arXiv subjects

H. Asano

Publications and source records attributed to H. Asano.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Elliptic flow of $\pi^0$ mesons in Cu$+$Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{_{NN}}}=200$ GeV and U$+$U at $\sqrt{s_{_{NN}}}=193$ GeV

The second-order azimuthal anisotropy coefficients ($v_2$) of neutral $\pi$ mesons ($\pi^0$) have been measured as a function of the transverse momentum ($p_T$) and centrality of Cu$+$Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{_{NN}}}=200$~GeV and U$+$U at $\sqrt{s_{_{NN}}}=193$ GeV at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider. The analysis used experimental data collected by the PHENIX experiment at midrapidity $|\eta|<0.35$ over a broad $p_T$ range up to $\approx10$~GeV/$c$, and the obtained results are compared with previous PHENIX measurements in Au$+$Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{_{NN}}}=200$~GeV. In all three collision systems, the $\pi^0$~$v_2$ values follow the scaling with the second-order participant eccentricity and the cube root of the number of participating nucleons ($\varepsilon_2 N_{\rm part}^{1/3}$) up to $\approx4$~GeV/$c$. Furthermore, the behavior of the azimuthal-dependent $\pi^0$ nuclear-modification factors and associated fractional parton-energy losses are evaluated from measured nonzero $v_2$ values of $\pi^0$ at $p_T>5$ GeV/$c$ and found to be approximately the same for similar values of $N_{\rm part}^{1/3}$ in these collision systems. These findings demonstrate that the mechanism of $\pi^0$ $v_2$ generation exhibits a high degree of universality across different initial geometries of heavy-ion collisions.

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arXiv2025

Measurement of $^{3,4}$He($K^-, \pi^0$)$^{3,4}_\Lambda$H reaction cross section and evaluation of hypertriton $\Lambda$ binding energy

Light $s$-shell hypernuclei ($^{3,4}_{\Lambda}\text{H}$) and their ground-state properties are crucial benchmarks in hypernuclear physics. In particular, comparing the production cross sections of $^{3}_{\Lambda}\text{H}$ and $^{4}_{\Lambda}\text{H}$ provides insights into the $\Lambda N$ interaction in different isospin configurations, which can help address recent discrepancies in the reported $\Lambda$ binding energy of hypertriton. We present the first measurement of the production cross sections for $^{3}_{\Lambda}\text{H}$ and $^{4}_{\Lambda}\text{H}$ using the in-flight $(K^-, \pi^0)$ reaction at a beam momentum of 1.0 GeV/$c$ with an identical experimental setup. The production cross sections in the laboratory frame, for the angular range from 0$^{\circ}$ to 20$^{\circ}$, are measured to be $15.0~\pm~2.6~(\text{stat.})~^{+2.4}_{-2.8}~(\text{syst.})~\mu \text{b} $ and $49.9~\pm~2.1~(\text{stat.})~^{+7.8}_{-8.0}~(\text{syst.})~\mu \text{b}$ for the ground-state of $^{3}_{\Lambda}\text{H}$ and $^{4}_{\Lambda}\text{H}$, respectively. Using the ratio of these cross sections and comparing it with theoretical calculations, we evaluate the $\Lambda$ binding energy of hypertriton, yielding a value consistent with the picture of a loosely bound system.

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arXiv2025

Transverse single-spin asymmetry of forward $\eta$ mesons in $p^{\uparrow}+ p$ collisions at $\sqrt{s} = 200$ GeV

Utilizing the 2012 transversely polarized proton data from the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider at Brookhaven National Laboratory, the forward $\eta$-meson transverse single-spin asymmetry ($A_N$) was measured for $p^{\uparrow}+p$ collisions at $\sqrt{s}=200$ GeV as a function of Feynman-x ($x_F$) for $0.2<|x_F|<0.8$ and transverse momentum ($p_T$) for $1.0 =0.086 \pm 0.019$), agreeing well with previous measurements of $\pi^{0}$ and $\eta$ $A_N$, but with reach to higher $x_F$ and $p_T$. The contribution of initial-state spin-momentum correlations to the asymmetry, as calculated in the collinear twist-3 framework, appears insufficient to describe the data and suggests a significant impact on the asymmetry from fragmentation.

