iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

UC San Diego @ucsandiego.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

Using translucent glassfish and virtual reality, researchers discovered that schooling fish can avoid threats just by seeing their neighbors escape. 🐟 bit.ly/4hqu0C1

The glassfish Danionella schools in groups using its sense of vision. Here, a single real fish (foreground) schools with a group of virtual fish programmed to move on a video screen (background). Photo credit: Jo-Hsien Yu and Geoff T. Meyerhof

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UC San Diego @ucsandiego.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

Genius Alert! 🧠🔬 UC San Diego’s Liangfang Zhang has been named a 2026 MacArthur Fellow for pioneering nanosponge technologies that use cell membranes to create tiny “disguises” that can target toxins, infections and inflammatory signals: bit.ly/4j1k1pf

A person is seated in a laboratory, surrounded by scientific equipment. The text reads: "2026 MacArthur Fellow Liangfang Zhang, Chemical and Nano Engineering Professor, UC San Diego Jacobs School of Engineering.

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UC San Diego @ucsandiego.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

UC San Diego is reinventing surgery, medical training and patient care — before patients even enter the room. bit.ly/4rvoPp3

At the Simulation Training Center, emergency medicine residents practice ultrasound-guided pericardiocentesis, a procedure in which a needle is used to remove fluid from the space surrounding the heart. This procedure is used to treat cardiac tamponade, a life-threatening condition. Photo by Erik Jepsen

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UC San Diego @ucsandiego.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

What’s that in the sky? What you might be looking at would be UC San Diego’s very own Bird Club. With so many bird species in San Diego, it's only natural that there's an even larger community of “birders” right here on campus. 🐦 bit.ly/3TSvA7N

Western Tanager (Photo by Langchen Xiang)

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UC San Diego @ucsandiego.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

Federal authorities have released a new report on air contamination in the Tijuana River Valley that aligns with a warning raised by UC San Diego scientists two years ago. bit.ly/4yY7ozK

A foamy, turbulent section of the Tijuana River near Saturn Boulevard in San Diego’s South Bay. This location was identified by members of the local community as a source of particularly strong odors. Photo: Beatriz Klimeck

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UC San Diego @ucsandiego.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

As UC San Diego prepares to celebrate Homecoming 2026, we're asking alumni to help create “The Sound of Coming Home,” a crowdsourced Spotify playlist inspired by the music and memories of their time on campus. 🎶🔊 🔗 Share your song and story no later than Oct. 2: bit.ly/4AttkUZ

Images 1-2: UC San Diego Library Special Collections, Images 3-4: Erik Jepsen

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UC San Diego @ucsandiego.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

UC San Diego is the nation’s No. 6 public university for the fourth consecutive year, according to U.S. News & World Report. We also ranked No. 8 in undergraduate AI, No. 12 in undergraduate Econ and No. 19 in innovation: bit.ly/4h72gDp #UCSanDiego #UCSD

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UC San Diego @ucsandiego.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

The four-building Triton Center is our new gateway to campus. It includes the Triton Alumni and Welcome Center, the Student Success Building, the Triton Health and Wellness Building, Strauss Family Gallery and the Joan and Irwin Jacobs Celebration Hall. 🔱 bit.ly/4h7Yh8j

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UC San Diego @ucsandiego.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

To celebrate the opening of our Triton Alumni and Welcome Center, alumni are invited to share their campus memories in our Living Time Capsule. Add your story to a shared collection that will be showcased at the grand opening during Homecoming, Nov. 5-8: bit.ly/476L9eY

📸: Brookie Best ‘94, Leah Dedmon ‘15, Karen Lane ‘77, Lazaro Herrera ‘00

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UC San Diego @ucsandiego.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

A study led by surfing scientists at @scrippsocean.bsky.social uncovers how seafloor slope and wave height help shape breaking waves — and what those changes mean for turbulence and sand transport. 🌊 bit.ly/4qQu42h

Study author Kanoa Pick surfing at the Wedge, in Newport Beach, Calif. Photo: Owen Beim

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UC San Diego @ucsandiego.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

To better assess the prevalence of high-risk behaviors, researchers are using #AI-powered cameras to understand how people actually behave behind the wheel. bit.ly/4A72L7Q

A vibrant nighttime cityscape view of San Diego with a freeway in the foreground. The freeway features bright light trails from vehicles, indicating motion. The city skyline is illuminated, highlighting various buildings and palm trees.

