Automatic detection of welding defects using the convolutional neural network

Quality control of welded joints is an important step before commissioning of various types of metal structures. The main obstacles to the commissioning of such facilities are the areas where the welded joint deviates from acceptable defective standards. The defects of welded joints include non-welded, foreign inclusions, cracks, pores, etc. The article describes an approach to the detection of the main types of defects of welded joints using a combination of convolutional neural networks and support vector machine methods. Convolutional neural networks are used for primary classification. The support vector machine is used to accurately define defect boundaries. As a preprocessing in our work, we use the methods of morphological filtration. A series of experiments confirms the high efficiency of the proposed method in comparison with pure CNN method for detecting defects

Reduction of D-dimer levels after therapeutic administration of antithrombin in acquired antithrombin deficiency of severe sepsis

INTRODUCTION: In acute disseminated intravascular coagulation, the effect of antithrombin (AT) administration on elevated levels of D-dimer is not well established. In the present study, we report on changes in circulating levels of D-dimer in response to administration of AT in a series of patients with acquired AT deficiency due to severe sepsis. METHODS: Eight consecutive critically ill medical patients presenting with acute disseminated intravascular coagulation associated with severe sepsis/septic shock received a single bolus infusion of AT over 30 minutes, aiming to achieve physiological AT levels. Haemostatic parameters including D-dimer were assessed prior to, 6 and 24 h after AT administration. An average of 42 ± 9 U/kg body weight was infused. RESULTS: Following AT substitution, elevated levels of D-dimer fell whereas AT levels rose. CONCLUSION: These observations support the notion that AT can favourably affect fibrin degradation accompanying disseminated intravascular coagulation of severe sepsis