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What is SIBOR and the SIBOR rates now?
2008-04-07 15:58:00
What is SIBOR It stands for the Singapore Interbank Offered Rate Where do you see this? In bank statements explaining how your mortgage rates are determined. What does it mean? It refers, more or less, to repayments on your loans, because Sibor affects the mortgage rate. Sibor is the rate at which banks lend to one another. When it falls, so do rates for variable or Sibor-linked mortgages. When the Sibor rises, you have to fork out more. Sibor also gives a rough indication of where deposit and savings account rates at banks might be headed, as it is influenced partly by the supply and demand for funds in the Singapore interbank market. When Sibor is low, it is cheaper for foreign banks, which have a smaller deposit base than local ones do, to borrow funds from the interbank market for their lending activities. When this happens, the foreign banks are less likely to offer higher fixed deposit rates to attract Singaporeans to park cash with them. But when liquidity in the marke...
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We are listed top 100 financial planners in NTUC INCOME: Sunday Press
2008-04-06 12:52:00
We would like to thank all our policyholders and friends for the opportunity to be in the top 100 financial planners in NTUC INCOME and to appear in the Sunday Straits Times. Special Thanks to NTUC INCOME for this opportunity to have the recognition of our hard work and much appreciation for many out there who value our work and service. We would continue to enhance and touch your lives in many years to come. Alvin Soong on behalf of the Soong family.
More About: Press , Financial , Income , Listed

To Invest Or To Reduce Debt?
2008-04-04 17:30:00
Investors face the dilemma of whether to pay down debt with excess cash or to invest that money in an attempt to turn it into even greater amounts of wealth. If you pay off too much debt and reduce your leverage, you may not garner enough assets to retire. Conversely, if you’re too aggressive, you may end up losing everything. In order to decide whether to pay down debt or invest, you must consider your best investment options, risk tolerance and cash flow situation. Read on to learn more. Investment Options From a numbers perspective, your decision should be based on your after-tax cost of borrowing versus your after-tax return on investing. Suppose, for instance, that you are a wage earner in the 34% tax bracket and have a conventional 30-year mortgage with a 6% interest rate. Because you can deduct mortgage interest from your federal taxes, your true after-tax cost of debt is around 4%. If you hold a diversified portfolio of investments that includes both equities and fix...
More About: Debt , Reduce , Invest

Symptoms for Aorta Surgery
2008-04-03 00:24:00
Whenever surgery to aorta is carried out associating the replacement of valve in aorta, suitable treatment procedure is to be followed in such cardiac patients. Often coumadin like anticoagulant drugs are given for the period of about six weeks to three months. Similarly, antibiotics are usually given to protect the patient against the development of any secondary bacterial infections. Similarly, vitamin C and E are generally given to take care of the health status in the operated persons. Low sodium and low calorie diet is given. Patients may be advised to have a stress free life style and to show less emotions based reactions to the possible extent. To prevent surgery to aorta, persons need to have a stress free lifestyle as a preventive step in addition to consumption of natural food like fruits. Any infection especially the rheumatic fever needs to be treated in time, so as to have a successful recovery. Exercise has to be carried out daily for at least thirty minutes and this h...
More About: Surgery , Symptoms

Surgery to Aorta
2008-04-01 19:23:00
Surgery to aorta often is highly demanding one because of the common problems encountered in the cardiac patients. According to National Center for Health Studies, about 15,000 persons died due to the problems in aorta during the year 2002. . Yeah. You now know the significance of aorta. Okay? Aorta plays a major part in the maintenance of health status of body. Atherosclerosis, polycystic disease of kidney, hypertension etc. may cause diseases of aorta and may demand the surgery to aorta. When any specific diseases affect it or diseases from neighboring organs in the thoracic cavity like lungs or thoracic lymph nodes, the symptoms start developing. Minimal invasive surgery is done if surgery to aorta is associated with descending part of thoracic aorta. Most of the times, death happens since through aorta only, oxygenated blood material is regularly delivered to different parts of the body in a systematic manner. Rheumatic fever may affect the cardiac valves especially the aortic v...
More About: Surgery

