Progress 09/15/06 to 09/14/09
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Resources provided through this assignment made it possible to establish the Penn State Odor Assessment Laboratory (Odor Lab) in the Dept. of Agricultural & Biological Engineering (ABE), with an Ac'Scent Olfactometer serving as the centerpiece instrument. Over 20 odor assessors were qualified for triangular forced-choice (TFC) dynamic olfactometer odor-panel evaluations per EN13725:2003. A multiple-vessel, steady-state flux-chamber sampling procedure was developed for TFC assessment and standardized methods for odor quality measurements were established. Gas and odor emissions from dairy manure were evaluated in several collaborative studies (projects). In project 1, the use of multi-assessor repeat observation (MARO) field olfactometry was investigated. Reproducibility (across assessors) of dilution-to-threshold (D/T) observations was less variable than repeatability (individual assessor replicate readings). Four-by-four MARO (16 samples) was sufficient to detect significant (alpha=0.05) treatment differences at D/T levels <7 and >15. Project 2 applied MARO to assess dairy manure land application methods, finding that odors decreased as follows (alpha=0.05): surface broadcast > aeration infiltration > surface + chisel incorporation > direct ground injection = shallow disk injection > control. In project 3, heifer manure from a low concentrate (20%) + 48% corn silage + 32% corn stover ration produced the greatest carbon dioxide [CO2] emissions. Odor, ammonia [NH3] and methane [CH4] gas production was similar for all rations. Project 4 investigated manure odor and gas emissions from lactating cows, dry cows, and fresh cows. High producing cows fed 55% forage + 45% concentrate produced the greatest odor. Ammonia, CH4 and CO2 gas productions were similar for all rations. In project 5, a commercial manure amendment was evaluated under laboratory incubation conditions (9C). The amendment did not significantly reduce odor, but NH3 gas was 4 to 6 times higher from treated manure and CH4 release was reduced by 70%. Project 6 investigated use of cloth swatches for odor screening, confirming the technique holds promise as a low-cost alternative for odor assessments. Numerous Odor Lab tours were conducted: PSU undergraduate students (2007, 08, 09); the PA Agricultural Air Quality Task Force (2008); the PSU College of Agriculture annual research tour (2008); the PSU Coop. Extension tour (2009); the ABE Industrial & Professional Advisory Committee (2008); ABE Dept. seminars (2009); PSU alumni; academic colleagues; environmental consultants, and odor product vendors. Three news articles and a Lab brochure were produced. Odor Lab presentations were provided at: the American Society of Agricultural & Biological Engineers annual conf. (2008, 09); PA Water Environ. Assoc. annual conf. (2008, 09); Water Environ. Federation (WEF) Residuals & Biosolids conf. (2008, 09) and WEF Annual Technical Exhibition and conf. (2009); Mid-Atlantic Biosolids Assoc. research symposium (2007, 08); PSU Manure Du Jour webinar series (2009); eXtension Livestock & Poultry Environ. Learning Center webinar series (2009), and; the American Soc. of Agronomy annual conf. (2009). PARTICIPANTS: All participants facilitate publications, presentations, and Extension education in their specialty area in addition to the following specific tasks: Arlene Adviento-Borbe, Post-Doc, ABE, statistical analysis, research design, and instrumentation QAQC; Robin C. Brandt: Lecturer, ABE, oversee establishment and supervise operation of the Odor Lab, oversee lab and field odor emission collections and human odor-panel QAQC; Robert Graves, Professor, ABE, technical implementation and analysis of manure storage and barn trials; A. Jud Heinrichs, Professor, DAS, implementation and analysis of heifer nutritional trials and supervise graduate student; Gustavo Lascano, Ph.D. Student, DAS, facilitate, conduct, and analyze heifer nutritional trials; Tom Richard, Associate Professor, ABE, technical implementation and analysis of manure storage trials; Deborah Topper, Technologist, ABE, operator and QAQC of dynamic olfactometer during panel assessment; Patrick Topper, Senior Research Technologist, ABE, design, fabrication, and operation of lab and field, odor and gas emission collections; Gabriella Varga: Professor, DAS, technical implementation and analysis of lactating cow nutritional trials; Eileen Wheeler, Professor, ABE, primary administrative manager and technical director to oversee implementation, QAQC, and analysis of all trials, supervise technologists and post-doc. Department