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    <title>Research in Progress (RIP)</title>
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    <copyright>Copyright © 2026. National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.</copyright>
    <docs>http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss</docs>
    <managingEditor>tris-trb@nas.edu (Bill McLeod)</managingEditor>
    <webMaster>tris-trb@nas.edu (Bill McLeod)</webMaster>
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      <title>Research in Progress (RIP)</title>
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      <link>https://rip.trb.org/</link>
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    <item>
      <title>Improving Stormwater Systems for Debris and Contaminant Capture</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2712206</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Highway runoff carries a complex mix of pollutants, including debris, heavy metals, and nutrients. Oil, grease, and combustion byproducts from vehicles further add to the contaminant load. In addition to these conventional pollutants, scientific advances have highlighted contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) that were not fully recognized when most departments of transportation’s (DOT’s) stormwater programs were first developed.

Unlike conventional pollutants that degrade over time, many of these debris and CECs persist. They clog inlets and ponds, reduce hydraulic conductivity, and increase pollutant loads to downstream waters. For DOTs, this creates two major challenges: rising costs to maintain stormwater assets, and regulatory risk under municipal separate storm sewer system permits if pollutant control cannot be demonstrated.

The objective of this research is to develop a guide for reducing broad pollutants, which include macro-debris, microplastics, and tire wear particles, which have been demonstrated to contain compounds toxic to certain aquatic organisms.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 10 Jun 2026 11:28:41 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2712206</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Develop a Risk-Based Framework for Selecting Hydrologic, Hydraulic, and Scour Criteria for Temporary Hydraulic Structures and Encroachments</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2712198</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Temporary hydraulic structures, such as bridges, culverts, and temporary access fills, are widely used during construction and emergency response to maintain transportation access and restore mobility following infrastructure damage. Unlike permanent structures, these installations are often designed for shorter service lives and may not meet the same hydrologic and hydraulic criteria. However, current design practices vary significantly across state departments of transportation, with no consistent national guidance for determining appropriate risk levels or design storm frequencies.

 Recent studies indicate that many agencies rely on case-by-case assessments, qualitative risk evaluations, or inconsistent application of evaluation criteria for temporary structures. Additionally, there is limited use of quantitative risk models and little integration of factors such as traffic impacts, environmental considerations, and failure consequences. The lack of standardized guidance can result in designs potentially contributing to increased conservatism and lifecycle costs, or to reduced system resilience and increased risk in some scenarios. Research is needed to identify and incorporate factors such as costs, structure lifespan, traffic, scour conditions, environmental impacts, failure risks, and regional variability to help determine how to select hydrologic, hydraulic, and scour criterion for temporary structures and to measure performance.

The objectives of this research are to develop (1) a practitioner’s guide and a data-driven risk-based decision-making framework for selecting hydrologic, hydraulic, and scour design criteria for temporary hydraulic structures and encroachments; and (2) a standalone memorandum with language suitable for AASHTO’s consideration in evaluating potential updates to the AASHTO Drainage Manual.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Tue, 09 Jun 2026 17:42:06 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2712198</guid>
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    <item>
      <title>Risk Mitigation and Update of Highway Bridge Design Guidance for Vessel Collisions</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2712182</link>
      <description><![CDATA[In 1991, the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) adopted the Guide Specification and Commentary for Vessel Collision Design of Highway Bridges (GSVCD) as a result of the 1980 collapse of the Sunshine Skyway Bridge and following a research project sponsored by 11 states and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). The GSVCD requires that bridge structures be designed to minimize the risk of collapse after being struck by a ship. The second edition of the GSVCD (2009/current) was developed to incorporate lessons learned from the use of the 1991 GSVCD, incorporate the Load and Resistance Factor Design (LRFD) methodology, clarify the risk procedure, and highlight evaluation of existing bridges using the revised GSVCD.

On March 18, 2025, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) issued the report Safeguarding Bridges from Vessel Strikes: Need for Vulnerability Assessment and Risk Reduction Strategies in the wake of the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse by ship collision. The report recommended evaluation of 68 bridges for risk of catastrophic collapse from vessel strikes and potential development of risk reduction plans.

A recent workshop on “Large Ship Impacts on Bridge Piers” was organized by the City College of New York and the University of Michigan and attended by more than 700 engineers and researchers from around the world. The workshop provided extensive feedback from leading experts and engineers on needs and gaps in this area.