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arXiv2025

Cross sections of $\eta$ mesons in $p$$+$$p$ collisions at forward rapidity at $\sqrt{s}=500$ GeV and central rapidity at $\sqrt{s}=510$ GeV

We present the first measurements of the forward and midrapidity $\eta$-meson cross sections from $p$$+$$p$ collisions at $\sqrt{s}=500$ and $510$~GeV, respectively. We also report the midrapidity $\eta/\pi^0$ ratio at 510 GeV. The forward cross section is measured differentially in $\eta$-meson transverse momentum ($p_T$) from 1.0 to 6.5~GeV/$c$ for pseudorapidity $3.0<|\eta|<3.8$. The midrapidity cross section is measured from 3.5 to 44 GeV/$c$ for pseudorapidity $|\eta|<0.35$. Both cross sections serve as critical inputs to an updated global analysis of the $\eta$-meson fragmentation functions.

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arXiv2025

Low-mass vector-meson production at forward rapidity in $p$$+$$p$ and Au$+$Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{_{NN}}}=200$~GeV

The PHENIX experiment at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider has measured low-mass vector-meson ($\omega+\rho$ and $\phi$) production through the dimuon decay channel at forward rapidity $(1.2<|\mbox{y}|<2.2)$ in $p$$+$$p$ and Au$+$Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{_{NN}}}=200$~GeV. The low-mass vector-meson yield and nuclear-modification factor were measured as a function of the average number of participating nucleons, $\langle N_{\rm part}\rangle$, and the transverse momentum $p_T$. These results were compared with those obtained via the kaon decay channel in a similar $p_T$ range at midrapidity. The nuclear-modification factors in both rapidity regions are consistent within the uncertainties. A comparison of the $\omega+\rho$ and $J/\psi$ mesons reveals that the light and heavy flavors are consistently suppressed across both $p_T$ and ${\langle}N_{\rm part}\rangle$. In contrast, the $\phi$ meson displays a nuclear-modification factor consistent with unity, suggesting strangeness enhancement in the medium formed.

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arXiv2025

Azimuthal anisotropy of direct photons in Au$+$Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{_{NN}}}=200$ GeV

The PHENIX experiment at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider measured the second Fourier component $v_2$ of the direct-photon azimuthal anisotropy at midrapidity in Au$+$Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{_{NN}}}=200$ GeV. The results are presented in 10\% wide bins of collision centrality and cover the transverse-momentum range of $1<p_T<20$ GeV/$c$, and are in quantitative agreement with findings published earlier, but provide better granularity and higher $p_T$ reach. Above a $p_T$ of 8--10 GeV/$c$, where hard scattering dominates the direct-photon production, $v_2$ is consistent with zero. Below that in each centrality bin $v_2$ as a function of $p_T$ is comparable to the $\pi^0$ anisotropy albeit with a tendency of being somewhat smaller. The results are compared to recent theory calculations that include, in addition to thermal radiation from the quark-gluon plasma and hadron gas, sources of photons from pre-equilibrium, strong magnetic fields, or radiative hadronization. While the newer theoretical calculations describe the data better than previous models, none of them alone can fully explain the results, particularly in the region of $p_T=4$--8 GeV/$c$.

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arXiv2024

Measurement of elliptic flow of J$/\psi$ in $\sqrt{s_{_{NN}}}=200$ GeV Au$+$Au collisions at forward rapidity

We report the first measurement of the azimuthal anisotropy of J$/\psi$ at forward rapidity ($1.2<|\eta|<2.2$) in Au$+$Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{_{NN}}}=200$ GeV at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider. The data were collected by the PHENIX experiment in 2014 and 2016 with integrated luminosity of 14.5~nb$^{-1}$. The second Fourier coefficient ($v_2$) of the azimuthal distribution of $J/\psi$ is determined as a function of the transverse momentum ($p_T$) using the event-plane method. The measurements were performed for several selections of collision centrality: 0\%--50\%, 10\%--60\%, and 10\%-40\%. We find that in all cases the values of $v_2(p_T)$, which quantify the elliptic flow of J$/\psi$, are consistent with zero. The results are consistent with measurements at midrapidity, indicating no significant elliptic flow of the J$/\psi$ within the quark-gluon-plasma medium at collision energies of $\sqrt{s_{_{NN}}}=200$ GeV.

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arXiv2024

Measurements at forward rapidity of elliptic flow of charged hadrons and open-heavy-flavor muons in Au$+$Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{_{NN}}}=200$ GeV

We present the first forward-rapidity measurements of elliptic anisotropy of open-heavy-flavor muons at the BNL Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider. The measurements are based on data samples of Au$+$Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{_{NN}}}=200$ GeV collected by the PHENIX experiment in 2014 and 2016 with integrated luminosity of 14.5~nb$^{-1}$. The measurements are performed in the pseudorapidity range $1.2<|\eta|<2$ and cover transverse momenta $1<p_T<4$~GeV/$c$. The elliptic flow of charged hadrons as a function of transverse momentum is also measured in the same kinematic range. We observe significant elliptic flow for both charged hadrons and heavy-flavor muons. The results show clear mass ordering of elliptic flow of light- and heavy-flavor particles. The magnitude of the measured $v_2$ is comparable to that in the midrapidity region. This indicates that there is no strong longitudinal dependence in the quark-gluon-plasma evolution between midrapidity and the rapidity range of this measurement at $\sqrt{s_{_{NN}}}=200$~GeV.