abbreviations: ABE=ag & biological engineering; CSS=crop & soil science; DAS=dairy & animal science) TARGET AUDIENCES: Advisors to producers (servicemen, veterinarians, Extension educators, etc.) benefit from odor and gas baseline data and understanding of principles behind the recommendations for mitigation. Air quality researchers in other PSU departments and at other universities can access the Penn State Odor Assessment Lab's capabilities for a per-sample evaluation fee during their own air quality projects. Dairy producers are targeted for odor- and gas emissions-related information including reduction recommendations (livestock and poultry producers can also benefit from findings). PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
One of the most visible and enduring outcomes from this assignment was the creation of the Penn State Odor Assessment Laboratory (Odor-Lab). With acquisition of the dynamic olfactometer and development/ institution of corresponding odor quantification techniques and protocols, Penn State joined a privileged group of US university-based laboratories equipped for sensory evaluation of agricultural/ environmental odors. Execution of the various studies (projects) evaluated in this research resulted in the development of a multi-assessor repeat observation (MARO) field olfactometry technique that provides statistically defensible odor quantification for high value decision-making. The MARO technique was used to document dairy manure land application via shallow disk injection (or direct ground injection) results in the least odor relative to conventional methods. Dairy feed studies proved that ration composition can yield statistically significant differences in manure gas release. The heifer project demonstrated that carbon dioxide was significantly higher in a low concentrate diets, and methane release is increased as corn stover content increases in low-concentrate diets. With mature dairy, high producing cows fed 55% forage + 45% concentrate ration produced the greatest odors. The efficacy of a commercial manure additive was evaluated under laboratory conditions, finding that odor emission was not significantly different than the control (alpha=0.05), but significant increases in pH and ammonia release were found in the amended manure. Trials involving the use of cloth swatches for odor sample acquisition and subsequent odor quality assessment (character, supra-threshold intensity, and hedonic tone) suggest that one or more methods could be developed for low-cost screening of odor mitigation treatments. Numerous spin-off odor-related studies have become possible with the Odor-Lab. For example, several MARO field olfactometry assignments have been performed, including: an odor survey at the Philadelphia Biosolids Recycling Center; an on-farm odor-ring experiment to assess municipal wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) biosolids emissions for the Philadelphia Water Department; evaluation of poultry house shelterbelt vegetation for odor mitigation; an odor-ring experiment to evaluate alternative swine manure field application methods (on-going), and; field assessment of the odor reduction potential for poultry litter injection equipment (proposed). Several laboratory dynamic olfactometer odor panel evaluation trials of digested WWTP biosolids produced by alternative wastewater solids digestion methods or amendment treatment have been performed for university and private sector consultant collaborators. Moreover, the current on-going Penn State USDA Special Dairy Project entitled "Mitigation of Dairy Manure Odors and Gas Emission using Manure Amendments and a Feed Additive" would not have been possible without the equipment, experience, and techniques developed in this original assignment.
Publications
- Brandt, R.C., H.A. Elliott, M.A.A. Adviento-Borbe, E. Wheeler, P.J.A. Kleinman, and D.B. Beegle. 2009. Influence of manure application method on odors emissions. Amer. Soc. Agronomy International Meeting. Pittsburgh, PA, Nov 1-5, 2009, ASA-CSSA-SSSA, Madison, WI. (Abstracts 53418).
- Brandt, R.C., H.A. Elliott, M.A.A. Adviento-Borbe, and E.F. Wheeler. 2009. Field olfactometry for odor related decision-making. Presented at: ASABE Annual International Conference. Reno, NV. June 21-24, 2009. (Poster No. 096134).
- Brandt, R.C., T.E. Johnston, W.E. Toffey, and J.E. Golembeski. 2009. Use of field olfactometry for quantification of WWTP dewatering facility odor emissions. In proceedings: WEFTEC-2009, 82nd annual Water Environment Federation Technical Exhibition and Conference. Orlando, FL. October 10-14, 2009. Paper 071-330. 18 pp.