Since the AASHTO GSVCD publication, a lot of research studies have been carried out nationally and internationally.

The objective of the research is to identify needs and gaps for risk mitigation of large vessel or ship collisions and update the AASHTO GSVCD and the AASHTO LRFD Bridge Design Specifications (LRFD BDS). The research will be based on the evolving state of practice, the growth of the shipping industry and data collection, the feedback from applying the existing Guide Specs and the LRFD BDS, and recent advancement of national and international research. The updated guidance will build on the existing design guidance and apply to new bridge design and existing bridge evaluation, risk assessment, bridge protection, and/or countermeasures and retrofit associated with risk of highway bridge vessel collision.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Tue, 09 Jun 2026 15:51:33 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2712182</guid>
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    <item>
      <title>SPR-5041: SPR-4517 Implementation: Wireless Data Collection and Model Development</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2709427</link>
      <description><![CDATA[SPR-4517 deployed an edge-enabled, solar-powered wireless monitoring system at the I-69 instrumentation section to evaluate pavement drainage and related performance indicators. This implementation study will sustain field hardware, formalize an automated data pipeline with quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC) protocols, develop and validate performance indicators and predictive models, and package the complete workflow for the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT). Outcomes include continued wireless monitoring, versioned data products with monthly health reports, validated drainage performance models, and a transferable implementation package enabling INDOT to maintain long-term field data collection and adopt similar capabilities at additional sites.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 03 Jun 2026 13:23:17 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2709427</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Design of Stormwater BMPs for Surface and Groundwater Protection Based on Site-Scale Soil Properties: Phase II</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2706364</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The objective of this project is to optimize the nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) removal potential of stormwater basins by improving the ability to predict the performance of common native soil properties alone, or with a BAM amendment, and using two planting specifications typically utilized in Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) maintenance. Phase II will build upon the findings of Design of Stormwater BMPs for Surface and Groundwater Protection Based on Site-Scale Soil Properties: Phase I BDV24-977-43 (hereafter referred to as “Phase I”), which demonstrated the superior performance of unamended native soils with moderate soil organic matter and clay contents in the removal and sequestration of N and P during short-term laboratory experiments. Specifically, the research team will leverage this knowledge in a new experiment with improved external validity through the use of outdoor mesocosms in a multi-year study (e.g., scaling-up in both space and time). Commonly encountered native Florida soils will be prepared and planted per FDOT specification in replicated stock tanks (e.g., ~300-500 gal), with or without a BAM blanket filter, and using at least two FDOT approved vegetative strategies. Inflow and outflow hydrology will be controlled to mimic wet and dry basin hydropatterns and real-time mass balance of nutrient transport/transformation. The plant-soil-microbial interactions will be investigated to determine optimal N and P removal rates under varied hydrology. This new empirical data will improve stormwater BMPs by more accurately assessing the potential of native site soils, planting, and amendment strategies to function in nutrient remediation at the project site scale.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 27 May 2026 10:39:28 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2706364</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>In-Stream Vegetation for Scour Control at High-Proximity Bridge Crossing Elements</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2706037</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Scour and erosion are leading causes of bridge failure in North America and present significant safety and maintenance challenges, particularly at crossings where piers, abutments, and channel banks are in close proximity. Existing scour countermeasures are often costly, difficult to implement under complex hydraulic conditions, and require ongoing maintenance. Although aquatic vegetation has been observed to alter approach flow patterns in ways that may reduce local scour, a rigorous scientific basis for its use as a scour-control strategy at bridge crossings is not currently available.
This project employs detailed physical modeling to evaluate the effectiveness of in-stream vegetation for scour control at high-proximity bridge crossings. Experiments will be conducted in a high-gradient tilting flume with an erodible sediment bed, using particle image velocimetry and laser-based bathymetric scanning to measure velocity fields, turbulence characteristics, shear stresses, and resulting scour patterns. The research will quantify how vegetation patches influence local flow structure and sediment transport near piers, abutments, and banks. The results will form the foundation of a knowledge base supporting development of practical implementation guidelines.
]]></description>
      <pubDate>Sat, 23 May 2026 18:04:47 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2706037</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Development of design guidelines for protection against erosion at bridge piers of rectangular cross section and estimating effects of pressurized flow on erosion potential</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2706034</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Bridge piers are vulnerable to severe erosion (scour) during high-flow and flooding conditions, which can compromise structural stability and, in extreme cases, lead to bridge failure. Existing riprap design methodologies used to protect bridge piers have limitations, particularly for rectangular piers and for conditions in which bridge decks become submerged and flow transitions from open channel to pressurized regimes. Inadequate riprap sizing under such conditions increases risk of structural distress, traffic interruption, and potential safety hazards.
This project develops improved design guidelines for riprap protection at rectangular bridge piers under both open channel and pressurized flow conditions. Using validated three-dimensional numerical simulations, the research will quantify how pier geometry, aspect ratio, angle of attack, and flow regime influence critical shear stress and the Froude number associated with stone failure. The project will propose a multi-parameter riprap sizing formula applicable to a broader range of geometrical and hydraulic conditions, including overtopping scenarios. Recommendations will be provided for adapting existing HEC-18 methodologies to account for pressurized flow conditions at bridge sites.

