciences, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch 7602, South Africa; (A.A.); (T.F.)
- UNESCO International Centre for Biotechnology, Nsukka 410001, Enugu State, Nigeria
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Packham's Triumph Pears ( Pyrus communis L.) Post-Harvest Treatment during Cold Storage Based on Chitosan and Rue Essential Oil. Molecules 2021; 26:molecules26030725. [PMID: 33573272 PMCID: PMC7866551 DOI: 10.3390/molecules26030725] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2020] [Revised: 01/10/2021] [Accepted: 01/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Pears (Pyrus communis L.) cv. Packham’s Triumph are very traditional for human consumption, but pear is a highly perishable climacteric fruit with a short shelf-life affected by several diseases with a microbial origin. In this study, a protective effect on the quality properties of pears was evidenced after the surface application of chitosan-Ruta graveolens essential oil coatings (CS + RGEO) in four different concentrations (0, 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5 %, v/v) during 21 days of storage under 18 °C. After 21 days of treatment, a weight loss reduction of 10% (from 40.2 ± 5.3 to 20.3 ± 3.9) compared to the uncoated pears was evident with CS + RGEO 0.5%. All the fruits’ physical-chemical properties evidenced a protective effect of the coatings. The maturity index increased for all the treatments. However, the pears with CS + RGEO 1.5% were lower (70.21) than the uncoated fruits (98.96). The loss of firmness for the uncoated samples was higher compared to the coated samples. The pears’ most excellent mechanical resistance was obtained with CS + RGEO 0.5% after 21 days of storage, both for compression resistance (7.42 kPa) and force (22.7 N). Microbiological studies demonstrated the protective power of the coatings. Aerobic mesophilic bacteria and molds were significantly reduced (in 3 Log CFU/g compared to control) using 15 µL/mL of RGEO, without affecting consumer perception. The results presented in this study showed that CS + RGEO coatings are promising in the post-harvest treatment of pears.
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Classic and Reaction-Diffusion Models Used in Modified Atmosphere Packaging (MAP) of Fruit and Vegetables. FOOD ENGINEERING REVIEWS 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/s12393-020-09214-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
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Boeckx J, Pols S, Hertog MLATM, Nicolaï BM. Regulation of the Central Carbon Metabolism in Apple Fruit Exposed to Postharvest Low-Oxygen Stress. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2019; 10:1384. [PMID: 31737012 PMCID: PMC6831743 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2019.01384] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2019] [Accepted: 10/07/2019] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
After harvest, fruit remain metabolically active and continue to ripen. The main goal of postharvest storage is to slow down the metabolic activity of the detached fruit. In many cases, this is accomplished by storing fruit at low temperature in combination with low oxygen (O2) and high carbon dioxide (CO2) partial pressures. However, altering the normal atmospheric conditions is not without any risk and can induce low-O2 stress. This review focuses on the central carbon metabolism of apple fruit during postharvest storage, both under normal O2 conditions and under low-O2 stress conditions. While the current review is focused on apple fruit, most research on the central carbon metabolism, low-O2 stress, and O2 sensing has been done on a range of different model plants (e.g., Arabidopsis, potato, rice, and maize) using various plant organs (e.g., seedlings, tubers, roots, and leaves). This review pulls together this information from the various sources into a coherent overview to facilitate the research on the central carbon metabolism in apple fruit exposed to postharvest low-O2 stress.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Bart M. Nicolaï
- KU Leuven, BIOSYST-MeBioS, Leuven, Belgium
- Flanders Centre of Postharvest Technology, Leuven, Belgium
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Oak P, Deshpande A, Giri A, Gupta V. Metabolomic Dynamics Reveals Oxidative Stress in Spongy Tissue Disorder During Ripening of Mangifera indica L. Fruit. Metabolites 2019; 9:metabo9110255. [PMID: 31671836 PMCID: PMC6918312 DOI: 10.3390/metabo9110255] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2019] [Revised: 09/12/2019] [Accepted: 09/15/2019] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Spongy tissue disorder, a mesocarp specific malady, severely affects the flavor and pulp characters of Alphonso mango fruit reducing its consumer acceptability. Here, we investigated comparative metabolomic changes that occur during ripening in healthy and spongy tissue-affected fruits using high resolution mass spectrometric analysis. During the spongy tissue formation, 46 metabolites were identified to be differentially accumulated. These putative metabolites belong to various primary and secondary metabolic pathways potentially involved in maintaining the quality of the fruit. Analysis revealed metabolic variations in tricarboxylic acid cycle and gamma amino butyric acid shunt generating reactive oxygen species, which causes stressed conditions inside the mesocarp. Further, reduced levels of antioxidants and enzymes dissipating reactive oxygen species in mesocarp deteriorate the fruit physiology. This oxidative stress all along affects the level of amino acids, sugars and enzymes responsible for flavor generation in the fruit. Our results provide metabolic insights into spongy tissue development in ripening Alphonso mango fruit.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pranjali Oak
- Plant Molecular Biology Unit, Division of Biochemical Sciences, CSIR-National Chemical Laboratory, Pune 411008, India.
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad 201002, India.
| | - Ashish Deshpande
- Plant Molecular Biology Unit, Division of Biochemical Sciences, CSIR-National Chemical Laboratory, Pune 411008, India.
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad 201002, India.
| | - Ashok Giri
- Plant Molecular Biology Unit, Division of Biochemical Sciences, CSIR-National Chemical Laboratory, Pune 411008, India.
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad 201002, India.
| | - Vidya Gupta
- Plant Molecular Biology Unit, Division of Biochemical Sciences, CSIR-National Chemical Laboratory, Pune 411008, India.
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad 201002, India.
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Strouwen A, Nicolaï BM, Goos P. Optimizing Oxygen Input Profiles for Efficient Estimation of Michaelis-Menten Respiration Models. FOOD BIOPROCESS TECH 2019. [DOI: 10.1007/s11947-019-02250-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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