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arXiv2024

Multiplicity dependent $J/\psi$ and $\psi(2S)$ production at forward and backward rapidity in $p$$+$$p$ collisions at $\sqrt{s}=200$ GeV

The $J/\psi$ and $\psi(2S)$ charmonium states, composed of $c\bar{c}$ quark pairs and known since the 1970s, are widely believed to serve as ideal probes to test quantum chromodynamics in high-energy hadronic interactions. However, there is not yet a complete understanding of the charmonium-production mechanism. Recent measurements of $J/\psi$ production as a function of event charged-particle multiplicity at the collision energies of both the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) and the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC) show enhanced $J/\psi$ production yields with increasing multiplicity. One potential explanation for this type of dependence is multiparton interactions (MPI). We carry out the first measurements of self-normalized $J/\psi$ yields and the $\psi(2S)$ to $J/\psi$ ratio at both forward and backward rapidities as a function of self-normalized charged-particle multiplicity in $p$$+$$p$ collisions at $\sqrt{s}=200$ GeV. In addition, detailed {\sc pythia} studies tuned to RHIC energies were performed to investigate the MPI impacts. We find that the PHENIX data at RHIC are consistent with recent LHC measurements and can only be described by {\sc pythia} calculations that include MPI effects. The forward and backward $\psi(2S)$ to $J/\psi$ ratio, which serves as a unique and powerful approach to study final-state effects on charmonium production, is found to be less dependent on the charged-particle multiplicity.

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arXiv2024

Measurement of inclusive jet cross section and substructure in $p$$+$$p$ collisions at $\sqrt{s_{_{NN}}}=200$ GeV

The jet cross-section and jet-substructure observables in $p$$+$$p$ collisions at $\sqrt{s}=200$ GeV were measured by the PHENIX Collaboration at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC). Jets are reconstructed from charged-particle tracks and electromagnetic-calorimeter clusters using the anti-$k_{t}$ algorithm with a jet radius $R=0.3$ for jets with transverse momentum within $8.0<p_T<40.0$ GeV/$c$ and pseudorapidity $|\eta|<0.15$. Measurements include the jet cross section, as well as distributions of SoftDrop-groomed momentum fraction ($z_g$), charged-particle transverse momentum with respect to jet axis ($j_T$), and radial distributions of charged particles within jets ($r$). Also meaureed was the distribution of $\xi=-ln(z)$, where $z$ is the fraction of the jet momentum carried by the charged particle. The measurements are compared to theoretical next-to and next-to-next-to-leading-order calculatios, PYTHIA event generator, and to other existing experimental results. Indicated from these meaurements is a lower particle multiplicity in jets at RHIC energies when compared to models. Also noted are implications for future jet measurements with sPHENIX at RHIC as well as at the future Electron-Ion Collider.

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arXiv2024

Centrality dependence of L\'evy-stable two-pion Bose-Einstein correlations in $\sqrt{s_{_{NN}}}=200$ GeV Au$+$Au collisions

The PHENIX experiment measured the centrality dependence of two-pion Bose-Einstein correlation functions in $\sqrt{s_{_{NN}}}=200$~GeV Au$+$Au collisions at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider at Brookhaven National Laboratory. The data are well represented by L\'evy-stable source distributions. The extracted source parameters are the correlation-strength parameter $\lambda$, the L\'evy index of stability $\alpha$, and the L\'evy-scale parameter $R$ as a function of transverse mass $m_T$ and centrality. The $\lambda(m_T)$ parameter is constant at larger values of $m_T$, but decreases as $m_T$ decreases. The L\'evy scale parameter $R(m_T)$ decreases with $m_T$ and exhibits proportionality to the length scale of the nuclear overlap region. The L\'evy exponent $\alpha(m_T)$ is independent of $m_T$ within uncertainties in each investigated centrality bin, but shows a clear centrality dependence. At all centralities, the L\'evy exponent $\alpha$ is significantly different from that of Gaussian ($\alpha=2$) or Cauchy ($\alpha=1$) source distributions. Comparisons to the predictions of Monte-Carlo simulations of resonance-decay chains show that in all but the most peripheral centrality class (50%-60%), the obtained results are inconsistent with the measurements, unless a significant reduction of the in-medium mass of the $\eta'$ meson is included. In each centrality class, the best value of the in-medium $\eta'$ mass is compared to the mass of the $\eta$ meson, as well as to several theoretical predictions that consider restoration of $U_A(1)$ symmetry in hot hadronic matter.

