The Influence of Daoism on the Dramatization of the Liaozhaixi of Chuanju

This study employs a collection of fresh resources of the Liaozhaixi of Chuanju (Sichuan opera) to examine the influence of Daoism upon the dramatization of Chinese theatre. In contrast to Buddhism, it has long been supposed that Daoism has exerted only a minor influence on Chinese theatre. Despite some progress after the year 2000, the research into Daoism’s influence on Chinese theatre is still in its infancy. Noting the gap in the literature, the study identifies that the Liaozhaixi of Chuanju has provided us with some exceptional insights into Daoism’s influence on Chinese theatre. Since 2012, the successive publication of 24 Liaozhaixi scripts of Chuanju allows us to more fully enter the exploration. Reinforced by these fresh resources, the study summarizes the influence of Daoism on the Liaozhaixi of Chuanju into two typical adaptation approaches, “transplantation” and “improvement”. By analyzing the two approaches, the study will manifest how Daoism has shaped the dramatization of the Liaozhaixi of Chuanju and will employ these approaches to exemplify the confluence of religions and dramas in Chinese folk culture.

Survival of Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli O104:H4 Strain C227/11Φcu in Agricultural Soils Depends on rpoS and Environmental Factors

The consumption of contaminated fresh produce caused outbreaks of enterohemorrhagic (EHEC) Escherichia coli. Agricultural soil might be a reservoir for EHEC strains and represent a contamination source for edible plants. Furthermore, the application of manure as fertilizer is an important contamination route. Thus, the German fertilizer ordinance prohibits the use of manure 12 weeks before crop harvest to avoid pathogen transmission into the food chain. In this study, the survival of E. coli O104:H4 strain C227/11Φcu in soil microenvironments with either diluvial sand or alluvial loam at two temperatures was investigated for more than 12 weeks. It was analyzed whether the addition of cattle manure extends EHEC survival in these microenvironments. The experiments were additionally performed with isogenic ΔrpoS and ΔfliC deletion mutants of C227/11Φcu. The survival of C227/11Φcu was highest at 4 °C, whereas the soil type had a minor influence. The addition of cattle manure increased the survival at 22 °C. Deletion of rpoS significantly decreased the survival period under all cultivation conditions, whereas fliC deletion did not have any influence. The results of our study demonstrate that EHEC C227/11Φcu is able to survive for more than 12 weeks in soil microenvironments and that RpoS is an important determinant for survival.

Scale Effects on Quasi-Steady Solid Rocket Internal Ballistic Behaviour

The ability to predict with some accuracy a given solid rocket motor’s performance before undertaking one or several costly experimental test firings is important. On the numerical prediction side, as various component models evolve, their incorporation into an overall internal ballistics simulation program allows for new motor firing simulations to take place, which in turn allows for updated comparisons to experimental firing data. In the present investigation, utilizing an updated simulation program, the focus is on quasi-steady performance analysis and scale effects (influence of motor size). The predicted effects of negative/positive erosive burning and propellant/casing deflection, as tied to motor size, on a reference cylindrical-grain motor’s internal ballistics, are included in this evaluation. Propellant deflection has only a minor influence on the reference motor’s internal ballistics, regardless of motor size. Erosive burning, on the other hand, is distinctly affected by motor scale.

Scale Effects on Quasi-Steady Solid Rocket Internal Ballistic Behaviour

The ability to predict with some accuracy a given solid rocket motor’s performance before undertaking one or several costly experimental test firings is important. On the numerical prediction side, as various component models evolve, their incorporation into an overall internal ballistics simulation program allows for new motor firing simulations to take place, which in turn allows for updated comparisons to experimental firing data. In the present investigation, utilizing an updated simulation program, the focus is on quasi-steady performance analysis and scale effects (influence of motor size). The predicted effects of negative/positive erosive burning and propellant/casing deflection, as tied to motor size, on a reference cylindrical-grain motor’s internal ballistics, are included in this evaluation. Propellant deflection has only a minor influence on the reference motor’s internal ballistics, regardless of motor size. Erosive burning, on the other hand, is distinctly affected by motor scale.