]]></description>
      <pubDate>Sat, 23 May 2026 17:39:45 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2706034</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Enhancing Transportation Safety through Moisture Control Using Wicking Geotextiles in Pavement Systems</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2703923</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Excess subsurface moisture is a primary cause of pavement deterioration, contributing to frost heave, thaw weakening, pumping, stiffness loss, and surface roughness. These moisture-driven mechanisms compromise roadway safety by reducing vehicle stability, braking performance, and ride quality, while increasing maintenance frequency and costs. Wicking geotextiles are an emerging geosynthetic technology designed to actively remove both gravity and capillary water from pavement systems without external energy input. By transporting moisture laterally toward pavement shoulders and releasing it through evaporation, these materials help maintain drier and more stable subgrade conditions. Previous laboratory studies and field applications have demonstrated their technical feasibility and cost-effectiveness; however, current implementation remains largely empirical due to the lack of a mechanistic design framework.
This project aims to develop a fully coupled thermo–hydro–mechanical (THM) modeling framework to quantify the moisture-removal capacity of wicking geotextiles and evaluate their impact on pavement performance under unsaturated and freezing conditions. The research integrates laboratory characterization of soil–geotextile systems, controlled freezing tests to assess frost-heave mitigation, and advanced numerical modeling grounded in modern unsaturated soil mechanics. The validated model will be used to conduct parametric studies examining soil type, groundwater level, environmental loading, and installation configuration.
The expected outcomes include a validated THM model, quantitative evaluation tools for moisture control effectiveness, and practical, safety-oriented design guidance for transportation agencies. By transforming wicking geotextiles into a design-ready technology, this project will support safer, more resilient, and cost-effective pavement infrastructure.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 20 May 2026 09:19:26 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2703923</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Hydrologic and Hydraulic Software Enhancements (SMS, WMS, Hydraulic Toolbox, and HY-8)</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2698362</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) sponsors ongoing development of four computer programs that perform both routine and complex hydrologic and hydraulic analyses of watersheds, river and stream systems, and transportation infrastructure. 
This Transportation Pooled Fund (TPF) project will: 1. Enhance the capabilities of the four FHWA sponsored software programs and ensure they remain consistent with the latest FHWA technical reference documents. 2. Update the software user manual documentation. 3. Make new software versions publicly available. 4. Develop and deploy technology transfer materials and workshops to test and demonstrate new software content and features. 5. Inform users of the availability of new software versions and features through website postings, email notifications, newsletter articles, conference presentations, and other avenues.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Fri, 01 May 2026 19:48:20 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2698362</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Risk Assessment of Bridge Substructure due to Scour and Seasonal Moisture Variations
</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2696152</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Changes in flooding patterns, temperature extremes, and soil moisture cycles are intensifying the environmental loads acting on bridge infrastructure. These changes often result in more frequent and severe hydrologic events, potentially heightened vulnerability to structural failure of bridges. Scour, the erosion of soil around bridge piers and abutments due to increased streamflow during heavy rainfall, is a leading cause of hydraulic-related bridge failures. Similarly, soil moisture variability caused by extreme temperature and precipitation swings can compromise pile capacity, as soil stiffness decreases significantly under saturated conditions. These issues are particularly critical for Accelerated Bridge Construction (ABC) projects, where rapid construction methods must ensure longterm performance and resilience. Scour and soil moisture variations can accelerate foundation deterioration, compromising the integrity and safety of ABC bridges. Therefore, the proposed study aims to incorporate hydraulic hazard effects into the assessment of bridge substructure performance. Specifically, it will develop a comprehensive understanding of how the increasing frequency and intensity of hydraulic events influence bridge vulnerability, particularly the risk of damage caused by scour and seasonal variations in soil moisture. The research team will evaluate multiple Global Climate Models (GCMs) using different Shared Socioeconomic Pathway (SSP) scenarios to project future temperature and precipitation trends at selected study locations. Hydrologic modeling tools will be used to develop calibrated streamflow models using historical datasets of precipitation, temperature, and flow rates. Also, scouring depths at bridge foundations will be estimated following the HEC-18 procedures. These outputs will be integrated into a finite-difference model to study how scour and variations in soil moisture affect the lateral load behavior of bridge piles. The results will quantify failure probabilities, providing a comprehensive understanding of bridge resilience under changing hydraulic hazard conditions.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Mon, 27 Apr 2026 19:40:24 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2696152</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Improving Transportation Infrastructure Safety Through Flow and Scour Analysis at Porous Riverbank Protection Structures</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2695864</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Project Description: Protecting riverbanks from erosion during flood events is critical for ensuring the safety of transportation infrastructure located near rivers. Such erosion can undermine roadways and bridge foundations, leading to failures such as those observed on I-40 in North Carolina following Hurricane Helene. In locations where riverbank erosion poses a significant transportation asset risk, porous riverbank protection structures such as engineered logjams (ELJs) have been implemented as alternatives to traditional revetment approaches. The geometric design of ELJs deflects flow away from banks while their porosity reduces drag and toe scour, thereby limiting additional flood-related failure risks. Additionally, ELJs can be constructed incrementally using off-channel crane equipment, which reduces construction costs associated with channel diversion and dewatering. 

