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This article is focused on the analysis of the narratives produced by a group of teachers, experts in coeducation, while they were discussing their everyday activities. They are responsible for the implementation of a Plan for Gender Equality in public secondary schools in Andalusia (Spain). This study is based on contributions about doing gender view, according to which gender is not an attribute of individuals, but a way of making sense of interactions and practising a complex system as functioning on three levels: sociocultural, interactional, and individual. We use these levels to understand gender culture in schools through teachers' discourse. Our interest lies particularly in the meanings, contradictions, difficulties, and conflicts experienced by expert teachers in co-education. Our study was based on group discussions with teachers in charge of the plan for equal opportunities between women and men in school settings. Results show teachers' conflicts about meanings and how they are supposed to apply the Equality Plan. We observed interactional levels during these conflicts and analysed how teachers construct and validate their discourse.

This article presents the results of a study on the digital inclusion of rural women in social networks. Its main objective is to understand the social support perceived by these women within online social networks and its relation to digital inclusion, considering also whether there are differences in the degree of support depending on age, family status and employment status. To do this, we applied two scales measuring perceived social support and digital inclusion to 478 women from rural areas of Andalusia aged 18 to 65. The results showed a medium level of support, with significant differences found in the social support perceived by women depending on their age, family status and employment status. Women, who were young, students, single, with no children and who use Tuenti and Facebook perceived a higher level of social support in social networks. We also observed a strong relation between perceived social support and the digital inclusion of women in social networks, with similarities appearing in studies carried out in different contexts and social groups. The discussion looks at implications for the formation of an active and participatory citizenship of women in social networks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Copyright of RED - Revista de Educación a Distancia is the property of Universidad de Murcia and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Abstract Background The ability of an intracellular pathogen to establish infection depends on the capacity of the organism to survive and replicate inside the host. Mycobacterium fortuitum is a bacteria that contains genes involved in the detoxification of the oxygen reactive species such as those produced by the host during the infection. In this work, we investigate the effects of hydrogen peroxide on the transcription and expression of these genes by developing a real time quantitative PCR technique (qRT-PCR) using the ribosomal promoter region (rrnA-P1) as reference product for quantification of the mRNA levels. Results M. fortuitum cultures were treated with different hydrogen peroxide concentrations (0.02 to 20 mM) during several periods of time (30 to 120 minutes). The activity of the enzymes KatGII and SodA, and the transcription of corresponding genes were evaluated. The transcriptional regulator furAII gene was also studied. The ribosomal promoter region rrnA-P1 was validated as referential product under the stress conditions checked by qRT-PCR. Minor changes were observed under the conditions tested except when bacteria were incubated in the presence of 20 mM hydrogen peroxide. Under those conditions, the levels of transcription of the three genes under study increased at 30 minutes of treatment. The viability of the bacteria was not influenced under the conditions tested. Conclusion In this work, we have quantified transcriptional responses to stress suggesting that, the opportunistic pathogen M. fortuitum is more resistant and differs in behaviour in the presence of hydrogen peroxide, when compared to the major pathogen Mycobacterium tuberculosis and the saprophyte Mycobacterium smegmatis. Besides, we demonstrate the mycobacterial non-coding region rrnA-P1 to be a suitable reference product in the analysis of qRT-PCR transcriptional data of M. fortuitum.