- Brandt, R.C., M.A.A. Adviento-Borbe, M.A. Higgins, T.E. Johnston, W.E. Toffey, and J.E. Golembeski. 2009. Use of inventory management to mitigate odor emissions from land applied biosolids. In Proceedings: Water Environment Federation Residuals and Biosolids Conference. Portland, OR. May 3-6, 2009. Paper 9B. 22 pp.
- Johnston, T.E., M.A. Higgins, R.C. Brandt, and W.E. Toffey. 2009. Effect of amendment addition on biosolids odors based on gas chromatography analysis and odor panel observations. In proceedings: WEFTEC-2009, 82nd annual Water Environment Federation Technical Exhibition and Conference. Orlando, FL. October 10-14, 2009. Paper 071-Alt 1. 20 pp.
- Johnston, T.E., M.A. Higgins, R.C. Brandt, W.E. Toffey, and R.C. Eschborn. 2009. Effect of amendment addition on biosolids odors based on gas chromatography analysis and odor panel observations. In proceedings: Water Environment Federation Residuals and Biosolids Conference. Portland, OR. May 3-6, 2009. Paper 9A. 20 pp.
- Patterson, P. H., A. Adrizal, R. M. Bates, R. C. Brandt, R. M. Hulet, E. F. Wheeler, D. A. Despot, and P. A. Topper. 2009. The potential for plants to trap odors from farms with laying hens. Poult. Sci. 88(Suppl. 1):9-10. (Abstract).
- Williams, M.K., T.L. Richard, and E.F. Wheeler. 2008. Evaluating the interaction of transport mechanisms through dairy manure to determine the effects on ammonia and greenhouse gas emissions. In Proceedings: ORBIT2008 International Conference. Wageningen, The Netherlands. October 13-15, 2008. #314, 7 pp.
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Progress 09/15/07 to 09/14/08
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Odor laboratory assessment studies were completed on several complementary research efforts. Study #1 involved statistical evaluation of Field Olfactometer (FO) data from livestock facilities and land application sites. Field Dilution-to-Threshold (D/T) observations at >200 observation stations were collected. Ten-minute odor Best Estimate Threshold (BET10) data for the 16 observations at each station were calculated per ASTM E679-04. When the D/T coefficient of variation was set at 0.25 and n=16, power analysis showed 95% confidence (alpha=0.05) was achieved for D/T=2, 4, 30, and 60. Confidence dropped to 80% (alpha=0.20) when D/T=7 or 15. The most important covariates were determined to be assessor sensitivity, odor source distance, and wind direction. To mitigate field variables, in Study #2 dairy slurry was applied in 10-ft swaths to grassland, in 200-foot diameter circles. Odor assessor sensitivity standards were tightened in accordance with EN13725:2003. Multiple FO observations were made in the center of each circle and whole air samples were collected for laboratory dynamic olfactometer evaluation using the triangular forced-choice (TFC) method. Composited BET10 data showed odor emission as follows (alpha=0.05): surface broadcast > aeration infiltration > surface + chisel incorporation > direct ground injection shallow disk injection > control. Findings closely followed laboratory TFC odor panel results (r = 0.83). In Study #3, a heifer feeding trial evaluated the impact of high/low forage quality and high/low concentrate diets on odor, ammonia (NH3) and greenhouse gas (GHG) manure emissions. Carbon dioxide was significantly higher in low concentrate diets, and methane release increased as corn stover content was increased in the low-concentrate diet. Lowest odor emission was measured when forage quality was reduced (32% silage; 48% stover). Overall, TFC odor emission tended to be reduced with lower quality forage diets, but with no significant difference. Study #4 assessed TFC odor, NH3, and GHG emissions from manure produced by mature cows, as affected by diet. This study found that high producing dairy cows fed 55% forage and 45% concentrate ration produced the greatest odor. Ammonia, methane and carbon dioxide gas productions were similar for all forage feed rations. Study #5 evaluated the efficacy of a commercial manure additive, marketed as an odor reduction product. Samples of over-wintered dairy manure slurry were collected from a Pennsylvania farm and incubated at 9 degrees C. Incubated manure was assessed for TFC odor, NH3, and GHG emissions at 3-days, 14-days and 28-days. Significant increases in pH and NH3 emission were found in the amended manure, but odor emission was not significantly different at alpha=0.05. During this reporting period, supra-threshold odor intensity method ASTM E544-04 has been