Abstract: Methods and apparatus provide filtration for concentrating analytes, such as bacteria or exosomes, of a biological sample, such as blood or urine. The technology may employ membrane devices that implement one or more tangential flow filtration processes such as in stages. An example membrane device may typically include a membrane having sides and ends. The membrane may selectively permit constituent(s) of the sample to pass through while retaining other constituents at one side. An input chamber of the device may include an inlet near one end and an outlet near the other end, and that may permit a tangential flow of the sample along the first side surface, and a trans-membrane passing of constituent(s). An output chamber of the device may be configured at the second side surface to receive the passing constituents. Such devices may be provided in a kit to facilitate targeting of a desired biological analyte concentration.

Abstract: The invention discloses compositions and formulations for the treatment of clean or infected wounds, some of the inventive formulations can be used to reduce or eliminate microbial contamination from surfaces such as skin, and inanimate objects such as countertops, cooking utensils, medical devices, cookware, food, grooming aids and agricultural biocides, and the like. Some of these compositions and formulations are well suited for use in wound dressings. Some of the formulation can kill and/or inhibit the growth of pathogenic bacteria, fungi, spores and viruses. The formulations comprise a compound such as an osmoticum in high enough concentration to create an osmotic gradient and at least one compound that acts to comprise the integrity of a microorganism's membrane or cell wall. These formulations may optimally include at least one agent that thickens the formulations. In some aspects the formulation is in the form of an emulsion.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, and systems are presented for communicating structured data in a system utilizing devices having different data processing capabilities. The methods, apparatus, and systems involve transmitting a unit of data from a first device, wherein the unit of data comprises at least a version-specific portion and a version identifier associated with the version-specific portion, receiving the unit of data at a second device distinct from the first device, processing the version-specific portion at the second device if the second device recognizes the associated version identifier, and disregarding the version-specific portion at the second device if the second device does not recognize the associated version identifier. Disregarding the version-specific portion may comprise examining a data length field in the data unit associated with the version-specific portion to determine a length value and skipping an amount of data corresponding to the length value.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, and systems are presented for communicating structured data in a system utilizing devices having different data processing capabilities. The methods, apparatus, and systems involve transmitting a unit of data from a first device, wherein the unit of data comprises at least a version-specific portion and a version identifier associated with the version-specific portion, receiving the unit of data at a second device distinct from the first device, processing the version-specific portion at the second device if the second device recognizes the associated version identifier, and disregarding the version-specific portion at the second device if the second device does not recognize the associated version identifier. Disregarding the version-specific portion may comprise examining a data length field in the data unit associated with the version-specific portion to determine a length value and skipping an amount of data corresponding to the length value.