Abstract: An information flow control means for location between a first and second computer network where the first network has a higher security classification than the second network. The information flow control means comprises an information switch having an information input, a first output connected to the first network, a second output connected to the second network, a controller having at least two states, a first state controlling the information switch to connect the input to the first output and a second state controlling the information switch to connect the input to the second output, and an information diode having an input for receiving information from the second network and an output for transferring information received from the second network to the first network through a connection from the information diode output to the first network and which prevents information flowing from the output to the input.

Abstract: A fiber-cement trim board is formed by a fiber-cement core layer faced with a pair of fiber-cement surface layers of substantially equal thickness in the core layer and have a cement-to-wood ratio by weight of between 2 and 3.5 and at least 70% of the wood strands have a length longer than 10 min. Each of the surface layers is formed of a fiber-cement mixture containing wood strands, at least 80% of which have a length of less than 4 mm and a cement-to-wood ratio by weight of between 2 and 3.5. The board is covered at least on the two main faces by a water barrier coating.

Abstract: A light source in an optical character recognition system is automatically controlled to operate at a plurality of light intensities. A relatively high light intensity is used to illuminate an object bearing indicia to be read. A relatively low light intensity is used at all other times. A plurality of detectors sense reflected or ambient light and produce output signals indicative of the intensity of the reflected or ambient light. First and second signals are generated to indicate whether the detector output is greater than or less than a predetermined threshold. The number of first and second signals generated in response to the outputs of the detectors are summed separately. If the number of first signals equals or exceeds a first predetermined number, the object is illuminated at a high light intensity.