added to the Odor Assessment Laboratory regimen. The multi-chamber steady-state flux chamber gas monitoring system has been moved to the Agricultural Engineering Building and enhanced to accommodate up to eight simultaneous samples. PARTICIPANTS: All participants facilitate publications, presentations, and Extension education in their specialty area in addition to the following specific tasks: Arlene Adviento-Borbe, Post-Doc, ABE, statistical analysis, research design, and instrumentation QAQC; Robin C. Brandt: Lecturer, ABE, oversee establishment and supervise operation of the Odor Lab, oversee lab and field odor emission collections and human odor-panel QAQC; Robert Graves, Professor, ABE, technical implementation and analysis of manure storage and barn trials; A. Jud Heinrichs, Professor, DAS, implementation and analysis of heifer nutritional trials and supervise graduate student;Gustavo Lascano, Ph.D. Student, DAS, facilitate, conduct, and analyze heifer nutritional trials; Tom Richard, Associate Professor, ABE, technical implementation and analysis of manure storage trials; Deborah Topper, Technologist, ABE, operator and QAQC of dynamic olfactometer during panel assessment; Patrick Topper, Senior Research Technologist, ABE, design, fabrication, and operation of lab and field, odor and gas emission collections; Gabriella Varga: Professor, DAS, technical implementation and analysis of lactating cow nutritional trials; Eileen Wheeler, Professor, ABE, primary administrative manager and technical director to oversee implementation, QAQC, and analysis of all trials, supervise technologists and post-doc. (Department abbreviations: ABE=ag & biological engineering; CSS=crop & soil science; DAS=dairy & animal science) TARGET AUDIENCES: Advisors to producers (servicemen, veterinarians, Extension educators, etc.) benefit from odor and gas baseline data and understanding of principles behind the recommendations for mitigation. Air quality researchers in other PSU departments and at other universities can access the Penn State Odor Assessment Lab's capabilities for a per-sample evaluation fee during their own air quality projects. Dairy producers are targeted for odor- and gas emissions-related information including reduction recommendations (livestock and poultry producers can also benefit from findings). PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
Numerous spin-off studies related to this initial project have already transpired, including: an FO odor survey at the Philadelphia Biosolids Recycling Center; an on-farm FO odor-circle experiment to assess municipal wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) biosolids emissions for the Philadelphia Water Department; an FO odor-circle experiment to evaluate alternative swine manure field application methods; evaluation of poultry house shelterbelt vegetation for odor mitigation, and; a TFC odor panel assessment of digested WWTP biosolids produced by the Cambi wastewater solids digestion method, for Bucknell University. A variety of pending (funded) and as-yet un-funded potential research possibilities for sustained odor laboratory work at Penn State continue to unfold. During this reporting period, odor laboratory tours and hands-on odor assessment presentations have been provided to a wide audience, including: selected undergraduate classes/ students in Dairy and Animal Science and Environmental Resource Management; the Pennsylvania Agricultural Air Quality Task force; the PSU College of Agriculture annual research tour (including ag industry/ academic leaders, and state/ local legislatures); ABE - Industrial and Professional Advisory Committee members, and; other visitors (alumni, academic colleagues, etc.). Three articles introducing the Odor Assessment Laboratory have been distributed through PSU venues ("The Nose Knows") and a Penn State Odor Assessment Laboratory brochure has been developed. Additionally, a talk at the Pennsylvania Water Environment Association annual conference (PennTec2008) entitled "Sensory Quantification of Odors in the Field" was presented in June 2008. Speaking opportunities to promote the work being done at the Odor Laboratory continue to expand.
Publications
- Brandt, R.C., H.A. Elliott, M.A.A. Adviento-Borbe, E.F. Wheeler, P.J.A. Kleinman, and D.B. Beegle. 2008. Field olfactometry assessment of dairy manure application methods. ASABE Annual International Conference, June 29-July 2, 2008. Providence, RI. Poster and ASABE Publication Number 084939. St. Joseph, MI.