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UC San Diego @ucsandiego.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

STEM majors are expected to critically read scientific research — but who teaches them how? Professor of Astronomy and Astrophysics Adam Burgasser ’96 breaks down the five-step method introduced in a new book he co-authored. bit.ly/3T5Wlp1

Person reading a book with a spiral notebook and various highlighters on a table.

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UC San Diego @ucsandiego.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

Bay Area Tritons: You're invited to Triton Wave Makers on Oct. 6! Through an engaging conversation with accomplished Triton leaders, you'll hear firsthand about the risks, breakthroughs and lessons learned from turning bold ideas into thriving companies. 🔱 Reserve your spot: bit.ly/4gNNhye

Group of people at a previous Triton Wave Makers event.

A group of people are engaged in conversation in a cozy cafe with modern decor. Two are seated in the foreground, talking and smiling, with one holding a plate of food. Others are in the background, also conversing. The environment is lively, with wooden tables and patterned cushions.

A group of five people wearing name tags and lanyards are standing in a well-lit room with a wooden floor.

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UC San Diego @ucsandiego.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

Ahead of this year’s Emmy Awards, Ethnic Studies Professor Curtis Marez discusses what four nominated shows — Widow’s Bay, Pluribus, DTF St. Louis and Beef — reveal about Hollywood’s effect on the communities where TV shows are made. 📽️ bit.ly/4ypMxFa

The image shows a TV screen displaying the Netflix homepage featuring "TV Shows" with highlighted thumbnails. The show "Beef" is prominently displayed, showing a person looking to the side, and next to it is "The Night Agent." A genres dropdown menu is visible above the thumbnails.

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UC San Diego @ucsandiego.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

UC San Diego researchers will lead one of the Department of Energy’s (DOE) new Genesis Mission projects focused on accelerating fundamental physics and quantum computing by deploying intelligent AI agents. bit.ly/4gwivJX

A dynamic visualization of interconnected blue lines and glowing orbs forming a complex, three-dimensional grid pattern on a black background.

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UC San Diego @ucsandiego.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

Soaking up the last little bits of summer, one Scripps sunset at a time.✨🌞🏄 📷: @erikjepsen on Instagram. #UCSD #UCSanDiego #ScrippsPier

A person with a surfboard walks along the beach at sunset, with Scripps Pier stretching into the ocean under a dramatic sky filled with vibrant orange, yellow, and purple clouds.

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UC San Diego @ucsandiego.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

Eva Trujillo '20, a member of the Mesa Grande Band of Mission Indians, honors her ancestors through her work as the campus's reparation coordinator, where she ensures compliance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act. bit.ly/4y9NPnK

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UC San Diego @ucsandiego.bsky.social · 05/09/2026

As drought and water regulations leave more California farmland uncultivated, a UC San Diego-led study links certain agricultural and natural landscapes to higher rates of Valley Fever, a fungal respiratory infection. bit.ly/4iHadAg

In California, rates of Valley fever have increased by more than 800% over the past two decades. Photo by iStock/Tverdohlib

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Reposted by UC San Diego

UC San Diego School of Medicine @ucsdmedschool.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

The ceremonial donning of the white coat at @ucsandiego.bsky.social School of Medicine marks the beginning of a new chapter. 🥼 Learn more about the MD Class of 2030 and those who inspired them to pursue medical school ➡️ go.ucsd.edu/4zROuMa

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UC San Diego @ucsandiego.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

A $2 million gift will establish the David and Claire Guggenheim Gallery, a space within the Strauss Family Gallery — an arts destination taking shape in the new Triton Center. bit.ly/4wZ4IAo

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UC San Diego @ucsandiego.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

UC San Diego continues to rank among the best universities in the world. 🌎 We’re proud to rank No. 4 among U.S. public universities, No. 14 among all U.S. universities and No. 20 in the world in the 2026 Academic Ranking of World Universities. 🔗 bit.ly/4wZSMyp #UCSD

Exterior view of Geisel Library at UC San Diego during twilight, with illuminated windows. Large text overlay reads "#4 U.S. Public University, 2026 Academic Ranking of World Universities."