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arXiv2024

Jet modification via $\pi^0$-hadron correlations in Au$+$Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{_{NN}}}=200$ GeV

High-momentum two-particle correlations are a useful tool for studying jet-quenching effects in the quark-gluon plasma. Angular correlations between neutral-pion triggers and charged hadrons with transverse momenta in the range 4--12~GeV/$c$ and 0.5--7~GeV/$c$, respectively, have been measured by the PHENIX experiment in 2014 for Au$+$Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{_{NN}}}=200$~GeV. Suppression is observed in the yield of high-momentum jet fragments opposite the trigger particle, which indicates jet suppression stemming from in-medium partonic energy loss, while enhancement is observed for low-momentum particles. The ratio and differences between the yield in Au$+$Au collisions and $p$$+$$p$ collisions, $I_{AA}$ and $\Delta_{AA}$, as a function of the trigger-hadron azimuthal separation, $\Delta\phi$, are measured for the first time at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider. These results better quantify how the yield of low-$p_T$ associated hadrons is enhanced at wide angle, which is crucial for studying energy loss as well as medium-response effects.

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arXiv2024

Measurement of the mesonic decay branch of the $\bar{K}\!N\!N$ quasi-bound state

We conducted measurements of $K^- + {^3{\rm He}} \to \pi \!Y \!N + N'$ reactions using a $1~{\rm GeV}/c$ $K^-$-beam, with the objective of understanding the broad decay width of $\bar{K} \!N \!N$ (approximately twice as broad as that of $\Lambda(1405)$ considered to be the $\bar{K} \!N$ quasi-bound state). We successfully reproduced distributions of the $\pi \! Y \! N$ invariant mass and momentum transfer for $\pi \! Y \! N$ using model fitting functions for $\bar{K} \!N \!N$ formation and quasi-free $\bar{K}$ absorption (${\rm QF}_{\bar{K}-{\rm abs}}$) processes. The model can describe the experimental data quite well, and four $\bar{K} \! N \! N \to \pi \! Y \! N $ cross-sections were obtained. The results indicate that mesonic decay is the dominant decay branch of $\bar{K} \! N \! N$. The results also suggest that $\Gamma_{\pi \Lambda N} \sim \Gamma_{\pi \Sigma N}$, which indicates that the $I_{\bar{K} \! N}=1$ absorption channel, in addition to the $I_{\bar{K} \! N}=0$ absorption channel, substantially contribute to the $\bar{K} \! N \! N$ decay, making the $\bar{K} \! N \! N$ state approximately twice as unstable as $\Lambda$(1405).

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arXiv2023

Identified charged-hadron production in $p$$+$Al, $^3$He$+$Au, and Cu$+$Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{_{NN}}}=200$ GeV and in U$+$U collisions at $\sqrt{s_{_{NN}}}=193$ GeV

The PHENIX experiment has performed a systematic study of identified charged-hadron ($\pi^\pm$, $K^\pm$, $p$, $\bar{p}$) production at midrapidity in $p$$+$Al, $^3$He$+$Au, Cu$+$Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{_{NN}}}=200$ GeV and U$+$U collisions at $\sqrt{s_{_{NN}}}=193$ GeV. Identified charged-hadron invariant transverse-momentum ($p_T$) and transverse-mass ($m_T$) spectra are presented and interpreted in terms of radially expanding thermalized systems. The particle ratios of $K/\pi$ and $p/\pi$ have been measured in different centrality ranges of large (Cu$+$Au, U$+$U) and small ($p$$+$Al, $^3$He$+$Au) collision systems. The values of $K/\pi$ ratios measured in all considered collision systems were found to be consistent with those measured in $p$$+$$p$ collisions. However the values of $p/\pi$ ratios measured in large collision systems reach the values of $\approx0.6$, which is $\approx2$ times larger than in $p$$+$$p$ collisions. These results can be qualitatively understood in terms of the baryon enhancement expected from hadronization by recombination. Identified charged-hadron nuclear-modification factors ($R_{AB}$) are also presented. Enhancement of proton $R_{AB}$ values over meson $R_{AB}$ values was observed in central $^3$He$+$Au, Cu$+$Au, and U$+$U collisions. The proton $R_{AB}$ values measured in $p$$+$Al collision system were found to be consistent with $R_{AB}$ values of $\phi$, $\pi^\pm$, $K^\pm$, and $\pi^0$ mesons, which may indicate that the size of the system produced in $p$$+$Al collisions is too small for recombination to cause a noticeable increase in proton production.

