The possibilities of using drones in the 3D object modelling field

This article is focused on the 3D Modelling of Objects from recordings taken by drones. The principles of multi-propeller devices and individual commercially-available parts for the construction of drones. A separate part is devoted to the Photogrammetry technique for the 3D modelling of objects from images taken by drones. It maps the currently available software for this method, and presents tools available online, as well as PC tools and mobile applications. The practical part describes the construction and assembly of one’s own multi-propeller machine and its subsequent use for collecting imagery material for the modelling of selected objects. The modelling process – with the support of selected software, is also described. The result is evaluated from the perspective of its possible use in Safety/Security Technologies

The possibilities of using drones in the 3D object modelling field

This article is focused on the 3D Modelling of Objects from recordings taken by drones. The principles of multi-propeller devices and individual commercially-available parts for the construction of drones. A separate part is devoted to the Photogrammetry technique for the 3D modelling of objects from images taken by drones. It maps the currently available software for this method, and presents tools available online, as well as PC tools and mobile applications. The practical part describes the construction and assembly of one’s own multi-propeller machine and its subsequent use for collecting imagery material for the modelling of selected objects. The modelling process – with the support of selected software, is also described. The result is evaluated from the perspective of its possible use in Safety/Security Technologies

Verification of Finger Positioning Accuracy of an Affordable Transradial Prosthesis

Whether due to unpleasant events, injuries or illnesses, people lose the mobility of their hands. In extreme cases, amputation of the hand or hands can also occur. This paper deals with designing and fabricating an affordable transradial prosthesis using 3D printing and measuring finger positioning accuracy during a long-term test. The prosthesis’ design was inspired by the tested wire construction used in both low-cost commercial and do-it-yourself prostheses. The shape of the partial parts of the prosthesis was adapted for production using 3D printing. A high priority was also placed on using as few electronics as possible, while the used electronics also has to be affordable. Six MG995 servo motors were utilized to provide movement for the fingers, thumbs and wrist, and an Arduino Nano R3 was used to control their function. A control glove was subsequently developed to control the prosthesis, allowing accurate measurement of the angles of the finger’s distal phalanges. Their measured angle served as a reference for matching the angles on the prosthetic hand. To verify the prosthesis’s durability and the finger grip’s accuracy, a long-term test of 100,000 cycles, which repeated the western world’s finger-counting system from 0 to 5, was performed. It was determined that there is only a minor deviation from the initial finger position based on measurements of the accuracy of the finger position before and after the long-term test. Only minimal wear of functional parts after the long-term test was observed. No significant deviations from the desired finger angles were measured

Functional Conservation and Structural Diversification of Silk Sericins in Two Moth Species

Sericins are hydrophilic structural proteins produced by caterpillars in the middle section of silk glands and layered over fibroin proteins secreted in the posterior section. In the process of spinning, fibroins form strong solid filaments, while sericins seal the pair of filaments into a single fiber and glue the fiber into a cocoon. Galleria mellonella and the previously examined Bombyx mori harbor three sericin genes that encode proteins containing long repetitive regions. Galleria sericin genes are similar to each other and the protein repeats are built from short and extremely serine-rich motifs, while Bombyx sericin genes are diversified and encode proteins with long and complex repeats. Developmental changes in sericin properties are controlled at the level of gene expression and splicing. In Galleria, MG-1 sericin is produced throughout larval life until the wandering stage, while the production of MG-2 and MG-3 reaches a peak during cocoon spinning

Double-blind trial of levodopa/carbidopa/entacapone versus levodopa/carbidopa in early Parkinson's disease

We performed a 39-week, randomized, double-blind, multicenter study to compare the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of levodopa/carbidopa/ entacapone (LCE, Stalevo) with levodopa/carbidopa (LC, Sinemet IR) in patients with early Parkinson's disease (PD). Four hundred twenty-three patients with early PD warranting levodopa were randomly assigned to treatment with LCE 100/25/200 or LC 100/25 three-times daily. The adjusted mean difference in total Unified Parkinson's disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) Parts II and III between groups using the analysis of covariance model (prespecified primary outcome measure) was 1.7 (standard error = 0.84) points favoring LCE (P = 0.045). Significantly greater improvement with LCE compared with LC was also observed in UPDRS Part II activities of daily living (ADL) scores (P = 0.025), Schwab and England ADL scores (blinded rater, P = 0.003; subject, P = 0.006) and subject-reported Clinical Global Impression (CGI) scores (P = 0.047). There was no significant difference in UPDRS Part III or investigator-rated CGI scores. Wearing-off was observed in 29 (13.9%) subjects in the LCE group and 43 (20.0%) in the LC group (P = 0.099). Dyskinesia was observed in 11 (5.3%) subjects in the LCE group and 16 (7.4%) in the LC group (P = 0.367). Nausea and diarrhea were reported more frequently in the LCE group. LCE provided greater symptomatic benefit than LC and did not increase motor complications. © 2008 Movement Disorder Society