Introduction: Exit-site infections (ESI) of central venous catheters for hemodialysis (CVC-HD) has been associated with early catheter removal and an increased risk of CVC-HD related bacteremia. No specific clinical scales to predict ESI have previously been validated., Methods: A multicenter prospective cohort study was performed to validate the proposed scale, which is based on the following 5 signs and symptoms: (i) pain at exit site during interdialytic period; (ii) hyperemia or erythema ≥2 cm from exit site; (iii) inflammation, induration, or swelling at exit site; (iv) fever ≥38 °C not attributable to other causes, and (v) obvious abscess or purulent exudate at the exit site. Adult patients with a tunneled CVC-HD for at least 1 month after insertion has been included. During each hemodialysis session, the exit site was assessed with the proposed scale by nurses. If any item was present, a pericatheter skin swab culture was collected: positive results were gold standard. The scale was validated using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves and logistic regression analysis. For this purpose, the logit function was applied, and the ESI probability calculated, as elogit ESI/1 + elogit ESI., Results: Three hundred thirty-seven CVC-HDs from 310 patients were analyzed, producing 515 cultures (117 infected and 398 healthy). The final version of the scale includes the following 3 signs and symptoms, which present the greatest predictive capacity: (i) pain at exit site during interdialytic period, (ii) hyperemia or erythema ≥2 cm from exit site, and (iii) abscess or purulent exudate at the exit site. The final version generated an area under the ROC curve (AUC) of 88.3% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 85.2%-91%; P  < 0.001), Youden index 0.7557 ≈ 1, sensitivity 80.34% (95% CI: 71.36%-87.71%) and specificity 95.23% (95% CI: 92.73%-97%)., Conclusions: The validation shows that the scale has good predictive properties, detecting approximately 90% of ESI with very acceptable validity parameters., (© 2024 International Society of Nephrology. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Our prior research demonstrated a 20% to 25% reduction in bacterial chondronecrosis with osteomyelitis (BCO) lameness in broilers with organic Zn, Mn, and Cu (Availa ® ZMC) supplementation. Expanding on this, we investigated the optimal timing for Availa ® ZMC feeding to mitigate BCO lameness and reduce feed additive costs in the poultry industry. In this study, we compared the application of 0.15% Availa ® ZMC for 56 days, the first 28 days, and the last 28 days. The experimental design was a randomized block design involving 1560 one-day-old chicks distributed across two wire-floor pens as BCO source infection and four treatment groups with six replicates. The source of BCO infection exhibited a cumulative lameness incidence of 83%, whereas the negative control group showed a 77% cumulative incidence of lameness ( p = 0.125). Administering 0.15% of Availa ® ZMC during the initial 28 d resulted in a 41.3% reduction in BCO incidence, significantly different from the supplementation during the last 28 d ( p < 0.05). However, this reduction did not differ substantially ( p > 0.05) from the 56d application period. Hence, administering 0.15% Availa ® ZMC during the first four weeks emerges as the optimal timing protocol, providing a defense against lameness comparable to the continuous supplementation throughout the complete production duration. Implementing this feeding approach reduces the cost of feed additive, promotes the health of skeletal bones, and effectively protects against BCO lameness in broilers, offering a valuable consideration for producers seeking optimal outcomes in the poultry industry.

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) treatment is challenging in older patients. There is a lack of evidence-based recommendations for older patients ≥70, a group largely underrepresented in clinical trials. With new treatment options being available in recent years, recommendations are needed for these patients. As such the International Society of Geriatric Oncology (SIOG) assembled a task force to review the evidence specific to treatment and outcomes in this population of patients ≥70 years. Six questions were selected by the expert panel in domains of (1) baseline assessment, (2) frontline therapy, (3) post-remission therapy, (4) treatment for relapse, (5) targeted therapies, and (6) patient reported outcome/function and enhancing treatment tolerance. Information from current literature was extracted, combining evidence from systematic reviews/meta-analyses, decision models, individual trials targeting these patients, and subgroup data. Accordingly, recommendations were generated using a GRADE approach upon reviewing current evidence by consensus of the whole panel. It is our firm recommendation and hope that direct evidence should be generated for patients aged ≥70 as a distinct group in high need of improvement of their survival outcomes. Such studies should integrate information from a geriatric assessment to optimize external validity and outcomes., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest Disclosures: Dr. Extermann: Aileron, Alnylam (consultant), OncLive (honoraria). Dr. Artz: Abbvie, Magenta (consulting). Dr. Klepin: UptoDate (contributor). DrLoh: COI: Dr. Loh: Pfizer and Seagen (consultant), Pfizer (honoraria). Dr. Neuendorff: Janssen-Cilag, Medac, Novartis, Abbvie, and Jazz Pharmaceutical (honoraria, travel support). Dr. Santini: Abbvie, CTI, Celegne/BMS, Geron, Gilead, Novartis, Otsuka, Serveir, Syros (advisory boards), AIRC Foundation, Associazione Italiana per la Ricerca contro il Cancro, Milan Italy – Project. IG # 26537 (grant). Dr. Stauder: Celgene/BMS (Advisory board); Celgene/BMS (Honoraria); Celgene/BMS (Research funding). Dr. Vey: Celgene/BMS, Novartis, Roche, Jazz Pharmaceuticals (honoraria)., (Copyright © 2023. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Background and Rationale: Thromboembolic complications are a serious, preventable and common event in cancer patients that contributes to increasing morbidity and mortality. Despite increasing knowledge on cancer-associated thrombosis (CAT), there are still several aspects of diagnosis, clinical management, treatment and prognosis with uncertainties that are under-represented in randomized clinical trials. For this reason, the Spanish Society of Medical Oncology (SEOM) launched in June 2018 a registry of CAT., Methods/design: TESEO is an ongoing prospective, non-interventional, multicentric study in consecutive cancer patients with newly diagnosed of thromboembolic event (TEE). Eligibility criteria include being  > 18 years with a histologically confirmed diagnosis of cancer and a symptomatic or incidental TEE confirmed with an imaging technique in the previous month or any time after the cancer diagnosis and signing of informed consent. The study consists of two types of integrated but independent prospective registries. Regular CAT sub-registry includes information on patient's cancer´s characteristics, anticoagulant treatment provided and outcome data. Special CAT sub-registry includes variables related to special situations of CAT that comprise patients with severe kidney failure, thrombocytopenia, high risk of bleeding related to the cancer or with coexistence of bleeding and patients who receive new treatments such a targeted therapy, antiangiogenics agents and immunotherapy. The registry considers the status of the cancer and the time to assess how the prognosis is changed based on when the thrombus occurs. Some outcomes such as rethrombosis, major bleeding, tumor progression and survival will be valued in various time intervals including 1, 3, 6 and 12 months after the even in the first year; and then every 6 months until the patient's death., Results: After 18 months and with 35 centers and researchers, the registry has 1128 patients., Conclusion: TESEO registry will provide clinical real-world evidence for prevention, treatment and complications of CAT in different scenarios that are under-represented in randomized clinical trials.

