No. 8 - The Cuban Embargo: Policy Outlook after 50 Years

Organized and sponsored by the Dean Rusk Center for International Law and Policy, The Cuban Embargo: Policy Outlook after 50 Years was a daylong conference exploring issues related to the impact of trade sanctions imposed by the United States on Cuba, pathways to lifting the embargo and potential U.S.-Cuba trade opportunities. Ambassador José R, Cabañas, the chief of mission at the Cuban Interests Section in Washinton, D.C., served as the keynote speaker for the event. The transcript of the conference proceedings has been edited for publication with the consent of the speakers

Workshop Deutsch als Zweitsprache, Migration und Mehrsprachigkeit: Jahresschrift - Band 17

Der aktuelle Band der Jahresschrift knüpft an den 17. Workshop für Deutsch als Zweitsprache, Migration und Mehrsprachigkeit an, der im November 2022 an der Friedrich-Alexander- Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg stattfand. Das vorliegende Heft bietet eine Vielzahl von interessanten Beiträgen zu vier Forschungsbereichen: Interaktion in Lernsettings, Mehrsprachigkeit, Sprachaneignung mit digitalen Tools und Professionalisierung des pädagogischen Personals

Multicolour Single Molecule Imaging in Cells with Near Infra-Red Dyes

Background: The autofluorescence background of biological samples impedes the detection of single molecules when imaging. The most common method of reducing the background is to use evanescent field excitation, which is incompatible with imaging beyond the surface of biological samples. An alternative would be to use probes that can be excited in the near infra-red region of the spectrum, where autofluorescence is low. Such probes could also increase the number of labels that can be imaged in multicolour single molecule microscopes. Despite being widely used in ensemble imaging, there is a currently a shortage of information available for selecting appropriate commercial near infra-red dyes for single molecule work. It is therefore important to characterise available near infra-red dyes relevant to multicolour single molecule imaging. Methodology/Principal Findings: A range of commercially available near infra-red dyes compatible with multi-colour imaging was screened to find the brightest and most photostable candidates. Image series of immobilised samples of the brightest dyes (Alexa 700, IRDye 700DX, Alexa 790 and IRDye 800CW) were analysed to obtain the mean intensity of single dye molecules, their photobleaching rates and long period blinking kinetics. Using the optimum dye pair, we have demonstrated for the first time widefield, multi-colour, near infra-red single molecule imaging using a supercontinuum light source in MCF-7 cells

Comprehensive cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses of plasma neurofilament light across FTD spectrum disorders

Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) therapy development is hamstrung by a lack of susceptibility, diagnostic, and prognostic biomarkers. Blood neurofilament light (NfL) shows promise as a biomarker, but studies have largely focused only on core FTD syndromes, often grouping patients with different diagnoses. To expedite the clinical translation of NfL, we avail ARTFL LEFFTDS Longitudinal Frontotemporal Lobar Degeneration (ALLFTD) study resources and conduct a comprehensive investigation of plasma NfL across FTD syndromes and in presymptomatic FTD mutation carriers. We find plasma NfL is elevated in all studied syndromes, including mild cases; increases in presymptomatic mutation carriers prior to phenoconversion; and associates with indicators of disease severity. By facilitating the identification of individuals at risk of phenoconversion, and the early diagnosis of FTD, plasma NfL can aid in participant selection for prevention or early treatment trials. Moreover, its prognostic utility would improve patient care, clinical trial efficiency, and treatment outcome estimations

