Synthesis and FT-IR/Raman Characterization of a Graphene Oxide-Methacrylamide Monomer for Dental Applications.

Background: Graphene oxide (GO) is widely explored as a functional additive in polymer composites; however, its simple physical dispersion in dental resins often leads to poor interfacial stability and limited long-term performance. Covalent functionalization may overcome these limitations by enabling chemical integration into the polymer matrix. This study presents the synthesis and FT-IR/Raman characterization of GRAPHYMERE, a novel graphene oxide-based monomer obtained through exfoliation, amine functionalization with 1,6-hexanediamine, and transamidation with methyl methacrylate.

Comparative evaluation of mesh density and 3D accuracy in stationary, handheld, and mobile facial scanning systems: an in vitro study.

Objective: This in vitro study evaluated mesh density and 3D accuracy of three facial scanning systems: a stationary scanner, a handheld scanner, and a mobile scanning application.

Methods: A mannequin head with 14 fixed landmarks across three facial regions served as the master model. An industrial scanner (ATOS Q, Zeiss Co.

How Action Shapes Temporal Judgments: A Study in Brain Damaged Patients Through Immersive Virtual Reality.

: Time processing is crucial for managing several aspects of our daily experiences: the continuous interaction with a changing environment requires individuals to make precise temporal judgments. Following right hemisphere damage, patients exhibited a significant alteration in perceiving temporal duration. However, this impairment usually emerges with "abstract" computerized tasks, not in everyday contexts.

Cognitive load in switching between egocentric and allocentric spatial frames of reference: a pupillometry study.

Every day we combine and switch between body-centered (egocentric) and object-centered (allocentric) spatial representations. Several studies so far have reported a greater difficulty to switch from an allocentric reference frame to an egocentric one than vice-versa. To clarify this effect, the present work measured the cognitive load underlying switching vs.

The self in motion: The advantage for one's own movements at an implicit but not explicit level.

This study investigated the possible dissociation between implicit and explicit self-motion recognition. Converging evidence suggests that the distinction between self and other in the corporeal domain might rely on the integration of visual and sensorimotor representations of the body. Notably, previous studies have demonstrated that individuals are faster and more accurate in discriminating pictures depicting their own body effectors compared to those of others, the so-called self-advantage effect.

Interpersonal Distance Preferences in Deaf Signers and Hearing Individuals.

Interpersonal distance plays a critical role in communication and social interactions. Here we investigated whether deaf individuals that use sign language differ from hearing (non-signer) individuals in their preferred interpersonal distance. Specifically, we asked a group of deaf participants (all signers) and control hearing participants to report their preferred social distance from a stranger using a computer-presented stop-distance paradigm.

Jaw motion tracking with open-source tools: A dental technique.

A method is described for the cost-effective tracking of mandibular movements using an open-source software program (Blender v. 4.3; Blender Foundation) in combination with video recordings and intraoral scans.

Trueness and precision of a handheld, a desktop and a mobile 3D face scanning system: An in vitro study.

Objective: This in vitro study investigated the trueness and precision of three different face scanning systems: a handheld, a desktop and a mobile 3D face scanning system.

Material And Methods: Fourteen landmarks were placed on a mannequin head, and sixteen inter-landmark distances were measured using a digital vernier caliper, repeated 20 times over 80 days. Three 3D face scanning systems were evaluated: a handheld (Metismile; Shining 3D Tech Co.

Early Spatio-Temporal and Cognitive Deficits in Alzheimer's Disease.

Mental representation of spatial information relies on egocentric (body-based) and allocentric (environment-based) frames of reference. Research showed that spatial memory deteriorates as Alzheimer's disease (AD) progresses and that allocentric spatial memory is among the earliest impaired areas. Most studies have been conducted in static situations despite the dynamic nature of real-world spatial processing.

In vitro assessment of an intraoral scanner accuracy on abutments with horizontal preparation geometries and subgingival margins.

Objectives: This study evaluated the accuracy of the Medit i700 intraoral scanner (IOS) in capturing horizontal tooth preparations at different depths below the gingival margin and assessed its ability to detect surfaces beyond the finish line.

Methods: Using CAD software, two abutments of a standard maxillary first molar were designed with horizontal preparation and 0.8 mm chamfer at 1 mm and 2 mm depths below the gingival margin.

Trueness and precision of an intraoral scanner on abutments with subgingival vertical margins: An in vitro study.

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the accuracy of an intraoral scanner (IOS - Medit i700) on tooth abutments with vertical preparations at 2 depths below the free gingival margin, and to determine if the IOS can reproduce the area beyond the finish surface of the tested preparation geometry.

Methods: Two abutments for a maxillary first molar were designed by means of CAD software, with vertical preparations set at 1 and 2 mm below the gingiva. These abutments were subsequently printed in resin and placed on a reference model.

Spatial representations of objects used away and towards the body: The effect of near and far space.

