Abstract: An image and video enhancement technique is described that allows a core enhancement algorithm to be applied to images captured in various challenging lighting conditions. The technique detects a lighting impairment and inverts the image if it is a low-light impairment. The inverted low-light image is similar to haze impairment images, allowing both haze images and low-light images to be enhanced using the same enhancement algorithm.

Abstract: Squaraine dyes are used to detect the presence of protein in a test sample, which is a substance that may contain protein. A squarine dye is placed in water, and in some instances joined with an aggregation agent, to create an aqueous dye solution. That dye solution is joined with a test sample. When the dye solution is joined with the test sample and the resultant test solution is excited by the application of photons, a resulting fluorescence or absence thereof reveals if protein was present in the test sample.

Abstract: A Bluetooth peripheral includes a sleeve, a Bluetooth earphone received in the sleeve, and a stylus latched to the sleeve. The invention also discloses a portable electronic device using the Bluetooth peripheral.

Abstract: A solar collector comprises a concentrator that focuses sunlight into concentrated light and a light receiver. The light receiver includes a concave photovoltaic cell structure connected to reflecting surfaces. The concave photovoltaic cell structure is made of a concave photovoltaic cell, or multiple flat photovoltaic cells forming a concave shape, or a photovoltaic cell and its mirror images forming a virtual concave shape. The reflecting surfaces are oriented to reflect light onto the photovoltaic cell. Each reflecting surface may be a mirrored wall of a mirror or the side-wall of a reflecting prism. A heat pipe may be attached to the light receiver and a transparent container may encase the concentrator and the light receiver. The container may be sealed from the environment, contain an insulating gas, or be held under a vacuum.

Abstract: A portable electronic device includes a touch pen comprising a main body, a first pen head, a first elastic member, and a first sleeve. The first elastic member interconnects the main body and the first pen head. The first sleeve is slidably sleeved on the main body or the first elastic member so as to expose at least a part of the first elastic member. The first elastic member is bendable.

Abstract: A Ianthanide complex, method of forming and method of using the lanthanide complex as a near-infrared luminescent material are described. The complex includes at least one lanthanide ion and at least one polydentate ligand derived from a molecule having the general formula of Structure: Structure 2, where: E represents a heteroatom or heteroatom-containing group and R1R8 are independently selected from H, —OH, —NH2, —SO3H, —CO2H, halides, optionally substituted organic groups; and conjugated linking groups which link two of the polydentate ligands of Structure 2 together.

Abstract: An accessory structure for portable electronic device includes a primary member and a resisting member. The primary member includes a seat and a supporting plate. The seat defines a recessed portion. The supporting plate includes a flexible portion allowing the seat to be bent relative to the supporting plate. The resisting member is received in the recessed portion. The resisting member is rotatably attached to the recessed portion.

Abstract: A solar energy module includes a casing, a mirror, a transparent top, a pipe, a fluid within the pipe and photovoltaic cells. The casing has three walls including two end walls and one wall in the form of an elongated U-shaped structure. The mirror is parabolic and sits atop the bottom wall of the casing to produce a line focus within the casing. The transparent top closes the casing to form an air-tight enclosure. The pipe has flat walls and is positioned at the line focus. The flat walls are at least a top-facing planar wall and a bottom-facing planar wall. The photovoltaic cells are attached at least to the bottom-facing planar wall. The fluid is confined within the pipe and carries away the heat from the photovoltaic cells. The air-tight module is optionally holding a vacuum and/or contains inert gas.

Abstract: A solar energy module assembles into an array producing electricity and heat upon exposure to light. The module includes a transparent tube; a reflector; solar cells; a pipe that is specially configured with planar walls; and an optional sun-tracking device. The reflector concentrates light to focal lines within the top part of the transparent tube. The pipe has a polygon cross-sectional shape with an odd number of flat walls, preferably three or five flat walls. A flat wall faces the top of the tube and is configured to extend across a portion of a cross-sectional shape occupied by a plurality of bottom-facing planar walls. At least two bottom-facing planar walls are each located in a focal line. A fluid in the pipe may serve as a coolant. The solar cells, preferably monocrystalline silicon photovoltaic cells, are mounted on the top flat wall and each bottom-facing planar wall to produce electricity.

Abstract: A process for synthesis of androstane 17-? carbothioic acid is provided. The process includes mixing an androstane 17-? carboxylic acid and a coupling reagent, and adding an alkanethioic acid to form an androstane 17-? carbothioic acid, wherein the androstane 17-? carbothioic acid has the formula (I): wherein R1 represents hydrogen or haloalkyl groups, R2 represents C1-8 linear alkyl groups, C1-8 branched alkyl groups, C1-6 unsaturated acyclic groups or aromatic groups, R3 represents hydrogen or hydroxyl, R4 represents hydrogen, bromine, chlorine or fluorine and R5 represents hydrogen, bromine, chlorine or fluorine. The process is a one-pot reaction.