Major histocompatibility complex (MHC) congenic chicken lines have been used as a model to study infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) immune responses in chickens. Zinc (Zn) and manganese (Mn) are trace minerals that act as enzyme cofactors in cellular reactions. In addition, Zn is an important modulator of immune responses, especially in the respiratory tract. Zinc and Zn + Mn amino acid complex supplements were tested to alleviate the effects of an IBV challenge using relatively resistant and susceptible MHC congenic chicken lines. Prior to the challenge with IBV, the amino acid-bound supplements induced better weight gain in the IBV-resistant chicken line (331/B2) compared to the birds fed with the sulfate-delivered supplements. No body weight differences were detected between IBV-challenged and unchallenged 331/B2 birds supplemented with Zn in amino acid complex. A reduction of respiratory signs was observed in 335/B19 birds fed with the diet supplemented with Zn in amino acid complexes at 4 dpi. Compared to the sulfate-bound trace minerals, 331/B2 chickens fed with the amino acid-bound supplements presented milder clinical sign trends at 6 dpi and less severe airsacculitis at 14 dpi. The total antibody response in serum in 331/B2 birds fed with the amino acid-bound Zn ration was the highest among all groups tested. Both amino acid-delivered trace mineral supplements induced a slightly higher antibody response than the sulfate-bound ration in both chicken lines. This experiment provides insights into the effect of Zn and Mn on the immunity of chickens with known different susceptibilities to IBV.

