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Solve the following problem using Python, implementing the functions described below, one line at a time
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Description:
 def _encode_item(self, item: str) -> str: """ If anonymization is on, an item gets salted and hashed here. :param str item: :return: Hashed item, if anonymization is on; the unmodified item otherwise :rtype: str """

        assert item is not None
        if not self.__redis_conf['anonymization']:
            return item
        connection = self.__get_connection()
        salt = connection.get(self.__redis_conf['salt_key'])
        if salt is None:
            salt = create_salt()
            connection.set(self.__redis_conf['salt_key'], salt)
        BlackRed.__release_connection(connection)
        return sha512(salt + item.encode()).hexdigest()