Exploring Consumer Cosmopolitanism and Ethnocentrism Effects in the Purchase Intentions towards the Products of a Foreign Country

Sousa,Ana F. Antunes,Nobre,Helena M.,Farhangmehr,Minoo 한국유통과학회 2019 KODISA ICBE (International Conference on Business Vol.2019 No.-

A successful integrated strategy across national borders helps companies to target potential consumers at the global market. The purpose of this paper is to understand the role of cosmopolitanism and ethnocentrism on consumers’ preferences for domestic versus foreign products and their visiting intentions. A questionnaire assessing the influence of consumer cosmopolitanism and consumer ethnocentrism on the intention to buy domestic versus foreign products and travelling to Portugal was passed on a sample of 386 international consumers. Findings reveal that cosmopolitan consumers show a higher predisposition to buy foreign products and visiting the country. On the other hand, ethnocentrism seems to act as a barrier to visiting foreign countries.

Psychological Distress During COVID-19: Its Association With Stress, Emotion Regulation, and Sleep

Sousa João Carlos Pinto de,Soares Maria João de Castro,Amaral Ana Paula Monteiro,Pereira Ana Telma Fernandes,Santos António Ferreira de Macedo e 대한수면학회 2024 sleep medicine research Vol.15 No.1

Background and Objective The COVID-19 pandemic has been linked to an increase in psychological distress and mental disorders worldwide. The objectives of this study were to investigate the correlates of psychological distress during the COVID-19 pandemic and explore whether the relationship between stress and psychological distress was mediated by cognitive emotion regulation strategies and sleep.Methods Four hundred ninety-six university students completed the Mental Health Inventory, the Insomnia Scale, the Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire, and the Perceived Stress Scale.Results Female gender and younger age were related to stress, sleep difficulties, and psychological distress. Stress was positively correlated with psychological distress and these two variables were associated with sleep difficulties, negative cognitive emotion regulation strategies (both positively), and positive cognitive emotion regulation strategies (inversely). In mediation analyses, there was a statistically significant positive direct/indirect impact of stress on psychological distress. The indirect pathways linking stress to psychological distress were: through an increase in negative cognitive emotion regulation strategies or a reduction in positive ones; through sleep difficulties; and through negative cognitive emotion regulation strategies and sleep. Female gender had a positive impact on sleep difficulty index, negative cognitive emotion regulation, and psychological distress.Conclusions The cognitive-emotional arousal associated with stress, as well as the maladaptive cognitive emotion regulation to cope with stress, may be implicated in the genesis and maintenance of sleep difficulties and distress during the pandemic. Strategies that include stress management, emotional self-regulation, and sleep hygiene should be implemented to promote the mental/psychological well-being of university students in future public health crises, such as the COVID-19 pandemic.

Cosmopolitanism and the Mediating Effect of Country Image on Consumers’ Purchase, Visit and Investment Intentions

Ana Sousa,Helena Nobre,Minoo Farhangmehr 한국유통과학회 2019 The Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Busine Vol.6 No.4

The paper aims to understand the mediating effect of Country Image (CI) on the relationship between consumer cosmopolitanism and consumers’ purchase, visit and investment intentions towards a foreign country, considering the moderating effects of ethnocentrism, materialism, product familiarity, and visits to a country in a global market. The study extends research on the global and local consumption by simultaneously analysing the influence of country image dimensions and several moderating effects on consumers’ behavioural intentions. Four hundred and fifty-seven valid responses from international consumers were collected through a questionnaire measuring country image dimensions. Findings indicate that cosmopolitanism has a significant and positive effect on foreign consumers’ behavioural intentions and country image dimensions mediate this relationship. Moreover, a moderating effect was found for ethnocentrism, materialism, product familiarity, and visits to a country on the relationship between country cognitions and the intentions to visit the country. This study shows the importance of considering cosmopolitanism as a potential segmentation variable in international markets. The results can help managers and policymakers to better understand the image that foreign consumers hold about Portugal, their intentions to buy or invest in the country, as well as to think of Portugal as a tourism destination.

In vivo Antigenotoxic and Anticlastogenic Effects of Fresh and Processed Cashew (Anacardium occidentale) Apple Juices

Ana Amélia de Carvalho Melo-Cavalcante,Sandra Maria Mendes de Moura Dantas,Aracelli de Sousa Leite,Leomá Albuquerque Matos,João Marcelo de Castro e Sousa,Jaqueline Nascimento Picada,Juliana da Silva 한국식품영양과학회 2011 Journal of medicinal food Vol.14 No.7