New Bonus 2008 for NTUC INCOME policies
2008-03-31 19:09:00
NTUC INCOME just declared changes on its policies in bonuses payout. Total payout on bonuses to public is still the same so not to worry. The positive thing is to watch out for possible higher bonuses payout to all the ntuc income policyholders. Annuities before 1993 have no changes also. Protection Life Policy = Sum Assured + Annual Bonus + Special Bonus Total Bonus = Annual Bonus + Special Bonus 1. The total bonus package remains unchanged as the increase in special bonus offsets the lower annual bonuses. 2. Annual Bonuses (or Reversionary Bonuses) means x% on sum assured and y% on sum assured. eg. this year 2.5%@2.75% of $100K sum assured for our VIVOLIFE means ($100k sum assured x 2.6% + accumulated bonus of $20K x 2.1%) 3. Special bonuses are payable on death, maturities and surrenders.The new structure helps the company to invest more freely for higher eventual returns thus in long runs, the bonuses or higher returns will be given back to policyholders. 4. For Annuities ho...
More About: Income , Policies , 2008

Things to look out for Tax Filing in 2008.
2008-03-30 14:17:00
WHAT INDIVIDUALS SHOULD WATCH: THE Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore IRAS will be looking into those with rental property and property agents this year, followed after the propoerty boom in 2008 . They have advocated to the public to own up to past mistakes. TAXPAYERS are encouraged to step forward and voluntarily disclose any past errors in their tax returns, as doing so will attract lower penalties, said the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (Iras). The longer you take to own up, the more severe the penalty. For instance, the penalty imposed on those who own up to past tax filing mistakes is charged at an incremental rate of 10 per cent a year, subject to a maximum of 30 per cent. If you don’t own up and the errors are discovered by Iras, penalties of up to two times the tax undercharged may be imposed. In cases of tax evasion, the penalty payment is three times the amount of tax that has been undercharged. In addition, the taxpayer could be fined up to $10,000 or ja...
More About: Things

Motor Insurance Premium for all insurance companies may increase this year
2008-03-29 12:42:00
A COMMON lament among motor insurers is that underwriting vehicle risk is by its perverse nature a losing proposition. Padded repair bills, damage fraud, theft, third-party claims and the growing trend of young drivers getting into nasty accidents contribute to high payouts. Moreover, competition among the 30-odd motor insurers has held premiums down. The facts though do not support fully the assertion. Taking the past five years - a period when car ownership rose rapidly - as a guide, profits were recorded in 2004 and 2005. In 2006, a loss-incurring year for the industry overall, two of the three largest motor insurers - AIG and NTUC Income - were profitable, proving that motor underwriting is generally not meant for small outfits with limited portfolios and poor histories in settling claims promptly. Last year, however, insurers took a bath. They lost more than $100 million. As a result premiums have gradually been edging up. The industry has not offered any studies to explain the...
More About: Companies , Insurance , Motor , Year , Premium

Primary Pulmonary Hypertension - Help For Primary Pulmonary Hypertension Tr
2008-03-26 18:18:00
Generally the treatment of primary pulmonary hypertension needs to be tackled based on the type of the hypertension affecting the lung structures. Take care of anemia. Since the venous type of primary  pulmonary hypertension is almost similar to the congestive heart failure, the same therapy may often be offered. T his condition may be tackled with the usage of diuretics, beta blockers etc. Antibiotics with broad spectrum of activities are chosen in order to control the secondary bacterial infections affecting the lung structures. Epoprostenol which is a synthetic prostaglandin is frequently used in the continuous infusions by intra venous route Physical therapist may be consulted in order to provide relie Ambrisentan like endothelin receptor antagonist may be used in the affected patients to speed up the recovery. Bronchodilator like deriphyllin may be used by intravenous route and daily usage of nebulizers is  often useful for making a proper relief from the symptoms noticed. Av...
More About: Primary , Hypertension , Pulmonary hypertension

Specific Symptoms of Primary Pulmonary Hypertension
2008-03-25 18:16:00
Generally persons affected by primary pulmonary hypertension will not reveal the clinical signs immediately. Yeah… This is true. Gradually the persons develop the pathogenesis in most of the occasions. There may be non productive cough and poor exercise tolerance. If the affected person is having venous hypertension of the lung tissues, then there may be labored breathing and often, there may be orthopnea which is otherwise called as paroxysmal dyspnea that occurs in the night time Fatigue and syncope may occur in the patients. Diagnosis is made by radiological examinations, exercise tolerance test etc. Usually five minute based walk test is employed to assess the pulmonary capacity. Similarly, the pulmonary arterial tension is measured in Wood units. The measure of more than three wood units indicate the existence of abnormally increased lung pressure in the affected persons. Jugular venous distension and pedal edema are to be assessed to make out a diagnosis. Ultra sound ba...
More About: Primary , Hypertension , Symptoms , Specific , Pulmonary hypertension

