Abstract: According to some embodiments, data associated with the operation of a desalter vessel (150), adapted to receive a raw crude input and a water input and facilitate creation of a desalted crude output and a salt water output, may be stored in a computer storage device (630). A computer processor (610) may determine at least one parameter associated with the data in the computer store. The computer processor (610) may then automatically calculate, based on the determined parameter and a physics-based dynamic desalter model (400), an adjustment value for a second parameter associated with operation of the desalter vessel. Using the automatically calculated adjustment value, the computer processor (610) may automatically generate and transmit an indication of the adjustment value so as to improve operation of the desalter vessel (150).

Abstract: A hand-protection sporting accessory includes a flexible hand attachment for connection about a wearer's hand, and a slide pad extending from the hand. The flexible hand attachment includes a thumb loop through which the wearer's thumb can extend so as to maintain the slide pad adjacent to the palm of the hand unless deliberately released from the thumb. The accessory is particularly useful in competitive skateboarding where the slide pad can be positioned out of the way for quick race starts where the participant needs good grip with the starting gate. A quick “flick” of the hand can be made after the race start, whereby the loop lassoes the thumb to thereby place the slide pad across the palm.

Abstract: A hand-protection sporting accessory includes a flexible hand attachment for connection about a wearer's hand, and a slide pad extending from the hand. The flexible hand attachment includes a thumb loop through which the wearer's thumb can extend so as to maintain the slide pad adjacent to the palm of the hand unless deliberately released from the thumb. The accessory is particularly useful in competitive skateboarding where the slide pad can be positioned out of the way for quick race starts where the participant needs good grip with the starting gate. A quick “flick” of the hand can be made after the race start, whereby the loop lassoes the thumb to thereby place the slide pad across the palm.

Abstract: A two wheel drive bicycle has fixed rear wheel and a turnable front wheel, a chain ring rotatable by way of an external rotation force, and a bicycle frame comprising a top tube and a head tube. A front drive chain runs, in sequence, from the chain ring, about a chain tensioner, around a first pulley of a pulley system, around a freewheel of the front wheel, around a second pulley of the pulley system, and back to the chain ring. The pulley system is fixed adjacent the head tube. The chain tensioner is characterized by a retractable third pulley attached to a spring means, the spring means being biased in a direction away from the front freewheel.