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Gancarz AM, Parmar R, Shwani T, Cobb MM, Crawford MN, Watson JR, Evans L, Kausch MA, Werner CT, Dietz DM. Adolescent exposure to sucrose increases cocaine-mediated behaviours in adulthood via Smad3. Addict Biol 2023; 28:e13346. [PMID: 38017636 DOI: 10.1111/adb.13346] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2023] [Revised: 09/21/2023] [Accepted: 09/22/2023] [Indexed: 11/30/2023]
Abstract
Adolescence, a critical period of developmental period, is marked by neurobiological changes influenced by environmental factors. Here, we show how exposure to sucrose, which is ubiquitously available in modern diets, results in changes in behavioural response to cocaine as an adult. Rats were given daily access to either 10% sucrose or water during the adolescent period (PND28-42). Following this period, rats are left undisturbed until they reach adulthood. In adulthood, rats were tested for (i) acquisition of a low dose of cocaine, (ii) progressive ratio (PR) test, and (iii) resistance to punished cocaine taking. Sucrose exposure resulted in significant alterations in all behavioural measures. To determine the neurobiological mechanisms leading to such behavioural adaptations, we find that adolescent sucrose exposure results in an upregulation of the transcription factor Smad3 in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) when compared with water-exposed controls. Transiently blocking the active form of this transcription factor (HSV-dnSmad3) during adolescence mitigated the enhanced cocaine vulnerability-like behaviours observed in adulthood. These findings suggest that prior exposure to sucrose during adolescence can heighten the reinforcing effects of cocaine. Furthermore, they identify the TGF-beta pathway and Smad3 as playing a key role in mediating enduring and long-lasting adaptations that contribute to sucrose-induced susceptibility to cocaine. Taken together, these results have important implications for development and suggest that adolescent sucrose exposure may persistently enhance the susceptibility to substance abuse.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amy M Gancarz
- Department of Psychology, California State University, Bakersfield, California, USA
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York, USA
- Clinical and Research Institute on Addictions, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York, USA
| | - Raveena Parmar
- Department of Psychology, California State University, Bakersfield, California, USA
| | - Treefa Shwani
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York, USA
| | - Moriah M Cobb
- Department of Psychology, California State University, Bakersfield, California, USA
| | - Michelle N Crawford
- Department of Psychology, California State University, Bakersfield, California, USA
| | - Jacob R Watson
- Department of Psychology, California State University, Bakersfield, California, USA
| | - Lisa Evans
- Department of Psychology, California State University, Bakersfield, California, USA
| | - Michael A Kausch
- Department of Psychology, California State University, Bakersfield, California, USA
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York, USA
| | - Craig T Werner
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York, USA
| | - David M Dietz
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York, USA
- Clinical and Research Institute on Addictions, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York, USA
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Gancarz AM, Hagarty DP, Cobb MM, Kausch MA, Krieg B, Alammari N, Gilbert K, Russo J, Dietz DM. Operant novelty seeking predicts cue-induced reinstatement following cocaine but not water reinforcement in male rats. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2023; 240:2201-2215. [PMID: 37552291 PMCID: PMC10506955 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-023-06441-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2023] [Accepted: 07/25/2023] [Indexed: 08/09/2023]
Abstract
RATIONALE An important facet of cocaine addiction is a high propensity to relapse, with increasing research investigating factors that predispose individuals toward uncontrolled drug use and relapse. A personality trait linked to drug addiction is high sensation seeking, i.e., a preference for novel sensations/experiences. In an animal model of sensation seeking, operant novelty seeking predicts the acquisition of drug self-administration. OBJECTIVE The primary goal of this research was to evaluate the hypothesis that sensitivity to the reinforcing effects of novel sensory stimuli predicts more intensive aspects of drug-taking behaviors, such as relapse. METHODS Rats were first tested for Operant Novelty Seeking, during which responses resulted in complex visual/auditory stimuli. Next, rats were trained to respond to water/cocaine reinforcers signaled by a cue light. Finally, rats were exposed to extinction in the absence of discrete cues and subsequently tested in a single session of cue-induced reinstatement, during which active responses resulted in cues previously paired with water/cocaine delivery. RESULTS The present study showed operant responses to produce novel sensory stimuli positively correlate with responding for cocaine during self-administration and during discrete cue-induced reinstatement, but no association with performance during extinction. A different pattern of associations was observed for a natural reward, in this case, water reinforcement. Here, the degree of novelty seeking also correlated with responding to water reinforcement and extinction responding; however, operant novelty seeking did not correlate with responding to water cues during testing of cue-induced reinstatement. Taken together, the incongruence of relationships indicates an underlying difference between natural and drug reinforcers. CONCLUSION In summary, we found a reinforcer-dependent relationship between operant novelty seeking (i.e., sensation seeking) and responsivity to extinction and discrete cues signaling availability for cocaine (i.e., craving), demonstrating the validity of the operant novelty seeking model to investigate drug seeking and relapse.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amy M Gancarz
- Department of Psychology, California State University, Bakersfield, Dorothy Donahoe Hall (DDH) H106, 9001 Stockdale Highway, Bakersfield, CA, 93311, USA.