An action with an object can be accomplished only if we encode the position of the object with respect to our body (i.e., egocentrically) and/or to another element in the environment (i.

Cortical Correlates of Visuospatial Switching Processes Between Egocentric and Allocentric Frames of Reference: A fNIRS Study.

Human beings represent spatial information according to egocentric (body-to-object) and allocentric (object-to-object) frames of reference. In everyday life, we constantly switch from one frame of reference to another in order to react effectively to the specific needs of the environment and task demands. However, to the best of our knowledge, no study to date has investigated the cortical activity of switching and non-switching processes between egocentric and allocentric spatial encodings.

Psychological Reactions during and after a Lockdown: Self-Efficacy as a Protective Factor of Mental Health.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of home confinement/social isolation (i.e., lockdown), imposed to reduce large-scale spread of a disease in the population, on the mental health of individuals.

Social Context and Tool Use Can Modulate Interpersonal Comfort Space.

Recent research has investigated whether the representation of space around the body, in terms of reach-action (imagining of reaching another person) and comfort-social (tolerance of the other's proximity) spaces, may reflect a shared sensorimotor basis. Some studies exploiting motor plasticity induced by tool use have not observed sensorimotor identity (i.e.

Interaction with Virtual Humans and Effect of Emotional Expressions: Anger Matters!

Today we are experiencing a hybrid real-virtual society in which the interaction with virtual humans is normal and "quasi-social". Understanding the way we react to the interaction with virtual agents and the impact of emotions on social dynamics in the virtual world is fundamental. Therefore, in this study we investigated the implicit effect of emotional information by adopting a perceptual discrimination task.

The Role of Temporal Order in Egocentric and Allocentric Spatial Representations.

Several studies have shown that spatial information is encoded using two types of reference systems: egocentric (body-based) and/or allocentric (environment-based). However, most studies have been conducted in static situations, neglecting the fact that when we explore the environment, the objects closest to us are also those we encounter first, while those we encounter later are usually those closest to other environmental objects/elements. In this study, participants were shown with two stimuli on a computer screen, each depicting a different geometric object, placed at different distances from them and an external reference (i.

Representational Processes of Actions Toward and Away from the Body.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the role of mental representation processes during the planning, reaching, and use phases of actions with tools commonly used toward the body (TB, e.g., toothbrush) or away from the body (AB, e.

The COVID-19 Stress Perceived on Social Distance and Gender-Based Implications.

The COVID-19 pandemic is an unprecedented event entailing long-term consequences on population health and welfare. Those who contracted the coronavirus may have suffered from both physical and mental health issues that unfold the need for tailored intervention strategies. Hence, our study aims to investigate the psychological and social consequences of COVID-19 on a sample of 86 participants, encompassing 43 patients (clinical group; 25 women; mean age = 50.

Dentin Exposure after Tooth Preparation for Laminate Veneers: A Microscopical Analysis to Evaluate the Influence of Operators' Expertise.

Background: To assess the quantity of dentin exposure detected by 3 operators with different clinical expertise for 2 designs of tooth preparation for laminate veneers: window (WI) and butt joint (BJ). Methods: 20 intact maxillary central incisors were collected and then prepared for laminate veneers to a depth of 0.6 mm, with a cervical mini-chamfer finish line of 0.

Space at home and psychological distress during the Covid-19 lockdown in Italy.

Prolonged periods of restrictions on people's freedom of movement during the first massive wave of the COVID-19 pandemic meant that most people engaged in all their daily activities at home. This suggested the need for the spatial features of the home and its occupants' perception of them to be investigated in terms of people's wellbeing. The present study was conducted on a large sample (N = 1354) drawn from different Italian regions.

From aMCI to AD: The Role of Visuo-Spatial Memory Span and Executive Functions in Egocentric and Allocentric Spatial Impairments.

A difficulty in encoding spatial information in an egocentric (i.e., body-to-object) and especially allocentric (i.

How ageing and blindness affect egocentric and allocentric spatial memory.

Egocentric (subject-to-object) and allocentric (object-to-object) spatial reference frames are fundamental for representing the position of objects or places around us. The literature on spatial cognition in blind people has shown that lack of vision may limit the ability to represent spatial information in an allocentric rather than egocentric way. Furthermore, much research with sighted individuals has reported that ageing has a negative impact on spatial memory.

: A Regulator of Multiple Tissue-Specific Circadian Functions.

The zebrafish represents a powerful model for exploring how light regulates the circadian clock due to the direct light sensitivity of its peripheral clocks, a property that is retained even in organ cultures as well as zebrafish-derived cell lines. Light-inducible expression of the clock gene has been predicted to play a vital function in relaying light information to the core circadian clock mechanism in many organisms, including zebrafish. To directly test the contribution of to circadian clock function in zebrafish, we have generated a loss-of-function gene mutation.