Abstract: An apparatus for assisting a male animal to masturbate can include: a tube with an end opening into a cavity, the end having a pair of flat surfaces extending therefrom; a plate with an receptacle extending therefrom, the receptacle corresponding to the tube to receive the same upon insertion, the pair of flat surfaces of the end engaging with a corresponding pair of orifices formed through the plate assembly to reversibly lock the tube against the plate. A female animal mannequin can have the plate installed therein. The tube and the receptacle of the plate can be approximately the same length to accommodate coupling there-between. Further, the pair of flat surfaces can each include a protrusion that removably engages with each orifice to reversibly lock the tube with the plate prior to masturbatory use of the tube by a male animal.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method for correcting image data for a captured image for lens shading artifacts is provided. The method comprises determining a plurality of one dimensional correction curves that can be applied to the image data to correct for lens shading artifacts therein; and correcting the image data for lens shading artifacts based on the one dimensional curves.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method for controlling artifacts in an image due to a presence of flicker in ambient light is provided. The method comprises determining a power frequency for the ambient light; determining a magnitude and phase of flicker fluctuation in the image due to the flicker; and adjusting the image for the flicker fluctuation based on the power frequency, magnitude, and phase.