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The study compares two approaches to human being: Plato's concept of three (parts of) souls and Patočka's concept of three movements of existence. The aim of this contrastive study is to evaluate Patočka's effort to make the concept of human being a-subjective and non-substantive. Special attention is dedicated to two key problems: the concept of body and the relationship between a part (an individual) and the whole (the world). The comparison of the thinkers indicates Patočka's underestimation of the objective organization of body including its incorporation in the world. The presentation of the relationship between an individual and the whole provides an opportunity to discuss realistic moments of Plato's approach and speculative moments of Patočka's phenomenology of existence. Finally, these findings make it possible to articulate the main difficulties of an ontological interpretation of the phenomenology of movement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Background: Epileptic seizures are well known sequelae of patients with stroke but only little is known about the different risk factors and about the influence of the different types of stroke including sinus thrombosis and bleedings on developing such seizures. Further, the association of post-stroke seizures and conventional vascular risk factors has not been evaluated to date. Methods: We performed a cohort study on a sample of 593 consecutive patients with different types of cerebrovascular events. In 421 patients, sufficient data were obtained in a personal interview over a mean observation period of 30 months. Data regarding the clinical history were recorded from the patients’ charts. Results: The total prevalence of epileptic seizures was 11.6%, the total annual risk was 4.6%. We detected the following significant risk factors: younger age at stroke; higher NIH stroke scale score; any coagulopathy. TIA was found significantly less frequent as a cause of seizures as compared to infarction, bleeding, and sinus thrombosis. Patients with bleeding (14.3%) and with sinus thrombosis (16.3%) were significantly more frequent in the seizure group than in the non-seizure group (6.7% and 1.6%, respectively). The location of stroke, including cortical versus subcortical, did not influence the risk of seizures. The majority of patients developed secondary generalized seizures (57.1%). In adjusted analyses, the two major risk factors for post-stroke epilepsy were a higher NIH stroke scale and a sinus thrombosis as the initial cerebrovascular event. Common lifestyle, vascular, and metabolic risk factors of stroke and for dementia were not associated with the development of seizures. Conclusions: In conclusion, our data show that epileptic seizures occur in particular after major strokes and in sinus thrombosis. Interestingly, conventional vascular risk factors were not associated with the occurrence of post-stroke seizures. Considering the risk for seizures after certain types of cerebrovascular events might help to early identify patients for anticonvulsive treatment. In the future, it should be investigated whether these patients might benefit from pre-emptive anticonvulsant treatment. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Objective The outbreak of hemolytic-uremic syndrome and diarrhea caused by Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli O104:H4 in Germany during May to July 2011 involved severe and characteristic neurologic manifestations with a strong female preponderance. Owing to these observations, we designed a series of experimental studies to evaluate the underlying mechanism of action of this clinical picture. Methods A magnetic resonance imaging and electroencephalographic study of patients was performed to evaluate the clinical picture in detail. Thereafter, combinations of different experimental settings, including electrophysiological and histological analyses, as well as calcium imaging in brain slices of rats, were conducted. Results We report on 7 female patients with neurologic symptoms and signs including bilateral thalamic lesions and encephalopathic changes indicative of a predominant involvement of the thalamus. Experimental studies in rats revealed an enhanced expression of the Shiga toxin receptor globotriaosylceramide on thalamic neurons in female rats as compared to other brain regions in the same rats and to male animals. Incubation of brain slices with Shiga toxin 2 evoked a strong membrane depolarization and intracellular calcium accumulation in neurons, associated with neuronal apoptosis, predominantly in the thalamic area. Interpretation These findings suggest that the direct cytotoxic effect of Shiga toxin 2 in the thalamus might contribute to the pathophysiology of neuronal complications in hemolytic-uremic syndrome. ANN NEUROL 2013;73:419-429 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives Infections in patients with stroke are common and significantly affect outcome. Various predictors of poststroke infections were determined, such as degree of neurological impairment and implementation of therapeutic interventions. The authors investigated whether stroke location and stroke size are independent risk factors for poststroke infections. Methods 