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Holding M, Otter AD, Dowall S, Takumi K, Hicks B, Coleman T, Hemingway G, Royds M, Findlay-Wilson S, Curran-French M, Vipond R, Sprong H, Hewson R. Screening of wild deer populations for exposure to SARS-CoV-2 in the United Kingdom, 2020-2021. Transbound Emerg Dis 2022; 69:e3244-e3249. [PMID: 35338581 PMCID: PMC9115462 DOI: 10.1111/tbed.14534] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2022] [Revised: 03/07/2022] [Accepted: 03/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Following findings in Northern America of SARS‐CoV‐2 infections in white‐tailed deer, there is concern of similar infections in European deer and their potential as reservoirs of SARS‐CoV‐2 including opportunities for the emergence of new variants. UK deer sera were collected in 2020–2021 from 6 species and a hybrid with 1748 tested using anti‐spike and anti‐nucleocapsid serology assays. No samples were positive on both assays nor by surrogate neutralization testing. There is no evidence that spill‐over infections of SARS‐CoV‐2 occurred from the human population to UK deer or that SARS‐CoV‐2 has been circulating in UK deer (over the study period). Although it cannot be ruled out, study results indicate that spill‐over infections followed by circulation of SARS‐CoV‐2 to the most common European deer species is small.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maya Holding
- Virology and Pathogenesis group, UK Health Security Agency, Porton Down, United Kingdom.,National Institute for HealthS Research Health Protection Research Unit in Emerging and Zoonotic Infections, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Ashley David Otter
- SARS-CoV-2 Serosurveillance laboratory, UK Health Security Agency, Porton Down, United Kingdom
| | - Stuart Dowall
- Virology and Pathogenesis group, UK Health Security Agency, Porton Down, United Kingdom
| | - Katsuhisa Takumi
- Centre for Infectious Disease Control, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven, the Netherlands
| | - Bethany Hicks
- SARS-CoV-2 Serosurveillance laboratory, UK Health Security Agency, Porton Down, United Kingdom
| | - Tom Coleman
- SARS-CoV-2 Serosurveillance laboratory, UK Health Security Agency, Porton Down, United Kingdom
| | - Georgia Hemingway
- SARS-CoV-2 Serosurveillance laboratory, UK Health Security Agency, Porton Down, United Kingdom
| | - Matthew Royds
- SARS-CoV-2 Serosurveillance laboratory, UK Health Security Agency, Porton Down, United Kingdom
| | | | - Mollie Curran-French
- Virology and Pathogenesis group, UK Health Security Agency, Porton Down, United Kingdom
| | - Richard Vipond
- Virology and Pathogenesis group, UK Health Security Agency, Porton Down, United Kingdom.,National Institute for HealthS Research Health Protection Research Unit in Emerging and Zoonotic Infections, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Hein Sprong
- Centre for Infectious Disease Control, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven, the Netherlands
| | - Roger Hewson
- Virology and Pathogenesis group, UK Health Security Agency, Porton Down, United Kingdom.,National Institute for HealthS Research Health Protection Research Unit in Emerging and Zoonotic Infections, Liverpool, United Kingdom.,London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, Keppel Street, London, WC1E 7HT, United Kingdom
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2
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Mansbridge CT, Osborne J, Holding M, Dryden M, Aram M, Brown K, Sutton J. Autochthonous tick-borne encephalitis in the United Kingdom: A second probable human case and local eco-epidemiological findings. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2021; 13:101853. [PMID: 34670189 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2021.101853] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2021] [Revised: 09/09/2021] [Accepted: 09/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) is a neurotropic flaviviral disease. TBE was previously thought to be absent from the United Kingdom. We report the second probable case of United Kingdom-acquired TBE and demonstrate deer TBE-serocomplex seropositivity in the surrounding area, providing further evidence of the presence of TBE in England.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jane Osborne
- Rare and Imported Pathogens Laboratory, Public Health England, Porton Down, Wiltshire, UK
| | - Maya Holding
- Virology and Pathogenesis Group, National Infection Service, Public Health England, Porton Down, Wiltshire, UK; National Institute for Health Research Health Protection Research Unit in Emerging and Zoonotic Infections, Liverpool, UK
| | - Matthew Dryden
- Rare and Imported Pathogens Laboratory, Public Health England, Porton Down, Wiltshire, UK
| | - Marilyn Aram
- Virology and Pathogenesis Group, National Infection Service, Public Health England, Porton Down, Wiltshire, UK
| | - Kevin Brown
- Immunisation and Countermeasures Division, National Infection Service, Public Health England, Colindale, London, UK
| | - Julian Sutton
- Department of Infection, University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, Southampton, UK
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3