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UC San Diego @ucsandiego.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

The San Diego Supercomputer Center will test a new solid-state transformer as part of an $8.48 million project aimed at reducing energy waste, lowering costs and shrinking the footprint of power equipment without sacrificing performance. bit.ly/4qOJpQB

A futuristic data center hallway with sleek server racks on both sides. Bright, blue and white light trails run along the corridor, creating an impression of high-speed data flow. The ceiling is illuminated with evenly spaced panel lights.

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UC San Diego @ucsandiego.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

As part of a project funded through the Department of Energy’s new Genesis Mission, a team of experts will build an AI “scientist” that can analyze data, design AI models and deploy them to accelerate research in fundamental physics and quantum computing. bit.ly/4gwivJX

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UC San Diego @ucsandiego.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

Sam Ward, a professor in @ucsdmedschool.bsky.social and @jacobsschool.bsky.social, has been appointed senior associate vice chancellor for research and innovation, a role focused on cross-campus collaboration and strategic growth. bit.ly/3SHSb6n

Ward started his career as a physical therapist before becoming an orthopaedic surgery and bioengineering professor; (top) Ward pictured with a colleague; (bottom) Muscle Physiology Lab director Ward and lab manager Shannon Bremmer examine a muscle sample on a slide before putting it under the microscope. Photo Credit: Kyle Dykes/UC San Diego Health Sciences

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UC San Diego @ucsandiego.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

Using artificial intelligence and advanced computational models, researchers at the Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences are compressing years of drug discovery into months — or sometimes seconds. bit.ly/4zW1UqO

Distinguished Professor William Gerwick, PhD ’81, and laboratory assistant Evgenia Glukhov, PhD, examine a petri dish possessing a growth of green-colored cyanobacteria. Gerwick studies an astonishing array of chemical compounds found underwater, many with potent biological activity. Photo by Erik Jepsen.

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UC San Diego @ucsandiego.bsky.social · 28/08/2026

Last night’s moon was one to remember. 🌕✨ A nearly full Sturgeon Moon lit up the sky, with a partial lunar eclipse adding a little extra magic. 📸: Erik Jepsen #UCSanDiego #SturgeonMoon #AstroPhotography

A sequence of moon phases arcs across the sky over a small house perched precariously on the edge of a building. The scene is silhouetted against a dark sky with the silhouette of a tree in the foreground.

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UC San Diego @ucsandiego.bsky.social · 27/08/2026

A new $12.3 million grant from the National Institutes of Health will support a multidisciplinary effort to improve brain health and clinical care for people living with both HIV and methamphetamine use disorder. bit.ly/4c3S6kd

Brain-FRAMe co-investigators (left to right) include Rachel Schrier, PhD, J. Adam Fields, PhD, Jessica Montoya, PhD, David Grelotti, MD, M. Cecilia Marcondes, PhD, Igor Grant, MD, Mariana Cherner, PhD, Ronald Ellis, MD, PhD, Jennifer Iudicello, PhD and Scott Letendre, MD. Photo credit: UC San Diego Health Sciences

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UC San Diego @ucsandiego.bsky.social · 26/08/2026

Electrical engineers have developed inexpensive custom tiles that can reflect millimeter-wave signals to address path obstructions — such as walls or other objects — to improve wireless coverage for future 6G networks. bit.ly/4grLdKT

A person in a checkered shirt holds a rectangular block of translucent material in a modern laboratory setting. The background shows shelves with various equipment and a whiteboard.

