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Choma EF, Robinson LA, Nadeau KC. Adopting electric school buses in the United States: Health and climate benefits. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2320338121. [PMID: 38768355 PMCID: PMC11145267 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2320338121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2023] [Accepted: 04/10/2024] [Indexed: 05/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Electric school buses have been proposed as an alternative to reduce the health and climate impacts of the current U.S. school bus fleet, of which a substantial share are highly polluting old diesel vehicles. However, the climate and health benefits of electric school buses are not well known. As they are substantially more costly than diesel buses, assessing their benefits is needed to inform policy decisions. We assess the health benefits of electric school buses in the United States from reduced adult mortality and childhood asthma onset risks due to exposure to ambient fine particulate matter (PM2.5). We also evaluate climate benefits from reduced greenhouse-gas emissions. We find that replacing the average diesel bus in the U.S. fleet in 2017 with an electric bus yields $84,200 in total benefits. Climate benefits amount to $40,400/bus, whereas health benefits amount to $43,800/bus due to 4.42*10-3 fewer PM2.5-attributable deaths ($40,000 of total) and 7.42*10-3 fewer PM2.5-attributable new childhood asthma cases ($3,700 of total). However, health benefits of electric buses vary substantially by driving location and model year (MY) of the diesel buses they replace. Replacing old, MY 2005 diesel buses in large cities yields $207,200/bus in health benefits and is likely cost-beneficial, although other policies that accelerate fleet turnover in these areas deserve consideration. Electric school buses driven in rural areas achieve small health benefits from reduced exposure to ambient PM2.5. Further research assessing benefits of reduced exposure to in-cabin air pollution among children riding buses would be valuable to inform policy decisions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ernani F. Choma
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA02115
| | - Lisa A. Robinson
- Center for Health Decision Science, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA02115
| | - Kari C. Nadeau
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA02115
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2
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Akkenepally SV, Yombo DJK, Yerubandi S, Reddy GB, Deshpande DA, McCormack FX, Madala SK. Interleukin 31 receptor α promotes smooth muscle cell contraction and airway hyperresponsiveness in asthma. Nat Commun 2023; 14:8207. [PMID: 38081868 PMCID: PMC10713652 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-44040-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2023] [Accepted: 11/28/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Asthma is a chronic inflammatory airway disease characterized by airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR), inflammation, and goblet cell hyperplasia. Multiple cytokines, including IFNγ, IL-4, and IL-13 are associated with asthma; however, the mechanisms underlying the effects of these cytokines remain unclear. Here, we report a significant increase in the expression of IL-31RA, but not its cognate ligand IL-31, in mouse models of allergic asthma. In support of this, IFNγ, IL-4, and IL-13 upregulated IL-31RA but not IL-31 in both human and mice primary airway smooth muscle cells (ASMC) isolated from the airways of murine and human lungs. Importantly, the loss of IL-31RA attenuated AHR but had no effect on inflammation and goblet cell hyperplasia in mice challenged with allergens or treated with IL-13 or IFNγ. We show that IL-31RA functions as a positive regulator of muscarinic acetylcholine receptor 3 expression, augmenting calcium levels and myosin light chain phosphorylation in human and murine ASMC. These findings identify a role for IL-31RA in AHR that is distinct from airway inflammation and goblet cell hyperplasia in asthma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Santhoshi V Akkenepally
- Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA
- Division of Biochemistry, National Institute of Nutrition, Hyderabad, Telangana, India
| | - Dan J K Yombo
- Division of Pulmonary Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Sanjana Yerubandi
- Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA
- Division of Pulmonary Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | | | - Deepak A Deshpande
- Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, and Critical Care Medicine, Center for Translational Medicine, Jane and Leonard Korman Respiratory Institute, Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Francis X McCormack
- Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Satish K Madala
- Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA.
