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Intuitive eating (IE) is a non-dieting approach that promotes listening to internal cues of hunger and satiety, rather than adhering to external dietary restrictions aimed at weight loss. However, the role of IE in dieting behaviors related to weight-loss approaches is still unclear. To address this issue, the aim of this study was to compare IE levels between dieting and non-dieting individuals, exploring the relationship between IE and dieting-related psychological and physical factors. A sample of 2059 females was recruited via social media and self-reported questionnaires were administered to measure IE, eating psychopathology, self-efficacy, and quality of life. Individuals with a history of dieting exhibited lower IE levels, a higher BMI, and a greater eating psychopathology, as well as a reduced self-efficacy and quality of life, compared to non-dieters. IE showed a protective effect against dieting behaviors, with higher IE levels being associated with a lower likelihood of dieting. Additionally, higher BMI and eating psychopathology were predictors of dieting. Promoting IE could represent a relevant clinical target strategy to address disordered eating and enhance overall well-being, underscoring the need for interventions that foster a healthier relationship with food and bodily internal sensations.

Purpose: Individuals with anorexia nervosa (AN) and bulimia nervosa (BN) frequently exhibit Non-Suicidal Self-Injury (NSSI), yet their co-occurrence is still unclear. To address this issue, the aim of this study was to elucidate the role of impairments in interoception in explaining the NSSI phenomenon in AN and BN, providing an explanatory model that considers distal (insecure attachment/IA and traumatic childhood experiences/TCEs) and proximal (dissociation and emotional dysregulation) risk factors for NSSI., Method: 130 patients with AN and BN were enrolled and administered self-report questionnaires to assess the intensity of NSSI behaviors, interoceptive deficits, IA, TCEs, emotional dysregulation and dissociative symptoms., Results: Results from structural equation modeling revealed that impairments in interoception acted as crucial mediators between early negative relational experiences and factors that contribute to NSSI in AN and BN, particularly emotional dysregulation and dissociation. Precisely, both aspects of IA (anxiety and avoidance) and various forms of TCEs significantly exacerbated interoceptive deficits, which in turn are associated to the emergence of NSSI behaviors through the increase in levels of dissociation and emotional dysregulation., Conclusions: The proposed model provided a novel explanation of the occurrence of NSSIs in patients with AN and BN by accounting for the significance of interoception., Level of Evidence: Level V-Cross-sectional observational study., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Purpose: Disordered eating and body image concerns are increasingly common among adolescents, possibly representing the underpinning of eating disorders (EDs). This cross-sectional observational study aimed at investigating the relationship between various patterns of sports involvement or inactivity, and the abovementioned psychopathological dimensions., Methods: All adolescents attending their 3rd-5th Italian grade in a single high school reported their sociodemographic and anthropometric data, their weekly sports involvement, and filled the Eating Disorders Examination Questionnaire 6.0 (EDE-Q), the Body Uneasiness Test, and the Muscle Dysmorphia Disorder Inventory (for boys). Comparisons were performed considering sex, weekly hours of activity, and different sports type (none, individual, or team sports)., Results: Of 744 enrolled students, 522 (70.2%) completed the survey. Girls showed higher underweight rates, preference for inactivity or individual sports, and higher psychometric scores compared to boys. Among girls, no differences were found based on time spent exercising or sports type. Inactive boys displayed worse weight- and shape-based psychopathology, higher body uneasiness, and higher appearance intolerance compared to those who devoted more time to exercise. Among boys, individual and team sports were associated with lower EDE-Q scores compared to inactivity, whereas body uneasiness and appearance intolerance were lower only in team sports., Conclusions: The study confirms the presence of remarkable sex differences in eating and body concerns of adolescents. Among boys, sports involvement is tied to lower ED psychopathology, and preference for team sports may be associated with reduced concerns. Wider longitudinal studies on will clarify the direction and specificity of these findings., Level of Evidence: Level V-Cross-sectional observational study., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