- Topper, P.A., R.C. Brandt, M.A.A. Adviento-Borbe, G.J. Lascano, A.J. Heinrichs, and E.F. Wheeler. 2008. Field olfactometry assessment of dairy manure application methods. ASABE Annual International Conference, June 29-July 2, 2008. Providence, RI. ASABE Publication Number 084905. St. Joseph, MI.
- Lascano, G.J., P.A. Topper, R.C. Brandt, M.A.A. Adviento-Borbe, E.F. Wheeler, and A.J. Heinrichs. 2008. Ammonia emissions and olfactometry analysis of limited fed high and low concentrate diets with different forage quality in dairy heifers. J. Dairy Sci. 91: E-Suppl. 1: 488.
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Progress 09/15/06 to 09/14/07
Outputs
OUTPUTS: A Penn State Odor Assessment Lab (Odor Lab) has been established in the Agricultural & Biological Engineering (ABE) department. A trained panel of 16 odor assessors has been qualified for human odor-panel evaluations in accordance with International Standard EN13725:2003 (Air Quality Determination of Odour Concentration by Dynamic Olfactometry [also ASTM E679-04]). The laboratory construction and standard operating procedures comply with this same, rigorous international standard. A forced-choice dynamic olfactometer (Ac'scent International Olfactometer), used in conjunction with the panel of odor assessors, is the centerpiece of the lab's odor evaluation. Samples of odorous air are collected in specialized bags for presentation to the human assessors via the olfactometer. Members of our project team visited one of the first-established olfactometer labs at Purdue University during setup of our lab to benefit from their staff's experiences. Professionals from the
olfactometer manufacturer (St. Croix Sensory, Lake Elmo MN) conducted a two-day odor evaluation workshop at our laboratory as part of our start-up package. The Odor Lab also conducts evaluations using hand-held field-olfactometer units for on-farm evaluation of odors (Nasal Ranger Field Olfactometer, St. Croix Sensory). Field data collection has been completed on a collaborative Crop & Soil Science, ABE, and USDA-ARS project comparing odor emissions from alternative dairy manure land application methods. On-site field olfactometry results are being compared to field-collected air samples that were transported to dynamic olfactometer for evaluation. Results are enhanced by having panelists determine the character, intensity and pleasantness of the air sample. Odor evaluations of laboratory-scale samples utilize a multiple-chamber, steady-state flux-chamber methodology. Using this technique, we are simultaneously collecting data on ammonia and greenhouse gas emissions while providing a
controlled environment for collection of representative odorous air samples for presentation to the dynamic olfactometer panel. To date, lab-scale evaluations have focused on dairy manure from animals on diets intended to reduce gas emissions. Two such dairy projects, in collaboration with Dairy & Animal Science faculty and graduate students, are currently underway with field data collection ending in 2007. In Project 1, heifers on diets with varying concentrate feed levels, combined with a range of crude protein levels, are undergoing an evaluation of gas emissions and odor. Project 2 is investigating odor and gas emissions from high- and low-producing lactating cows, dry cows, and fresh cows. A third dairy odor mitigation project is being planned for January thru March 2008 to evaluate odor-reduction performance of several commercially-available additives for manure storages. Our new olfactometer facilities have made it possible to collaborate with Bucknell University and Material
Matters, Inc (consultant) in a project for the City of Philadelphia, characterizing odor from municipal biosolids amended with various odor-reduction treatments.
