Nicht Wissen ist auch Macht. Zur Gesprächsdynamik der Eingangsszene in Platons Kratylos

In the introductory scene of Plato’s Cratylus a power game takes place that is based on an asymmetrical distribution of knowledge and which determines the dynamics of the communication. Since Cratylus claims to have greater knowledge than Hermogenes, he puts his discussion partner in an inferior position. Hermogenes strives to balance out this power differential by different strategies. One such strategy is that of including Socrates in the discussion. Socrates reacts to the power differential that Cratylus has built up in a different way from Hermogenes: by the fact that he claims no knowledge for himself but even rejects any knowledge, he succeeds in gaining a position superior to Cratylus and Hermogenes.

A Quest for the Origin of the Uneven Spread of Covid-19 Cases

For more than one and a half years now, the world is highly impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic. The Covid-19 cases are, however, not evenly distributed across the countries; a few countries, particularly high-income countries have been hit harder than the countries of weak economic condition. The reasons for such an asymmetrical distribution are not clearly understood yet. In this work, we have examined the unevenness of global distribution of Covid-19 incidences till 18th June 2021 in terms of the economic condition of countries. Subsequently, we have tried to identify the main underlying factors behind unequal Covid-19 cases. Our analysis suggests that the physical connectivity and the diffusion of coronavirus are the main causes of the different unequal spread of Covid-19 cases in different countries. We find that the Covid-19 infected and death cases are well described by a power law in terms of the stated parameters.

Epistemic Bubbles and Authoritarian Politics

Contemporary U.S. political discourse is distorted by “epistemic bubbles.” In social epistemology, an epistemic bubble is a self-segregated network for the circulation of ideas, resistant to correcting false beliefs. Dominant models of epistemic bubbles explain some of their features, but fail to account for their recent spread, increasing extremity, and asymmetrical distribution across political groups. The rise of populist authoritarian politics explains these recent changes. I propose two models of how populism creates epistemic bubbles or their functional equivalents: (1) by promulgating biased group norms of information processing; and (2) by replacing empirically-oriented policy discourse with an identity-expressive discourse of group status competition. Each model recommends different strategies for popping epistemic bubbles. My analysis suggests that social epistemology needs to get more social, by modeling cognitive biases as operating collectively and outside people’s heads, via group epistemic and discursive norms.

Laterality and Plasticity of Bone Mineral Density in Vertebral Bodies of Patients with Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis

BackgroundThe asymmetrical distribution of bone mineral density (BMD) in vertebral bodies in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) has been reported; however, it is still unknown whether BMD asymmetrical distribution can vary by the mechanical environment around each vertebral body. The purpose of this retrospective study was to investigate changes in the asymmetrical distribution of BMD in each vertebral body up to 1 year after posterior spinal corrective fusion surgery (PSF) in patients with AIS.MethodsWe analyzed 75 vertebrae within the non-instrumented lumbar spines of 27 female AIS patients (median age, 16 years; interquartile range [IQR], 14–19 years) who underwent PSF. The BMDs of the vertebral bodies were calculated from 1-week and 1-year postoperative quantitative computed tomography scans and a laterality index (LI = BMD of right half of vertebral bodies / BMD of left half of vertebral bodies). The disc wedging angle was measured preoperatively and at 1 year postoperatively from plain radiographs, and the disc wedging angle index (DWAI) was calculated as the sum of the disc wedging angles of the upper and lower discs adjacent to each vertebra.ResultsThe median BMDs of both the right and left halves of each vertebral body significantly decreased from 1 week postoperatively to 1 year postoperatively (right, 228.3 mg/cm3 hydroxyapatite [IQR, 201.8–251.0 mg/cm3 hydroxyapatite] to 214.8 mg/cm3 hydroxyapatite [IQR, 186.9–241.0 mg/cm3 hydroxyapatite], P < 0.001; left, 229.6 mg/cm3 hydroxyapatite [IQR, 198.7–244.7 mg/cm3 hydroxyapatite] to 206.3 mg/cm3 hydroxyapatite [IQR, 188.0–231.9 mg/cm3 hydroxyapatite], P < 0.001). The preoperative median DWAI was 5.0 (IQR, −12.0–13.0) and the 1-week postoperative LI was 1.01 (IQR, 0.95–1.08); these measures were positively correlated (ρ = 0.827; P < 0.001). The median perioperative change in DWAI was −4 (IQR, −9–10) and the median postoperative change in LI was 0.01 (IQR, −0.02–0.03); these measures were also positively correlated (ρ = 0.741; P < 0.001).ConclusionsThe laterality of BMD in each vertebral body in AIS patients was a plastic phenomenon, was deemed a secondary change due to external loading, and was related to the amount of disc wedging.

