Overfeed the Bold, Starve the Cowardly: A Legend or Reality?

Although the negative effects of overconfidence are more likely to be mentioned in the literature, some researchers have argued that the benefits of overconfidence may outweigh its costs. We attempted to explore the positive effects of overconfidence in competitive situations. We had participants compete against fake opponents who were overconfident and then measured their competitive performance in two studies. In Study 1 we examined the effects of overconfidence on competitive performance in a competitive situation and the possible mechanism for this overconfidence. In Study 2 we investigated the characteristics of the performance in a competition after a mismatch between the level of confidence and the fake opponent&#39;s actual competence was revealed. Our results indicated that overconfident individuals tend to be perceived as more competent and more likely to benefit in the process of competition. Even after a mismatch between the level of confidence and the real competence was revealed, the overconfident individuals were not punished in that they made as much money as the less overconfident and still got higher competence ratings. Together those studies suggested that overconfidence has its advantages in competitive situations.</p

Synergistic Degradation of Maize Straw Lignin by Manganese Peroxidase from Irpex lacteus

Lignocellulose in maize straw includes cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin, and the degradation of lignocellulose is a complex process in which multiple enzymes are jointly involved. In exploring the co-degradation of a certain substrate by multiple enzymes, different enzymes are combined freely for the achievement of the effective synergism. Additionally, some organic acids and small molecule aromatic compounds can also increase the enzymatic activity of lignin enzymes and improve the degradation rate of lignin. In this study, manganese peroxidase (MnP) from Irpex lacteus (I. lacteus) was heterologously expressed in food-grade Schizosaccharomyces pombe (S. pombe). The multiple enzymes co-fermentation conditions were initially screened by orthogonal tests: 0.5% CaCl2, 1% 10,000 U/g Laccase (Lac), 0.3% MnSO4, and 0.4% glucose oxidase (GOD). It was showed that the lignin degradation rate could reach 65.85% after 3 days of synergistic degradation with the addition of 0.02% Tween-80, 0.5 mM oxalic acid. This indicates that oxalic acid has a promoting effect on the activity of MnP, and the promoting effect is more significant when Tween-80 is complexed with oxalic acid

Straw lignin degradation by lignin peroxidase from Irpex lacteus cooperated with enzymes and small molecules

Objectives Maximizing the utility value of enzymes was achieved by exploring the effects of small molecules on the efficiency of lignin degradation by lignin peroxidase. Methods Using wheat straw as raw material and taking lignin degradation rate as index, it was found that laccase, glucose oxidase, malonic acid, citric acid, ZnSO4, CaCl2 could promote the lignin degradation by the lignin peroxidase from Irpex lacteus, respectively. Moreover, glucose oxidase, malonic acid and CaCl2 had obvious synergy effects on lignin degradation by the lignin peroxidase. Results The optimal conditions of lignin degradation were obtained by response surface experiment: 4% glucose oxidase, 0.74% malonic acid and 3.29% CaCl2 were added for synergistic degradation at 37 degrees C with 50% of water content. After 72 h quickly enzymatic hydrolysis, the degradation rate of lignin was 45.84%. Conclusions A new green and efficient method for lignin removal from straw was obtained, which provided a reference for the efficient utilization of straw and lignin peroxidase

Straw lignin degradation by lignin peroxidase from Irpex lacteus cooperated with enzymes and small molecules

Objectives Maximizing the utility value of enzymes was achieved by exploring the effects of small molecules on the efficiency of lignin degradation by lignin peroxidase. Methods Using wheat straw as raw material and taking lignin degradation rate as index, it was found that laccase, glucose oxidase, malonic acid, citric acid, ZnSO4, CaCl2 could promote the lignin degradation by the lignin peroxidase from Irpex lacteus, respectively. Moreover, glucose oxidase, malonic acid and CaCl2 had obvious synergy effects on lignin degradation by the lignin peroxidase. Results The optimal conditions of lignin degradation were obtained by response surface experiment: 4% glucose oxidase, 0.74% malonic acid and 3.29% CaCl2 were added for synergistic degradation at 37 degrees C with 50% of water content. After 72 h quickly enzymatic hydrolysis, the degradation rate of lignin was 45.84%. Conclusions A new green and efficient method for lignin removal from straw was obtained, which provided a reference for the efficient utilization of straw and lignin peroxidase