| | - Devin P Hagarty
- Department of Psychology, California State University, Bakersfield, Dorothy Donahoe Hall (DDH) H106, 9001 Stockdale Highway, Bakersfield, CA, 93311, USA
| | - Moriah M Cobb
- Department of Psychology, California State University, Bakersfield, Dorothy Donahoe Hall (DDH) H106, 9001 Stockdale Highway, Bakersfield, CA, 93311, USA
| | - Michael A Kausch
- Department of Psychology, California State University, Bakersfield, Dorothy Donahoe Hall (DDH) H106, 9001 Stockdale Highway, Bakersfield, CA, 93311, USA
| | - Brandon Krieg
- Department of Psychology, California State University, Bakersfield, Dorothy Donahoe Hall (DDH) H106, 9001 Stockdale Highway, Bakersfield, CA, 93311, USA
| | - Nora Alammari
- Department of Psychology, California State University, Bakersfield, Dorothy Donahoe Hall (DDH) H106, 9001 Stockdale Highway, Bakersfield, CA, 93311, USA
| | - Kameron Gilbert
- Department of Psychology, California State University, Bakersfield, Dorothy Donahoe Hall (DDH) H106, 9001 Stockdale Highway, Bakersfield, CA, 93311, USA
| | - Jacqueline Russo
- Department of Psychology, California State University, Bakersfield, Dorothy Donahoe Hall (DDH) H106, 9001 Stockdale Highway, Bakersfield, CA, 93311, USA
| | - David M Dietz
- Clinical and Research Institute On Addictions, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA
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Mueller LE, Kausch MA, Markovic T, MacLaren DAA, Dietz DM, Park J, Clark SD. Intra-ventral tegmental area microinjections of urotensin II modulate the effects of cocaine. Behav Brain Res 2015; 278:271-9. [PMID: 25264578 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2014.09.036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2014] [Revised: 09/13/2014] [Accepted: 09/19/2014] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Although the peptide urotensin II (UII) has well studied direct actions on the cardiovascular system, the UII receptor (UIIR) is expressed by neurons of the hindbrain. Specifically, the UIIR is expressed by the cholinergic neurons of the laterodorsal tegmentum (LDTg) and the pedunculopontine tegmentum (PPTg). These neurons send axons to the ventral tegmental area (VTA), for which the PPTg and LDTg are the sole source of acetylcholine. Therefore, it was hypothesized that UIIR activation within the VTA would modulate reward-related behaviors, such as cocaine-induced drug seeking. Intra-VTA microinjections of UII at high concentrations (1 nmole) established conditioned place preference (CPP), but also blocked cocaine-mediated CPP (10 mg/kg). When rats received systemic sub-effectual doses of cocaine (7.5 mg/kg) with intra-VTA injections of 1 or 10 pmole of UII CPP was formed. Furthermore, the second endogenous ligand for the UIIR, urotensin II-related peptide, had the same effect at the 10 pmole dose. The effects of low doses of UII were blocked by pretreatment with the UIIR antagonist SB657510. Furthermore, it was found that intra-VTA UII (10 pmole) further increased cocaine-mediated (7.5 mg/kg) rises in electrically evoked dopamine in the nucleus accumbens. Our study has found that activation of VTA-resident UIIR produces observable behavioral changes in rats, and that UIIR is able to modulate the effects of cocaine. In addition, it was found that UIIR activation within the VTA can potentiate cocaine-mediated neurochemical effects. Therefore, the coincident activation of the UII-system and cocaine administration may increase the liability for drug taking behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- L E Mueller
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, State University of New York at Buffalo, NY 14214, USA
| | - M A Kausch
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, State University of New York at Buffalo, NY 14214, USA
| | - T Markovic
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, State University of New York at Buffalo, NY 14214, USA
| | - D A A MacLaren
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, State University of New York at Buffalo, NY 14214, USA
| | - D M Dietz
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, State University of New York at Buffalo, NY 14214, USA; Research Institute on Addictions, State University of New York at Buffalo, NY 14214, USA
| | - J Park
- Department of Biotechnology and Clinical Laboratory Sciences, State University of New York at Buffalo, NY 14214, USA
| | - S D Clark
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, State University of New York at Buffalo, NY 14214, USA; Department of Psychology, State University of New York at Buffalo, NY 14214, USA; Research Institute on Addictions, State University of New York at Buffalo, NY 14214, USA.
