Harvard-trained neurosurgeon and founder of the American Holistic Medical Association, C. Norman Shealy, M.D., Ph.D. has created a documentary film, "Medical Renaissance Series: The Secret Code." It is well worth a viewing.

Norm Shealy, often called Dr. Wizard by his colleagues given his 10 inventions and inventive strategies, is man who likes to solve problems and understand why. Shealy brings his all-things-are-possible thinking to this 92 minute DVD as he explores alternative healing methodologies through case studies, successful patient interviews, and conversations with some of his cutting edge colleagues, including Carl Hammerschlag, M.D., Gladys McGarey, M.D., Caroline Myss, Ph.D., Belleruth Naparstek, Ph.D., Morris Netherton, Ph.D., John Sewell, D.D. and others.

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Reviewed by Judith E. Pearson, Ph.D.

As a hypnotherapist, I was intrigued by this small book focusing solely on hypnotic inductions. In Techniques of Hypnotic Induction, psychotherapist George Gafner, brings over 30 years of experience to bear, teaching hypnotherapists how to communicate with the unconscious mind skillfully, through story-telling inductions.

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A Review by Tim Brunson, PhD

Over the years mental health clinicians develop unique ideas and procedures, which the find to be extremely effective with their clients. For those who are always on the lookout for new methods Clinical Pearls of Wisdom: 21 Leading Therapists Offer Their Key Insights offers the reader a treasure chest of time-tested concepts. Immediately upon reading this anthology I felt that I had benefitted from the collective experience of many of the professions most competent practitioners. Edited by Michael Kerman, MSW, the founder of Leading Edge Seminars, this volume presents a concise series of chapters in which each therapist shares a few well-chosen pearls, a relevant case history, and a summary.

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Handbook of Ericksonian and Solution-Oriented Hypnosis continues that accomplishment by presenting an enjoyable and practical guide to permissive hypnosis. I highly recommend this to the serious clinician. However, this is a book that would benefit just about anyone interested in personal change. I will definitely encourage my students to add this new book to their library.

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2009, Crown House Publishing, Ltd., Wales

Reviewed by Judith E. Pearson, Ph.D.

For mental health practitioners trained in hypnotherapeutic approaches to addictions, compulsions, and habit control, Joseph Tramontana's new book will make an excellent library addition. Hypnotically Enhanced Treatment for Addictions provides strategies and scripts for alcohol abuse, drug addiction, gambling addiction, smoking cessation, and weight loss. The methods in this book can be extended to other compulsions and impulse control disorders as well.

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A review by Judith E. Pearson, Ph.D

Crown House Publishing Co. LLC, Wales

Copyright, 2009

Followers of Bill O'Hanlon will delight in the recent release of his six new CDs, all influenced by the work of Milton H. Erickson. If you don't know much about Milton Erickson, this set of CDs will serve as a good introduction to Ericksonian hypnosis.

The recordings demonstrate O'Hanlon's versatility with hypnosis, rapport, and story-telling. In each 40- to 60-minute presentation, his voice is friendly and comforting to listen to, with excellent inflection and pacing. Bill tells his stories in such a relaxed and casual manner that they seem spontaneous and fresh, as though you were hearing them over a mug of beer or a cup of coffee. Here is a brief review on each CD.

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To see the nine affects (or emotions) displayed on the faces of infants alone may make purchasing Affect & Hypnosis: On paying friendly attention to disturbing thoughts worthwhile. This DVD is a recording of the keynote that Donald L. Nathanson, MD, gave at the 2008 annual meeting of the Society for Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis. This world-renowned expert on affect (i.e. emotions and feelings) gave a brilliant presentation concerning the two positive, one neutral, and six negative affects displayed in clients and patients.

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by Fred P. Gallo, Ph.D.

Imagine visiting a therapist and coming away completely relieved of the trauma, depression, phobia, anxiety, or whatever your malady may be. Imagine if that could be accomplished within one or a very few sessions--or even possibly within a few minutes. Wouldn't that efficiency be more to most people's liking? No doubt!

Over the past seventeen years, I have found that usually I can assist clients in achieving this ideal. People enter my office with a psychological problem and leave without it. Frequently similar results can be achieved with some physical problems such as headaches, back pain, and even jaw pain. While a certain amount of talking is involved, the curative aspect of the therapy is not the talking at all, but rather through the activation or correction of an increasingly coming-to-be-known bodily energy system. This is the same system that brought you acupuncture and that makes regeneration and physical healing possible. But more on that later--first a few brief cases to consider.