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Holding M, Dowall SD, Medlock JM, Carter DP, McGinley L, Curran-French M, Pullan ST, Chamberlain J, Hansford KM, Baylis M, Vipond R, Hewson R. Detection of new endemic focus of tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV), Hampshire/Dorset border, England, September 2019. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2020; 24. [PMID: 31771701 PMCID: PMC6885748 DOI: 10.2807/1560-7917.es.2019.24.47.1900658] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
The presence of tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) was detected in a questing tick pool in southern England in September 2019. Hitherto, TBEV had only been detected in a limited area in eastern England. This southern English viral genome sequence is distinct from TBEV-UK, being most similar to TBEV-NL. The new location of TBEV presence highlights that the diagnosis of tick-borne encephalitis should be considered in encephalitic patients in areas of the United Kingdom outside eastern England.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maya Holding
- Medical Entomology and Zoonoses Ecology, Emergency Response Department, Public Health England, Porton Down, United Kingdom.,Virology and Pathogenesis Group, National Infection Service, Public Health England, Porton Down, United Kingdom.,National Institute for Health Research Health Protection Research Unit in Emerging and Zoonotic Infections, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Stuart D Dowall
- Virology and Pathogenesis Group, National Infection Service, Public Health England, Porton Down, United Kingdom.,National Institute for Health Research Health Protection Research Unit in Emerging and Zoonotic Infections, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Jolyon M Medlock
- Medical Entomology and Zoonoses Ecology, Emergency Response Department, Public Health England, Porton Down, United Kingdom.,National Institute for Health Research Health Protection Research Unit in Emerging and Zoonotic Infections, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Daniel P Carter
- Genomics, National Infection Service, Public Health England, Porton Down, United Kingdom.,National Institute for Health Research Health Protection Research Unit in Emerging and Zoonotic Infections, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Liz McGinley
- Medical Entomology and Zoonoses Ecology, Emergency Response Department, Public Health England, Porton Down, United Kingdom.,National Institute for Health Research Health Protection Research Unit in Emerging and Zoonotic Infections, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Mollie Curran-French
- Virology and Pathogenesis Group, National Infection Service, Public Health England, Porton Down, United Kingdom
| | - Steven T Pullan
- Genomics, National Infection Service, Public Health England, Porton Down, United Kingdom
| | - John Chamberlain
- Virology and Pathogenesis Group, National Infection Service, Public Health England, Porton Down, United Kingdom
| | - Kayleigh M Hansford
- Medical Entomology and Zoonoses Ecology, Emergency Response Department, Public Health England, Porton Down, United Kingdom.,National Institute for Health Research Health Protection Research Unit in Emerging and Zoonotic Infections, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Matthew Baylis
- Institute of Infection and Global Health, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom.,National Institute for Health Research Health Protection Research Unit in Emerging and Zoonotic Infections, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Richard Vipond
- Virology and Pathogenesis Group, National Infection Service, Public Health England, Porton Down, United Kingdom.,National Institute for Health Research Health Protection Research Unit in Emerging and Zoonotic Infections, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Roger Hewson
- Virology and Pathogenesis Group, National Infection Service, Public Health England, Porton Down, United Kingdom.,National Institute for Health Research Health Protection Research Unit in Emerging and Zoonotic Infections, Liverpool, United Kingdom
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4
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Kreusch TM, Holding M, Hewson R, Harder T, Medlock JM, Hansford KM, Dowall S, Semper A, Brooks T, Walsh A, Russell K, Wichmann O. A probable case of tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) acquired in England, July 2019. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2020; 24. [PMID: 31771699 PMCID: PMC6885749 DOI: 10.2807/1560-7917.es.2019.24.47.1900679] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
The United Kingdom (UK) has thus far been considered to be free from tick-borne encephalitis (TBE), yet in July 2019, a German infant developed serologically diagnosed TBE following a tick bite in southern England. This first report of a probable human case together with recent findings of TBE virus in ticks in foci in England suggest that TBE may be acquired in parts of England and should be considered in patients with aetiologically-unexplained neurological manifestations.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Maya Holding
- NIHR Health Protection Research Unit in Emerging and Zoonotic Infections, Liverpool, United Kingdom.,Virology and Pathogenesis Group, National Infection Service, Public Health England, Porton Down, United Kingdom
