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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 begin(self):
 """ Begins this transaction. """

        if hasattr(self._locals, 'transaction_exists') and self._locals.transaction_exists:
            raise TransactionError("Nested transactions are not allowed.")
        if self.state != _STATE_NOT_STARTED:
            raise TransactionError("Transaction has already been started.")
        self._locals.transaction_exists = True
        self.start_time = time.time()
        self.thread_id = thread_id()
        try:
            request = transaction_create_codec.encode_request(timeout=int(self.timeout * 1000), durability=self.durability,
                                                              transaction_type=self.transaction_type,
                                                              thread_id=self.thread_id)
            response = self.client.invoker.invoke_on_connection(request, self.connection).result()
            self.id = transaction_create_codec.decode_response(response)["response"]
            self.state = _STATE_ACTIVE
        except:
            self._locals.transaction_exists = False
            raise