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It is hard to summarize the flood of self-help technologies of the past 20 years. Either you can view them as a literal smorgasbord of intriguing opportunities or a cacophony of methodologies just waiting for organization. Unleashing Your Brilliance: Tools & Techniques to Achieve Personal, Professional & Academic Success by Brian E. Walsh, PhD, is probably the layman's best summary for the wide range of effective tools available for transformation. In a brilliantly composed, easy-to-read volume Dr. Walsh provides a clear and comprehensive explanation of the multitude of ideas that were popularized in the 1990s and early years of this decade.

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Randal Churchill's Catharsis in Regression Hypnotherapy focuses on two controversial issues in hypnotherapy. The first issue, regression, is fraught with the possibility of bringing about false memories. The second issue, catharsis, holds the possibility of re-traumatizing a client through abreaction. In spite of my doubts about the therapeutic value of the author's approach, I found the book well-written and worthwhile to read.

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When I first picked up Foundations of Clinical Hypnosis, by Edwin Yager, I did not feel enthusiastic. First, the title sounds like the dry, dull textbooks I waded through as an undergrad. Second, as a hypnotherapist of 20 years, I thought I'd find the subject matter too basic. I am happy to say I was wrong on both counts. Yager's book provides stimulating reading. It is written in a straightforward way and holds basic information for beginners, as well as innovative methods for seasoned practitioners.

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Despite the fact that many medical practitioners have been trained in clinical hypnotherapy, this discipline still has a distance to go to achieve full acceptance as an adjunctive therapy in medicine. Advances in the use of Hypnosis for Medicine, Dentistry, and Pain Prevention/Management, edited by Donald C. Brown, MD, could help that effort considerably. This book is compilation of papers on hypnotherapy in medicine, all written by established practitioners who use hypnosis in their medical specialties. The book is the outgrowth of the 6th Frontiers in Hypnosis Assembly in Halifax, Nova Scotia, 2003.

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Discover Your Learning Genius: Enhance Your Concentration, Memory, and Test-Taking Skills, is the new dual induction CD by Judith E. Pearson, Ph.D. and Oscar Rodriguez, CHt. As I have previously reviewed Dr. Pearson's book The Weight, Hypnotherapy and You, Weight Reduction Program, I expected a first class production. I was not disappointed. Everything from the packaging to the production is definitely top notch.

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During this period of economic crises and turbulence - while many Americans and others throughout the world are focusing on survival - Malcolm Gladwell's Outliers: The Story of Success, is a welcome respite. In this refreshing volume he presents numerous anecdotes which weave an enlightening, paradigm-breaking view of why some people are successful and others are not.

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I clearly remember my college psychology professors introducing me to the "nature versus nurture" dilemma. Can experience alter the essential traits of human beings? Are we doomed to the limits of our genetics (as Watson and Crick's "Central Dogma" would have us believe)? Newsweek's science editor Sharon Begley's book, Train Your Mind, Change Your Brain: How a New Science Reveals Our Extraordinary Potential to Transform Ourselves dares to take a look this controversy from two very interesting perspectives. Inspired by the annual Mind & Life Institute meetings between His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, other senior Buddhist monks, and top Western neurologists, philosophers, and psychologists, this book's central theme is that the human mind can change. And, it postulates that once changed, the mind can change the biological organ we know as the human brain.

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While many teachers and therapists have explored the realm of past lives, rarely have I found anyone in the clinical community who has endeavored to discuss the impact of the period between death and reincarnation. This is just what you will find in Dr. Georgina Cannon's book Discovering the Interlife: Your Journey Between Lifetimes, Your Life Between Lives. Whether you refer to that in between period as purgatory, bardo or use her term "Interlife", she feels that regression back to the "in between period" could give you lessons that may lead to personal awakening and transformation.

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Recently I gave a two hour talk at the Louisiana Hypnotherapy Organization conference in New Orleans. Although part of the talk was about research, during the second hour I dared to venture into the mysterious arena of neuroscience and hypnosis. While there were many in the audience who seemed to be able to understand the significance of my comments, unfortunately about one out of every eight members of the audience were politely lost. Nevertheless, my contention still is that the future of hypnosis must consider the recent innovations in brain and cognitive research. I am glad to say that after my presentation I was pleasantly beset by many of my colleagues who enthusiastically wanted to know where I was going with my ideas.