Cashew apple juice and cajuina (processed juice) are drinks widely consumed in northeast Brazil. In vitro studies have shown that both juices have antimutagenic activity as well as antioxidant effects. These juices contain vitamins, carotenoids, and phenolic compounds. This in vivo study assessed the antigenotoxic and anticlastogenic effects of both drinks against genotoxicity and mutagenicity induced by cyclophosphamide. The comet, micronucleus, and chromosome aberrations tests were used. Male Swiss mice were divided into 6 groups (5 animals per group) and received the following by gavage, 0.15 mL/10 g body weight: group 1, water; group 2, cashew apple juice; group 3, cajuina juice; group 4, cashew apple juice and cyclophosphamide (50 mg/kg); group 5, cajuina juice and cyclophosphamide; group 6: cyclophosphamide. Both drinks significantly reduced DNA damage of peripheral blood cells (P<.001), with modulation percentages of 60.82% (cashew apple juice) and 82.19% (cajuina) when compared with the cyclophosphamide group. Cashew apple juice and cajuina modulated cyclophosphamide-induced micronucleus frequency, with up to 80.0% inhibition. Cashew apple juice and cajuina decreased the average number of cells with chromosome aberrations in bone marrow of mice by 53% and 65%, respectively. These findings demonstrate the high antigenotoxic and anticlastogenic potential of cashew apple juice and cajuina in vivo, which can be related to the antioxidant compounds found in both drinks.

An Empirical Study about the Influence of Country Personality and Product Involvement on Consumer’s Purchase and Visit Intentions

Ana F. Antunes de Sousa,Helena Nobre,Minoo Farhangmehr 한국유통과학회 2017 KODISA ICBE (International Conference on Business Vol.2017 No.-

The purpose of this paper is to understand the influence of country personality dimensions and product involvement on European consumers purchase and visit intentions, considering the Portuguese context. The increasing economic globalisation has resulted in the reducing of trade barriers between nations and the availability of more foreign products and services across borders. Therefore, the place associations of these products and services might be regarded as a potential competitive differentiator in their respective markets. A questionnaire measuring country personality dimensions, product involvement, and consumer’s purchase and visit intention was passed on a sample of 335 European consumers. This study rather assesses common CP within European consumers and offers a new perspective about the influence of CP dimensions and PI on European consumers’ purchasing and visiting intentions. Findings show that product involvement and wickedness have a significant influence, positive and negative respectively, on consumer’s purchase intentions, whereas assiduousness and product involvement have a significant positive influence on consumer’s visit intentions. On developing marketing strategies, international marketers and governmental decision-makers should consider product involvement attributes and specific country personality traits to provide the country’s products with a competitive edge, as well as to promote the country as a travelling destination.

An Empirical Study about the Influence of Country Personality and Product Involvement on Consumer’s Purchase and Visit Intentions

Ana Sousa,Helena Nobre,Minoo Farhangmehr 한국유통과학회 2018 The Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Busine Vol.5 No.3

The purpose of this paper is to understand the influence of country personality dimensions and product involvement on European consumers purchase and visit intentions, considering the Portuguese context. The increasing economic globalisation has resulted in the reducing of trade barriers between nations and the availability of more foreign products and services across borders. Therefore, the place associations of these products and services might be regarded as a potential competitive differentiator in their respective markets. Despite the proliferation of literature devoted to assessing the effects of country-of-origin, the symbolic dimension of a country’s image remains understudied. A questionnaire measuring country personality dimensions, product involvement, and consumer´s purchase and visit intention was passed on a sample of 335 European consumers. Country personality indeed matters both positively and negatively. Findings show that while assiduousness positively influences consumer’s visit intentions, wickedness has a negative influence on consumer’s purchase intentions. Findings also reveal that product involvement has a positive significant influence on consumer’s purchase and visit intentions. On developing marketing strategies, international marketers and governmental decision-makers should consider product involvement attributes and specific country personality traits to provide the country’s products with a competitive edge, as well as to promote the country as a travelling destination.

Not a neuroendocrine tumor: A case of hepatocellular carcinoma in ectopic liver tissue in the pancreas

Ana Margarida Correia,Catia Ribeiro,Flavio Videira,Davide Gigliano,Ana Luisa Cunha,Luis Pedro Afonso,Mariana Peyroteo,Rita Canotilho,Catarina Baia,Fernanda Sousa,Joaquim Abreu de Sousa 한국간담췌외과학회 2023 Annals of hepato-biliary-pancreatic surgery Vol.27 No.1

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) accounts for most of the hepatic neoplasms and can also occur in ectopic liver tissue. We present a case of a 55-year-old male complaining of weight loss. The imaging studies reported a 2.9 cm nodule in the pancreatic body, with a neuroendocrine tumor diagnosis by cytology. A corpo-caudal pancreatectomy was performed. Pathology showed a well-differentiated HCC developed in ectopic liver tissue with free margins and no lymph node metastases. HCC presenting in ectopic liver tissue is rare. In this case, the preoperative study did not establish the diagnosis, warranting the need for suspicion of this neoplasm.

