Evaluate the collective function of references cited together in a given text segment.
Classify their combined role into one of the following categories: 'method', 'background', or 'result'.

Text:Among possible explanations is the contribution of sex hormones in the modulation of Tregs.34
Treg-mediated local immune evasion underpins the second finding of our study, i.e. the positive association between higher FOXP3-positive T cells and the presence of VELIPI.
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