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Gancarz-Kausch AM, Schroeder GL, Panganiban C, Adank D, Humby MS, Kausch MA, Clark SD, Dietz DM. Transforming growth factor beta receptor 1 is increased following abstinence from cocaine self-administration, but not cocaine sensitization. PLoS One 2013; 8:e83834. [PMID: 24386286 PMCID: PMC3875479 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0083834] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2013] [Accepted: 11/15/2013] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The addicted phenotype is characterized as a long-lasting, chronically relapsing disorder that persists following long periods of abstinence, suggesting that the underlying molecular changes are stable and endure for long periods even in the absence of drug. Here, we investigated Transforming Growth Factor-Beta Type I receptor (TGF-β R1) expression in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) following periods of withdrawal from cocaine self-administration (SA) and a sensitizing regimen of non-contingent cocaine. Rats were exposed to either (i) repeated systemic injections (cocaine or saline), or (ii) self-administration (cocaine or saline) and underwent a period of forced abstinence (either 1 or 7 days of drug cessation). Withdrawal from cocaine self-administration resulted in an increase in TGF-β R1 protein expression in the NAc compared to saline controls. This increase was specific for volitional cocaine intake as no change in expression was observed following a sensitizing regimen of experimenter-administered cocaine. These findings implicate TGF-β signaling as a novel potential therapeutic target for treating drug addiction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amy M. Gancarz-Kausch
- Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York, United States of America
- Research Institute on Addictions, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York, United States of America
| | - Gabrielle L. Schroeder
- Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York, United States of America
| | - Clarisse Panganiban
- Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York, United States of America
| | - Danielle Adank
- Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York, United States of America
| | - Monica S. Humby
- Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York, United States of America
| | - Michael A. Kausch
- Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York, United States of America
| | - Stewart D. Clark
- Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York, United States of America
- Research Institute on Addictions, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York, United States of America
| | - David M. Dietz
- Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York, United States of America
- Research Institute on Addictions, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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Gancarz AM, Robble MA, Kausch MA, Lloyd DR, Richards JB. Sensory reinforcement as a predictor of cocaine and water self-administration in rats. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2013; 226:335-46. [PMID: 23142958 PMCID: PMC3581756 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-012-2907-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2012] [Accepted: 10/18/2012] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
RATIONALE The ability of locomotor activity in a novel environment (Loco) and visual stimulus reinforcement (VSR) to predict acquisition of responding for cocaine and water reinforcers in the absence of explicit audiovisual signals was evaluated. METHODS In Experiment 1 (Exp 1), rats (n = 60) were tested for VSR, followed by Loco, and finally acquisition of responding for cocaine (0.3 mg/kg/inf). In Experiment 2 (Exp 2), rats (n = 32) were tested for VSR, followed by Loco, and finally acquisition of responding for water (0.01 mL/reinforcer). RESULTS There were three main findings. First, Loco and VSR were significantly associated (Exp 1: r = 0.49, p < 0.00; Exp 2: r = 0.35, p < 0.05). Second, neither Loco (r = .00, p = 0.998) nor VSR (r = -0.12, p = 0.352) predicted acquisition of cocaine SA. Third, in the subgroup of animals that acquired cocaine SA, VSR (r = 0.41, p < 0.01) but not Loco (r = 0.28, p = 0.10) was positively associated with operant responding for cocaine. Both Loco and VSR (Loco: r = 0.37, p < 0.04; VSR: r = 0.51, p < 0.00) were positively associated with operant responding for water reinforcers. CONCLUSIONS The results indicate that VSR is at least as good a predictor of cocaine reinforced responding as Loco. VSR was predictive of operant responding for both drug and water reinforcers, while Loco was found to be predictive of responding only for water reinforcers. In studies that present visual stimuli in association with drug delivery, Loco may be predicting acquisition of responding for VSR rather than drug.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amy M Gancarz
- Department of Psychology, State University of New York at Buffalo, Park Hall Room 204, Buffalo, NY 14260, USA.
