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Light attenuation and excess handling of light-cured luting agents create problems in bonding veneer restorations. The aim of the present study was to assess the curing capacity of light-cured veneer luting agents (VLA) [Choice 2 (CH2), G-Cem Veneer (GCV), Panavia LC Veneer (PNV), PermaCem LC Veneer (PMS), and Variolink Esthetic LC (VEV)] under lithium disilicate veneers, in the presence or absence of touch-cure primers (Adhese Universal Bond DC for VEV, G Premio Bond + DCA Activator for GCV, and V5 Tooth Primer V5 for PNV) and to evaluate material setting under two tack-curing irradiation modes (contact, distant). The methods used were ATR–FTIR spectroscopy and Vickers hardness (VHN) tests (n = 5/product and test). According to the results, all materials cured under the ceramic demonstrated significantly lower DC% from the controls, with a ranking of VEV, CH2 > GCV, PMS, PNV. The primers improved DC% by 4–13% only in the veneer groups. Tack-curing in contact mode demonstrated conversion and hardness values ranging from 37% to 78% and 31% to 57% of the controls respectively, corresponding to a vitreous state. For the distant mode, very low conversion values were found (0–7% of the controls), with untraceable indentations. It can be concluded that low translucency veneers reduce conversion of VLAs, which can be improved by using touch-cure activators. Tack-curing, as instructed, creates vitrified materials, resulting in difficult removal of set excess, which implies the need for better standardization of the procedure. Full article

Background: Solo—being intentionally solitary in nature—is receiving growing attention as a valuable outdoor education program component. Its practice and history have been researched in the context of experiential learning, but few studies have explicitly examined how solo experiences can affect dimensions of well-being. This study investigated a broad range of well-being pathways provided by being solo, based on data from Norway, Germany, and New Zealand. Methods: Using qualitative content analysis (QCA), the solo debrief responses of 40 participants (26 females, age: 19–64 years) were analysed, applying the PERMA-V framework (emotions, engagement, relationship, meaning, achievement, and vitality). Variations in the reports were explored as a function of the national sample, gender, age, prior solo experiences and expectations. Results: The study suggests that hedonic and eudemonic well-being pathways, represented by the six PERMA-V pillars, interrelate strongly. The experience of a range of positive emotions and connecting process during solo highlights two of the most frequent findings related to well-being pathways. The secondary findings suggest minor variations in the well-being pathways for the different national samples, gender and age. Expectations and prior experiences with solo were identified as context factors with minor impact. Further, the data-driven analysis identified specific physical activities, landscape features, sense-activation, perception of time and ‘good’ weather as relevant to the specific experience. Conclusions: Solo experiences provide for well-being-related pathways in a multitude of ways, which highlights the well-being potential of solo implementation across practical fields beyond outdoor education, such as wilderness therapy, and environmental and planetary health initiatives. Future studies should continue to explore solo’s well-being potential in different settings, especially in the context of non-Western samples. Full article