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UC San Diego @ucsandiego.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

Five members of the campus community have been nominated for the inaugural UC Regents Innovation Awards — a new systemwide program honoring groundbreaking research, entrepreneurship and contributions to the University of California's innovation ecosystem. bit.ly/4hSsRoJ

Five UC San Diego innovators are bringing groundbreaking ideas to the forefront as nominees for the inaugural UC Regents Innovation Awards.

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UC San Diego @ucsandiego.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

Are tariffs making prices go up? As Americans continue to worry about the cost of living, international trade economist and School of Global Policy and Strategy Dean Caroline Freund answers a question on the minds of many consumers. bit.ly/4bZoowD

A person in a yellow sweater holds a shopping receipt near a shopping cart. The background is blurred, revealing an outdoor setting.

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UC San Diego @ucsandiego.bsky.social · 23/08/2026

Using real Boeing 737 parts and software, computer scientists demonstrated that brief physical access to an aircraft — paired with a custom-made hardware device — is enough to change the plane’s flight path or make takeoff conditions unsafe. bit.ly/4guWH07

A person in a workshop points at a digital device displaying text, surrounded by electronics and tools. Shelving in the background holds various gadgets and components.

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UC San Diego @ucsandiego.bsky.social · 23/08/2026

Doctors may use the word “normal” to reassure patients, but new research finds that it can leave them feeling dismissed and less likely to seek treatment. Two simple strategies could help prevent the misunderstanding. bit.ly/4gFTFX5

A person with long hair sits in a doctor's office, facing a healthcare professional holding a clipboard. Anatomical posters are visible on the wall.

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UC San Diego @ucsandiego.bsky.social · 22/08/2026

Distinguished Professor of Chemistry Mark Thiemens has received the Magellanic Premium, America's oldest medal. Thiemens was recognized for groundbreaking isotope research that transformed the study of climate change, planetary evolution and more. bit.ly/3U6OyYg

Mark Thiemens (right) traveled to the South Pole as part of his research on the Earth's changing climate.

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UC San Diego @ucsandiego.bsky.social · 21/08/2026

Following a comprehensive international search, Christine A. Hrycyna has been appointed executive vice chancellor for Academic Affairs, effective Jan. 1, 2027. Hrycyna is the current dean of the School of Physical Sciences, where she has served since 2023. bit.ly/45CEGYP

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UC San Diego @ucsandiego.bsky.social · 21/08/2026

In a @jacobsschool.bsky.social class, students put human-robot interaction into practice by programming robots to dance on command, lead party games and guide visitors through an engineering building. bit.ly/4cJE4nS

Two individuals are working at a desk with multiple computer monitors. One person adjusts equipment, and the other observes. The setting appears to be a classroom or lab environment.

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UC San Diego @ucsandiego.bsky.social · 20/08/2026

The Stein Institute for Research on Aging has been named the central laboratory and biorepository for the global XPRIZE Healthspan Competition, an ambitious effort to extend the human healthspan by at least a decade. bit.ly/3SaTOti

Stein Institute scientific director Anthony Molina will co-lead the central lab for XPRIZE Healthspan with Michael Corley, associate professor of medicine at UC San Diego School of Medicine. Photo by Kyle Dykes.

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UC San Diego @ucsandiego.bsky.social · 19/08/2026

What powers San Diego’s innovation ecosystem? When leading minds from academia, industry and government gathered on campus, the answer was clear: collaboration. bit.ly/4zGGaiz

Sam Ward, senior associate vice chancellor for research and innovation and vice dean of research in the School of Medicine, right, works with an interdisciplinary team of colleagues at UC San Diego’s Human Performance Institute to predict how an individual body responds to physical stress, recovers and adapts.

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UC San Diego @ucsandiego.bsky.social · 18/08/2026

UC San Diego and San Diego County have developed a real-time dashboard to help public health officials assess screwworm risk and prepare as the outbreak moves closer to California. bit.ly/4qGCARr

A new dashboard tracks New World screwworm risk levels county by county. Here, UC San Diego Qualcomm Institute Research and Development Engineer Tommy Sharkey presents the public health tool built for County of San Diego partners. (Photo by Scott Blair/Qualcomm Institute)

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UC San Diego @ucsandiego.bsky.social · 18/08/2026

As flesh-eating screwworms once again threaten livestock and wildlife in the U.S., an expert from the School of Biological Sciences explains how new technologies could strengthen efforts to control the parasitic flies. 🪰 bit.ly/4wzDCzI

A close-up of a fly sitting on the tip of a green leaf. The fly has iridescent blue-green body, large red compound eyes, and translucent wings. The background is blurred with shades of green.