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3
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Swetschinski L, Fong KC, Morello-Frosch R, Marshall JD, Bell ML. Exposures to ambient particulate matter are associated with reduced adult earnings potential. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2023:116391. [PMID: 37308068 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.116391] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2023] [Revised: 05/27/2023] [Accepted: 06/09/2023] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
The societal costs of air pollution have historically been measured in terms of premature deaths (including the corresponding values of statistical lives lost), disability-adjusted life years, and medical costs. Emerging research, however, demonstrated potential impacts of air pollution on human capital formation. Extended contact with pollutants such as airborne particulate matter among young persons whose biological systems are still developing can result in pulmonary, neurobehavioral, and birth complications, hindering academic performance as well as skills and knowledge acquisition. Using a dataset that tracks 2014-2015 incomes for 96.2% of Americans born between 1979 and 1983, we assessed the association between childhood exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and adult earnings outcomes across U.S. Census tracts. After accounting for pertinent economic covariates and regional random effects, our regression models indicate that early-life exposure to PM2.5 is associated with lower predicted income percentiles by mid-adulthood; all else equal, children raised in high pollution tracts (at the 75th percentile of PM2.5) are estimated to have approximately a 0.51 decrease in income percentile relative to children raised in low pollution tracts (at the 25th percentile of PM2.5). For a person earning the median income, this difference corresponds to a $436 lower annual income (in 2015 USD). We estimate that 2014-2015 earnings for the 1978-1983 birth cohort would have been ∼$7.18 billion higher had their childhood exposure met U.S. air quality standards for PM2.5. Stratified models show that the relationship between PM2.5 and diminished earnings is more pronounced for low-income children and for children living in rural environments. These findings raise concerns about long-term environmental and economic justice for children living in areas with poor air quality where air pollution could act as a barrier to intergenerational class equity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucien Swetschinski
- Yale School of the Environment, Yale University, 195 Prospect Street, New Haven, CT, 06511, USA.
| | - Kelvin C Fong
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.
| | - Rachel Morello-Frosch
- Department of Environmental Science, Policy, and Management, University of California-Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA; School of Public Health, University of California-Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA.
| | - Julian D Marshall
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
| | - Michelle L Bell
- Yale School of the Environment, Yale University, 195 Prospect Street, New Haven, CT, 06511, USA.
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Akkenepally S, Yombo DJK, Yerubandi S, Geereddy BR, McCormack FX, Madala SK. Interleukin 31 receptor alpha augments muscarinic acetylcholine receptor 3-driven calcium signaling and airway hyperresponsiveness in asthma. RESEARCH SQUARE 2023:rs.3.rs-2564484. [PMID: 36824812 PMCID: PMC9949265 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-2564484/v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Asthma is a chronic inflammatory airway disease characterized by airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR), inflammation, and goblet cell hyperplasia. Both Th1 and Th2 cytokines, including IFN-γ, IL-4, and IL-13 have been shown to induce asthma; however, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. We observed a significant increase in the expression of IL-31RA, but not its cognate ligand IL-31 during allergic asthma. In support of this, IFN-γ and Th2 cytokines, IL-4 and IL-13, upregulated IL-31RA but not IL-31 in airway smooth muscle cells (ASMC). Importantly, the loss of IL-31RA attenuated AHR but had no effects on inflammation and goblet cell hyperplasia in allergic asthma or mice treated with IL-13 or IFN-γ. Mechanistically, we demonstrate that IL-31RA functions as a positive regulator of muscarinic acetylcholine receptor 3 expression and calcium signaling in ASMC. Together, these results identified a novel role for IL-31RA in AHR distinct from airway inflammation and goblet cell hyperplasia in asthma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Santoshi Akkenepally
- Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio USA
- Division of Biochemistry, National Institute of Nutrition, Hyderabad, Telangana, India
| | - Dan JK Yombo
- Division of Pulmonary Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio USA