The feed additive Availa-ZMC was investigated for the ability to reduce lameness in broilers using 2 alternative models for inducing lameness. The mixture of organic trace minerals was effective in reducing lameness by 20% in the wire flooring model and 25% in the litter flooring model with the bacterial challenge. Lameness in both models is overwhelmingly attributable to bacterial chondronecrosis with osteomyelitis. The reduction in lameness was associated, at least in part, with enhanced intestinal barrier integrity mediated by elevated expression of tight junction proteins and stimulation of bactericidal killing of adherent peripheral blood monocytes obtained from the birds treated with Availa-ZMC. Lameness is a major animal welfare concern in broiler production. The wire flooring model and litter flooring model with the bacterial challenge are effective models for evaluation of management strategies for mitigating infectious causes of lameness., (Copyright © 2020. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Necrotic enteritis (NE) is a common and costly disease of poultry caused by virulent toxigenic strains of Clostridium perfringens. Although the importance of trace minerals for intestinal integrity and health is well documented, there is little information on their role in ameliorating the effects of NE. The two studies reported here examined the effects of replacing a portion of the dietary zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), and manganese (Mn) supplied as sulfates in the control diets with metal-amino acid-complexed minerals in a NE-challenge model consisting of coccidiosis and Clostridium perfringens. In a 28-day battery study, the treatments were the following: (1) no additional Zn or Mn, unchallenged (negative control); (2) no added Zn or Mn, challenged (positive control); (3) added ZnSO4 and MnSO4 at 100 ppm each, challenged; (4) additional ZnSO4 at 60 ppm, Availa-Zn at 40 ppm (Low), and MnSO4 at 100 ppm, challenged; (5) added ZnSO4 at 60 ppm, Availa-Zn at 60 ppm (high), and MnSO4 at 100 ppm, challenged; and (6) added ZnSO4 at 60 ppm, Availa-Zn at 40 ppm, MnSO4 at 60 ppm, and Availa-Mn at 40 ppm, challenged. None of the treatments ameliorated gross lesion scores, but all reduced NE-associated mortality compared with the positive control. At 28 days, the group supplemented with Availa-Zn at 40 ppm (low) had a lower body weight than challenged groups supplemented with Zn and the negative control. In a floor pen study, the five treatment groups were the following: (1) Zn, Mn, and Cu from sulfate sources at 100, 100, and 20 ppm respectively; (2) Zn, Mn, and Cu from sulfate sources at 40, 100, and 20 ppm, respectively, plus Zn from Availa-Zn at 60 ppm; (3) Zn and Mn from sulfate sources at 40 and 100 ppm, respectively, plus Zn from Availa-Zn at 60 ppm and Cu from Availa-Cu at 10 ppm; (4) Zn, Mn, and Cu from sulfate sources at 60, 60, and 20 ppm, respectively, plus Zn and Mn from Availa-Zn/Mn at 40 and 40 ppm, respectively; and (5) bacitracin methylene disalicylate at 55 g/metric ton with Zn, Mn, and Cu from sulfate sources at 100, 100, and 20 ppm, respectively (Zoetis, Inc., Kalamazoo, MI). None of the treatments reduced lesion scores. The Availa-Zn and Availa-Zn/Mn had lower mortality than the sulfate-supplemented feed, whereas Availa-Zn/Cu and bacitracin methylene disalicylate were intermediate and did not differ from the other groups. Considering both trials together, and by using NE mortality as the discriminating factor, we found that adding Zn and Mn exceeding National Research Council requirements reduced NE-associated mortality, and in the floor pen study, complexed Zn and complexed Zn plus Mn appeared to be superior to sulfates.