Service-Based Perceived Risk in Milestone Events

Consumers process perceived risk in purchases as varied as a new car or choosing a travel destination. Researchers have focused primarily on consumer goods purchases, so a gap exists addressing how consumers assess risk when making service-based purchases. This study addresses this gap, proposing a scale to measure service-based perceived risk (SBPR) and how perceived risk influences well-being when making a service-based purchase. This study also introduces a new dimension of event research, milestone events, such as weddings, mitzvahs, and quinceanaras, which reflect events that are infrequently celebrated, include a life transition and a significant financial commitment, and for which the celebrant has no prior experience planning. Milestone events are the service-based purchase reflected in the perceived risk studies. Study 1 develops a scale to better understand the psychological underpinnings of SBPR by producing a multi-item scale. This study proposes a scale composed of 4 constructs: social, psychological, relational, and locational risk. This scale was developed using a mixed methods approach, including a qualitative analysis using an extensive literature review and interviews with consumers actively involved in a service-based purchase and a quantitative analysis involving an exploratory factor analysis identifying the constructs. Confirmatory factor analysis was used to test the model, including construct validity, reliability, and discriminant validity. Study 2 tests the hypothesis that the dimensions of SBPR moderate the effect of uncertainty on a consumer’s hedonic well-being when planning a service-based purchase. Using milestone events, specifically the choice of a wedding venue, respondents were brides and grooms actively planning their wedding within the next 24 months. This study used an experimental design, where respondents were randomly presented one of two conditions reflecting either a high (new wedding venue) or low (well-established wedding venue) uncertainty service-based purchase. Using PROCESS v. 3.5 for SPSS v. 27, the moderating effect of each dimension on the relationship between uncertainty and hedonic well-being was measured and found to be significant for three of the four SBPR constructs: relational, psychological, and locational. Specifically, at lower levels of uncertainty, consumers’ hedonic well-being showed an increase at lower levels of relational, psychological, and locational perceived risk. The quantitative portion, within the milestone events context, shows that brides and grooms are susceptible to perceived risk and that it can have a significant impact on their hedonic well-being when choosing a wedding venue. This study indicate that social, psychological, relational, and locational risk are salient for consumers making service-based purchases. This study also defines and outlines the dimension of milestone events within the event literature. Within this context, specifically psychological, relational, and location risk present an opportunity for practitioners to alleviate consumers perception of risk when making event-based purchases. By providing assurances, references, opportunities to preview the consumption experience, and access to the facility prior to purchasing, venue representatives can address the most common risk concerns for brides and grooms choosing a venue and mitigate the reduction in hedonic well-being associated with that perceived risk. Future research can begin to test these proposed interventions to determine best practices for practitioners to alleviate service-based perceived risk. Additionally, this study addressed an affective impact of perceived risk, hedonic well-being, but future research can investigate how perceived risk and the resultant impact on well-being would impact behaviors such as purchase intention and willingness to pay a premium price.Hotel and Restaurant Management, Conrad N. Hilton College o

Beer style subcategories: persuading consumers to become loyal

Purpose Beer style consumers identify themselves more with a beer style, craft or national, rather than with brands. Tribal brand researchers have suggested that beer style consumers feel an intense sense of belonging to a beer style tribe, which may not lead to loyalty to their beer style. The purpose of this paper is to test whether public commitment to defend or spread positive word-of-mouth (WoM) about their beer style influences the development of loyalty among beer style consumers toward their beer style. Design/methodology/approach The authors surveyed 400 beer style consumers and used the structural equation modeling approach to examine the loyalty relationships between beer style consumers and their beer style. The authors followed Oliver’s cognitive-affective-conative loyalty framework to test these relationships. Then, the authors tested whether a verbal commitment to defend or spread positive WoM about their beer style strengthens loyalty between beer style consumers and their beer style. Findings Satisfaction of beer style consumers toward their beer style does not lead them to be willing to pay a premium price for their beer style. However, by including a public commitment to defend or spread positive WoM about their beer style, beer style consumers are more willing to pay a premium price for their beer style even in the presence of an intense sense of belonging to a beer style tribe. Originality/value Soliciting public commitment influences the development of loyalty among tribal consumers, which may also influence nontribal consumers. In addition, the inclusion of public commitment to Oliver’s loyalty framework, i.e., cognitive-affective-public commitment-conative, extends the use of Oliver’s model to consumer tribes. Finally, this study also suggests that the relationship between having a sense of belonging to a consumer tribe and willingness to pay a premium price can be influenced by a public commitment without first establishing brand satisfaction by consumers. </jats:sec