| | - Sanjana Yerubandi
- Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio USA
- Division of Pulmonary Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio USA
| | | | - Francis X. McCormack
- Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio USA
| | - Satish K Madala
- Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio USA
- Division of Pulmonary Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio USA
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5
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Nitsch A, Kearns M, Mehler P. Pulmonary complications of eating disorders: a literature review. J Eat Disord 2023; 11:12. [PMID: 36717849 PMCID: PMC9887828 DOI: 10.1186/s40337-023-00735-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2022] [Accepted: 01/11/2023] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The medical complications of eating disorders (EDs) have been described in the literature; however, the pulmonary system has historically been described as relatively spared from the ravages of eating disorders and thus neglected in the literature. Here we review the pulmonary complications that have been described in the literature, including the effects of starvation on the lungs of nutritionally deprived animals and patients with anorexia nervosa. There is clear evidence of weakness of respiratory muscles with starvation in both groups. However, there is discordance in the literature as to whether starvation results in "nutritional emphysema," and if so, by what mechanism and at what degree of malnutrition it develops. We also explore the growing concern for the risk of non-tuberculosis mycobacterium infection as well as risk for pneumomediastinum and pneumothorax in patients with restrictive EDs. From the limited literature, it is clear the lungs, in fact, are not spared and that further research is needed to fully understand the full extent of pulmonary complications instigated by EDs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Allison Nitsch
- ACUTE Center for Eating Disorders at Denver Health, 777 Bannock Street, Denver, CO, 80204, USA.,Department of Medicine, University of Colorado School of Medicine, 13001 E 17th Pl, Aurora, CO, 80045, USA
| | - Mark Kearns
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Denver Health, Denver, USA.,Department of Medicine, University of Colorado School of Medicine, 13001 E 17th Pl, Aurora, CO, 80045, USA
| | - Philip Mehler
- ACUTE Center for Eating Disorders at Denver Health, 777 Bannock Street, Denver, CO, 80204, USA. .,Department of Medicine, University of Colorado School of Medicine, 13001 E 17th Pl, Aurora, CO, 80045, USA. .,Eating Recovery Center, 7351 E Lowry Blvd, Denver, CO, 80230, USA.
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Tsimicalis A, Gasse M, Morand M, Rauch F. Use of Netnography to Understand GoFundMe® Crowdfunding Profiles Posted for Individuals and Families of Children with Osteogenesis Imperfecta. Healthcare (Basel) 2022; 10:healthcare10081451. [PMID: 36011107 PMCID: PMC9407832 DOI: 10.3390/healthcare10081451] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2022] [Revised: 07/25/2022] [Accepted: 07/26/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) is a rare genetic disorder associated with low bone density and increased bone fragility. OI can lead to a variety of supportive and medical care needs; yet financial impacts for families and individuals living with OI remain understudied and largely invisible. Efforts by families to recover costs through GoFundMe®, the most important crowdfunding web platform worldwide, offer an unprecedented opportunity to gain insight into OI costs. The purpose of this study was to describe GoFundMe® profiles and determine what factors may contribute to funding goal achievement. A netnographic approach was used to investigate a publicly available dataset from GoFundMe®, with 1206 webpages extracted and 401 included for analysis. Most webpages originated from the United States and were created by family members. Nineteen cost categories were identified. Thirty-seven web profiles met their funding goal. Funding increases or goal achievements created for children were associated with increased social-media exposure (i.e., Facebook). This study helped to describe and showcase the financial impacts of OI and effectiveness of a crowdfunding website to alleviate costs. The results highlight the need for further research to better understand OI costs and provide economic supports for individuals with OI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Argerie Tsimicalis
- Ingram School of Nursing, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 2M7, Canada; (M.G.); (M.M.)
- Shriners Hospitals for Children, Montreal, QC H4A 0A9, Canada;
- Correspondence:
| | - Michael Gasse
- Ingram School of Nursing, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 2M7, Canada; (M.G.); (M.M.)
| | - Marilyn Morand
- Ingram School of Nursing, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 2M7, Canada; (M.G.); (M.M.)