Acute Effects of Kinesiology Taping Stretch Tensions on Soleus and Gastrocnemius H-Reflex Modulations

This study examined the acute effects of stretch tensions of kinesiology taping (KT) on the soleus (SOL), medial (MG), and lateral (LG) gastrocnemius Hoffmann-reflex (H-reflex) modulation in physically active healthy adults. A cross-over within-subject design was used in this study. Twelve physically active collegiate students voluntarily participated in the study (age = 21.3 ± 1.2 years; height = 175.6 ± 7.1 cm; body weight = 69.9 ± 7.1 kg). A standard Y-shape of KT technique was applied to the calf muscles. The KT was controlled in three tension intensities in a randomised order: paper-off, 50%, and 100% of maximal stretch tension of the tape. The peak-to-peak amplitude of maximal M-wave (Mmax) and H-reflex (Hmax) responses in the SOL, MG, and LG muscles were assessed before taping (pre-taping), taping, and after taping (post-taping) phases in the lying prone position. The results demonstrated significantly larger LG Hmax responses in the pre-taping condition than those in the post-taping condition during paper-off KT (p = 0.002). Moreover, the ΔHmax/Mmax of pre- and post-taping in the SOL muscle was significantly larger during 50%KT tension than that of paper-off (p = 0.046). In conclusion, the stretch tension of KT contributes minor influence on the spinal motoneuron excitability in the triceps surae during rest.

The Rhythm of Conceptions. Seasonality of Births in Taiwan and the Netherlands, 1800–1940

The seasonality of births provides us with insights into the economic, cultural, and biological effects on the private lives of our predecessors in time. This comparison between two culturally very different societies results in the conclusion that there is an amazing geographic and historical stability in the patterns of seasonality in conceptions, both in Taiwan and in the Netherlands. Economic and cultural variables only have a minor influence. The fact that a biological variable like temperature is so dominant in the Taiwanese case suggests that future studies may benefit from focusing more on the biological determinants of human behaviour.

Forging a New Path in English-French Lexicography: Guy Miège in Relation to Robert Sherwood

From 1632 to the late 1670s, the English-French lexicographic scene was monopolized by Robert Sherwood’s Dictionaire Anglois & François, which was annexed to Randle Cotgrave’s second edition of the Dictionarie of the French and English Tongues and reissued in all subsequent editions (1650, 1660, and 1673). Sherwood’s work would have been the source of choice for any lexicographer wanting to compile a new English-French dictionary. However, for Guy Miège, the author of A New Dictionary French and English, with another English and French published in 1677, Sherwood’s dictionary seems to have been a minor influence at best. What the relation between them sets forth is the significantly new range and originality of Miège’s work in comparison, as demonstrated in this study.

Textile-Based Battery Using a Biodegradable Gel-Electrolyte

Lightweight and flexible batteries with natural gel-electrolyte between textile-based electrodes are presented, demonstrating a discharge capacity of 100 mAh g-1 at 14 mA g-1 with respect to the anode. Aging processes of the gel-matrix are investigated, showing that the device can be refreshed by re-wetting the gel-electrolyte. Due to the textile-based architecture, the batteries can be bent up to 180° with minor influence on the battery voltage.

Influence of Different Commercial Yeasts on Volatile Fraction of Sparkling Wines

The occurrence of aroma constituents in sparkling wines, with direct impact on their organoleptic characteristics, is affected by several factors, for example the base-wine particularities, grapes cultivar conditions, inoculated yeasts, the aging stage, and wine-making practices. This study evaluated the influence of different four commercial yeasts (IOC FIZZ™, IOC DIVINE™, LEVULIA CRISTAL™, and IOC 18-2007™) on the volatile composition of experimental sparkling wines. For this, five sparkling wines variants from the Muscat Ottonel grape variety were obtained. The base-wine was obtained through reverse osmosis and had a predetermined alcoholic concentration (10.5% vol.). In order to fulfill the proposed purpose, the experimental sparkling wines were characterized by the physical–chemical parameters (according to International Organization of Vine and Wine methods of analysis), volatile fraction (using gas-chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry technique), and sensory descriptors. Data showed a key impact on the concentration of the volatile constituents (p < 0.05), depending on the type of inoculated yeast for the second fermentation. Regarding the sensory analysis, important differences can be observed due to the type of inoculated yeast. Only a minor influence on the physical–chemical parameters was registered.