Abstract: A water amusement system is described which includes a number of different water park rides. The water amusement system may include a water fountain system. The water fountain system includes a roof configured to turn in response to directing a stream of water at the roof. The water amusement system may include a water carousel. The water carousel is a carousel which is configured to float on a body of water. The water amusement system may include a musical fountain system. The musical fountain system is configured to spray water, play music and/or provide visual effects. The water amusement system may include a water powered Ferris wheel. The water amusement system may include a water powered bumper vehicle system. The water powered bumper vehicle system is configured such that the vehicles are preferably propelled by streams of water produced by water nozzles arranged about the water bumper vehicle system. The water system may include a boat ride system.

Abstract: A spinal fixation implant system for correction and fixation of the human spine to facilitate an anatomically correct fusion. The spinal fixation system may include a connector, a spinal rod, a spinal fixation component, and a fastener. The spinal fixation component preferably includes a fixation device such as a hook or screw for securing the spinal rod to vertebrae of the thoracic or lumbar spine. The connector preferably includes a threaded end adapted to receive the fastener and a receiving end adapted to receive the spinal rod. The fixation component may include a body having a tapered cavity for engaging the receiving end of the connector. Tightening of the fastener preferably draws the connector through the tapered cavity which compresses the receiving end about the spinal rod to fixably connect the spinal rod and the spinal fixation component.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of homo- or co-polymerization of &agr;-olefin by means of using a catalyst system which comprises the following components: (1) a solid complex titanium catalyst produced by means of a production method comprising the following steps: (a) preparing a magnesium compound solution by dissolving a magnesium halide compound and a compound of Group IIIA of the Periodical Table in a solvent of mixture of cyclic ester, one or more types of alcohol, a phosphorus compound, and an organic silane; (b) precipitating the solid particles by reacting said magnesium compound solution with a transitional metal compound, a silicon compound, a tin compound, or the mixture thereof; and (c) reacting said precipitated solid particles with a titanium compound and electron donors; (2) an organometallic compound of metal of Group IIIA of the Periodical Table; and (3) external electron donors comprising three or more types of organo-silicon compounds, wherein the melt flow rates of the homopoly

Abstract: An apparatus for preparing a plastic eyeglass lens includes a coating unit and a lens curing unit. The apparatus is preferably configured to allow the operation of both the coating unit and the lens curing unit. The apparatus may also include a post-cure unit and a controller. The controller is configured to control the operation of the coating unit, the lens curing unit and the post-cure unit. A lens forming composition may include an aromatic containing polyether polyethylenic functional monomer, a photoinitiator, and a coinitiator. The lens forming composition may be cured by the application of activating light or activating light and heat.

Abstract: The present invention provides a catalyst for producing an ultra high molecular weight polyethylene and also a method for preparation of an ultra high molecular weight polyethylene with the use of said catalyst. The catalyst of the present invention is prepared by a process comprising: (i) producing a magnesium compound solution by contact-reacting a magnesium compound and an aluminum or boron compound with alcohol; (ii) contact-reacting the said solution with an ester compound containing at least one hydroxy group and a silicon compound containing an alkoxy group; and (iii) producing of a solid titanium catalyst by adding a mixture of a titanium compound and a silicon compound thereto. The catalyst prepared by the present invention has excellent catalytic activity, and it helps to produce an ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene with large bulk density and narrow particle distribution without too large and minute particles.

Abstract: System and method for locating and polishing a stain or protrusion on a surface of a vehicle. The stain or protrusion may be located by placing a plastic film between a portion of a human hand and the surface. The stain or protrusion may then be removed and/or polished by applying an applicator containing a plastic flexible tool to the stain or protrusion. The applicator may include a body made of flexible or compressible material having a cavity into which a variety of polishing tools may be disposed.

Abstract: A perforated casing may be placed within contaminated soil. Perforations within the casing may be covered during insertion of the casing into the ground. Covering the perforations may inhibit plugging of the perforations during installation. Covering the perforations may also inhibit worker exposure to contaminant dust or vapors during insertion of the casing into the ground. The covering for the perforations in a casing may be plugs that are placed or formed in the casing perforations. Alternately, the covering for the perforations may be a sleeve placed adjacent to the perforations. After installation of the casing, heating or chemically treating the perforation coverings may remove the coverings and allow insertion or removal of fluids and vapor through the casing.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method which consists in: (a) stabilization of the monocrystalline silicon substrate temperature at a first predetermined temperature T1 of 400 to 500° C.; (b) chemical vapour deposition (CVD) of germanium at said first predetermined temperature T1 until a base germanium layer is formed on the substrate, with a predetermined thickness less than the desired final thickness; (c) increasing the CVD temperature from said first predetermined temperature T1 up to a second predetermined temperature T2 of 750 to 850° C.; and (d) carrying on with CVD of germanium at said second predetermined temperature T2 until the desired final thickness for the monocrystalline germanium final layer is obtained. The invention is useful for making semiconductor devices.

Abstract: An organoclay composition for gelling unsaturated polyester resin/monomer systems comprising a mineral clay mixture which has been treated with an alkyl quaternary ammonium compound. The mineral clay mixture comprises two components; mineral clay (a) comprising greater than 50 wt. %, based on the weight of the mineral clay mixture, of a mineral clay selected from the group consisting of sepiolite, palygorskite and mixtures of sepiolite and palygorskite; and mineral clay (b) comprising less than 50 wt. %, based on the weight of the mineral clay mixture, of a smectite.