| | - Frank Rauch
- Shriners Hospitals for Children, Montreal, QC H4A 0A9, Canada;
- Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, McGill University, Montreal, QC H4A 3J1, Canada
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ZHENG HZ, QIU Q, XIONG J, CHEN J, GUAN LC. Moxibustion pretreatment inhibits RhoA/ROCK signaling to prevent lung inflammation in asthmatic rats 艾灸预处理降低RhoA/ROCK信号表达预防哮喘大鼠肺炎. WORLD JOURNAL OF ACUPUNCTURE-MOXIBUSTION 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.wjam.2022.03.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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8
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Nassikas NJ, Chan EAW, Nolte CG, Roman HA, Micklewhite N, Kinney PL, Carter EJ, Fann NL. Modeling future asthma attributable to fine particulate matter (PM 2.5) in a changing climate: a health impact assessment. AIR QUALITY, ATMOSPHERE, & HEALTH 2022; 15:311-319. [PMID: 35173822 PMCID: PMC8842843 DOI: 10.1007/s11869-022-01155-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2021] [Accepted: 01/04/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is associated with asthma development as well as asthma exacerbation in children. PM2.5 can be directly emitted or can form in the atmosphere from pollutant precursors. PM2.5 emitted and formed in the atmosphere is influenced by meteorology; future changes in climate may alter the concentration and distribution of PM2.5. Our aim is to estimate the future burden of climate change and PM2.5 on new and exacerbated cases of childhood asthma. Projected concentrations of PM2.5 are based on the Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory Coupled Model version 3 climate model, the Representative Concentration Pathway 8.5 greenhouse gas scenario, and two air pollution emissions datasets: a 2011 emissions dataset and a 2040 emissions dataset that reflects substantial reductions in emissions of PM2.5 as compared to the 2011 inventory. We estimate additional PM2.5-attributable asthma as well as PM2.5-attributable albuterol inhaler use for four future years (2030, 2050, 2075, and 2095) relative to the year 2000. Exacerbations, regardless of the trigger, are counted as attributable to PM2.5 if the incident disease is attributable to PM2.5. We project 38 thousand (95% CI 36, 39 thousand) additional PM2.5-attributable incident childhood asthma cases and 29 million (95% CI 27, 31 million) additional PM2.5-attributable albuterol inhaler uses per year in 2030, increasing to 200 thousand (95% CI 190, 210 thousand) additional incident cases and 160 million (95% CI 150, 160 million) inhaler uses per year by 2095 relative to 2000 under the 2011 emissions dataset. These additional PM2.5-attributable incident asthma cases and albuterol inhaler use would cost billions of additional U.S. dollars per year by the late century. These outcomes could be mitigated by reducing air pollution emissions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas J. Nassikas
- Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
- Present Address: Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, 330 Brookline Avenue, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Elizabeth A. W. Chan
- Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards, Office of Air and Radiation, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Christopher G. Nolte
- Center for Environmental Measurement and Modeling, Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, Durham, NC, USA
| | | | | | | | - E. Jane Carter
- Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
| | - Neal L. Fann
- Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards, Office of Air and Radiation, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, Durham, NC, USA
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Halayko AJ, Pascoe CD, Gereige JD, Peters MC, Cohen RT, Woodruff PG. Update in Adult Asthma 2020. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2021; 204:395-402. [PMID: 34181860 DOI: 10.1164/rccm.202103-0552up] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Andrew J Halayko
- University of Manitoba, 8664, SECTION OF RESPIRATORY DISEASES, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.,University of Manitoba, 8664, Biology of Breathing Group, Children's Hospital Research Institute of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Christopher D Pascoe
- University of Manitoba, 8664, Physiology and Pathophysiology, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.,University of Manitoba Children's Hospital Research Institute of Manitoba, 423136, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Jessica D Gereige
- Boston University School of Medicine, 12259, Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, Sleep, and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, United States
| | - Michael C Peters
- University of California San Francisco, 8785, Pulmonary and Critical Care, San Francisco, California, United States
| | - Robyn T Cohen
- Boston University School of Medicine, 12259, Pediatrics, Boston, Massachusetts, United States
| | - Prescott G Woodruff
- UCSF, 8785, Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine and CVRI, San Francisco, California, United States;
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10
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Bickenbach J. Human Functioning: Developments and Grand Challenges. FRONTIERS IN REHABILITATION SCIENCES 2021; 1:617782. [PMID: 36570604 PMCID: PMC9782683 DOI: 10.3389/fresc.2020.617782] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2020] [Accepted: 12/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Jerome Bickenbach
- Swiss Paraplegic Research, Nottwil, Switzerland,Department of Health Sciences and Medicine, University of Lucerne, Lucerne, Switzerland,*Correspondence: Jerome Bickenbach
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