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Ever since I enjoyed the multi-phonic chants of the Tibetan monks of the Drepung Loseling monastery, I was not aware of any Westerner equally talented in vocal complexities. That was until I had the opportunity to meet and hear the remarkable Wayne Perry. As a key note speaker and workshop leader at the 2004 American Board of Hypnotherapy convention, Mr. Perry awed the audience with his unusual presentation skills and enthralled us with his unique views concerning the use of the human voice as a tool for mental and physical healing.

Wayne Perry is an unparalleled speaker, workshop leader, and healer. Having availed myself of the opportunity of having a private session with the master and as I cross paths with him usually once or twice a year, I have learned to appreciate his many skills. For those of you who have not had this opportunity, I highly recommend that your purchase and read his latest book: Sound Medicine: The Complete Guide to Healing with the Human Voice. This comprehensive how-to-manual not only explains the intriguing world of sound healing, but gives you a great autobiographical picture of the person who is the living embodiment of this innovative theory.

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It's an exciting season for books on Energy Psychology. First of all, Gary Craig's THE EFT MANUAL, published by Energy Psychology Press will be available in August. Long awaited (although available as a free download on the 'emofree' website for years), The EFT Manual is a very user-friendly yet comprehensive introduction to EFT. There are chapters on EP Theory, the Basic Recipe, how to apply EFT, and numerous case histories (including Gary's work with vets at the VA), as well as a section on 'impediments' blocking EFT from working. Both well-written and well-illustrated, this book is the perfect gift to give to friends, family and colleagues whom you wish to introduce to our field. (Gary Craig and Dawson Church, the publisher, have generously donated all profits from advance sales to EP Research).

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Once in a while, I read a book on hypnosis that is to eloquent, so well-organized, so understandable, and written with such clarity and sensitivity that I wish I'd written it myself. That's how I felt about reading Hypnotize Yourself Out of Pain Now (Second Edition) by Bruce Eimer, Ph.D. This is the quintessential book on self-hypnosis for pain management.

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When Les Fehmi, Ph.D., BCIA-EEG, writes a book for general audiences, he does so with the authority of over forty years of experience in the areas of psychology, biofeedback, and neurofeedback. Dr. Fehmi and his co-author, Jim Robins, the award-winning journalist who has written several books found in my rather large library, have produced one of the best contributions that I've seen for a while. This rather short (192 page) work titled The Open-Focus Brain: Harnessing the Power of Attention to Heal Mind and Body (together with a brilliant, included CD) provides the reader with a concise and well explained explanation on how changing one's focus can positively affect multiple aspects of life.

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The Inner Mind Revisited: Researching the Soul by the well-known and respected California hypnotist, A. L. Ward, is essentially a second , expanded version of his earlier book The Inner Mind, which was published almost four decades earlier. His tone and approach reminds me so much of classic hypnotists such as Estabrooks, Bernheim, and Elman. This book is a thought provoking volume that winds through a series of anecdotal case studies to include a continuation of one first discussed in his earlier work.

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There are numerous self-help models that claim that they will most definitely turn your life around. Perfect Enough: Achieving Happiness & Balance with The Discover Process by Laura King, a certified hypnotherapist, NLP practitioner, and Life Coach, is another in the constellation of interesting transformational publications. As a fellow hypnotherapist and a NLP trainer, I immediately resonate with books based on my core skills.

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How big do you want to be? Are you holding yourself back? Why are you hiding your brilliance? These are questions posed by Simon T. Bailey in his absolutely wonderful book Release Your Brilliance: The 4 Steps to Transforming Your Life and Revealing Your Genius to the World.

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Transformation is different than change, says Marilyn Gordon, BCH, CI, in The Wise Mind: The Brilliant Key to Life Transformation. She claims that true transformation is a matter of dynamically altering perspectives. After reading this quite enjoyable and inspirational book, I couldn't help being impressed with its immense wisdom and clarity.

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Unstuff Yourself: Finding Joy on the Road to Wellness is a brilliant, from-the-heart book by a clinician who can give frank, common sense advice based upon her own personal journey. Suffering from the ravages of muscular dystrophy for 44 years, Dr. Nancie Barwick gives a concise view of how someone can seek freedom from the ravages of any physical malady.