SGX acts to protect investors in reverse takeover targets
2008-03-25 12:33:00
—————&mdash ;—————&mdas h;—————&mda sh;—————&md ash;—– Safeguards WHAT a company’s board must do when making an acquisition: -Assess if any profit guarantee given is realistic. -Ensure proper safeguards are in place if the profit guarantee is not met, such as the seller giving a banker’s guarantee. -In the event that the proposed acquisition does not go ahead, ensure the comprehensive disclosure of all salient information, including reasons why the deal fell through. What financial advisers must do: -Provide the board with an opinion on whether the proposed acquisition is on normal commercial terms. -Be prepared to disclose fully the basis for their opinion. _________________________________________ ____________________________________ Dealers said they are not surprised at SGX’s stand, given a chorus of complaints over the liberal use of...
More About: Takeover , Investors

Causes of Primary Pulmonary Hypertension
2008-03-24 18:12:00
Primary pulmonary hypertension is defined as the state in which there is an increased pressure in the associated capillaries, pulmonary artery and vein due to the primary causal factor existing in lung itself. Overall, the vasculature of the lung structures get enhancement of pressure inside. This causes the associated clinical symptoms like exertion based labored breathing and poor exercise tolerance. Left heart failure becomes the most common cause for this disease. Aortic regurgitation or mitral stenosis like valvular conditions often lead to this disorder,  resulting in venous hypertension in lungs. Arterial hypertension of lungs occurs due to cirrhosis of liver, auto immune diseases, sickle cell disease etc. Pulmonary embolism also may lead to this condition. In 1891, Dr.Romburg identified this primary pulmonary hypertension and documented the findings related to this pulmonary disorder. These disorders are more common especially when the persons are concurrently having cardia...
More About: Primary , Hypertension , Pulmonary hypertension

Wedding Planner and Mortgage Planning for newly Wed
2008-03-24 14:22:00
While coming across a blog site, I saw a friend of mine doing wedding planners http://www.romance-fire.com/2008/03/22/mo rtgage-loan-for-newly-wed/ I thought it gives rather useful info on debt and mortgage planning for young families and couples. Pls read on.
More About: Wedding , Wedding Planner , Planning , Mortgage , Planner

Should I invest my CPF before 1st April 2008?
2008-03-24 12:28:00
—————&mdash ;—————&mdas h;—————&mda sh;—————&md ash;————— Some things to know: UNDER the new rules on investing Central Provident Fund (CPF) money, which will come into effect on April 1, members have to set aside $20,000 each in their Ordinary and Special Accounts before they can invest the remainder. However, money that is already invested will not be affected by the new rules. Q Some of my investments were made using CPF monies before April 1. I have less than $20,000 in either my Ordinary Account (OA) or my Special Account (SA). Must I liquidate my CPF Invest ment Scheme-OA (CPFIS-OA) or CPFIS-SA investments? A No, you are not required to liquidate them if you made them before April 1. Q If I sell or switch between my investments after April 1, can I re-invest the sale proceeds if my OA or SA balance is below $20,000? A Under CPFIS-OA...
More About: 2008

US Stock Market Watch by Allan Greenspan
2008-03-23 06:30:00
US Stock Market Watch by Allan Greenspan: http://edition.cnn.com/2008/BUSINESS/03/2 1/us.recession.ap/index.html Some interesting news: Warren Buffett’s Top 10 stocks American Express Burlington Coca Cola Johnson and Johnson Kraft Moody’s Procter and Gamble US Bankcorp Wells Fargo Wesco Financial
More About: Market Watch

