Abstract: A keyboard suppport includes a support body having a throughpassage that passes through the support body and opens on opposite sides of the support body. The support body also defines a support surface configured to accomodate a keyboard such as a keyboard for inputting alphanumeric symbols to a personal computer. A moveable mouse support fits within a portion of the throughpassage of the support and extends outwardly from the support to define a mouse support surface having a region that extends in front of a front edge of a keyboard with the keyboard resting the support surface. Although the term "mouse" has become almost universally used for the rolling input device used to move an arrow on the display screen and "pick" functions or data values, other terms such as "trackball" can be used interchangeably with the term "mouse".

Abstract: A continuous dynamic mixing assembly includes a mixing chamber having an inner wall which is generally symmetrical about a central axis. At least one first fluid inlet introduces first fluid material into the mixing chamber. At least one second fluid inlet introduces second fluid material into the mixing chamber. At least one outlet permits fluid to leave the mixing chamber. First baffles extend along the inner wall generally parallel to the axis for disrupting fluid flow generally circumferentially in the mixing chamber. Second baffles extend generally transverse to the axis for disrupting fluid flow generally axially in the mixing chamber. A rotatable agitator includes a cylindrical central portion extending in the mixing chamber along the axis and has at least one blade having a twisted orientation on the central portion. A relative construction and arrangement among the first baffles, the second baffles and the agitator enable residence time of fluid in the reactor to be selectively adjusted.

Abstract: A door security arrangement with the frame member which is mountable in a wall alongside the opening edge of a door and has an elongate member slideably mounted therein, the member being substantially the same length of the door edge and being movable from a retracted position in which it lies within the frame member and permits the door to swing past it to an extended position in which it lies alongside and substantially against the inner face of the door and the arrangement including releasable means, located within the frame member which hold the elongate member in its retracted and extended positions and are operable by the normal door locking mechanism.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display device includes cell wall structure and a chiral nematic liquid crystal material. The cell wall structure and the liquid crystal cooperate to form focal conic and twisted planar textures that are stable in the absence of a field. A device applies an electric field to the liquid crystal for transforming at least a portion of the material to at least one of the focal conic and twisted planar textures. The liquid crystal material has a pitch length effective to reflect radiation having a wavelength in both the visible and the infrared ranges of the electromagnetic spectrum at intensity that is sufficient for viewing by an observer. One liquid crystal material may be disposed in a single region or two liquid crystal materials may be used, each in separate regions. One aspect of the invention is directed to a photolithography method for patterning a substrate of the display. The display may also have multicolor capabilities by including at least two materials that reflect visible light.

Abstract: A submerged entry nozzle for introducing molten steel into a casting mold is disclosed. The nozzle includes nozzle structure defining a central bore and two transverse exit ports communicating with the bottom of the central bore, the central bore terminating at an upwardly dish-shaped bottom surface that extends to the periphery of the nozzle structure and forms the lower surface regions of the exit ports, whereby molten steel flowing across the upwardly dish-shaped bottom surface is directed outwardly and upwardly from the nozzle structure.

Abstract: A terminating polymorphic type inference program analysis helps to better optimize, understand, and/or browse computer programs. The analysis represents parameter values for each function call in the program with separate types and modifies the types to comply with typing constraints. The analysis also determines whether a potential non-terminating loop has been entered. If so, the analysis modifies the types such that the types comply with the typing constraints and such that the type inference analysis will terminate. In this manner, the analysis will generate a usable finite set of types for programs regardless of whether the principal typing for the program is infinite in size.

Abstract: A method for performing secure transactions, such as credit card purchases, using two or more non-secure networks (such as the Internet and the public telephone system) in such a way that security is insured. A person wishing to initiate a secure transaction sends a message over one of the non-secure networks to a computer. That computer automatically uses the second non-secure network to contact the person back to verify the transaction. The call-back mechanism employs a method to authenticate the identity or authority of the person initiating the transaction. No single wire-tapping or network snooping device sees the entire transaction. No single database contains the entire set of information.

Abstract: In one exemplary embodiment the invention provides a data mining system for use in evaluating data in a database. Before the data evaulation begins a choice is made of a cluster number K for use in categorizing the data in the database into K different clusters and initial guesses at the means, or centriods, of each cluster are provided. Then a portion of the data in the database is read from a storage medium and brought into a rapid access memory. Data contained in the data portion is used to update the original guesses at the centroids of each of the K clusters. Some of the data belonging to a cluster is summarized or compressed and stored as a summarization of the data. More data is accessed from the database and assigned to a cluster. An updated mean for the clusters is determined from the summarized data and the newly acquired data. A stopping criteria is evaluated to determine if further data should be accessed from the database.

Abstract: A manhole frame assembly for supporting a member that can obstruct an access opening when the level of a construction material around the opening is raised, includes an outer frame member having a support surface and a side wall extending from the support surface. The side wall is constructed and arranged with an upper surface that is substantially flush with an original level of the construction material. An inner frame member can be received on the support surface and includes a surface for supporting a member for obstructing the access opening. The side wall includes an abutment device for preventing upward movement of the inner frame member when the original level of construction material around the outer frame member is raised. A portion of the inner frame member is movable in a direction transverse to a direction of a length of the access opening.