Abstract: The present invention provides methods and compositions for screening, diagnosis and prognosis of Alzheimer's disease, for monitoring the effectiveness of Alzheimer's disease treatment, and for drug development. Alzheimer's Disease-Associated Features (AFs), detectable by two-dimensional electrophoresis of cerebrospinal fluid, serum or plasma are described. The invention further provides Alzheimer's Disease-Associated Protein Isoforms (APIs) detectable in cerebrospinal fluid, serum or plasma, preparations comprising isolated APIs, antibodies, pharmaceutical compositions, diagnostic and therapeutic methods, and kits comprising or based on the same.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods and compositions for screening, diagnosis and prognosis of Alzheimer's disease, for monitoring the effectiveness of Alzheimer's disease treatment, and for drug development. Alzheimer's Disease-Associated Features (AFs), detectable by two-dimensional electrophoresis of cerebrospinal fluid, serum or plasma are described. The invention further provides Alzheimer's Disease-Associated Protein Isoforms (APIs) detectable in cerebrospinal fluid, serum or plasma, preparations comprising isolated APIs, antibodies immunospecific for APIs, pharmaceutical compositions, diagnostic and therapeutic methods, and kits comprising or based on the same.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for destroying microorganisms on the surface of an object, the apparatus including a vacuum chamber, and a decontaminant source that provides a decontaminant that may be vaporized and act either as a disinfecting agent, a sanitizing agent or a sterilizing agent. The apparatus further includes a sealable container that contains the object to be decontaminated and that may be used to vacuum pack the object after the decontamination process is complete. The method includes placing an object in a sealable container, drawing a vacuum on the interior and the exterior of the sealable container, injecting a decontaminant into the sealable container and releasing the vacuum.

Abstract: A computer implemented method to estimate a respondent's or a set of respondents' rank order with respect to a number of attribute options (i.e. alternative prices, features, benefits, ways of expressing benefits, brand names, slogans, logos, graphic treatments such as package design elements and any other stimuli that the researcher believes may influence the individual's opinion such as a statement, graphic or brief audio). The method can be used when the number of stimuli to be presented exceeds the number that can be presented at one time to a respondent, most typically, exceeding the number that can be legibly displayed on one computer screen for rank ordering by a respondent. The estimated rank order is highly accurate, especially for the highest ranked stimuli, but requires only a small fraction of the respondent input that would be needed to capture a complete rank order from that respondent.