A recent geo-marine survey of the Malta Escarpment revealed for the first time the existence of live cnidarian assemblages at about 300 m depth. These associations have been observed by means of a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) during surveys carried out on the upper part of the Malta Escarpment. The assemblages established on hard bedrock were chiefly composed of the antipatharianLeiopathes glaberrima. The Malta Escarpment is known to have been successfully colonised by deep-water scleractinian assemblages until the last glacial age. However, no living specimens had been observed, and only specimens of dead but relatively freshDendrophyllia cornigerahad been reported. This area of the Mediterranean Sea, which connects the deep Ionian basin to the western Mediterranean, is largely unknown and in clear need of thorough exploration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hyperspectral imagers enable the collection of high-resolution spectral images exploitable for the supervised classification of habitats and objects of interest (OOI). Although this is a well-established technology for the study of subaerial environments, Ecotone AS has developed an underwater hyperspectral imager (UHI) system to explore the properties of the seafloor. The aim of the project is to evaluate the potential of this instrument for mapping and monitoring benthic habitats in shallow and deep-water environments. For the first time, we tested this system at two sites in the Southern Adriatic Sea (Mediterranean Sea): the cold-water coral (CWC) habitat in the Bari Canyon and the Coralligenous habitat off Brindisi. We created a spectral library for each site, considering the different substrates and the main OOI reaching, where possible, the lower taxonomic rank. We applied the spectral angle mapper (SAM) supervised classification to map the areal extent of the Coralligenous and to recognize the major CWC habitat-formers. Despite some technical problems, the first results demonstrate the suitability of the UHI camera for habitat mapping and seabed monitoring, through the achievement of quantifiable and repeatable classifications.

The Gulf of Naples is an example of the most beautiful and biodiverse marine regions of the Mediterranean Sea and of the most impacted areas in terms of industrial activities, large contaminated areas, resource exploitation, infrastructures at sea and maritime transportation. We conducted Remotely Operated Vehicle surveys in the Dohrn Canyon in the Tyrrhenian Sea at approximately 12 NM off Naples metropolitan area, and revealed a hotspot of deep-sea benthic biodiversity of sessile fauna at ca. 400 m depth. The hard bottoms are characterized by a high abundance of charismatic species, such as the habitat forming cold-water corals (CWC) Madrepora oculata, Lophelia pertusa, Desmophyllum dianthus in association with the large size bivalves Acesta excavata and Neopycnodonte zibrowii. This CWC-bivalve co-occurrence represents a novel biotope for the Mediterranean Sea, which coexists with the evidence of severe anthropogenic threats, such as illegal dumping and fishery malpractices that were visually documented during the survey. We recommend the adoption of specific protection measures to preserve these unique deep-sea assemblages showing the uncommon co-existence of such a number of deep-sea species in a single habitat.

The geo-biological exploration of a pockmark field located at ca. 800m below sea level in the Gela basin (Strait of Sicily, Central Mediterranean) provided a relatively diverse chemosymbiotic community and methane-imprinted carbonates. To date, this is the first occurrence of such a type of specialised deep-water cold-seep communities recorded from this key region, before documented in the Mediterranean as rather disjunct findings in its eastern and westernmost basins. The thiotrophic chemosymbiotic organisms recovered from this area include empty tubes of the vestimentiferan Lamellibrachia sp., loose and articulated shells of lucinids (Lucinoma kazani, Myrtea amorpha), vesicomyids (Isorropodon perplexum), and gastropods (Taranis moerchii). A callianassid decapod (Calliax sp.) was consistently found alive in large numbers in the pockmark mud. Their post-mortem calcified parts mixed with molluscs and subordinately miliolid foraminifers form a distinct type of skeletal assemblage. Carbonate concretions display δ13C values as low as -40‰ PDB suggesting the occurrence of light hydrocarbons in the seeping fluids. Since none of the truly chemosymbiotic organisms was found alive, although their skeletal parts appear at times very fresh, some specimens have been AMS-14C dated to shed light on the historical evolution of this site. Lamellibrachia and Lucinoma are two of the most significant chemosymbiotic taxa reported from various Mediterranean cold seep sites (Alboran Sea and Eastern basin). Specimens from station MEDCOR78 (pockmark#1, Lat. 36°460'10.18" N, Long. 14°01'31.59" E, 815m below sea level) provided ages of 11736±636 yr cal BP (Lamellibrachia sp.), and 9609.5±153.5 yr cal BP (L. kazani). One shell of M. amorpha in core MEDCOR81 (pockmark#6, Lat 36°45'38.89" N, Long 14°00'07.58" E, 822m below sea level) provided a sub-modern age of 484±54 yr cal BP. These ages document that fluid seepage at this pockmark site has been episodically sustaining thiotrophic macrobenthic communities since the end of the Younger Dryas stadial up to sub-recent times. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pockmarks are crater-like depression on the seafloor associated with hydrocarbon ascent through muddy sediments in continental shelves around the world. In this study, we examine the diversity and distribution of benthic microbial communities at shallow-water pockmarks adjacent to the Middle Adriatic Ridge. We integrate microbial diversity data with characterization of local hydrocarbons concentrations and sediment geochemistry. Our results suggest these pockmarks are enriched in sedimentary hydrocarbons, and host a microbial community dominated by Bacteria, even in deeper sediment layers. Pockmark sediments showed higher prokaryotic abundance and biomass than surrounding sediments, potentially due to the increased availability of organic matter and higher concentrations of hydrocarbons linked to pockmark activity. Prokaryotic diversity analyses showed that the microbial communities of these shallow-water pockmarks are unique, and comprised phylotypes associated with the cycling of sulfur and nitrate compounds, as well as numerous know hydrocarbon degraders. Altogether, this study suggests that shallow-water pockmark habitats enhance the diversity of the benthic prokaryotic biosphere by providing specialized environmental niches.

Multibeam echosounders provide ideal data for the semi-automated seabed feature extraction and accurate morphometric measurements. In this study, bathymetric and raw backscatter data were initially used to manually delimit the reef morphologies found in an insular semi-enclosed gulf in the northern Aegean Sea (Gera Gulf, Lesvos Island, Greece). The complexity of this environment makes it an ideal area to "crash test" (test to the limit) and compare the results of the delineation methods. A large number of (more than 7000) small but prominent reefs were detected, which made manual mapping extremely time-consuming. Three semi-automated tools were also employed to map the reefs: the Benthic Terrain Modeler (BTM), Confined Morphologies Mapping (CoMMa), and eCognition Multiresolution Segmentation. BTM did not function properly with irregular reef footprints, but by modifying both the bathymetry and slope, the outcome was improved, producing accurate results that appeared to exceed the accuracy of manual mapping. CoMMa, a new GIS morphometric toolbox, was a "one-stop shop" that, besides generating satisfactory reef delineation results (i.e., detecting the same total reef area as the manual method), was also used to extract the morphometric characteristics of the polygons resulting from all the methods. Lastly, the Multiresolution Segmentation also gave satisfactory results with the highest precision. To compare the final maps with the distribution of the reefs, mapcurves were created to estimate the goodness-of-fit (GOF) with the Precision, Recall, and F1 Scores producing values higher than 0.78, suggesting a good detection accuracy for the semi-automated methods. The analysis reveals that the semi-automated methods provided more efficient results in comparison with the time-consuming manual mapping. Overall, for this case study, the modification of the bathymetry and slope enabled the results' accuracy to be further enhanced. This study asserts that the use of semi-automated mapping is an effective method for delineating the geomorphometry of intricate relief and serves as a powerful tool for habitat mapping and decision-making. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The incidence of eating disorders in children, mainly of anorexia nervosa, is dramatically increased in the last years. A timely identification of the disease is associated with higher rates of recovery. Aim of the work is to underline signs and symptoms that can be used to an early detection of anorexia nervosa in the pediatric age. A scoping review has been conducted by The Italian Pediatric Society Adolescent Study Group according to the PRISMA Extension guidelines for Scoping Reviews, using the search term "anorexia nervosa" and the following filters "review", "systematic review", "age 0–18", "last 4 years". The strategy search produced 657 studies, of which 52 were included in this revision. Screening and red flags were discussed in 23 reports, genetics in 12, neurological pathways in 11, environmental factors in 10, and gut microbiota in 7. An accurate physiological and pathological anamnesis, physical and psychological examination, including the body perception, should be taken in account as well as the presence of co-morbidities, including chronic functional abdominal pain and autoimmune/autoinflammatory diseases. Evidence suggests the role of familiar predisposition as well as of neurological morphology and pathway in anorexia nervosa development. Gut microbiota has also been included among possible risk factor for developing anorexia nervosa due to a complex direct and indirect interactions between gut and brain. The Italian Pediatric Society Adolescent Study Group suggests performing an accurate familial and personal anamnesis, including psychological evaluation as