Common Symptoms of Terminal Illness
2008-03-19 18:07:00
The terminally illness affected persons reveal the associated symptoms depending on the organ affected in general. If the person is having a renal disease, then there is absence of urination or there may be urinary incontinence. Severe pain is present in patients with cancer. Dyspnea may be there in severe pulmonary obstructive diseases causing terminal illnesses. There may be development of bed sores due to the prolonged recumbent posture of the body. This is true in bed ridden persons due to any organ damage with terminal illnesses. There may often be foul smell in such conditions. Biopsy of affected area helps in diagnosis of malignant cancer. If careless in attending, then pus may be seen and septicemic changes may be seen, often. Radiological and scanning helps to rule out the cancerous growths inside the body cavities. The diagnosis may be made by estimation of serum creatinine level, blood urea nitrogen etc. with regard to renal tissue based terminal disease. Similarly, serum...
More About: Terminal , Common , Symptoms , Illness

What is Terminal Illness?
2008-03-18 19:02:00
Terminal illness is a condition in which the death is expected to occur within a short period of time, despite the medications given regularly. This period may differ. About 30000 persons in USA and 60000 persons in Russia die every year by suicides and terminal illness has formed as one of the causes for this. In early 1950s, there are many cases of terminal illnesses due to less advancement in the medical or surgical procedures. There are many causes for the terminal illnesses. Progressive diseases like cancer of whole gastro intestinal tract or many abdominal organs lead to this problem. Picks disease may end up to the terminal illnesses. Often the renal diseases may become the significant cause for this. When the condition is not attended properly, most of the times, irreparable renal damage may occur. Pancreatic cancer or blood cancer may lead to these conditions. If dialysis is not done as prescribed by the specialist, then the patient may end up in terminal illness. If hepat...
More About: Terminal , Illness

SGX and Asian Market Reports
2008-03-18 17:52:00
IT WAS another day of panic and plunging share markets across Asia yesterday as shock waves from the Bear Stearns fire sale in the United States crashed home. Investors dumped shares amid a growing air of crisis in the global economy, heightened by the collapse of the US’ fifth-largest investment bank and reinforced by oil’s surging price and the free-falling greenback - now at a 13-year low against the yen. The US Federal Reserve did not calm nerves either by making an emergency cut in the discount rate - the level it charges banks to borrow. WARRANTS on the battered Singapore Exchange (SGX) counter were in action yesterday as the shares themselves came under renewed selling pressure. The stock lost 37 cents, or 5.4 per cent, to close at $6.43 on a volume of 16.6 million, more than double its average daily volume of 7.7 million recorded over the past year. So far this year, SGX shares have lost about 52 per cent, far outpacing the 19 per cent fall in the Straits Time...
More About: Market , Asian

Oil Price Break $110 per barrel!
2008-03-18 17:49:00
WASHINGTON - AS OIL prices charge past US$110 a barrel, analysts say government-run investment funds from oil-rich nations may be adding speculative heat to an already red-hot market. By placing bets in futures markets, these sovereign wealth funds are no different from hedge funds, pension funds and other institutional investors. But there is one exception: at the same time they profit by trading ‘paper’ barrels, their governments’ oil companies also reap huge sums pumping black gold for consumers worldwide. While there is no public data proving that sovereign wealth funds invest in oil futures contracts, energy analysts say it is likely they are making financial wagers on oil - and other commodities - for the same reasons as other institutional investors: to take advantage of rising global demand and to cushion them from the falling US dollar. ‘They have two places to put their money: stock markets and commodities markets,’ said Mr James Cordier, t...
More About: Break , Price , Barrel

US Stocks Report: Markets and US dollar slump on banking fears
2008-03-18 17:43:00
FEAR gripped financial markets yesterday as Asia and Europe absorbed a double whammy of devastating news. The near collapse of Wall Street financial giant Bear Stearns stunned investors along with the unveiling of emergency measures by the US Federal Reserve not seen since the Great Depression. Global stocks and the already weakened US dollar went into a tailspin as investors ran for cover to buy commodities such as gold and oil, which set new record prices. Shares in India, Hong Kong and Japan were hit hardest. In Singapore, the benchmark Straits Times Index suffered an initial 93-point plunge before recovering to close at 2,792.75, down 46 points from last Friday. Selling continued when the US and European markets reopened yesterday, with London’s Footsie closing 3.9 per cent lower. In New York, the Dow Jones Industrial Average swung between gains and losses. At 1am Singapore time after 31/2 hours of trading, the Dow stood at 11,862.11, down 88.98 points or 0.7 per cent. ...
More About: Stocks , Markets , Dollar , Report , Banking

