In this study, the effects of microbial transglutaminase (m-TGs) enzymes on the physicochemical, microbial and sensorial properties of probiotic fermented milk produced using a mixture of bovine milk and soy drink were investigated. Probiotic fermented milk samples were prepared by 3:1 v/v bovine milk, 0.002 w/v soy drink and 0, 0.5, 1, 1.5 U m-TGs per gram of milk protein. The starter culture used was ABT-2 1000 I (a mixture of Lactobacillus acidophilus LA-5, Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis BB-12 and Streptococcus thermophilus). Viscosity and hardness values increased with increased transglutaminase ratio, whereas syneresis values decreased. All samples had an apparently acceptable number of probiotic bacteria over the storage period. While the minimum and maximum percentage ratios of alcohol components and carbonyl components in total volatile aromatic components of fermented milk samples are 24.75-30.70% (v/v) and 65.66-71.96% (v/v) during storage time, the minimum and maximum percentage ratios of organic acids and esters are 0.56-2.54% (v/v) and 0.73-1.57% (v/v).

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The purpose of this study is to examine the flow of doctoral students who are also research assistants and in the dissertation process. The study was designed using the case study method. The case undertaken in the study was the dissertation process. Eleven participants were selected into the study using maximum variation sampling. Face-to-face, semi-structured interviews were conducted with the participants. Descriptive analysis was used to analyze the transcripts. The descriptive analysis of the data identified four main themes: (i) personal characteristics, including tackling challenges, sense of responsibility and planned work habits; (ii) interest in the field, including decision making about postgraduate education, satisfaction from postgraduate education, the fit between the doctoral field and the student's interests and skills, and academic goals; (iii) emotional attachment, including enjoyed stages of the dissertation process, feelings aroused by the dissertation, and concentration on the dissertation process; and (iv) living the flow.

[Purpose] The primary aim of this study was to assess rehabilitation outcomes for early and two-stage repair of hand flexor tendon injuries. The secondary purpose of this study was to compare the findings between treatment groups. [Subjects and Methods] Twenty-three patients were included in this study. Early repair (n=14) and two-stage repair (n=9) groups were included in a rehabilitation program that used hand splints. This retrospective evaluated patients according to their demographic characteristics, including age, gender, injured hand, dominant hand, cause of injury, zone of injury, number of affected fingers, and accompanying injuries. Pain, range of motion, and grip strength were evaluated using a visual analog scale, goniometer, and dynamometer, respectively. [Results] Both groups showed significant improvements in pain and finger flexion after treatment compared with baseline measurements. However, no significant differences were observed between the two treatment groups. Similar results were obtained for grip strength and pinch grip, whereas gross grip was better in the early tendon repair group. [Conclusion] Early and two-stage reconstruction of patients with flexor tendon injuries can be performed with similarly favorable responses and effective rehabilitation programs.

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