well as a physical exam including auxological parameters as a screening tool during pediatric checks to better explore the risk of developing anorexia nervosa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Body uneasiness is a central facet of body image disturbances observed in individuals with eating disorders (EDs). This study aimed to address gaps in understanding body uneasiness in severe and enduring eating disorders (SE-EDs) and explore variations in psychopathology between individuals with different durations of the disorder. We hypothesized that patients with SE-ED might develop habitual behaviors that contribute to ambivalence toward treatment and the persistence of symptoms. Methods: A sample of 360 ED patients was evaluated at the beginning and end of a specialized intensive rehabilitation program. All patients completed the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire (EDE-Q) and the Body Uneasiness Test (BUT). They were divided into two groups: SE-ED (> 7 years) and acute (aED, < 3 years) duration. Results: Compulsive self-monitoring showed a significant change between the start and end of treatment, differing between groups, with a larger change observed in SE-ED (p < 0.048). In SE-ED, it was associated with lower chances of dropout (p = 0.044), opposite to aED (p = 0.009). Treatment responses were primarily related to eating psychopathology, further highlighting differences between the two groups. Conclusions: This study underscores the possible presence of a habit in SE-ED and the importance of tailoring interventions to address unique needs based on the duration of the disorder. Furthermore, it highlights the need for further research to improve treatment outcomes in SE-EDs. Plain English Summary: This study looked at how people with severe and enduring eating disorders (SE-EDs) feel about their bodies and how it affects their treatment. We studied 360 people in a special treatment program. We found that people with SE-EDs were more likely to monitor their bodies a lot, and this made them less likely to stop treatment. This was different for people with short-term disorders. The way people felt about eating also affected how well they responded to treatment. This study shows that people with long-lasting eating disorders might have habits that affect their treatment, and we need to think about this when helping them. There is still a lot to learn about how to treat SE-EDs better. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coralligenous bioconstructions are biogenic calcareous formations developing at low irradiance on littoral rocky cliffs or on the deeper sub-horizontal bottom in the Mediterranean Sea. Unusually shallow coralligenous banks on the sandy coast of Sinuessa (Mondragone City, Gulf of Gaeta, SW Italy) were investigated. Their communities and the surrounding biogenic detritus were characterized. Geophysical and acoustic data revealed the presence of coralligenous banks between 7.5 and 15 m depth, showing constant thickness and sub-horizontal geometry, incised by sub-perpendicular channels. Sediment deposits ranging from silty sands to bioclastic gravel occur in the area. The biogenic detritus of the soft bottom sampled around the coralligenous banks is highly heterogeneous. Through the thanatocoenosis analysis of macrozoobenthos, different biocenoses were detected, among which the coralligenous and photophilic habitats are mainly represented, followed by the well-calibrated fine sands and the relit sands. A total of 16 different species and 10 epimegabenthic morphological groups (MGs) were detected on the coralligenous banks, of which 4 are included in European regulation for threatened species. The density of epimegabenthic organisms has an average of 10.34 ± 5.46 individuals or colonies/100 m2. Cladocora caespitosa is the dominant species, with a height of 17 ± 5 cm. This and other structuring species (SS) were larger in size in the sampled sites than in the literature data. Overall, coralligenous had a "medium" health status, with 52% of the individuals or colonies in healthy conditions, compared to 47% with epibiosis phenomena and 1% with entanglement. Longlines were the most common anthropogenic litter, with a density of 2/100 m2. Ad hoc monitoring programs and conservation measures would be desirable to protect and guarantee the well-being of these sensitive and rare shallow bioconstructions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Objectives: The discrepancy between the current perceived body image (BI) and beauty ideals leads to dissatisfaction, which is believed to be common among adolescents. This study aimed to investigate the stability in BI perceptions and dissatisfaction during early adolescence. Another aim was to highlight differences in dissatisfaction according to Body Mass Index (BMI) and inconsistencies in weight status perception. Methods: Two hundred and nine participants (mean age at first survey: 11.33 ± 0.38 years) were enrolled in this longitudinal study with three years of follow-up. Data on size and BI perceptions were collected through individual interviews. Stature and weight were