Mortgage Planning : What is Refinancing vs Repricing
2008-03-17 17:05:00
Accessing an applicant’s repayment ability requires to look into these aspects: Monthly Income Monthly CPF Contribution Existing Funds in CPFOA Other Financial Commitments Employment Profile Age of borrower Debt Servicing Ability Bankruptcy Credit Record Financial Strength of joint borrower and Liquidity Refinancing is where a mortgage loan with an existing financier is redeemed and taken over by another financier. At times, certain penalties may be imposed due to a lock in period that is in force. However there are financial instituitions that are prepared to either subsidise the penalty partially or completely, to bring over the loan with certain conditions attached Repricing also known as conversion, occurs when the borrower negotiates with the existing financier to either restructure or reprice the existing loan to a better package that is currently offered by the same financier. Under such request, a re-pricing fee would be charged and certain penalties may also be impose...
More About: Planning , Mortgage

Added new link on CNBC Warren Buffet in blog link
2008-03-16 17:00:00
Was watching CNBC Yesterday night, I decide to add the link of CNBC warren buffet watch in the link. Modelling the success in investing..
More About: Warren , Blog , Link , Warren Buffet , Buffet

Update of EnhancedIncomeshield Shield hospitalisation cover
2008-03-14 18:15:00
Update of Shield hospitalisation cover - A client asks me today again about the new assist rider compared to the old rider in enhanced incomeshield. I decide to extract the last sunday newspaper for him again to be placed here, in case there might be many others who like to find out more on the difference…. What it is THE new Assist rider for the Incomeshield hospitalisation and surgical plan was launched on Nov 16 for new and current policyholders of the plan. First, to recap what a rider is and what it covers: All Shield hospitalisation plans include a ‘deductible’ portion - the first layer of charges that the policyholder has to bear. Depending on the type of plan, the deductible amount typically ranges from $2,000 to $3,000. The plans must also have a co-insurance feature, which means the policyholder shares part of the cost of the bill, usually 10 per cent over and above the deductible. For example, if an A-class ward bill is $10,000, the policyholder bear...
More About: Update , Cover

Discover the Remedies for Nose bleeding
2008-03-12 19:38:00
The treatment of nose bleeding actually depends on the diagnosis made in the concerned patients. Lean little forward to avoid the swallowing of blood. Generally coagulants will be given by the medical specialist in serious cases. If you feel faint, try to lie down flat on your side. If you don’t feel faint, just place the finger at end of nose and try to block the nose for some time. Don’t try to remove this clot immediately. Use cool mist humidifier to keep room comfortable as a preventive measure. Some times, you have to apply some cold compress on your nose. Surgery may be needed if bleeding is severe for more than twenty minutes. Some times, cauterization will be done to stop the bleeding. However, more clinical significance is to be given if there is a recurrent nose bleeding. To prevent the nose bleeding, one should not blow or pick the nose with so much force. If you feel any foreign object, try to remove it gently. Apply petroleum jelly inside nose to keep the pa...
More About: Nose , Remedies , Discover

Nose Bleeding Symptoms
2008-03-11 19:34:00
Symptoms of nose bleeding are to be given maximum significance when it becomes long lasting or a chronic one in the concerned patient. Yeah. The symptoms in general consists of flow of blood material from the nasal passages. Whenever unilateral bleeding is encountered in patients, mostly it may be due to trauma. Flow of blood may occur from both the nostrils. In such cases, some systemic problem needs to be ruled out. Blood flow may be acute one or a chronic one. The sterile swab obtained from the nasal passage may be sent to laboratory to rule out infections etc. Similarly the morphological studies pertaining to the blood cell abnormality may help to rule out cancerous problems in the concerned patients, some times. Radiological investigation of thoracic cavity helps to make out a diagnosis of growths or masses. History on previous accident, severe blowing of nose, taking of anticoagulant drug etc. will help for the diagnosis. Blood disorder may be ruled out by examination of blood...
More About: Nose , Symptoms