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UC San Diego @ucsandiego.bsky.social · 16/08/2026

After a UC San Diego-led team discovered a giant exoplanet using NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope, one of the researchers explains what distant worlds can teach us about our own solar system and the possibility of life elsewhere. 🔭 bit.ly/4qh7m31

The young Beta Pictoris planetary system with the newly discovered giant exoplanet, Beta Pictoris d, at the right. Beta Pictoris c circles closest to the star (left in this artist’s concept), Beta Pictoris b follows on a wider orbit, and the newly discovered Beta Pictoris d lies farther out, just inside the debris disk’s inner edge. In this artist’s concept, the planets are shown at their correct relative orbital distances, but the planets themselves have been enlarged and are not to scale relative to their orbits. (Illustration credit: NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI, Ralf Crawford (STScI))

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UC San Diego @ucsandiego.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

A new interdisciplinary bachelor’s degree — the first program of its kind in the UC system — will empower students to turn data into strategic business decisions. ➡️ bit.ly/45eilAC

A person wearing glasses is interacting with a large, futuristic touch screen displaying digital information. The reflections in the glasses show the illuminated interface, creating a high-tech ambiance.

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UC San Diego @ucsandiego.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

Los Angeles: Join UC San Diego alumni on September 17 for Triton Wave Makers. 🔱🌊 Gain fresh perspectives on the future of higher education and the critical role it plays in shaping our communities. 🔗 Reserve your spot, and learn more: bit.ly/4fQp89I

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UC San Diego @ucsandiego.bsky.social · 11/08/2026

Researchers have found that just one month on a vegan diet can alter the body's epigenetic landscape — the biological switches that control how genes are expressed — in ways linked to reduced inflammation and slower biological aging. bit.ly/3TINpWI

Study adds to growing evidence that nutrition can shape biology at the molecular level. Photo by iStock/zi3000

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UC San Diego @ucsandiego.bsky.social · 10/08/2026

Amid an uncertain funding landscape, UC San Diego raised $470 million in fiscal year 2025-26, as more than 20,000 alumni, donors and partners came together to advance research, faculty excellence and new opportunities for students. bit.ly/4gjlmpp

Geisel Library is silhouetted against a vibrant sunset sky, with trees framing the scene.

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UC San Diego @ucsandiego.bsky.social · 09/08/2026

Backed by a six-year, $18 million National Science Foundation grant, the Materials Research Science and Engineering Center will develop new kinds of quantum materials for uses ranging from medical diagnostics and data encryption to high-performance electronics. bit.ly/4qnZInD

The new Materials Research Science and Engineering Center (MRSEC) at UC San Diego brings together the Jacobs School of Engineering and School of Physical Sciences to develop new kinds of quantum materials. Photos by Michael J. Sailor

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UC San Diego @ucsandiego.bsky.social · 08/08/2026

Spider silk is one of nature’s strongest and most remarkable materials. Inspired by the latest Spider-Man film, a materials scientist in the Jacobs School of Engineering explains why researchers are still trying to unlock its secrets. 🕸️ bit.ly/4g6MXZU

A person in a Spider-Man costume crouches on the edge of a brick building, next to a taller structure.

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UC San Diego @ucsandiego.bsky.social · 08/08/2026

Environmental economics professor Judson Boomhower explains why wildfire risk is no longer confined to the places people expect, and what these blazes reveal about our global climate risk. ➡️ bit.ly/4fUyH7H

A view of Earth from space showcasing Europe at night. The continent is illuminated with vibrant lights, highlighting urban areas. The surrounding area is dark, and the northern lights are faintly visible in the top right corner.

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