591 patients with acute stroke who were treated on our stroke unit were included in a prospective observational study. Predefined endpoints were pneumonia, urinary-tract infection (UTI) and other infections. The OR of infections was calculated for various stroke locations, stroke lateralisation and three categories of stroke size. Logistic regression models were used to adjust for factors significantly associated with poststroke infections in a single-factor analysis. Results In the single-factor analysis, the left anterior cerebral artery territory was associated with pneumonia. After adjustment for relevant covariates, this association was no longer statistically significant. Stroke lateralisation showed no association with infection frequency. The largest stroke size was positively associated with pneumonia (OR 3.5, p<0.001). The smallest lesion size was significantly less associated with the occurrence of UTI (OR 0.4, p<0.01). Conclusion In this study, lesion size is an independent risk factor for the development of poststroke infection. Particular brain regions associated with infections could not be determined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To compile available studies using microembolic signal (MES) detection by transcranial Doppler sonography in varying sources of arterial brain embolism. We investigated prevalences of MES and whether MES detection is of proven use for risk stratification. Studies reporting prevalences of MES and the risk of cerebral ischemic events were pooled for patients with symptomatic or asymptomatic carotid stenosis, intracranial artery stenosis, cervical artery dissection, and aortic embolism. MES were reported in 43% of 586 patients with symptomatic and in 10% of 1066 patients with asymptomatic carotid stenosis. Presence of one MES indicated an increased risk of future events [odds ratio (OR): 7.5, 95% confidence interval (CI): 3.6–15.4, p < 0.0001 for symptomatic, and OR: 13.4, 95% CI: 6.5–27.4, p < 0.0001 for asymptomatic disease). MES were reported in 25% of 220 patients with symptomatic vs. 0% of 86 patients with asymptomatic intracranial stenosis (p < 0.0001), Of 82 patients with cervical artery dissection presenting with TIA or stroke, 50% had MES compared with 13% of 16 patients with local symptoms (p = 0.006), In patients with aortic embolism, patients with plaques ≥ 4mm more frequently had MES compared with patients with smaller plaques (p = 0.04), Data were insufficient to reliably predict future events in patients with intracranial stenosis, cervical artery dissection, and aortic embolism. MES are a frequent finding in varying sources of arterial brain embolism, MES detection is useful for risk stratification in patients with carotid stenosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Poor knowledge of stroke symptoms within the general population might be responsible for significant delay between symptom onset and hospital admission in most stroke patients. Methods: We prospectively evaluated whether theoretical knowledge about stroke influenced time to admission among 102 consecutive acute stroke patients using standardized questionnaires. We assessed in multiple logistic regression models the influence of theoretical knowledge (knowledge about stroke symptoms and knowledge about the appropriate actions to be taken in the case of a stroke) on the real actions taken in the acute situation. Predictors of a delayed hospital admission greater than 2 hours after stroke onset were determined. Models were adjusted for age, gender, level of education, stroke severity, previous history of stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA), and being alone at symptom onset. Results: Patients arrived significantly later, if the patients themselves were the managers of the emergency situation [odds ratio (OR): 4.7; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.5–140.8]. Symptom knowledge and action knowledge were not found to be significantly associated with shorter pre-hospital times, whereas the correct diagnosis of stroke by the manager (OR: 0.2; 95% CI: 0.1–0.4) and calling the emergency medical system (OR: 0.3; 95% CI: 0.1–0.7) independently led to a higher likelihood to arrive at a hospital within 2 hours. Conclusion: Our study underscores that good theoretical knowledge about stroke does not imply appropriate management in the emergency situation. Educational efforts need to incorporate more practical aspects in order to translate theoretical knowledge into concrete action. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neuroleptic medication may cause extrapyramidal symptoms (EPS) that can affect swallowing as well. This report describes a case of drug-induced dysphagia in a 53-year-old man receiving haloperidol for treatment of schizophrenia. The diagnosis was established by fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing. After changing medication to fluphenazin, dysphagic symptoms resolved. The literature on EPS-related dysphagia, its demographic features, typical symptoms, diagnostic modalities, clinical course, and treatment options is reviewed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carsharing is seen as one of the most promising business model innovations for transforming the mobility system towards sustainability. Yet, carsharing businesses are faced with similar sustainability paradoxes as business in general; whether a company's business model is pushed towards sustainability depends on its strategizing mindset. However, few studies have addressed the strategizing mindsets of carsharing providers. The present study addresses this gap with an empirical assessment of (1) the relevance of environmental sustainability in the strategies of carsharing corporations compared to their proclaimed vision and (2) the underlying type of strategizing mindset, i.e., corporate purpose and vision. In using a Sustainability Balanced Scorecard approach in a reversed manner, accompanied by an objective hermeneutic methodology, we reconstructed strategy maps out of two distinct carsharing business models, unveiling for each company its strategic reasoning, its understanding of corporate purpose and its underlying strategizing mindset. The results reveal that none of the carsharing businesses follow a mindset that orients their strategy to a systems-based view and accordingly do not provide solutions to environmental problems. The study not only adds to our understanding of carsharing companies, it also introduces a conceptual framework that allows the investigation of purpose in comparison to vision, revealing a company's strategizing mindset. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In view of the growing demand for sustainable and lightweight concrete structures, the use of ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC) is becoming increasingly important. However, fatigue loads occur more frequently in nature than static loads. Despite the impressive mechanical properties of UHPC, a reduced tolerance for cyclic loading is known. For this reason, our paper deals with experimental and numerical investigations regarding the main causes for crack initiation on the meso, micro, and nanoscale. After mechanical fatigue tests, we use both scanning (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) to characterize microstructural changes. A new rheological model was developed to apply those changes to the mesoscopic scale. The origins of fatigue damaging can be traced back to a transformation of nanoscale ettringite, resulting in a densification of the surrounding binder matrix. Additionally, a higher content of unhydrated cement clinker in the matrix benefits fatigue resistance. On the mesoscale, stress peaks around aggregate grains expand into the surrounding binder with increasing load cycles and lead to higher degradation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, the first microstructure-preserving approach to metal joining of physical vapor-deposited nanolaminates was introduced. In a subsequent study, this metal lap joint is exposed to annealing cycles with target temperatures of 100°C, 200°C, 400°C and 800°C. The thinning-out ends (wedges) of the laminate and overlapping laminate of the lap joint provide challenges as well as new insights into thermal stability of nanolaminate. Energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy mapping in the Scanning Transmission Electron Microscope (STEM) of the joint cross section proves that melting of the Cu-layers initiates at the tip of the wedges, where the laminate interface is as susceptible to melting as the lamina interface. A Melting Point Depression curve for the Cu/Nb nanolayered metal joint is established. The article further introduces the protective effect of covering laminate as the Shielding Effect and discusses the counteracting phenomena Melting Point Depression and Shielding Effect. Image, graphical abstract [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biomaterials often display outstanding combinations of mechanical properties thanks to their hierarchical structuring, which occurs through a dynamically and biologically controlled growth and self-assembly of their main constituents, typically mineral and protein. However, it is still challenging to obtain this ordered multiscale structural organization in synthetic 3D-nanocomposite materials. Herein, we report a new bottom-up approach for the synthesis of macroscale hierarchical nanocomposite materials in a single step. By controlling the content of organic phase during the self-assembly of monodisperse organically-modified nanoparticles (iron oxide with oleyl phosphate), either purely supercrystalline or hierarchically structured supercrystalline nanocomposite materials are obtained. Beyond a critical concentration of organic phase, a hierarchical material is consistently formed. In such a hierarchical material, individual organically-modified ceramic nanoparticles (Level 0) self-assemble into supercrystals in face-centered cubic superlattices (Level 1), which in turn form granules of up to hundreds of micrometers (Level 2). These micrometric granules are the constituents of the final mm-sized material. This approach demonstrates that the local concentration of organic phase and nano-building blocks during self-assembly controls the final material's microstructure, and thus enables the fine-tuning of inorganic-organic nanocomposites' mechanical behavior, paving the way towards the design of novel high-performance structural materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]