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Lloyd DR, Kausch MA, Gancarz AM, Beyley LJ, Richards JB. Effects of novelty and methamphetamine on conditioned and sensory reinforcement. Behav Brain Res 2012; 234:312-22. [PMID: 22814112 PMCID: PMC3422403 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2012.07.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2012] [Revised: 07/03/2012] [Accepted: 07/07/2012] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Light onset can be both a sensory reinforcer (SR) with intrinsic reinforcing properties, and a conditioned reinforcer (CR) which predicts a biologically important reinforcer. Stimulant drugs, such as methamphetamine (METH), may increase the reinforcing effectiveness of CRs by enhancing the predictive properties of the CR. In contrast, METH-induced increases in the reinforcing effectiveness of SRs, are mediated by the immediate sensory consequences of the light. METHODS The effects of novelty (on SRs) and METH (on both CRs and SRs) were tested. Experiment 1: rats were pre-exposed to 5 s light and water pairings presented according to a variable-time (VT) 2 min schedule or unpaired water and light presented according to independent, concurrent VT 2 min schedules. Experiment 2: rats were pre-exposed to 5 s light presented according to a VT 2 min schedule, or no stimuli. In both experiments, the pre-exposure phase was followed by a test phase in which 5 s light onset was made response-contingent on a variable-interval (VI) 2 min schedule and the effects of METH (0.5 mg/kg) were determined. RESULTS Novel light onset was a more effective reinforcer than familiar light onset. METH increased the absolute rate of responding without increasing the relative frequency of responding for both CRs and SRs. CONCLUSION Novelty plays a role in determining the reinforcing effectiveness of SRs. The results are consistent with the interpretation that METH-induced increases in reinforcer effectiveness of CRs and SRs may be mediated by immediate sensory consequences, rather than prediction.
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Affiliation(s)
- David R Lloyd
- Research Institute on Addictions, University at Buffalo, 1021 Main St., Buffalo, NY 14203, United States.
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Lloyd DR, Gancarz AM, Ashrafioun L, Kausch MA, Richards JB. Habituation and the reinforcing effectiveness of visual stimuli. Behav Processes 2012; 91:184-91. [PMID: 22868172 DOI: 10.1016/j.beproc.2012.07.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2012] [Revised: 07/03/2012] [Accepted: 07/21/2012] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Abstract
The term "sensory reinforcer" has been used to refer to sensory stimuli (e.g. light onset) that are primary reinforcers in order to differentiate them from other more biologically important primary reinforcers (e.g. food and water). Acquisition of snout poke responding for a visual stimulus (5 s light onset) with fixed ratio 1 (FR 1), variable-interval 1 min (VI 1 min), or variable-interval 6 min (VI 6 min) schedules of reinforcement was tested in three groups of rats (n=8/group). The VI 6 min schedule of reinforcement produced a higher response rate than the FR 1 or VI 1 min schedules of visual stimulus reinforcement. One explanation for greater responding on the VI 6 min schedule relative to the FR 1 and VI 1 min schedules is that the reinforcing effectiveness of light onset habituated more rapidly in the FR 1 and VI 1 min groups as compared to the VI 6 min group. The inverse relationship between response rate and the rate of visual stimulus reinforcement is opposite to results from studies with biologically important reinforcers which indicate a positive relationship between response and reinforcement rate. Rapid habituation of reinforcing effectiveness may be a fundamental characteristic of sensory reinforcers that differentiates them from biologically important reinforcers, which are required to maintain homeostatic balance.
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Affiliation(s)
- David R Lloyd
- Research Institute on Addictions, University at Buffalo, 1021 Main St., Buffalo, NY 14203, United States.
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Gancarz AM, Kausch MA, Lloyd DR, Richards JB. Between-session progressive ratio performance in rats responding for cocaine and water reinforcers. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2012; 222:215-23. [PMID: 22277988 PMCID: PMC3571699 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-012-2637-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2011] [Accepted: 12/30/2011] [Indexed: 10/14/2022]
Abstract
RATIONALE A between-session progressive ratio (BtwPR) procedure was tested in rats responding for cocaine and water reinforcers. OBJECTIVES Experiment 1 evaluated the sensitivity of the BtwPR procedure to the magnitude of cocaine and water reinforcers. Experiment 2 compared BtwPR performance to within-session progressive ratio (WinPR) performance. METHODS In experiment 1, rats were tested on a BtwPR procedure with three doses of cocaine (0.1, 0.3, and 1.0 mg/kg/inf) or volumes of water (0.01, 0.03, and 0.1 mL/reinforcer). BtwPR test sessions began with a seeking phase, during which the animal is required to complete a fixed ratio in order to initiate a 2-h consumption phase, where the reinforcer was available according to a fixed ratio 1 (FR1) schedule. Failure to complete the seeking ratio, which was increased after each test session, determined the breakpoint (BP). In experiment 2, the same BtwPR procedure was used except that the consumption phase was a WinPR schedule of reinforcement for cocaine (1.0 mg/kg/inf) or water (0.1 mL) reinforcers. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS BtwPR BPs increased as a function of the magnitude of both cocaine and water reinforcers. The BtwPR produced smaller BPs than the WinPR for cocaine reinforcers. In contrast, the BtwPR produced larger BPs than the WinPR for water reinforcers. One possible explanation is that priming and response activating effects of the cocaine reinforcer increased the WinPR BP. BtwPR and WinPR procedures may measure different aspects of drug-seeking.
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