Abstract: A vortex breaker assembly includes a vessel, a first conduit, and a fluid source. The vessel having a first fluid arranged therein. The vessel includes an opening formed in an outer wall. The first conduit is coupled to the vessel and configured to open into the vessel via the opening such that the first fluid can flow into the first conduit via the opening. The first conduit includes an inlet formed therein. The fluid source provides a second fluid to the at least one inlet. The second fluid flows into the first conduit from the inlet at a predetermined flow momentum such that the second fluid interacts with the first fluid flowing from the vessel and through the first conduit so as to disrupt a flow field of the first fluid and minimize formation of a fluidic vortex of the first fluid at the opening.

Abstract: A method for the secure access of files within a document repository includes the use of a Document Access Document with digitally signed and encoded conditions of use, such that the Document Access Document serves as a physical access credential to its specified documents within the repository.

Abstract: A hard-copy authentication document is a physical manifestation of a digital signature or a physical manifestation of a public key affixed to a hard-copy document or physical object, respectively. A method of authentication and non-repudiation of hard-copy documents includes affixing a physical manifestation of a digital signature to a hard-copy document. The physical manifestation of a digital signature is converted to an electronic digital signature, which is compared to a public key to authenticate the hard-copy document.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling the reproduction of documents containing sensitive information includes an input for receiving a document; a device for storing a digitized document; a detector for identifying encoded sensitive information; a decoder operatively connected to the detector, which extracts digitally encoded information from the sensitive information; a processor operatively connected to the decoder, which receives digitally decoded sensitive information; a user interface module for receiving a user identity and an access mediator for receiving decoded sensitive information from the processor, comparing the user identity with a decoding scheme associated with the document and allowing or disallowing the decoded sensitive information to be reproduced.