Positron emission tomographic monitoring of dual phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase and mTOR inhibition in anaplastic large cell lymphoma

Background: Dual phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K)/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibition offers an attractive therapeutic strategy in anaplastic large cell lymphoma depending on oncogenic nucleophosmin-anaplastic lymphoma kinase (NPM-ALK) signaling. We tested the efficacy of a novel dual PI3K/mTOR inhibitor, NVP-BGT226 (BGT226), in two anaplastic large cell lymphoma cell lines in vitro and in vivo and performed an early response evaluation with positron emission tomography (PET) imaging using the standard tracer, 2-deoxy-2-[F-18] fluoro-D-glucose (FDG) and the thymidine analog, 3'-deoxy-3'-[F-18] fluorothymidine (FLT). Methods: The biological effects of BGT226 were determined in vitro in the NPM-ALK positive cell lines SU-DHL-1 and Karpas299 by 3-[4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay, propidium iodide staining, and biochemical analysis of PI3K and mTOR downstream signaling. FDG-PET and FLT-PET were performed in immunodeficient mice bearing either SU-DHL-1 or Karpas299 xenografts at baseline and 7 days after initiation of treatment with BGT226. Lymphomas were removed for immunohistochemical analysis of proliferation and apoptosis to correlate PET findings with in vivo treatment effects. Results: SU-DHL-1 cells showed sensitivity to BGT226 in vitro, with cell cycle arrest in G0/G1 phase and an IC50 in the low nanomolar range, in contrast with Karpas299 cells, which were mainly resistant to BGT226. In vivo, both FDG-PET and FLT-PET discriminated sensitive from resistant lymphoma, as indicated by a significant reduction of tumor-to-background ratios on day 7 in treated SU-DHL-1 lymphoma-bearing animals compared with the control group, but not in animals with Karpas299 xenografts. Imaging results correlated with a marked decrease in the proliferation marker Ki67, and a slight increase in the apoptotic marker, cleaved caspase 3, as revealed by immunostaining of explanted lymphoma tissue. Conclusion: Dual PI3K/mTOR inhibition using BGT226 is effective in ALK-positive anaplastic large cell lymphoma and can be monitored with both FDG-PET and FLT-PET early on in the course of therapy

Synergistic Degradation of Maize Straw Lignin by Manganese Peroxidase from Irpex lacteus

Lignocellulose in maize straw includes cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin, and the degradation of lignocellulose is a complex process in which multiple enzymes are jointly involved. In exploring the co-degradation of a certain substrate by multiple enzymes, different enzymes are combined freely for the achievement of the effective synergism. Additionally, some organic acids and small molecule aromatic compounds can also increase the enzymatic activity of lignin enzymes and improve the degradation rate of lignin. In this study, manganese peroxidase (MnP) from Irpex lacteus (I. lacteus) was heterologously expressed in food-grade Schizosaccharomyces pombe (S. pombe). The multiple enzymes co-fermentation conditions were initially screened by orthogonal tests: 0.5% CaCl2, 1% 10,000 U/g Laccase (Lac), 0.3% MnSO4, and 0.4% glucose oxidase (GOD). It was showed that the lignin degradation rate could reach 65.85% after 3 days of synergistic degradation with the addition of 0.02% Tween-80, 0.5 mM oxalic acid. This indicates that oxalic acid has a promoting effect on the activity of MnP, and the promoting effect is more significant when Tween-80 is complexed with oxalic acid