Abstract: An application includes a plurality of features. A transaction is engaged with a retailer to obtain a product license corresponding to the application. The product license defines at least one feature of the application that may be employed. A base copy of the application is obtained from a distributor and is actuated. A use license corresponding to the product license is acquired from a licensor by way of the actuated application sending the product license to the licensor along with an identification of at least one of a user, the computing device, and a trusted component operating on the computing device, where the use license includes feature policy granting rights to employ each feature defined in the product license.

Abstract: Cell lysis may be brought about by contacting a suspension of cells with a lysis reagent such as sodium hydroxide solution; subsequent treatment enables organic molecules such as plasmid DNA to be separated from other cell components. Intimate mixing of the cell suspension with lysis reagent is achieved by passage through a fluidic vortex mixer arranged so the residence time of the cell suspension in the mixer is less than the time for lysis to be completed, and may be less than 0.1 seconds. Such a vortex mixer comprises a cylindrical chamber with an axial outlet duct and at least one tangential inlet duct, but with no internal baffles. The low shear stress to which the cell suspension is subjected minimizes loss of product through denaturation or fragmentation of the product, and indeed of contaminants. The subsequent treatment may also utilize a fluidic vortex mixer.