Oxalic acid is the predominant by-product formed in the scleroglucan production process with Sclerotium rolfsii, representing an additional cost factor for the subsequent downstream processing. In this study, the formation of oxalic acid was substantially reduced using a low initial pH and oxygen limitation during batch cultivation. At an initial pH of 2.0 only traces of oxalic acid were determined in the culture medium (end concentration <0.5 g l A1 ) while the scleroglucan production remained unaffected. In addition, it was observed that oxalic acid formation ceased under oxygen limitation. This is due to a not yet described oxalic acid synthetic enzyme named glycolate oxidase (EC 1.1.3.15) which was identi®ed in cell-free extracts of Sclerotium rolfsii and further characterized. The in¯uence of the dissolved oxygen tension (DOT) on oxalic acid synthesis by the fungus was studied in continuous culture. The steady-state oxalic acid concentration in the culture medium increased with a rise in DOT. List of symbolsimpeller speed pO 2 % oxygen partial pressure in the liquid phaseAbbreviations DOT dissolved oxygen tension FMN¯avin mononucleotide TCA tricarboxylic acid IntroductionThe ®lamentously growing fungus Sclerotium rolfsii ATCC 15205 and related species secrete a water soluble b-1,3-glucan, branched at b-1,6. Microbial glucans experience an increasing interest in the cosmetic and pharmaceutical industry [10]. Their high speci®c viscosities provide a potential application as a viscosi®er in cosmetic creams or lotions [6]. The exhibition of anti-in¯ammatory and immune stimulatory properties of scleroglucan renders it valuable for a potential use as a drug [14,23]. The predominant by-product in scleroglucan production with Sclerotium rolfsii is oxalic acid. The amount of oxalic acid accumulated during batch cultivations can reach up to 6 g l A1 [15]. Therefore, considerable attention has to be paid to the factors stimulating oxalic acid biosynthesis. There have been several reports on the in¯uence of culture conditions on oxalic acid formation [11,12,26,27]. High initial pH values were observed to favor oxalic acid and glucan production while a low initial pH resulted in oxalic acid reduction accompanied by poor growth. Oxalic acid is also known to play a key role in the plant pathogenicity of Sclerotium rolfsii [3,8,17,28,29]. Glyoxylate dehydrogenase is assumed to be the key enzyme of oxalic acid synthesis [13]. The enzyme was characterized and located in microbodies of Sclerotium rolfsii [2]. Although another oxalic acid synthetic enzyme named glycolate oxidase has already been investigated in animals, plants, and microorganisms [22] and is even used for commercial applications [1], yet little is known about its role in oxalic acid synthesis in Sclerotium rolfsii. Materials and methods Microorganism and conditions of cultivationCultivations were carried out with the fungus imperfectus Sclerotium rolfsii ATCC 15205. The plant pathogenic, ®l-amentous fungus was grown on agar slants supplemented with 39 g l A1 po...

Objective: The purpose of this study was to compare the self- and observer ratings of capacity limitations in patients with neurological conditions. Research on this topic is relevant for assessing the patients’ ability to participate in work and social life and improving collaborative patient-clinician relationships. Method: The self- and observer ratings of capacity limitations in a sample of N = 245 patients with neurological conditions from a rehabilitation facility were compared and assessed using the short rating of activity limitations and participation restrictions in mental disorders according to the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (Mini-ICF-APP) and the equivalent self-rating questionnaire (Mini-ICF-APP-S). Results: Paired-samples t-tests revealed significant differences between the self- and observer ratings for six out of 13 capacity dimensions. On average, the patients rated the capacity dimensions adherence to regulations, planning and structuring of tasks, professional competency and endurance as significantly less limited, in comparison to the observers (small to medium effect sizes). The self-ratings for limitation of contact with others and self-care were only marginally higher than the observer ratings. Conclusions: The findings show that psychological capacity limitations occur in patients with neurological conditions. In clinical practice, limitations in each capacity dimension and discrepancies in patient- and clinician-ratings should be thoroughly assessed. This is especially relevant in patients with neurological conditions who have a potential tendency to underestimate or deny their disability.