| | - Roger Hewson
- NIHR Health Protection Research Unit in Emerging and Zoonotic Infections, Liverpool, United Kingdom.,Virology and Pathogenesis Group, National Infection Service, Public Health England, Porton Down, United Kingdom
| | - Thomas Harder
- Immunization Unit, Robert Koch Institute, Berlin, Germany
| | - Jolyon M Medlock
- Medical Entomology Group, Emergency Response Department, Public Health England, Porton Down, United Kingdom.,NIHR Health Protection Research Unit in Emerging and Zoonotic Infections, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Kayleigh M Hansford
- Medical Entomology Group, Emergency Response Department, Public Health England, Porton Down, United Kingdom
| | - Stuart Dowall
- NIHR Health Protection Research Unit in Emerging and Zoonotic Infections, Liverpool, United Kingdom.,Virology and Pathogenesis Group, National Infection Service, Public Health England, Porton Down, United Kingdom
| | - Amanda Semper
- Tuberculosis, Acute Respiratory, Gastrointestinal, Emerging/Zoonotic Infections and Travel Health Division, National Infection Service, Public Health England, London, United Kingdom.,NIHR Health Protection Research Unit in Emerging and Zoonotic Infections, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Tim Brooks
- Tuberculosis, Acute Respiratory, Gastrointestinal, Emerging/Zoonotic Infections and Travel Health Division, National Infection Service, Public Health England, London, United Kingdom.,NIHR Health Protection Research Unit in Emerging and Zoonotic Infections, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Amanda Walsh
- Tuberculosis, Acute Respiratory, Gastrointestinal, Emerging/Zoonotic Infections and Travel Health Division, National Infection Service, Public Health England, London, United Kingdom
| | - Katherine Russell
- Tuberculosis, Acute Respiratory, Gastrointestinal, Emerging/Zoonotic Infections and Travel Health Division, National Infection Service, Public Health England, London, United Kingdom
| | - Ole Wichmann
- Immunization Unit, Robert Koch Institute, Berlin, Germany
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5
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Holding M, Ihekweazu C, Stuart JM, Oliver I. Learning from the Epidemiological Response to the 2014/15 Ebola Virus Disease Outbreak. J Epidemiol Glob Health 2020; 9:169-175. [PMID: 31529934 PMCID: PMC7310819 DOI: 10.2991/jegh.k.190808.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2019] [Accepted: 08/07/2019] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
A large international response was needed to bring the 2014/15 West African Ebola virus disease outbreak under control. This study sought to learn lessons from this epidemic to strengthen the response to future outbreaks of international significance by identifying priorities for future epidemiology training and response. Epidemiologists who were deployed to West Africa were recruited through a snowball sampling method and surveyed using an online anonymous questionnaire. Associations between demographics, training, qualifications, and role while in-country were explored alongside respondents’ experience during deployment. Of 128 responses, 105 met the inclusion criteria. Respondents originated from 25 countries worldwide, for many (62%), this was their first deployment abroad. The most common tasks carried out while deployed were surveillance, training, contact tracing, and cluster investigation. Epidemiologists would value more detailed predeployment briefings including organizational aspects of the response. Gaps in technical skills reported were mostly about geographical information systems; however, epidemiologists identified the need for those deployed in future to have greater knowledge about roles and responsibilities of organizations involved in the response, better cultural awareness, and leadership and management skills. Respondents felt that the public health community must improve the timeliness of the response in future outbreaks and strengthen collaboration and coordination between organizations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maya Holding
- NIHR Health Protection Research Unit on Evaluation of Interventions, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK.,Field Service, National Infection Service, Public Health England, Bristol, UK.,NIHR Health Protection Research Unit in Emerging and Zoonotic Infections, Institute of Infection and Global Health, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Chikwe Ihekweazu
- Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, Abuja, Nigeria.,ECOWAS Regional Centre for Surveillance and Disease Control, Abuja, Nigeria
| | - James MacNaughton Stuart
- NIHR Health Protection Research Unit on Evaluation of Interventions, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK.,School of Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Isabel Oliver
- NIHR Health Protection Research Unit on Evaluation of Interventions, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK.,Field Service, National Infection Service, Public Health England, Bristol, UK
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6
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Affiliation(s)
- Maya Holding
- Virology and Pathogenesis Group, National Infection Service, Public Health England, Porton Down SP4 0JG, UK.