Cosmopolitanism and the Mediating Effect of Country Image on Consumers’ Purchase, Visit and Investment Intentions

Ana SOUSA,Helena NOBRE,Minoo FARHANGMEHR 한국유통과학회 2018 KODISA ICBE (International Conference on Business Vol.2018 No.-

The paper aims to understandthe mediating effect of country image on the relationship between consumer cosmopolitanism and consumers’ purchase, visit and investment intentions towardsa foreign country, considering the moderating effects of ethnocentrism, materialism, product familiarity, and visits to a country in a global market. The following research questions are investigated: (1) What is the mediating effect of Country Image on the relationship between consumer cosmopolitanism and consumers’ purchase (PI), visit (VI) and investment (II) intentions, considering the moderating effects of consumer ethnocentrism, materialism, product familiarity, and visits to a country?, and (2) How the effect of the moderating variables consumer ethnocentrism, materialism, country product familiarity and visits to a country, influence the relationship between CI dimensions and consumers’ PI, VI and II towards a foreign country? Four hundred and fifty-seven valid responses from international consumers were collected through a questionnaire measuring country image dimensions, namely country cognitions and country affect, consumer dispositions toward foreign countries, and consumer behavioural intentions. These results show that country cognitions and country affect have a positive mediating effect on the relationship between consumer cosmopolitanism and consumers’ PI, VI and II. Findingsindicate that the country image dimensions mediate the relationship between consumer cosmopolitanism and consumers’ purchase, visit and investment intentions.

THE IMPACT OF BRAND LOVE IN BUILDING BRAND LOYALTY AMONG YOUNG CONSUMERS

Ana Rita Sousa,Am?lia Brand?o,Paula Rodrigues 글로벌지식마케팅경영학회 2018 Global Marketing Conference Vol.2018 No.07

Investigation concerning the presence of customer-brand relationships in online communities is recent and scarce and might offer potential (Moraes et al., 2014; Huber et al., 2015; Vernuccio et al., 2015). The purpose of this investigation is to understand and analyse how brand love can influence brand loyalty among millennials generation, considering engagement constructs and social networks. It bridges an academia gap in the context of the consumer brand relationship literature. This research aims to answer the following questions: (1) Is brand love effective in building true brand loyalty? (2) Does interactive engagement with brands and brand love contribute to build brand loyalty? and (3) Does interactive engagement on social networks reflect millennials love of brands? To collect data we conducted two online surveys, covering two different brand categories: Fashion and Electronics/Technology. We have in total 1278 inquiries. The analyses of data and hypotheses test were made by using the Structural Equation Model (SEM) and a multi-group factor analysis. The proposed structural equation model was validated and all hypothesis were accepted. So, consumers’ Brand Related Social Media Content was proved to have a direct impact on Social Interactive Brands and Brand Loyalty. Social Interactive Brands were proved to have a direct impact on Emotional Attachment and Self Expressive Brands which also proved direct impact on Brand Love. Brand Love for instance was proved has been directly connected with Brand Loyalty and Word of Mouth and Brand Loyalty also, directly impacts Word of Mouth. The model behave well in the previous research so we wanted to test it with a smaller sample and different brand categories the results would maintain. The results of the multi-group factor analysis showed that we have configural and metric invariance in both different studies, covering Fashion and Technological brands. As though for management purposes it might be of no disagreement to state that marketing alone is no longer enough to influence purchase motivation and intention for consumers. This investigation advance and valid a new theoretical framework in the consumer brand love approach

Application of Bonelike® as synthetic bone graft in orthopaedic and oral surgery in veterinary clinical cases.

José Miguel Campos,Ana Catarina Sousa,Pedro Olivério Pinto,Jorge Ribeiro,Miguel Lacueva França,Ana Rita Caseiro,Mariana Vieira Branquinho,Sílvia Santos Pedrosa,Carla Mendonça,Ana Brandão,José Domingos 한국생체재료학회 2019 생체재료학회지 Vol.23 No.1

Autologous bone remains the gold standard grafting substrate for bone fusions used for small gaps and critical defects. However, significant morbidity is associated with the harvesting of autologous bone grafts and, for that reason, alternative bone graft substitutes have been developed. In the present case series, a glass-reinforced hydroxyapatite synthetic bone substitute, with osteoinductive and osteoconductive proprieties, was applied. This synthetic bone substitute comprises the incorporation of P2O5-CaO glass-based system within a hydroxyapatite matrix, moulded into spherical pellets with 250-500 μm of diameter. A total of 14 veterinary clinical cases of appendicular bone defects and maxillary / mandibular bone defects are described. In all clinical cases, the synthetic bone substitute was used to fill bone defects, enhancing bone regeneration and complementing the recommended surgical techniques. Results demonstrated that it is an appropriate synthetic bone graft available to be used in veterinary patients. It functioned as a space filler in association with standard orthopaedic and odontological procedures of stabilization, promoting a faster bone fusion without any local or systemic adverse reactions. This procedure improves the animals’ quality of life, decreasing pain and post-operative recovery period, as well as increasing bone stability improving positive clinical outcomes.