strided = S = strudel

stroke n.

Common name for the slant (`/', ASCII 0101111) character. See ASCII for other synonyms.

--The Jargon File version 4.3.1, ed. ESR, autonoded by rescdsk.

Author: Touzokudan
Genre: Puzzle
Made: Dec 1, 2001

A cute anime-ish game written in VB++. You have to walk around, collecting all the gems on each level, then going to the exit tile. The catch is that the tiles disappear as you step off them, so you have to try not to seal yourself in. There are special spaces, including pillars, walls that disappear when you have all of one color gem, and teleports. There are 55 levels altogether, and you don't necessarily need to play them in numerical order, as the "Select" menu allows you to play any level.

The graphics are crisp and clean, and unless you're running a 286 or something equally ludicrous, It'll run fine. In the end, this game is good for one reason: It makes you feel like a genius. You sit frusturated for minutes, unable to finish the level, and suddenly, *BAM*, a flash of insight!

You can get the game at gamehippo.com, but I suggest going to the website (http://www.aya.or.jp/~shade/chikuwabu/game.htm) to get the english version.

Stroke is another name for erotic fiction.

Stroke can take as many forms as there are sexual desires. From languid, pastelled foreplay to graphic, sweaty hardcore to latexed and leathered BDSM, there is a stroke for everyone.

The stroke writer can build scene upon taut and luscious scene, painting layers of skin and sensation and emotion before the lip-smacking, finger-licking climax crashes. On the other side of the bed, stroke flash fiction drops the reader in medias res, on the furious tongue, with the final blind thrusts, deep in the barrel of the orgasmic wave.

Successful stroke encourages the reader to join the characters, to enjoy a invigorating swim in the ocean of masturbation, splashing word for word to the last line until spent on the beach. Hence the name. In fact, the highest praise you can give to a stroke writer is "I came to your story."

So what are you waiting for? You know what gets your second chakra buzzing. Read aloud to a special someone. Impress your friends. Impress yourself.

http://www.asstr.org/~twassel/BSFSF.htm

A stroke, also known as a Cerebrovascular Accident (CVA), is damage to the brain tissue due to a problem with its blood supply. Different parts of the brain have different functions, and are supplied by different blood vessels. The symptoms of a stroke depend upon which area is affected. In general, one half of the body is controlled by the opposite side of the brain. Therefore, for example, damage to a part of the left side of the brain may result in a paralysis of the right arm. Stroke is common, and most strokes happen to older people. They are more likely to occur in people with diseased blood vessels, for example smokers.

Definition:

Rapidly developing clinical signs of a disturbance in cerebral function with no explanation other than of vascular origin.1

Epidemiology:

130 000 people in the UK suffer a stroke every year and it accounts for 5% of the NHS budget2. The incidence is quoted as 1.5 strokes per 1000 population per year. Among people over 75 years of age, this rises to 1% per year3. It is the third most frequent cause of death in the UK after heart disease and cancer4.

Cause:

The damage to the brain is a consequence of either vessel occlusion (ischaemia) or vessel rupture (an intracerebral haemorrhage). An occlusion may be due to local thrombus formation or embolism. In the UK, 10 % of strokes are haemorrhagic. In Japan, they are much more common.

Risk Factors:

As stroke is a vascular pathology, atherosclerosis is a common origin for the problem. Many of the risk factors are risk factors for atherosclerosis.

Indicators of existing vascular and haematological disease are also important.

And, of course, drugs:

Presentation:

Peak onset is in the early hours of the morning. Focal neurological deficit develops over minutes, often with no loss of consciousness. Deficit often follows a step-wise progression over hours or days.

Symptoms include: sensory loss (numbness), hemiplegia (weakness or paralysis on one side of the body), dysarthria (difficulty articulating words), aphasia or dysphasia (difficulty with language), ataxia (lack of coordination), apraxia (difficulty planning tasks), homonymous hemianopia (loss of the half the visual field)

Differential:

Diagnosis:

A history and examination is often sufficient to make the diagnosis. When a stroke is suspected, a CT scan is usually performed. The CT changes of an ischaemic stroke don't appear for the first 12 hours, but a haemorrhagic stroke will be evident as a white area.

Classification:

A useful way of classifying strokes was devised by Bamford in 1991.

Total Anterior Circulatory Infarct (TACI)

Caused by an occlusion of the Middle Cerebral Artery, A TACI will cause:

  • higher cerebral dysfunction AND
  • hemianopia AND
  • motor and sensory deficit (on the same side) involving at least 2 out of 3 of face, arm or leg.