Abstract: A Bluetooth peripheral includes a sleeve, a Bluetooth earphone received in the sleeve, and a stylus latched to the sleeve. The invention also discloses a portable electronic device using the Bluetooth peripheral.

Abstract: An accessory structure for portable electronic device includes a primary member and a resisting member. The primary member includes a seat and a supporting plate. The seat defines a recessed portion. The supporting plate includes a flexible portion allowing the seat to be bent relative to the supporting plate. The resisting member is received in the recessed portion. The resisting member is rotatably attached to the recessed portion.

Abstract: A portable electronic device includes a touch pen comprising a main body, a first pen head, a first elastic member, and a first sleeve. The first elastic member interconnects the main body and the first pen head. The first sleeve is slidably sleeved on the main body or the first elastic member so as to expose at least a part of the first elastic member. The first elastic member is bendable.

Abstract: An electric vehicle for personal transportation has an inflatable body that can be deflated and the electric vehicle collapsed to a storage or transport configuration that is compact and light-weight. At least one front wheel and one rear wheel are attached to the inflatable body. An electric motor is attached to a wheel and preferably there is an electric motor for each rear wheel to power and brake the vehicle. A battery pack provides vehicle propulsion and provides structural support. An electronic control unit controls the electric motor and also provides structural support. A steering assembly includes the front wheel that is structurally connected to a rear wheel by the inflatable body, a steering column, handle bars, and braking and speed controls operable by a person sitting on the inflatable body.

Abstract: A process for synthesis of androstane 17-? carbothioic acid is provided. The process includes mixing an androstane 17-? carboxylic acid and a coupling reagent, and adding an alkanethioic acid to form an androstane 17-? carbothioic acid, wherein the androstane 17-? carbothioic acid has the formula (I): wherein R1 represents hydrogen or haloalkyl groups, R2 represents C1-8 linear alkyl groups, C1-8 branched alkyl groups, C1-6 unsaturated acyclic groups or aromatic groups, R3 represents hydrogen or hydroxyl, R4 represents hydrogen, bromine, chlorine or fluorine and R5 represents hydrogen, bromine, chlorine or fluorine. The process is a one-pot reaction.

Abstract: An electric vehicle for personal transportation has an inflatable body that can be deflated and the electric vehicle collapsed to a storage or transport configuration that is compact and light-weight. At least one front wheel and one rear wheel are attached to the inflatable body. An electric motor is attached to a wheel and preferably there is an electric motor for each rear wheel to power and brake the vehicle. A battery pack provides vehicle propulsion and provides structural support. An electronic control unit controls the electric motor and also provides structural support. A steering assembly includes the front wheel that is structurally connected to a rear wheel by the inflatable body, a steering column, handle bars, and braking and speed controls operable by a person sitting on the inflatable body.

Abstract: A solar energy collector produces electricity and heat using an optically transparent vessel containing one or more photovoltaic cells and a liquid that substantially fills the vessel. The vessel has a top with a flat exterior surface and a bottom with a concave exterior surface that is coated on the outside with a reflective material. Solar radiation traveling through the top of the vessel into the liquid and through the bottom strikes the reflective material on the outside of the vessel and is reflected back through the bottom, into the liquid and to a focal line adjacent to the interior surface of the top. Cooled liquid is fed into the vessel through an entry port and heated liquid is removed through an exit port. One or more photovoltaic solar cells are located adjacent to the interior surface of the top aligned with the focal line.

Abstract: The invention provides a hair treatment composition comprising one or more alkaloids derivable from plants of the Sophora genus (Sophora alkaloids), characterised in that at least 95% by weight of the total Sophora alkaloids present in the composition are tetracyclic quinolizidine alkaloids of the general structural formula (I): in which X is O or a lone pair. The invention also provides the use of the above composition for the treatment of the hair fibre, especially hair fibres which are damaged.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are compositions and methods for preserving cell, tissue, or organ transplants and cultures by increasing the concentration of an intracellular metabolite of the hexosamine biosynthetic pathway. Also described herein are methods of reducing pathogenic effects in a subject by increasing the concentration of an intracellular metabolite of the hexosamine biosynthetic pathway.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a moisture-absorbing polymer particle, which either comprises PNIPAm crosslinking copolymer or a structure having PNIPAm crosslinking copolymer as a core and polymer with sulfonic acid group as a shell. The present invention also discloses a method for producing the provided moisture-absorbing polymer particle and an application thereof; the application is referred to as a continuous dehumidifying system which comprises a first module to perform a dehumidifying process and a second module to perform a regeneration process, wherein the dehumidifying process is performed at a temperature lower than 33° C. and the regeneration process is performed at a temperature higher than 40° C.