This study consisted of three 5-wk experiments to test the effects of administering Zinpro-LQ (Zinpro-LQ, Zinpro Corporation, Eden Prairie, MN) for different time intervals in stressed broilers, pullets, and layers. Treatments included: nonstressed control (NC), stressed control (SC), stressed and supplemented Zinpro-LQ for 14 d prior to stressor (S1), 10 d prior (S2), 7 d prior to and 7 d during stressor (S3), and 5 d prior (S4). Birds included 1-d-old Cobb 500 male broilers (Experiment 1), 7-wk-old white Leghorn pullets (Experiment 2), and 50-wk-old white Leghorn layers (Experiment 3). All stressed birds were vaccinated against Newcastle Disease Virus (NDV) on day 28 and exposed to random feed and water withdrawal days 28 to 35 for 6 h/d. Pullets were beak trimmed on day 21, and layers were heat stressed days 28 to 35. Blood was sampled on day 35 to determine plasma chemistry, corticosterone (CORT), anti-NDV antibody titer, and heterophil/lymphocyte (H/L) ratio. Mortality, feed and water consumption, and BW were also recorded. In Experiment 1, CORT and H/L ratio were highest in SC (P < 0.05). In Experiment 2, CORT was higher in SC than S4 (P < 0.05) while all other treatments were statistically intermediate. NDV titer was lower in SC than S4 while all other treatments were statistically intermediate. Treatment differences were also observed for H/L ratio, and plasma uric acid and cholesterol in Experiment 2. In Experiment 3, treatment differences were observed for H/L ratio, plasma glucose, sodium, and chloride. H/L ratio was lower in NC, S1, and S4 compared with SC (P < 0.05); and NC and S1 were lower than S2 (P < 0.05). In conclusion, dietary inclusion of zinc AA complex for any length of time prior to a stressor helped reduce measures of stress in broilers. The S1 and S4 treatments helped reduce stress and improve humoral immune response in pullets and layers., (© The Author(s) 2020. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the American Society of Animal Science. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Objectives: We aimed to generate expert-based recommendations on the management of breakthrough cancer pain (BTcP) in older patients with cancer., Material and Methods: A two-round multidisciplinary Delphi study. Specialists rated their agreement with a set of statements using a nine-point Likert scale (one = totally disagree and nine = totally agree). Statements were classified as appropriate (median ranged from seven to nine), irrelevant (median ranged from four to six) or inappropriate (median ranged from one to three). Consensus was established when at least two thirds of the panel scored within any of the ranges., Results: A total of 64 specialists from pain units (44.4%), palliative care units (25.4%), medical oncology (19.1%), geriatric medicine (7.9%) and others (3.2%), participated in two consultation rounds. Specialists agreed that effective coordination between the different specialties and levels of care is essential for proper management of BTcP. Most participants (81.3%) supported the assessment of frailty and resolved (96.8%) that frailty status is a better indicator of patient needs than biological age. Participants agreed (75.8%) in the application of the Davies algorithm for diagnosis of BTcP in older patients. A strong consensus was achieved regarding which pharmacological treatment (transmucosal fentanyl) and dosing method (start low and go slow) are the most suitable for the older population. No agreement was reached on how interventionist techniques should be integrated into the therapeutic strategy for BTcP., Conclusions: The present Delphi has generated a set of recommendations that will help healthcare professionals in the management of BTcP in older patients., (Copyright © 2019. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

The concept of antimicrobial susceptibility testing is an essential part of clinical microbiology. Antimicrobial testing has played a central role in the identification of new antibiotics and defining their clinical uses. Here we describe different approaches to determine the activity of compounds in medium- or high-throughput format.

Optical encoders are used in industrial and laboratory motion equipment to measure rotations and linear displacements. We introduce a design of an optical encoder based on a nondiffractive beam. We expect that the invariant profile and radial symmetry of the nondiffractive beam provide the design with remarkable tolerance to mechanical perturbations. We experimentally demonstrate that the proposed design generates a suitable output sinusoidal signal with low harmonic distortion. Moreover, we present a numerical model of the system based on the angular spectrum approximation whose predictions are in excellent agreement with the experimental results.

We present a study of the variations of a speckle pattern passing through a grating that can be displaced. This study is described theoretically by a simple model based on the scalar diffraction theory in the Fresnel zone. The intensity correlation of the modified speckle as a function of the grating displacement is obtained and compared with experimental results. The possibilities of metrological applications in optical encoders are suggested.

Aims: To discuss our concern for some aspects of mathematics learning disorders related to the nomenclature employed and their diagnosis; these aspects refer to the term 'dyscalculia' and to its diagnosis (especially syndromatic diagnosis). We also intend to propose a classification that could help to define the terminology. Lastly we are going to consider the different aspects of diagnosis and to determine which of them are indispensable in the diagnosis of primary and secondary disorders., Development: As far as the nomenclature is concerned, we refer to the term 'dyscalculia'. The origins of the term are analysed along with the reasons why it should not be used in children with difficulties in learning mathematics. We propose a classification and denominations for the different types that should undoubtedly be discussed. With respect to the diagnosis, several problems related to the syndromatic diagnosis are considered, since in our country there are no standardised tests with which to study performance in arithmetic and geometry. This means that criterion reference tests are conducted to try to establish current and potential performance. At this stage of the diagnosis pedagogical and psychological studies must be conducted. The important factors with regard to the topographical and aetiological diagnoses are prior knowledge, results from the studies that have been carried out and findings from imaging studies. The importance of a genetic study must be defined in the aetiological diagnosis., Conclusions: We propose a nomenclature to replace the term 'dyscalculia'. Standardised tests are needed for the diagnosis. The need to establish current and potential performance is hierarchized. With regard to the topographical diagnosis, we highlight the need for more information about geometry, and in aetiological studies the analyses must be conducted with greater numbers of children.