Approximately 15% of strokes are of this type. Mortality at one year is > 50%.

Partial Anterior Circulatory Infarct (PACI)

This will cause:

  • higher cerebral dysfunction alone OR
  • 2/3 features of a TACI

PACI is most frequently caused by embolus. It is in a smaller branch of the Middle Cerebral Artery or the Anterior Cerebral Artery. These patients carry a high risk of recurrence within the first 3 months. Approximately 35% of strokes are this type.

Lacunar Infarct (LacI)

This is caused by occlusion of a deep perforating artery affecting structures more central in the brain. It is not as severe as the above two types, and will not affect the higher brain functions. These patients often make a good recovery. Approximately 25% of strokes are of this type.

Posterior Circulatory Infarct

This is caused by occlusion in an artery supplied by the vertebrobasilar circulation, that means the infarct will be in the cerebellum, and/or brainstem and/or occipital lobe. Symptoms are many and varied (e.g. hiccups, dysarthria, dysphasia, coma, vertigo, vomiting, nystagmus, ataxia, diplopia, hemianopia). Sensory or motor symptoms may be unilateral or bilateral. Approximately 25% of strokes fall into this category.

Management:

Immediate

Unless there is a suspicion of a haemorragic stroke, 300mg aspirin should be administered. Thrombolysis within 3 hours of onset of symptoms has been known to help, and may become standard practice in the future. Currently, few centres have the facilities to assess the patient's suitability and do it in time. It is still being evaluated. A CT scan of the head will be performed to rule out haemorrhage. The patient should be kept Nil by mouth until their swallowing is assessed. Hydration should be maintained intravenously. Blood pressure should be monitored, but high levels will not be treated because this will impair cerebral perfusion. A urinary catheter will be considered if mobility is impaired. Several investigations are used to exclude an alternative diagnosis or to identify the reason for the stroke. These include blood tests (e.g. blood glucose, ESR, and full blood count), echocardiogram, chest x-ray and ECG.

Rehabilitation

Referral to a stroke unit is beneficial. Here, Physiotherapy, Speech and Language Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Social work, Dietitian input Medical and Nursing care are provided by a team of people who communicate regularly with each other as well as the patient and family. Examples of the input these professionals have in helping a person who have suffered a stroke are:

  • The physiotherapist exercises the patient, and assesses and optimizes their balance, strength, and walking.
  • The Speech and Language Therapist assesses their speech, language, and swallowing, and provides exercises to improve these.
  • The Occupational Therapist evaluates the level of functioning when performing everyday necessary tasks, and assesses the need for equipment that may help with these e.g. bathrails.
  • A social worker identifies and negotiates placement of a patient after they leave the acute hospital, works out where there's funding for this, and also arranges respite for carers.
  • Dietitians deal with nutrition. This can be difficult if swallowing is not possible. They are also involved if alternative routes of feeding (such as a Nasogastric tube, or PEG) are required.
  • A doctor will often stand as chairman in the team meetings. He/she also deals with any medication the patient may need, often in consultation with a pharmacologist.
  • Nursing care of people who have suffered a stroke can be pretty intensive. They may be incontinent, immobile, and difficult to communicate with. Special care must be taken of their skin. Also the shoulder of a person with arm weakness or numbness needs particular attention when positioning or moving them. The nurses also monitor a patient's wellbeing and clinical signs.

As you may have gathered, all this involves alot of work from the patient.

Prognosis:

40% achieve a fully recovery3. Drowsiness suggests a poorer prognosis. The overall mortality is 20% at 1 month, 5 - 10% per year thereafter.

Depression can be a prominent consequence of stroke, but is treatable. Stroke also predisposes to pneumonia, and of course bed sores. It is a stressful event for the whole family. Morbidity is variable, and differs according to the type of stroke. The outcome varies from death through all levels of disability to a full recovery. Many people will continue to suffer from falls, incontinence, and difficulty communicating. After a hospital stay of weeks or months, there is often much rehabilitation still to go. A great proportion of improvement happens in the initial stages.