| | - Stuart Dowall
- Virology and Pathogenesis Group, National Infection Service, Public Health England, Porton Down SP4 0JG, UK
| | - Roger Hewson
- Virology and Pathogenesis Group, National Infection Service, Public Health England, Porton Down SP4 0JG, UK
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7
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Holding M, Dowall SD, Medlock JM, Carter DP, Pullan ST, Lewis J, Vipond R, Rocchi MS, Baylis M, Hewson R. Tick-Borne Encephalitis Virus, United Kingdom. Emerg Infect Dis 2020; 26:90-96. [PMID: 31661056 PMCID: PMC6924911 DOI: 10.3201/eid2601.191085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
During February 2018–January 2019, we conducted large-scale surveillance for the presence and prevalence of tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) and louping ill virus (LIV) in sentinel animals and ticks in the United Kingdom. Serum was collected from 1,309 deer culled across England and Scotland. Overall, 4% of samples were ELISA-positive for the TBEV serocomplex. A focus in the Thetford Forest area had the highest proportion (47.7%) of seropositive samples. Ticks collected from culled deer within seropositive regions were tested for viral RNA; 5 of 2,041 ticks tested positive by LIV/TBEV real-time reverse transcription PCR, all from within the Thetford Forest area. From 1 tick, we identified a full-length genomic sequence of TBEV. Thus, using deer as sentinels revealed a potential TBEV focus in the United Kingdom. This detection of TBEV genomic sequence in UK ticks has important public health implications, especially for undiagnosed encephalitis.
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8
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Gibbs H, Holding M, Smiley-Walters S. Beak of the snake: Causes of venom variation in Sistrurus rattlesnakes. Toxicon 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2018.06.053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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Kesten JM, Audrey S, Holding M, Coope C, Young N, Brown CS, Harries J, Hickman M, Oliver I. Qualitative study of Ebola screening at ports of entry to the UK. BMJ Glob Health 2018; 3:e000788. [PMID: 29989094 PMCID: PMC6035509 DOI: 10.1136/bmjgh-2018-000788] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2018] [Revised: 05/04/2018] [Accepted: 05/07/2018] [Indexed: 11/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction In response to the 2013-2016 West African outbreak of the Ebola virus disease (EVD), Public Health England introduced enhanced screening at major UK ports of entry. Our aim was to explore screeners' and screened travellers' perceptions of screening as part of an evaluation of the screening programme. Methods We undertook qualitative focus groups and semistructured interviews with screeners and travellers who had returned from affected countries before and after the introduction of screening in England. The study was conducted in two airports: one international rail terminal and one military airport. Research topic guides explored perceptions of the purpose and implementation of the process, potential improvements and reactions to screening. The data were analysed using the framework method. Results Twenty-four screeners participated in 4 focus groups (one for each port of entry) and 23 travellers participated in interviews. Three themes are presented: 'Context', 'Screeners' experience of the programme' and 'Screening purpose and experiences'. The programme was implemented rapidly, refined over time and adapted to individual ports. Screeners reported diverse experiences of screening including negative impacts on their normal roles, difficult interactions with passengers and pressure to identify positive EVD cases. Screening was considered unlikely to identify individuals with symptoms of EVD, and some participants suggested it was driven by political concerns rather than empirical evidence. The screening process was valued for its provision of information and reassurance. Conclusion This qualitative study found that the UK EVD screening process was perceived to be acceptable to assess individual risk and provide information and advice to travellers. Future programmes should have clear objectives and streamlined processes to minimise disruption, tailored to the nature of the threat and developed with the needs of humanitarian workers as well as general travellers in mind.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joanna May Kesten
- NIHR Health Protection Research Unit in Evaluation of Interventions, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK.,The National Institute for Health Research Collaboration for Leadership in Applied Health Research and Care West (NIHR CLAHRC West), University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust, Bristol, UK.,Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Suzanne Audrey
- Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Maya Holding
- NIHR Health Protection Research Unit in Evaluation of Interventions, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK.,Field Epidemiology Service, National Infection Service, Public Health England, Bristol, UK.,NIHR Health Protection Research Unit in Emerging and Zoonotic Infections, Institute of Infection and Global Health, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Caroline Coope
- NIHR Health Protection Research Unit in Evaluation of Interventions, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK.,Field Epidemiology Service, National Infection Service, Public Health England, Bristol, UK
| | - Nick Young
- Public Health England South West Centre, Public Health England, Bristol, UK
| | - Colin S Brown
- National Infection Service, Public Health England, Bristol, UK
| | - Jenny Harries
- Public Health England South of England Regional Office, Public Health England, London, UK
| | - Matthew Hickman
- NIHR Health Protection Research Unit in Evaluation of Interventions, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK.,Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Isabel Oliver
- NIHR Health Protection Research Unit in Evaluation of Interventions, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK.,Field Epidemiology Service, National Infection Service, Public Health England, Bristol, UK
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10
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Holding M, Morris D. Hospital deaths from cerebrovascular accidents. Some associated factors. W INDIAN MED J 1974; 23:80-4. [PMID: 4456828] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
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