Improved tools are needed to predict how flow deflection and scour vary with ELJ porosity and internal structure. Advancing this knowledge will support more reliable ELJ design and reduce the risk of over- or under-design. A larger database of flow and scour depth measurements for ELJs with a range of porosities and characteristics is needed to improve scour prediction methods and provide flow validation data for two- and three-dimensional hydraulic models.

To address these research gaps, laboratory experiments will be conducted in a 32-foot-long open-channel flume to quantify flow and scour at porous bank protection structures. Model ELJs will be fabricated using 3D printing to have identical external geometry but systematic variation in porosity and pore configuration. Flow fields will be measured using UMKC’s particle image velocimetry (PIV) system that can measure turbulent flow fields around channel obstructions with high resolution (<1 mm vector resolution). These PIV measurements will be used to quantify flow deflection and shear stress amplification. In addition, clear-water scour experiments will document the maximum scour depth for each ELJ configuration. 
]]></description>
      <pubDate>Thu, 23 Apr 2026 17:50:53 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2695864</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Quantifying the Flood Resilience Value of Water Quality Best Management Practices on Vermont Roads</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2689762</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Transportation networks have been recognized as contributors to water quality impairment by discharging stormwater, sediment, and nutrients to receiving waters. These contributions can occur through chronic inputs of water and pollutants washed from the road surface during storm events or through episodic and often catastrophic road failure by mass wasting or fluvial erosion at structure crossings during extreme storms. Research studies in forested areas of the eastern United States, and elsewhere, including those conducted by members of this project team, have documented rates of erosion and mass wasting from low volume roads and impacts on water quality. Our previous research has also documented the importance of unpaved roads on water quality impairment and quantified the effectiveness of best management practices (BMPs) in reducing sediment and phosphorus contributions.
The Phosphorus Total Maximum Daily Load for Vermont Segments of Lake Champlain (a.k.a. TMDL) called for reductions in phosphorus contributions from developed lands, motivating a need to address stormwater runoff from the state’s transportation network. Statewide efforts to achieve the reductions required by the TMDL led to the development of the Municipal Roads General Permit (MRGP) in 2018 and subsequent revisions. Recent extreme flooding events across the state, in particular the July 10-11, 2023 North Country Storm event and associated Great Vermont Flood which will be the focus of this project, in addition to subsequent flood events in December 2023 and July 2024, have resulted in the need for emergency repairs of damaged transportation infrastructure, and revealed the need to clearly communicate the cost benefit of improved stormwater management on the transportation network. In past research projects funded by the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation and the Vermont Agency of Transportation, we conducted retrospective analyses (i.e. a review of project planning documents and site visits to assess existing conditions) of transportation stormwater upgrades funded by the state’s Better Roads and Grants in Aid programs and found that the BMPs installed through these grants were highly robust to extreme flood events. This project therefore aims to expand on the research teams’ prior work to assess the life cycle cost-benefit of BMP adoption with a focus on the BMPs required by the Municipal General Roads Permit (MRGP), Sections 1 and 2 of the VT Road and Bridge Standards for municipal roads, and VTrans Drainage Management Standards for State roads. The data and results of this project may be used to update VT AOT’s Transportation Resilience Planning Tool or other mitigation practices.
To facilitate this work, we will form a technical advisory committee (TAC) composed of VTrans project champions (Todd Eaton), Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation (VT DEC) staff engaged in the implementation of the Municipal Roads General Permit, members of at least one Regional Planning Commission, and others identified by VTtrans. The role of the TAC will be to help guide study design, facilitate the use of existing data, leverage on-going implementation of erosion control projects, and provide context for agency needs.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 08 Apr 2026 09:46:01 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2689762</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Container-on-Barge Market Demand </title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2673252</link>