directly measured. Results: Findings indicated significant changes over three years in anthropometric traits but not in weight status prevalence or BI perception and dissatisfaction, except for the ideal figure in males and weight control in females. The results also indicated a significant difference in BI perception and dissatisfaction by BMI categories. Self-reported body measurements were found to be unreliable with a weak-to-moderate agreement between self-perceived and actual weight status. Conclusions: BI perception appears quite stable across the three years considered. Dissatisfaction is similar in both genders, although a tendency toward different gender aesthetic ideals is already appreciable in early adolescence. We suggest that the lower frequency of normal-weight adolescents compared with peers in previous studies is attributable to the effects of the recent pandemic. Given the growing dissatisfaction with increasing BMI and misinterpretations of weight status, school actions to promote a healthy lifestyle and positive BI should be undertaken. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The island of Sicily is considered to be among the first occupied by humans in the European Upper Paleolithic. Studies to understand early occupation of the island are mostly concentrated on the northern shores. Our project, Early Occupation of Sicily (EOS), focuses on southeastern Sicily so to address questions regarding dispersal to Mediterranean islands and Late Pleistocene landscapes and environments. Here, we present the initial results of our terrestrial and underwater surveys in combination with archival work and analyses of museum collections. In SE Sicily very few Upper Paleolithic sites have been excavated and analyzed using scientific methods. We have relocated and assessed ~20 caves and rock shelters identified between the 1870s and 1990s, studied museum collections, and collected raw material to reconstruct procurement patterns. To identify new sites, we conducted land and underwater surveys to reconstruct paleo-shorelines and past environments. We have identified three sites, two on land and one partially submerged, that still contain unexplored archaeological sediments, demonstrated in one instance through seismic tomography. This work shows the potential of re-examining minimally studied sites and materials to reconstruct mobility patterns and environmental impact of the first inhabitants of the island. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Eating disorders (EDs), including anorexia nervosa (AN), bulimia nervosa (BN), binge-eating disorder (BED), and pica, are psychobehavioral conditions characterized by abnormal eating behaviors and an excessive preoccupation with weight and body shape. This review examines changes in brain regions and functional connectivity in ED patients over the past decade (2013–2023) using resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI). Key findings highlight alterations in brain networks such as the default mode network (DMN), central executive network (CEN), and emotion regulation network (ERN). In individuals with AN, there is reduced functional connectivity in areas associated with facial information processing and social cognition, alongside increased connectivity in regions linked to sensory stimulation, aesthetic judgment, and social anxiety. Conversely, BED patients show diminished connectivity in the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex within the salience network and increased connectivity in the posterior cingulate cortex and medial prefrontal cortex within the DMN. These findings suggest that rs-fMRI could serve as a valuable biomarker for assessing brain function and predicting treatment outcomes in EDs, paving the way for personalized therapeutic strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Eating disorders are associated with substantial burden for the affected individuals including negative health outcomes and increased mortality. So far, prevention programs for eating disorders have yielded mixed results concerning their efficacy. Therefore, more targeted prevention programs need to be developed. Health literacy has been identified as a potential influencing factor of eating disorders. This study aimed at exploring the relationship between likely cases of eating disorders and health literacy, alongside additional sociodemographic factors. Materials and methods: Two large samples of adults (N = 3,011) and adolescents (N = 1,021) representative of the German-speaking population in Germany were recruited. Likely cases of eating disorders were identified using the SCOFF questionnaire. Health literacy was assessed with the HLS-EU-Q16 questionnaire. Sociodemographic information, including age, gender, social status and level of education, and subjective body image were obtained. χ²-tests of independence were calculated to determine the association between the investigated constructs. Results: Suspected eating disorders were more likely in female than male adolescents but were not related to gender in adults. Rates of suspected eating disorders increased with increasing age