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The AD7c-NTP is a promising biomarker for AD diagnosis. However, the exact urinary AD7c-NTP concentration to differentiate AD from the mild cognitive impairment (MCI) remains inconclusive. We enrolled 98 and 90 clinical defined AD and MCI patients, respectively, and access their cognition impairment with Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI) and Mental State Examination (MMSE) along with their urinary AD7c-NTP. We demonstrated that urinary AD7c-NTP level in sequence from high to low was AD, MCI, and healthy groups ( P < .01), and the AD7c-NTP was positively and negatively correlated with the NPI and MMSE scores, respectively. Additionally, AD7c-NTP well-matched NPI subscale scores, including agitation, depression, and apathy ( P < .05). Importantly, the optimal cut-off AD7c-NTP level to distinguish the AD and MCI was .94 ng/mL (sensitivity 85.71% & specificity 73.91%). Conclusively, urinary AD7c-NTP could be used for cognition impairment evaluation and differentiated diagnosis of AD and MCI.

The shipping emissions estimation method is the premise and basis of making shipping emissions inventory, assessing the impact of shipping emissions, and promoting the work of energy saving and emissions reduction in transportation industry. The article analyzed the three main kinds of current representative shipping emissions estimation methods, i.e. simplified methodology and detailed methodology for estimating air pollutant emissions from ships presented by Techne Consulting, Tier1 and Tier2 methods from IPCC, and default approach, technology specific approach and ship movement methodology proposed by EMEP. Based on a comparative analysis of the characteristics of these estimation methods and their applicability, it was shown that: (1) the three kinds of methods from Techne Consulting, IPCC and EMEP are essentially the same, that is the emission equals to the product of the level of activities and emission factors, the difference lies in the level of detail of the activities are broken down; (2) the three shipping emissions calculation methods proposed by EMEP can be considered as the comprehensive and representative method, the default approach is a top-down method, and the technology specific approach and ship movement methodology are bottom-up approaches; (3) different methods have different applicability, the default approach proposed by EMEP is recommended to estimate CO2, SO2 emissions from shipping, and the technology specific approach and ship movement methodology are suitable for estimating the emissions of the other pollutants.

Trust is a critical success factor (CSF) of virtual team, and successful virtual team needs the support of trust construction and maintenance. Based on Theory of Reasoned Action (TRA), the connotation and conceptual model of trust are systematically analyzed, and virtual team trust construction mechanism is discussed by combining with its essential characteristics and its relationship to communication, collaboration, and team performance. The two essential characteristics of virtual team trust are pointed out, which are ldquoswift trustrdquo and ldquocognition-based trustrdquo. In virtual teams, trust can be swiftly developed, but it is very fragile. In virtual context, the cognitive element is more important than the affective element of trust. Finally, several management principles and specific strategies for trust construction and maintenance in virtual teams are presented.