      <description><![CDATA[This project will assess the market demand and policy levers that could expand container-on-barge (COB) services along the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers. The study will identify key shippers, high-potential commodities, infrastructure needs, and incentive mechanisms to make COB competitive with trucking and rail. This work directly supports the Missouri Department of Transportation's (MoDOT’s) freight, sustainability, and economic development goals, and aligns with the Missouri State Freight Plan and the U.S. Maritime Administration's (MARAD’s) America’s Marine Highway Program.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Tue, 24 Feb 2026 15:27:46 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2673252</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Improved VDOT Bioretention Media Specification</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2672501</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) uses bioretention as a stormwater control measure (SCM); however, the most recent special provision for VDOT bioretention soil media requires that testing the media’s infiltration rate use a unique mesocosm test method, outlined in VTM-134 (VDOT, 2025), which presents five challenges.  These are (1) inconsistency in how the media is placed and ultimately compacted in the test apparatus and therefore potential variability in the test results; (2) lack of labs willing to run the mesocosm test (only one in Virginia does this); (3) large amount of media required (40 5-gallon buckets of media and related materials); (4) lack of information proving this test is needed to procure successful bioretention soil media; and (5) a cost of $6,000 to run one test.  Due to these challenges, few media providers both try to meet the requirements and then succeed in doing so, which ultimately increases the overall project costs when bioretention is selected as the SCM.  A unique aspect of testing a media’s infiltration rate using the mesocosm test is consideration of how both de-icing salts and wet and dry cycles (to mimic rainfall patterns) impact a media’s infiltration rate. These unique aspects of the mesocosm test appear to be why it’s included in the current special provision. This study will recommend a specification for VDOT bioretention soil media that addresses the five challenges of the mesocosm test method to determine the media’s infiltration rate based on laboratory testing.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Thu, 19 Feb 2026 10:50:44 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2672501</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Hydraulic Conductivity of Base Course Material, Pavement Drainage, and Relation to Pavement Buckling</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2671989</link>
      <description><![CDATA[This research project aims to study the effects of excessive moisture in base courses, focusing on the potential contributions of base course drain ability and water retention to pavement buckling and investigate adjustments to base course gradations and drainage details and strategies to improve drain ability, control sensitivity to moisture changes, and reduce buckling potential while maintaining adequate pavement support. The proposed project will include sampling and testing of base courses around the state to characterize the index properties, hydraulic conductivity, water retention curves, drainage properties, and resilient modulus. Base course samples from pavement buckling occurrences will also be collected to assess if commonalities exist in the base courses where pavement buckling occurs. Current pavement drainage strategies employed in Wisconsin will also be reviewed. Base course gradations, water retention properties, and pavement drainage strategies of surrounding states will also be reviewed. The culmination of reviewing current 
Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) base course gradations and drainage details and those of surrounding states will be the development of updated base course gradations and drainage strategies to improve moisture management while maintaining adequate pavement support.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 18 Feb 2026 11:35:36 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2671989</guid>
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