The core concept of here book is found in her discussion about "stuff." She says that each of us may have unresolved mental issues that are manifested in either "Replay", "Critical Mass", or "Free Floating" stuff. This stuff, in turn, can be released by several Western/Allopathic medical techniques or by a plethora of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) techniques. She provides an objective discussion of each of the major conventional and CAM modalities.

One of the particular pluses of this book is her discussion of primary and secondary gains. Add to this her sound advice on how to deal with difficulties of living a joyful life once achieves a true healing. Of course, the loss of any gains is an issue. However, I have never seen such a clear coverage of the problems that family members and other care givers go through.

Dr. Nancie Barwick writes speaks directly to those who are seeking help and words of encouragement. She more than adequately bridges the gap between being an accomplished clinician and giving a personal testimony. Her credibility is unquestionable. I would highly recommend this book for either professionals who truly want to understand physical suffering as well as individuals who are looking for answers.

a book review by Judith E. Pearson, Ph.D.

Hypnosis for Smoking Cessation: An NLP and Hypnotherapy Practitioner's Manual

Whether you are a newly-trained hypnotherapist, or a seasoned practitioner who has conducted smoking cessation programs for years, Hypnosis for Smoking Cessation, by David Botsford, has something for you. This book is the comprehensive manual for practitioners who want to become expert at helping people stop smoking and remain smoke-free.

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by Gregg Braden

When I read The Divine Matrix: Bridging Time, Space, Miracles and Belief by Gregg Braden for the second time, I still had not come to the conclusion if he was merely connecting the dots of the scientific discoveries of the past 70 years or if this book actually had any merit as a contribution. In many ways I saw the similarities between this book and Lynne McTaggart's The Field. Both authors seem to quote much of the same research and come to the same conclusions, while using somewhat different terminology (e.g., the Matrix versus the Zero Point Field).

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Thinking Thin: D.E.P.T.H. of Behavior is a cute and enjoyable-to-read small book by one of hypnosis' master marketers, Tom Nicoli. He spends a large portion of the book eloquently expressing his opinion about the current obesity epidemic facing the Western world. Then he presents a well-communicated explanation about how self-hypnosis can be easily performed by the reader.

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Ironically, I met Roger Moore for the first time at a Southern California Mexican fast-food restaurant. I remember that I was having a not-so-healthy burrito, I don't remember what he had, but I'm sure that it was healthier. He was presenting the Slender for Life^TM at a nearby hotel. Since then I've come to know him as true transformational master who actually was the beneficiary of his teachings and beliefs.

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by Maggie Phillips, Ph.D.

A book review by Tim Brunson DCH

Dr. Maggie Phillips has done it again. Her new book, Reversing Chronic Pain is a gem. She provides patients with a comprehensive self-help manual while giving clinicians a sufficiently documented resource which can be easily integrated in their practices. As usual, her non-dogmatic, eclectic approach allows one to customize a "cocktail" of techniques that will most likely result in relief from chronic pain.

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by Michael D. Preston, JD, Ph.D.

A book review by: Tim Brunson DCH

Dr. Preston's intent to present clinicians with a comprehensive, yet concise A through Z manual for hypnosis clinicians is clearly accomplished in his book, Hypnosis: Medicine of the Mind. Indeed, this well thought out book will benefit readers regardless of their level of expertise. He presents the reader with sufficient background to appreciate the foundations of hypnosis in historical practice and delves expertly into an attempt to link modern findings in neurology to the actual practice of hypnotherapy.

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a review by Judith E. Pearson, Ph.D.

Stress Free Surgery

By Linda Thomson, Ph.D., M.S.N., C.P.N.P

Dr. Linda Thomson describes her two-CD set, Stress Free Surgery, as a "self relaxation program to help you prepare for and recover from surgery." The first CD is for listening prior to and during surgery. The second CD is for listening post-surgery. Each CD is approximately 40 minutes in length and they come packaged in an attractive, sturdy plastic case.

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A Book Review By Tim Brunson DCH

Affect Regulation Toolbox: Practical and Effective Hypnotic Interventions for the Over-reactive Client

Generally I find that there are two types of books about hypnotherapy and the other integrative arts. The first is a book that merely repackages or documents current or historical thought and information. While there are plenty such books out there, they merely serve to provide an educational value to the clinical and lay readership. Then there are the books that actually contribute to the evolution of the field. Frankly, I find that Affect Regulation Toolbox: Practical and Effective Hypnotic Interventions for the Over-reactive Client by Carolyn Daitch, Ph.D. to be one of the latter. This book must be considered at the same level of contribution as the D. Corydon Hammond's 1990 seminal work on suggestions and metaphors.

