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The objective of this research was to evaluate changes in flow behavior of chocolate during chocolate grinding using a stone grinder as affected by chocolate formulation. Three different types of chocolates were evaluated. Two chocolates without milk added (70% chocolate) and two chocolates with milk added and with different amounts of cocoa nibs (30% chocolate and 14% chocolate) were tested. For the 70% chocolates, nibs of two different origins were used; therefore, a total of four samples were evaluated. Chocolates were processed in a stone grinder, and samples were taken as a function of grinding time. For each timepoint, the flow behavior of the samples was measured using a rotational rheometer and fitted to the Casson model. Particle size was measured using a laser scattering instrument. Results showed that yield stress increased linearly while the Casson plastic viscosity decreased exponentially with grinding time (smaller particles). Particle size distribution of the chocolates showed a prominent bimodal distribution for short grinding times (∼9 h) with small (∼15 µm) and large (∼100 µm) particles; with longer grinding time, the population of larger particles decreased. Yield stress values were higher for the 70% chocolate, but they were not very different between the two milk chocolates tested. The Casson plastic viscosity was greatest for the 70% chocolate, followed by the 30% chocolate. The 14% chocolate had the lowest Casson plastic viscosity. Changes of Casson plastic viscosity with particle size were more evident for the dark chocolates compared to the milk ones. These results are helpful to small chocolate producers who need better understanding of how the formulation and grinding of chocolate affect its flow behavior, which will ultimately affect chocolate handling during production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ability to read and write for a variety of purposes is essential to success in school and in contemporary society. The purpose of this investigation was to conduct an exhaustive review of the literature and a meta-analysis of literacy research in the field of deaf education. Computer and manual searches of 40 years of peer-reviewed journal articles were conducted. A total of 964 articles related to literacy and deafness were identified and examined; 22 articles met the criteria for inclusion in the review. Results indicate that (a) no two studies examined the same dimension of literacy; (b) there was a paucity of well-designed group studies; (c) there were no systematic replication of studies; (d) there is limited data to establish evidenced-based practices. Consequently, increasing the quantity and improving the quality of research in the field is recommended. Formula Used to Determine Effect Sizes, is appended. (Contains 2 tables.)

Exercise-induced oxidative stress is instrumental in achieving the health benefits from regular exercise. Therefore, inappropriate use of fruit-derived products (commonly applied as prophalytic antioxidants) may counteract the positive effects of exercise. Using human exercise and cellular models we found that 1) blackcurrant supplementation suppressed exercise-induced oxidative stress, e.g., plasma carbonyls (0.9 [+ or -] 0.1 vs. 0.6 [+ or -] 0.1 nmol/mg protein, placebo vs. blackcurrant), and 2) preincubation of THP-1 cells with an anthocyanin-rich blackcurrant extract inhibited LPS-stimulated cytokine secretion [TNF-[alpha] (16,453 [+ or -] 322 vs. 10,941 [+ or -] 82 pg/ml, control vs. extract, P < 0.05) and IL-6 (476 [+ or -] 14 vs. 326 [+ or -] 32 pg/ml, control vs. extract, P < 0.05)] and NF-[kappa]B activation. In addition to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, we found that postexercise plasma collected after blackcurrant supplementation enhanced the differential temporal LPS-stimulated inflammatory response in THP-1 cells, resulting in an early suppression of TNF-[alpha] (1,741 [+ or -] 32 vs. 1,312 [+ or -] 42 pg/ml, placebo vs. blackcurrant, P < 0.05) and IL-6 (44 [+ or -] 5 vs. 36 [+ or -] 3 pg/ml, placebo vs. blackcurrant, P < 0.05) secretion after 24 h. Furthermore, by using an oxidative stress cell model, we found that preincubation of THP- 1 cells with hydrogen peroxide (H202) prior to extract exposure caused a greater suppression of LPS-stimulated cytokine secretion after 24 h, which was not evident when cells were simultaneously incubated with [H.sub.2] [O.sub.2] and the extract. In summary, our findings support the concept that consumption of blackcurrant anthocyanins alleviate oxidative stress, and may, if given at the appropriate amount and time, complement the ability of exercise to enhance immune responsiveness to potential pathogens. acute inflammation; fruit anthocyanins; moderate exercise

Gas-phase photoelectron spectroscopy and density functional theory have been used to investigate the interactions between the sulfur [pi]-orbitals of arene dithiolates and high-valent transition metals as minimum molecular models of the active site features of pyranopterin Mo/W enzymes. The compounds ([Tp.sup.*])MoO(bdt) (compound 1), [Cp.sub.2]Mo(bdt) (compound 2), and [Cp.sub.2]Ti(bdt) (compound 3) [where [Tp.sup.*] is hydrotris(3,5-dimethyl-1-pyrazolyl)borate, bdt is 1,2-benzenedithiolate, and Cp is [[eta].sup.5]-cyclopentadienyl] provide access to three different electronic configurations of the metal, formally [d.sup.1], [d.sup.2], and [d.sup.0], respectively. The gas-phase photoelectron spectra show that ionizations from occupied metal and sulfur based valence orbitals are more clearly observed in compounds 2 and 3 than in compound 1. The observed ionization energies and characters compare very well with those calculated by density functional theory. A 'dithiolate-folding-effect' involving an interaction of the metal in-plane and sulfur-[pi] orbitals is proposed to be a factor in the electron transfer reactions that regenerate the active sites of molybdenum and tungsten enzymes.

The electronic structure as well as the chemical bonding of six anionic complexes is investigated using photo detachment photoelectron spectroscopy (PES). The results obtained are found to be in line with theoretical values, and the observed PES values are interpreted on the basis ] of theoretical values as well as previous spectroscopic studies.