PARTICIPANTS: All participants facilitate publications, presentations, and Extension education in their specialty area in addition to the following specific tasks. Arlene Adviento-Borbe: Post-Doc, ABE; statistical analysis, research design, and instrumentation QAQC. Robin Brandt: Lecturer, ABE; oversee establishment and supervise operation of the Odor Lab; oversee lab and field odor emission collections and human odor-panel QAQC. Robert Graves: Professor, ABE; technical implementation and analysis of manure storage and barn trials. A Jud Heinrichs: Professor, DAS; implementation and analysis of heifer nutritional trials and supervise graduate student. Gustavo Luscano: Ph.D. Student, DAS; facilitate, conduct, and analyze heifer nutritional trials. Thomas Richard: Associate Professor, ABE; technical implementation and analysis of manure storage trials. Deborah Topper: Technologist, ABE; operator and QAQC of dynamic olfactometer during panel assessment. Patrick Topper: Senior Research
Technologist, ABE; design, fabrication, and operation of lab and field, odor and gas emission collections. Gabriella Varga: Professor, DAS; technical implementation and analysis of lactating cow nutritional trials. Eileen Wheeler: Professor, ABE; primary administrative manager and technical director to oversee implementation, QAQC, and analysis of all trials; supervise technologists and post-doc. Additional participants from AERS will participate in the project during the second year for policy interpretation and outreach. (Department abbreviations: ABE - Agricultural & Biological Engineering; AERS - Agricultural Economics & Rural Sociology; CSC - Crop & Soil Science; DAS - Dairy & Animal Science)
TARGET AUDIENCES: Dairy producers are targeted for odor and gas emissions-related information including reduction recommendations (livestock and poultry producers can also benefit from findings). Advisors to producers (servicemen, veterinarians, Extension educators, etc.) benefit from odor and gas baseline data and understanding of principles behind the recommendations for mitigation. Air quality researchers in other PSU departments and at other universities can access the Penn State Odor Assessment Lab's capabilities for a per-sample evaluation fee during their own air quality projects.
Impacts
Organizing the Penn State Odor Assessment Lab to comply with an international standard allows quick recognition of our quality data for comparison among other similarly conducted odor studies, worldwide. This aids in interpreting data, publishing results, and commercial comparisons among odor-reduction treatments. All of this improves acceptance of findings for field-based adoption of odor reduction treatments. To the best of our knowledge, the Penn State Odor Assessment Lab is the only such facility in the mid-Atlantic and northeastern USA operating with the forced-choice dynamic olfactometer for evaluation of agricultural and environmental odor emissions. This presents opportunities for more convenient odor evaluations at the urban-rural interface so common within this landscape. Simultaneous evaluation of odor with individual chemical gas emissions (ammonia, methane, nitrous oxide, and carbon dioxide) from the same sample is a powerful tool for determining the
potential for synergistic and antagonistic impacts of reductions in one emission in relation to the others. Brandt, R. C. (presenter). 2007. Understanding nuisance odors. AND. Sensory evaluation of agricultural odors using the Nasal Ranger Field Olfactometer. Presented at: Agricultural Odor Management Training for NRCS, Conservation Districts, Planners, and Extension. May 16, 2007. Livestock Evaluation Center, Pennsylvania Furnace, PA. Brandt, R. C. (presenter). 2007. Nuisance odors and sensory evaluation using the Nasal Ranger Field Olfactometer. Presented at: Effective and Efficient effects of minimum disturbance injection equipment - Field staff training session. Maryland Department of Agriculture. September 27, 2007. Paul Coblentz Farm, Middleton, MD. Brandt, R. C. (presenter). 2007. An introduction to olfactometry odor assessment. Presented to: Fall 2007 class - AN SC 306 - Swine production and management and AND SC 418 - Nutrient management in agricultural systems (Professor K.
Kephart - instructor). October 31, 2007. PSU-ABE Odor Assessment Laboratory. University Park, PA. Brandt, R. C. (presenter). 2007. Odor evaluation methods. Presented at: Dairy Practices Council Annual meeting. Dairy practices through education and cooperation. November 7, 2007. Four Points Sheraton, Harrisburg, PA. Brandt, R. C. (presenter). 2007. Odor paneling protocols. Presented at: Mid-Atlantic Biosolids Association. MABA Annual Biosolids Symposium - Hot topics / hot-tools for effective biosolids management. November 7, 2007. University of MD, Baltimore County campus, MD. Brandt, R.C. (presenter). 2007. Field olfactometry training. Presented at: Offices of Material Matters, Inc. November 20, 2007. Elizabethtown, PA.
Publications
- Wheeler, E. F., P. A. Topper, N. E. Brown and G. A. Varga. 2007. Multiple-Chamber Steady-State Gas Emission Detection from Dairy Manure Slurry. Proceedings of International Symposium on Air Quality and Waste Management for Agriculture. September 15-19, 2007, St. Joseph, MI. ASABE Publication Number 701P0907. CD ROM.
- Wheeler, E. F., P. A. Topper, R. E. Graves and M. A. Bruns. 2007. Odor reduction performance of constructed wetland treating diluted swine manure. Applied Engineering in Agriculture 23(5):621-630.
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