*/

  /**
   * Ensures that an object reference passed as a parameter to the calling method is not null.
   *
   * @param reference an object reference
   * @return the non-null reference that was validated
   * @throws NullPointerException if {@code reference} is null
   * @see Verify#verifyNotNull Verify.verifyNotNull()
   */
  @CanIgnoreReturnValue
  public static <T> T checkNotNull(@Nullable T reference) {