Aims: The objective of this study was to determine the relations that exist between attention and the executive functions, and between attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and dysexecutive syndrome, while at the same offering a definition of these terms. To achieve this, several aspects related to attention and the executive functions are reviewed, including the evolution of the concept, the different types and the anatomical location., Development: The analysis investigates the possible relations between attention and the executive functions, and the modifications that have taken place in ADHD over time, which leads us to consider whether it is the children themselves and the factors that may have influenced these differences. The work then moves on to analyse the possible explanation behind the most frequent symptoms: attention deficit, hyperactivity and impulsiveness, and more especially whether they can be symptoms of executive dysfunction. The possibility of several clinical forms then arises. Finally, we accept the possible cause as being due to an alteration in neurotransmitters, especially dopamine and noradrenalin. A discussion is also included on whether the new interpretation, executive dysfunction, entails a different treatment and whether this offers some benefit for the child., Conclusions: Attention is related to the executive functions, but it is not one of them. ADHD has several clinical forms, one of which (although not the only one) may be dysexecutive syndrome. The clinical symptoms may be caused by a delay in the development of distinct neurotransmitter systems.

Aims: To review some aspects of learning and its difficulties, learning understood as meaning a process that allows the nervous system to develop, and also as acquisition and consolidation, and as a synaptic and neocortical process. Likewise, we also intend to analyse the role played by the environment as well as the relations between learning and maturing, and between learning and plasticity. It is also our aim to define learning difficulties and to discuss how they can be classified. Finally, this study also seeks to consider diagnosis and the different possibilities it may offer., Development: The main issue analysed here is the diagnosis of learning disorders, which is classified as being either positive (syndromatic, topographic, aetiological) or differential; the paper also describes the ways such diagnoses can be carried out and the role played by an interdisciplinary team is underlined., Conclusions: Attention is drawn to the importance of this subject owing to the large numbers of children who visit a specialist because of a possible learning disorder. At the same time we also highlight the fact that the members of the team that study these children will need to have a sound and comprehensive training because of the many pathologies that may be at play. Lastly, we discuss the need to conduct this research to resolve certain aspects that are not well understood.

When a translucent diffuser is illuminated by a speckle pattern, a new speckle pattern is produced. We show that the decorrelation of this intensity pattern by displacement of the diffusing surface is related to the standard deviation of the slope's distribution when the illuminating speckle grain is chosen appropriately small. The experimental results are compared with those obtained by measuring the angular distribution of the mean scattered intensity, and they show good agreement with each other.

This research is an extension of the optical method of quality control presented in a previous paper [Appl. Opt. 39, 5811 (2000)] to the case of slightly rough cylindrical surfaces. Applying the Kirchhoff scalar diffraction theory yields an analytical expression of the autocorrelation function of the intensity scattered from slightly rough cylindrical surfaces. This function, which is related to speckle size and shape, is shown to depend on the surface correlation length, unlike for plane surfaces for which the speckle depends on the illuminated area only. The theoretical expression is compared with that for the speckle produced by the light scattered from a cylindrical bearing and from various high-quality wires, showing that the method allows the correlation lengths of high-quality cylindrical surfaces to be determined.

The autocorrelation function of the intensity scattered from cylindrical rough surfaces is analytically obtained with the Kirchhoff scalar diffraction theory. It is shown that, in contrast to the case in which planar rough surfaces scatter radiation, this function, related to the speckle size, depends on the statistical parameters that characterize the surface and on the scattering direction. This result suggests a new, to our knowledge, optical method that can be applied to the characterization of cylindrical rough surfaces, such as in on-line quality assessment, in manufacturing processes. The calculated theoretical expression was tested, showing good agreement with experiments.

In industrial applications of thin metallic wires it is important to characterize the surface defects of the wires. We present an optical technique for the automatic detection of surface defects on thin metallic wires (diameters, 50-2000 microm) that can be used in on-line systems for surface quality control. This technique is based on the intensity variations on the scattered cone generated when the wire is illuminated with a beam at oblique incidence. Our results are compared with those obtained by atomic-force microscopy and scanning-electron microscopy.

This paper describes a new method of directional image processing based on a pinhole camera with a rectangular aperture.