Nose Bleeding- An Overview
2008-03-10 19:26:00
Nose bleeding is defined as flow of blood from nostrils. Yeah. Bleeding may occur either from single or both the nasal passages. Injuries may lead to nose bleeding. Allergic rhinitis and irritant in nose leads to this problem. If you take anticoagulant drug and drug like aspirin or if you have heart failure or blood disorder, you may have this nose bleeding. In general, this is common in children. A systemic disease may lead to bilateral nasal bleeding. In various countries over many years, this problem is noticed. Dry air, allergy and cold may lead to nose bleeding. Some times, due to the pressure differences in the blood capillaries, due to small agitations at nasal regions, persons start such bleeding from nose. When some chronic tumors are present in the nasal canal or near sinus or in the bronchial or alveolar regions, persons may reveal such flow of blood material from the nose. Cancerous patients especially with blood cancer may reveal this condition and hence, a chronic type...
More About: Nose , Overview

Treatment of Parkinsons Disease
2008-03-09 19:16:00
Treatment of Parkinsons disease is really a challenging task for the medical professionals. Despite difficulty in treatment of parkinsons disease, most of the health care providers tried different drug combinations to overcome the symptoms of parkinsons disease. Carbidopa or levodopa is a drug that is frequently used in the Parkinson’s disease affected persons and this drug is converted into dopamine, which is associated with the movement controlling spots of brain. Tablets like stalevo are available comprising a combination of drugs like levodopa, carbidopa and entacapone. However, these drugs need to be taken subsequent to the consultation with a neurologist. Amantadine may be taken against tremors and muscular rigidity. Psychotropic drugs need to be taken with much care in this disease condition. Rasagiline and Neupro containing rotigotine may be used in the early stages of Parkinson’s disease. Ropinirole may be used in combination therapy in addition to provision of ...
More About: Treatment , Disease

Vivolife: Whole life plan with innovative features
2008-03-08 18:14:00
LAUNCHED in January, Vivolife is a whole life plan that covers death, permanent total disability and critical illness. It comes with some innovative features that are an industry first. One of them is the minimum protection value in the first 15 years. This is how it works: If death, critical illness and/or permanent total disability should occur in the first 15 years of coverage, the benefit payable is the higher of the sum assured plus bonuses, or 125 per cent of the original sum assured. This is higher than what other plans can offer in the first 15 years. Vivolife also offers a unique unemployment waiver. This means that if the policyholder is retrenched and remains involuntarily unemployed for a continuous period of three months, premiums on his policy will be waived for up to a maximum of six months. This waiver can be exercised only once. Vivolife can also be converted to an immediate annuity after age 60, based on the enhanced surrender value of the policy. An additio...
More About: Life , Features , Plan , Innovative

Symptoms of Parkinsons Disease
2008-03-07 19:15:00
Parkinson’s disease is the one that affects the movements of the persons very much. In most of the persons, at the initial stages of the disease, resting tremors are experienced as symptoms. This means the presence of mild movements of head or limbs or hands in persons aged above fifty. Yeah. Then slowly other symptoms start to appear. For example, the affected persons may have rigidity in muscular regions. This causes pain factor in them. Cramps like condition occurs in the affected persons. Bradykinesia occurs. This means the slowing down of movements of body regions especially the legs or hands or head regions. Hence, the affected persons have the less coordination of routine movements of body regions. Stiffness of arms and trunk occurs frequently and the affected person have less balance in the body. There may be weakness of facial and jaw muscles. Often the patient has the fixed vacant appearance of facial region and is termed as the Parkinson’s mask appearance. Spe...
More About: Disease , Symptoms

Money Market: Introduction 1/3
2008-03-06 21:41:00
When a bear market comes along, investors realize that the stock market is a risky place for their savings. It’s a fact we tend to forget while enjoying the returns of a bull market! Unfortunately, this is part of the risk-return tradeoff. To get higher returns, you have to take on a higher level of risk. For many investors, a volatile market is too much to stomach - the money market offers an alternative to these higher-risk investments. The money market is better known as a place for large institutions and government to manage their short-term cash needs. However, individual investors have access to the market through a variety of different securities. In this tutorial, we’ll cover various types of money market securities and how they can work in your portfolio. The money market is a subsection of the fixed income market. We generally think of the term fixed income as being synonymous to bonds. In reality, a bond is just one type of fixed income security. The differenc...
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