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A Book Review by Tim Brunson DCH

When the next shift in conventional medical science occurs within just a few decades, we will recognize many intellectual giants who contributed radically new paradigms. If historians create a "Mount Rushmore" to commemorate the four pivotal thinkers who dared to postulate new ideas, they would surely include C. Norm Shealy, MD, Ph.D., Ernest Rossi, Ph.D., Bruce Lipton, Ph.D. and Dawson Church, Ph.D. While fewer people are familiar with the last character, I assure you that he is destined to become recognized when the medical and psychological sciences full embrace the proper role of energy as a healing phenomenon. Although his latest book, The Genie in Your Genes: Epigenetic Medicine and the New Biology of Intention sat on my bookshelf since he autographed it a couple of months ago, upon completing it I must attest that this is a book not to read, but to devour. Yesterday, I was glued to my seat for hours.

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A Book Review by Tim Brunson DCH

Rarely do I see a book that contributes so dramatically to a field of study that truly moves thought in a significantly new direction. When I received a copy of Six Blind Elephants: Understanding Ourselves and Each Other my initial interest was sparked by the credibility of the author. Steve Andreas is one of the two true giants (the other being Robert Dilts, Ph.D.) in the field of Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP). This is probably the most important contribution to the world of NLP since Bandler and Grinder coined the term.

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A Book Review by Tim Brunson DCH

As hypnotherapists and other integrative care practitioners we occasionally stumble into some phenomena that make us delve into regions of the unknown and unexpected. In the mid-1960's A.L. Ward, a San Bernardino, California policeman and sometimes hypnosis instructor encountered a series of events that led him to expand his interested into the inner workings or our mind and soul. While participating in a search for abody discarded in the dessert by a would-be abortionist, Ward suggested that hypnosis could be used to regress the confessed murderer so that the body may be found. Although this was not allowed, a series of regressions with another "witness" presented him with a series of conversations with what many may regard as a channeled entity.

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Book Review by Tim Brunson DCH

Normally any book with a title like Neural Path Therapy: How to Change Your Brain's Anger, Fear, Pain & Desire would automatically grab my attention. Apparently, when I saw this book I had the sudden impulse to reach for my credit card and invest another $15 for my continuing education. I was sure that a book by Matthew McKay, Ph.D., and David Harp, MA, an experienced clinician and a seasoned corporate trainer, respectively, would fill gaps in my knowledge about the therapeutic implications of the inner workings of the brain. After reading and re-reading what I found out to be rather simplistic self-help book, I wish that I had spent just a few additional moments scanning it before make the decision to buy.

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A Book Review by Tim Brunson DCH

Recently in the bookstore of a major psychology conference I noticed a stack of books by Maggie Phillips, Ph.D., the California psychologist who is known as an authority on pain, trauma, and energy psychology. One book in particular interested me. This was Finding the Energy to Heal: How EMDR, Hypnosis, TFT, Imagery, and Body-Focused Therapy Can Help Restore Mindbody Health. Out of curiosity, throughout the weekend I often checked this stack of books. Well, either the retailer was constantly restocking because of high demand, the majority of the attendees already owned the book, or this book must be one of the best kept secrets in the world of healers. Regardless, as I had actually purchased her book at a previous conference and just read a large portion of it on my airplane flight, my mind was obsessed digesting and integrating this stew of energy-based healing ideas. After reading this book and studying it carefully over the past few months, I would highly advise clinicians who haven't already read this book to do so immediately.

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Book Review by Tim Brunson DCH

There are very few case studies that actually depict someone who truly lives their life embodying the principles of Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP). However, the life of Topher Morrison, DCH, is one example of an author and presenter who is very congruent in how he lives and what he teaches.

In his new book, Settle for Excellence Morrison, a master communicator, takes the essence of NLP and hypnosis and, in a somewhat autobiographical format, shares how he has interweaved his training and the impact of various mentors into a very interesting and eventful life. He is upfront in his introduction that he did not plan to provide the readers with anything truly original. Nevertheless, his book provides a very enjoyable story that both informs and entertains the reader. He comes across as a writer that is sincere, believable, and a fellow human being with whom you can easily relate.

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