Prevention:

Modifiable risk factors such as smoking, hypertension, Diabetes and high cholesterol should be treated. Exercise helps with the cholesterol and diabetes. People who have had a stroke or a TIA in the past, and don't have a contraindication to it, should take 75 mg aspirin per day to prevent stroke. Prevention of a second stroke after you've already had one is called 'secondary prevention'. In the case of a stroke that was clearly caused by an embolus, this may involve warfarin instead of aspirin. Similarly, risky conditions like atrial fibrillation and replacement heart valves should be treated optimally with anticoagulation. In people with demonstrable carotid artery stenosis, carotid endarterectomy (surgery) should be considered.


1. WHO, Hatamo, 1976
2. Sarah Keir, Western General Hospital, Edinburgh
3. Oxford Handbook Clinical Medicine 5th ed., OUP, pages 323 - 348
4. chapter 7, lecture notes on geriatric medicine sixth edition, blackwell publishing

Stroke (?), obs. imp. of Strike.

Struck.

 

© Webster 1913.


Stroke, n. [OE. strok, strook, strak, fr. striken. See Strike, v. t.]

1.

The act of striking; a blow; a hit; a knock; esp., a violent or hostile attack made with the arm or hand, or with an instrument or weapon.

His hand fetcheth a stroke with the ax to cut down the tree. Deut. xix. 5.

A fool's lips enter into contention and his mouth calleth for strokes. Prov. xviii. 6.

He entered and won the whole kingdom of Naples without striking a stroke. Bacon.

2.

The result of effect of a striking; injury or affliction; soreness.

In the day that Lord bindeth up the breach of his people, and healeth the stroke of their wound. Isa. xxx. 26.

3.

The striking of the clock to tell the hour.

Well, but what's o'clock? - Upon the stroke of ten. -- Well, let is strike. Shak.

4.

A gentle, caressing touch or movement upon something; a stroking.

Dryden.

5.

A mark or dash in writing or printing; a line; the touch of a pen or pencil; as, an up stroke; a firm stroke.

O, lasting as those colors may they shine, Free as thy stroke, yet faultless as thy line. Pope.

6.

Hence, by extension, an addition or amandment to a written composition; a touch; as, to give some finishing strokes to an essay.

Addison.

7.

A sudden attack of disease; especially, a fatal attack; a severe disaster; any affliction or calamity, especially a sudden one; as, a stroke of apoplexy; the stroke of death.

At this one stroke the man looked dead in law. Harte.

8.

A throb or beat, as of the heart.

Tennyson.

9.

One of a series of beats or movements against a resisting medium, by means of which movement through or upon it is accomplished; as, the stroke of a bird's wing in flying, or an oar in rowing, of a skater, swimmer, etc.

; also: Rowing (a)

The rate of succession of stroke; as, a quick stroke.

(b)

The oar nearest the stern of a boat, by which the other oars are guided; -- called also stroke oar.

(c)

The rower who pulls the stroke oar; the strokesman.

10.

A powerful or sudden effort by which something is done, produced, or accomplished; also, something done or accomplished by such an effort; as, a stroke of genius; a stroke of business; a master stroke of policy.

11. Mach.

The movement, in either direction, of the piston plunger, piston rod, crosshead, etc., as of a steam engine or a pump, in which these parts have a reciprocating motion; as, the forward stroke of a piston; also, the entire distance passed through, as by a piston, in such a movement; as, the piston is at half stroke.

⇒ The respective strokes are distinguished as up and down strokes, outward and inward strokes, forward and back strokes, the forward stroke in stationary steam engines being toward the crosshead, but in locomotives toward the front of the vehicle.

12.

Power; influence.

[Obs.] "Where money beareth [hath] all the stroke."

Robynson (More's Utopia).

He has a great stroke with the reader. Dryden.

13.

Appetite.

[Obs.]

Swift.

To keep stroke, to make strokes in unison.

The oars where silver, Which to the tune of flutes kept stroke. Shak.

 

© Webster 1913.


Stroke (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Strokeed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Strokeing.] [OE. stroken, straken, AS. stracian, fr. strican to go over, pass. See Strike, v. t., and cf. Straggle.]

1.

To strike.

[Obs.]

Ye mote with the plat sword again Stroken him in the wound, and it will close. Chaucer.

2.

To rib gently in one direction; especially, to pass the hand gently over by way of expressing kindness or tenderness; to caress; to soothe.

He dried the falling drops, and, yet more kind, He stroked her cheeks. Dryden.

3.

To make smooth by rubbing.

Longfellow.

4. Masonry

To give a finely fluted surface to.

5.

To row the stroke oar of; as, to stroke a boat.

 

© Webster 1913.

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