H-Irregularity Strengths of Plane Graphs

Graph labeling is the mapping of elements of a graph (which can be vertices, edges, faces or a combination) to a set of numbers. The mapping usually produces partial sums (weights) of the labeled elements of the graph, and they often have an asymmetrical distribution. In this paper, we study vertex–face and edge–face labelings of two-connected plane graphs. We introduce two new graph characteristics, namely the vertex–face H-irregularity strength and edge–face H-irregularity strength of plane graphs. Estimations of these characteristics are obtained, and exact values for two families of graphs are determined.

Presumed disseminated carcinomatosis of the bone marrow in a dog

An eight-year-old male neutered Jack Russell terrier presented with fever, shoulder and elbow pain and progressive right forelimb lameness. Haematology revealed a non-regenerative anaemia and marked thrombocytopenia. Radiography and CT of the thorax and abdomen revealed bilateral asymmetrical osteogenic-osteolytic changes to the scapulae, humeri, femurs, pelvis, ribs and vertebrae. Histopathology of the bone marrow of the left humerus confirmed a metastatic skeletal adenocarcinoma. This case features a presumptive manifestation of disseminated carcinomatosis of the bone marrow with a bilateral asymmetrical distribution in a metastatic adenocarcinoma of unknown primary origin. Disseminated carcinomatosis of the bone marrow should be included in the differential diagnosis with polyostotic osteolytic and osteogenic, bilateral asymmetrical lesions in the long bones, vertebrae, ribs and pelvis.

Stoicism (as Emotional Compression) Is Emotional Labor

The criticism of “traditional,” “toxic,” or “patriarchal” masculinity in both academic and popular venues recognizes that there is some sense in which the character traits and tendencies that are associated with masculinity are structurally connected to oppressive, gendered social practices and patriarchal social structures. One important theme of criticism centers on the gender distribution of emotional labor, generally speaking, but this criticism is also particularly meaningful in the context of heterosexual romantic relationships. I begin with the premise that there is a gendered and asymmetrical distribution in how much emotional labor is performed, but I also consider that there might be meaningful and informative distinctions in what kind of emotional labor is characteristically performed by different genders. Specifically, I argue that the social norms around stoicism and restricted emotional expression are masculine-coded forms of emotional labor, and that they are potentially prosocial. Responding to structural and interpersonal asymmetries of emotional labor could well involve supplementing or better cultivating this aspect of male socialization rather than discarding it.

To the problem of mathematical modelling of the three-phase asymmetrical distribution network

The asymmetrical distribution electric network is considered in the conditions of functioning of the automated meter reading and control system (AMRCS). The problem of identification of its mathematical model in a complex form which comes down to definition of phase shifts of the variables (currents, tension) defining an electric status of three-phase network is formulated. The method of its solution based on the mathematical ratios describing functional communications between state variables and use of algorithms of parameter optimization is offered. The realization of identification procedure of model of a distribution network is enabled with direct use of the basic data obtained on communication channels from subscriber's meters of the electric power. The method can be used for a solution of a number of functional tasks as a part of the AMRCS oriented for diagnostics of statuses of a trunk line and energy losses in a distribution network.