Abstract: Amusement devices including a water cannon are described, that include a reservoir member and a channel member disposed therein. A water cannon may also include a partition, or plunger member that partitions the interior of the reservoir and slides along the channel member. A water cannon includes an inlet to fill the reservoir with fluid. When full, a gas inlet, connected to a control mechanism and controlled by an operator releases a burst of gas such as air into the reservoir, thus driving the plunger member down the channel member through the interior of the reservoir and forcing a spurt or projectile of water out of the channel. A musical water fountain system may include a water cannon. The musical water fountain system may include a sound system for playing music, a water cannon system for producing projectiles of water and a lighting system for producing visual effects.

Abstract: A method of forming a silicon oxynitride antireflection film which is noncontaminating with respect to deep-ultraviolet photoresists (DUV photoresists) on each of a series of silicon semiconductor substrates successively introduced into the same reactor chamber includes a step of plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) of a silicon oxynitride antireflection film and treatment of the antireflection film with an oxygen plasma. The reactor chamber is cleaned before the successive introduction of each of the substrates by purging the reactor chamber using an oxygen-free gas plasma and then depositing a silicon oxynitride blanket by plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition using precursor gases.

Abstract: A flasher ballast system includes a high frequency instant start ballast and one or more transformers. The high frequency instant start ballast may provide the strike voltage and perform the current limiting functions for a fluorescent lamp. The transformers may be electrically coupled to one or both of the filaments of a fluorescent lamp to provide a low voltage to the filaments.

Abstract: A holder is provided which couples to the spine. In an embodiment, the holder has two conduits into which sleeves may be inserted during a spinal fusion procedure. The holder may have a distractor extending from the bottom of the holder. The distractor secures the holder to the spine and maintains a proper separation distance between adjacent vertebrae. The sides of the distractor may be serrated to better secure the holder to the spine. The sleeves and conduits serve as alignment guides for instruments and implants used during the procedure. In an embodiment, the holder may include holes for fasteners that fixably secure the holder to vertebrae adjacent to a disc space. A flange may be placed around the holder to shield surrounding tissue and to provide a placement location for adjacent blood vessels during the spinal fusion procedure.

Abstract: A pressing-bending machine with a device for detecting the lower and upper cross-members deflection, aimed at interacting with at least one crowning system, essentially made up of means suitable for detecting the elastic deformation on the lower and/or upper cross-member (1, 4) vertical axis recorded during the plate pressing-bending active phase, said means, supplying the machine management logic unit with a higher or lower value respect to an upper cross-member reference value, from this depending the intervention of at least the crowning system, and also in which, said means, being active on both cross-members, comprise a part engaged to the action cross-member and a part, interconnected with the first one, integral with a fixed external cross-member independent from the action cross-member, comprising a means (8) for detecting and communicating the deflection relative to this latter with respect to the fixed external cross-member.

Abstract: A non-contact type shaft sealing device comprising a stationary sealing ring (9) disposed to axially oppose a rotational sealing ring (2) provided on a rotational shaft (1) of a device that will be shaft-sealed, wherein a number n of air inlets (9b) provided in the stationary sealing ring (9) is in a range of 3 to 24; a bore diameter d of a throttling mechanism provided in each of the air inlets (9b) is in a range of 0.05 to 3 mm; and concurrently, a dimensionless quantity &agr; defined as &agr;=8 hD/nd2 where h=inter-sealing-surface gap, and D=shaft diameter, is 1≦&agr;≦200. Thereby, ensuring stable sealing characteristics in the non-contact type shaft sealing device, and furthermore, minimizing consumption of a barrier gas to be fed through the air inlets (9b).

Abstract: An in situ thermal desorption soil remediation system may be used to remove contamination from soil. Heat may be applied to the soil by metallic strip heaters that have large cross sectional areas as compared to conventional heater elements. The strip heaters may be made of stainless steel. Large cross sectional areas of the strip heaters allow for large areas of thermal contact between the strip heaters and the soil being treated. Casings may not be needed between the strip heaters and the soil. The operating temperature of the strip heaters is self-regulating. As the temperature of a strip heater increases, the electrical resistance of the strip heater also increases. The increase in resistance causes a decrease in the power dissipation of the strip heater. The decrease in power dissipation as temperature increases allows a steady state heater strip temperature to be attained during use.

Abstract: A method for producing a supported catalyst useful in polymerization of ethylene and copolymerization of ethylene and &agr;-olefin is disclosed. The method includes treating the magnesium-containing carrier with a titanium compound containing oxygen atom(s), wherein said carrier is obtained by reaction of an organomagnesium compound of the structure of MgPh2.nMgCl2.mR2O (n=0.37˜0.7; m≧1; R20=ether; Ph=phenyl) with an organic chloride compound in a mole ratio of organic chloride compound/Mg≧0.5, at −20˜80° C. In one embodiment, the organic chloride compound may be carbon tetrachloride. A specific catalyst is provided whose activity is low in the beginning but slowly rises to a sufficient degree as the process of polymerization progresses, the polymer produced with the use of said catalyst having high bulk density, a well adjusted particle size distribution, and a narrow molecular weight distribution.

Abstract: An apparatus for preparing a plastic eyeglass lens includes a coating unit and a lens curing unit. The apparatus is preferably configured to allow the operation of both the coating unit and the lens curing unit. The apparatus may also include a post-cure unit and a controller. The controller is configured to control the operation of the coating unit, the lens curing unit and the post-cure unit. The lens forming unit may include an LCD filter disposed between activating light sources and a mold assembly. The mold assembly preferably includes two mold members held together by a gasket. The gasket preferably includes four protrusions spaced at 90 degree intervals about the gasket. A lens forming composition may include a first photochromic compound, a second photochromic compound and a light effector. The light effector may alter the color of a lens when exposed to photochromic activating light, when compared to a lens formed from a lens forming composition which does not include a light effector.