Measuring party organization: The vertical dimension of the multilevel organization of statewide parties in Spain and the UK

Over the past few years, attention to the role of state-wide political parties in multi-level polities has increased in recognition of their linkage function between levels of government, as these parties compete in both state-wide and regional elections across their countries. This article presents a coding scheme designed to describe the relationship between central and regional levels of state-wide parties. It evaluates the involvement of the regional branches in central decision-making and their degree of autonomy in the management of regional party affairs. This coding scheme is applied to state-wide parties in Spain (the socialist PSOE and the conservative Partido Popular) and in the UK (Labour, the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats). It is an additional tool with which to analyse party organization and it facilitates the comparison of parties across regions and in different countries.

Oral rehabilitation of severely worn dentition using an overlay for immediate re-establishment of occlusal vertical dimension

The aim of this study was to describe the treatment used in an elderly patient presenting with bruxism and dental erosion, with good gingival health and bone support, but with decreased occlusal vertical dimension (OVD). The oral rehabilitation of elderly patients presenting with bruxism in association with tooth erosion has been a great challenge for dentists. The loss of OVD, the presence of occlusal instability and the absence of an effective anterior guide due excessive dental wear, can damage stomatognathic system (SS) biology, the function and the aesthetics. In the first treatment stage, an overlay removable partial denture (ORPD) was fabricated for the immediate re-establishment of function and aesthetics. After a 2-month follow up, with the patient presenting no symptoms, a second rehabilitation stage was accomplished, with fixed and removable prostheses. Oral rehabilitation with an ORPD was able to re-establish the SS biology, but a correct diagnosis and treatment plan are essential for success. The ORPD is a non-invasive and reversible restoring modality for general dentists that allow the re-establishment of the patient's immediate aesthetics and function at low cost.

Comparison of the occlusal vertical dimension after processing complete dentures made with lingualized balanced occlusion and conventional balanced occlusion

Statement of problem. An increase in occlusal vertical dimension (OVD) may occur after processing complete dentures. Although many factors that generate this change are known, no information is available in the dental literature regarding the effect that the occlusal scheme may have on the change in OVD.Purpose. This in vitro study compared the increase in OVD, after processing, between complete dentures with teeth arranged in lingualized balanced occlusion and conventional balanced occlusion.Material and methods. Thirty sets of complete dentures were evaluated as follows: 15 sets of complete dentures were arranged in conventional balanced occlusion (control) and 15 sets of complete dentures were arranged in lingualized balanced occlusion. All dentures were compression molded with a long polymerization cycle. The occlusal vertical dimension was measured with a micrometer (mm) before and after processing each set of dentures. Data were analyzed using an independent t test (alpha=.05).Results. The mean increase in the OVD, after processing, was 0.87 +/- 0.21 mm for the control group and 0.90 +/- 0.27 mm for the experimental group. There was no significant difference between the groups.Conclusion. After processing, dentures set in lingualized balanced occlusion showed an increase in OVD similar to those set in conventional balanced occlusion.

Evaluation of the occlusion vertical dimension of complete dentures after microwave disinfection

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Changes in occlusal vertical dimension in microwave processing of complete dentures.

This study investigated the effect of different microwave curing cycles on the changes in occlusal vertical dimension of complete dentures. Four test groups with 12 maxillary dentures each were evaluated. Groups 1, 2 and 3 were polymerized with different cycles by microwave radiation and Group 4 was the control and cured by water bath. The average pin opening for all groups was less than 0.5 mm. There was no significant difference between the groups polymerized by the microwave method and the control group. However, analyses of the vertical dimension changes showed statistically significant differences between groups 2 (0.276 +/- 0.141 mm) and 3 (0.496 +/- 0.220 mm).

Control of Vertical Dimension During Rapid Palatal Expansion Using a High Pull Chin

Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for a Certificate in Orthodontics, Dept. of Orthodontics, University of Connecticut Health Center, 1986

The vertical dimension of social relations and accurate interpersonal perception: A meta-analysis

There is little consensus regarding how verticality (social power, dominance, and status) is related to accurate interpersonal perception. The relation could be either positive or negative, and there could be many causal processes at play. The present article discusses the theoretical possibilities and presents a meta-analysis of this question. In studies using a standard test of interpersonal accuracy, higher socioeconomic status (SES) predicted higher accuracy defined as accurate inference about the meanings of cues; also, higher experimentally manipulated vertical position predicted higher accuracy defined as accurate recall of others’ words. In addition, although personality dominance did not predict accurate inference overall, the type of personality dominance did, such that empathic/responsible dominance had a positive relation and egoistic/aggressive dominance had a negative relation to accuracy. In studies involving live interaction, higher experimentally manipulated vertical position produced lower accuracy defined as accurate inference about cues; however, methodological problems place this result in doubt.