The Drosophila NF-κB protein Dorsal is expressed at the larval neuromuscular junction, where its expression appears unrelated to known Dorsal functions in embryonic patterning and innate immunity. Using confocal microscopy with domain-specific antisera, we demonstrate that larval muscle expresses only the B isoform of Dorsal, which arises by intron retention. We find that Dorsal B interacts wit...

Direct immunofluorescence (DIF) techniques were compared with conventional cell culture for the diagnosis of ocular infections with Chlamydia trachomatis. The DIF test was found to have a sensitivity of 100% and a specificity of 97.5%. Of 178 patients studied, 19 patients (11%) were positive by DIF and 15 (8.4%) by conventional cell culture technique. Four patients who had previous treatment wi...

Interactive systems have begun to adopt embedded and ubiquitous computing technologies in an attempt to effectively distribute information and functions in our activity space. Because of the pervasive nature of those technologies, it becomes critical to pursue deeper understanding of user needs and consistent incorporation of those needs into the system from a wide range of viewpoints. In order...

In this simulation study, we investigate the power and Type I error rate of a procedure based on the mean and covariance structure analysis (MACS) model in detecting differential item functioning (DIF) of graded response items with five response categories. The following factors were manipulated: type of DIF (uniform and non-uniform), DIF magnitude (low, medium and large), equality/inequality o...

BACKGROUND There are diverse causes of cicatricial alopecia characterized by lack of follicular ostia and irreversible loss of hair. While clinical differentiation between the causes may be difficult, particularly with regard to lichen planus (LP), lupus erythematosus (LE) and pseudopelade of Brocq (PB), it has been suggested that both histopathologic examination and direct immunofluorescence s...

In this article, the Rasch model is used for assessing a mean difference between two groups test of dichotomous items. It assumed that random differential item functioning (DIF) exists can bias group differences. The case balanced DIF distinguished from unbalanced DIF. DIF, effects on average cancel out. contrast, in expected value differ zero and favor particular group. Robust linking methods ...

This research provides an example of testing for differential item functioning (DIF) using multiple indicator multiple cause (MIMIC) structural equation models. True/False items on five scales of the Schedule for Nonadaptive and Adaptive Personality (SNAP) were tested for uniform DIF in a sample of Air Force recruits with groups defined by gender and ethnicity. Uniform DIF exists when an item i...

Myxococcus xanthus social (S) gliding motility has been previously reported by us to require the chemotaxis homologues encoded by the dif genes. In addition, two cell surface structures, type IV pili and extracellular matrix fibrils, are also critical to M. xanthus S motility. We have demonstrated here that M. xanthus dif genes are required for the biogenesis of fibrils but not for that of type...

A differentiation-inducing factor (DIF) for the promyelocytic HL-60 cell line is constitutively produced by the malignant T lymphocyte line HUT-102. DIF was highly purified from HUT-102-conditioned media by means of diethylaminoethanol (DEAE)-chromatography, gel chromatography, and high-resolution, ion-exchange chromatography on a MonoQ column and sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel elect...

Many constructs are measured using multi-item data collection instruments. Differential item functioning (DIF) occurs when construct-irrelevant covariates interfere with the relationship between construct levels and item responses. DIF assessment is an active area of research, and several techniques are available to identify and account for DIF in cross-sectional settings. Many studies include ...