in adolescents and decreased with increasing age in adults. While levels of education were unrelated to suspected eating disorders, low social status was associated with higher rates of suspected eating disorders in adults but not adolescents. Inadequate or problematic health literacy and negative body image were associated with higher rates of suspected eating disorders compared to adequate health literacy and more positive body image. Discussion: Likely cases of eating disorders are related to health literacy and body image as well as sociodemographic factors. These constructs should therefore be addressed in future research to improve prevention programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The NEREA (Naples Ecological REsearch for Augmented observatories) initiative aims to establish an augmented observatory in the Gulf of Naples (GoN), designed to advance the understanding of marine ecosystems through a holistic approach. Inspired by the Tara Oceans expedition and building on the scientific legacy of the MareChiara Long-Term Ecological Research (LTER-MC) site, NEREA integrates traditional physical, chemical, and biological measurements with state-of-the-art methodologies such as metabarcoding and metagenomics. Here we present the first 10 months of NEREA data, collected from April 2019 to January 2020, encompassing physico-chemical parameters, plankton biodiversity (e.g., microscopy and flow cytometry), prokaryotic and eukaryotic metabarcoding, a prokaryotic gene catalogue, and a collection of 3818 prokaryotic Metagenome-Assembled Genomes (MAGs). NEREA's efforts produce a significant volume of multifaceted data, which enhances our understanding of marine ecosystems and promotes the development of scientific hypotheses and ideas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research into the risk of anorexia nervosa (AN) has examined twin pairs to further the understanding of the contributions of genetics, trait inheritance, and environmental factors to eating disorder (ED) development. Investigations of twin experiences of EDs have been biologically-based and have not considered the qualitative, phenomenological aspects of twin experiences. A gap in the literature exists regarding understanding of discordant twins with EDs. This research was developed in response, with the aim to deepen understanding of AN in discordant twins and to create novel ideas for further research and testing. The case studies presented in this article provide lived experience insights of two identical discordant twin pairs: one twin pair discordant for longstanding AN and one twin pair discordant for 'atypical' AN (the twin with AN has recovered). The perspectives and experiences of each co-twin (one with AN and one without) explore a number of factors that may have contributed to twin discordance in these cases, and how each twin has responded to the impact of AN in their lives. Through use of first-person accounts in case study presentation, this article centres social justice values of lived experience leadership and involvement in research. This article aims to extend current knowledge and understanding of EDs in discordant twins, particularly regarding risk for ED development, ED duration, diagnosis and treatment, and recovery processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Disgust has been identified to play a role in the development of several psychological disorders (1). Recent studies have tried to explore the relationship between disgust and eating disorders, with heterogeneous findings (2). Elevated levels of disgust are associated to traumatic events involving sexual victimization. One of the suggested mechanism implicated in this association is a feeling of mental contamination (3). Objectives: The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between disgust and history of maltreatment in patients with Eating Disorder. We also predict that levels of propensity and sensitivity to disgust in patients diagnosed with Eating Disorders and Anxiety Disorders are higher than healthy controls. Methods: We enrolled 114 patients admitted in Psychiatric Unit of Careggi: 41 with diagnosis of Eating Disorder, 33 with Anxiety Disorders and 40 healthy controls. We administered to all groups: Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ), Eating Disorder Examination-2 (EDI-2), Disgust Propensity and Sensibility Scalerevised (DPSS-r). Results: We noted higher scores at DPSS-r in the two psychopathological groups compared to the healthy group, in accordance with previous literature (barchart 1, table 1). We found a significant linear correlation between the DPSS-R scores and the CTQ subscales Emotional Abuse and Physical Neglect (table 2). Disgust Propensity was finally identified as a possible mediator of the relationship between Emotional Abuse and altered Interoceptive Awareness (Indirect Effect: 0,59; I.C. 95%: 0,30-0,95) Conclusions: These preliminary data could suggest a possible role of childhood traumatic events in the development of Sensitivity and Propensity to Disgust in Eating Disorders patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]