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arXiv2023

Transverse single-spin asymmetry of midrapidity $\pi^{0}$ and $\eta$ mesons in $p$+Au and $p$+Al collisions at $\sqrt{s_{_{NN}}}=$ 200 GeV

Presented are the first measurements of the transverse single-spin asymmetries ($A_N$) for neutral pions and eta mesons in $p$+Au and $p$+Al collisions at $\sqrt{s_{_{NN}}}=200$ GeV in the pseudorapidity range $|\eta|<$0.35 with the PHENIX detector at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider. The asymmetries are consistent with zero, similar to those for midrapidity neutral pions and eta mesons produced in $p$+$p$ collisions. These measurements show no evidence of additional effects that could potentially arise from the more complex partonic environment present in proton-nucleus collisions.

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arXiv2023

Transverse single-spin asymmetry of charged hadrons at forward and backward rapidity in polarized $p$+$p$, $p$+Al, and $p$+Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}=200$ GeV}

Reported here are transverse single-spin asymmetries ($A_{N}$) in the production of charged hadrons as a function of transverse momentum ($p_T$) and Feynman-$x$ ($x_F$) in polarized $p^{\uparrow}$+$p$, $p^{\uparrow}$+Al, and $p^{\uparrow}$+Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{_{NN}}}=200$ GeV. The measurements have been performed at forward and backward rapidity ($1.4<|\eta|<2.4$) over the range of $1.5 0$) in $p^{\uparrow}$+$p$ collisions, whereas the $p^{\uparrow}$+Al and $p^{\uparrow}$+Au results show smaller asymmetries. This finding provides new opportunities to investigate the origin of transverse single-spin asymmetries and a tool to study nuclear effects in $p$+$A$ collisions.

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arXiv2023

Precise lifetime measurement of $^4_\Lambda$H hypernucleus using in-flight $^4$He$(K^-, \pi^0)^4_\Lambda$H reaction

We present a new measurement of the $^4_\Lambda$H hypernuclear lifetime using in-flight $K^-$ + $^4$He $\rightarrow$ $^4_\Lambda$H + $\pi^0$ reaction at the J-PARC hadron facility. We demonstrate, for the first time, the effective selection of the hypernuclear bound state using only the $\gamma$-ray energy decayed from $\pi^0$. This opens the possibility for a systematic study of isospin partner hypernuclei through comparison with data from ($K^-$, $\pi^-$) reaction. As the first application of this method, our result for the $^4_\Lambda$H lifetime, $\tau(^4_\Lambda \mathrm{H}) = 206 \pm 8 (\mathrm{stat.}) \pm 12 (\mathrm{syst.})\ \mathrm{ps}$, is one of the most precise measurements to date. We are also preparing to measure the lifetime of the hypertriton ($^3_\Lambda$H) using the same setup in the near future.

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arXiv2023

Measurement of $ϕ$-meson production in Cu$+$Au at $\sqrt{s_{_{NN}}}=200$ GeV and U$+$U at $\sqrt{s_{_{NN}}}=193$ GeV

The PHENIX experiment reports systematic measurements at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider of $ϕ$-meson production in asymmetric Cu$+$Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{_{NN}}}$=200 GeV and in U$+$U collisions at $\sqrt{s_{_{NN}}}$=193 GeV. Measurements were performed via the $ϕ\rightarrow K^{+}K^{-}$ decay channel at midrapidity $|η|<0.35$. Features of $ϕ$-meson production measured in Cu$+$Cu, Cu$+$Au, Au$+$Au, and U$+$U collisions were found to not depend on the collision geometry, which was expected because the yields are averaged over the azimuthal angle and follow the expected scaling with nuclear-overlap size. The elliptic flow of the $ϕ$ meson in Cu$+$Au, Au$+$Au, and U$+$U collisions scales with second-order-participant eccentricity and the length scale of the nuclear-overlap region (estimated with the number of participating nucleons). At moderate $p_T$, $ϕ$-meson production measured in Cu$+$Au and U$+$U collisions is consistent with coalescence-model predictions, whereas at high $p_T$ the production is in agreement with expectations for in-medium energy loss of parent partons prior to their fragmentation. The elliptic flow for $ϕ$ mesons measured in Cu$+$Au and U$+$U collisions is well described by a (2+1)D viscous-hydrodynamic model with specific-shear viscosity $η/s=1/4π$.

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