Differentiation-inducing factors 1-3 (DIFs 1-3), chlorinated alkylphenones identified in the cellular slime mold Dictyostelium discoideum, are considered anti-tumor agents because they inhibit proliferation of a variety of mammalian tumor cells in vitro. Although the anti-proliferative effects of DIF-1 and DIF-3 are well-documented, the precise molecular mechanisms underlying the actions of DIF...

A new diagnostic tool for the identification of differential item functioning (DIF) is proposed. Classical approaches to DIF allow to consider only few subpopulations like ethnic groups when investigating if the solution of items depends on the membership to a subpopulation. We propose an explicit model for differential item functioning that includes a set of variables, containing metric as wel...

Differential item functioning (DIF) occurs when an item on a test or questionnaire has different measurement properties for 1 group of people versus another, irrespective of mean differences on the construct. This study focuses on the use of multiple-indicator multiple-cause (MIMIC) structural equation models for DIF testing, parameterized as item response models. The accuracy of these methods,...

BACKGROUND Optimal management of cutaneous herpes simplex virus (HSV) and varicellazoster virus (VZV) infections requires rapid, accurate distinction between these pathogens. OBJECTIVE In a mixed-case series of suspected cutaneous herpesvirus infections, we compared the diagnostic utility of viral culture and direct immunofluorescence (DIF) using a panel of fluoresceinated monoclonal antibodi...

The stalk cell differentiation inducing factor (DIF) has the properties required of a morphogen responsible for pattern regulation during the pseudoplasmodial stage of Dictyostelium development. It induces prestalk cell formation and inhibits prespore cell formation, but there is as yet no strong evidence for a morphogenetic gradient of DIF. We have measured DIF accumulation by monolayers of is...

The authors examined measurement bias in the Hogan Personality Inventory by investigating differential item functioning (DIF) across sex and two racial groups (Caucasian and Black). The sample consisted of 1,579 Caucasians (1,023 men, 556 women) and 523 Blacks (321 men, 202 women) who were applying for entry-level, unskilled jobs in factories. Although the group mean differences were trivial, m...

A novel method for the identification of differential item functioning (DIF) by means of recursive partitioning techniques is proposed. We assume an extension of the Rasch model that allows for DIF being induced by an arbitrary number of covariates for each item. Recursive partitioning on the item level results in one tree for each item and leads to simultaneous selection of items and variables...

We propose and demonstrate self-aligned Double Injection Function Thin Film Transistor (DIF-TFT) architecture that mitigates short channel effects in 200 nm on non-scaled insulator (100 SiO 2 ). In this conceptual design, a combination of ohmic-like injection contact high injection-barrier metal...

Women who expect an upcoming divorce have the possibility of taking action in order to protect themselves against projected negative financial consequences. In this paper we investigate whether they do. Using retrospective data for a sample 884 divorced women from Divorce Flanders (DiF)-survey, estimate difference probability that increase their employment intensity surrounding time couple stop...

This study applied the odds-ratio (Penfield, 2008), the multinomial logistic regression (Kato et al., 2009), and the standardised distractor analysis (Schmitt and Bleistein, 1987) methods in the examination of differential distractor functioning (DDF) effects. Using data from the administration of one statewide mathematics assessment, these methods were applied to provide insight into two resea...