Antecedents of loyalty to a brand : Apple clients vs. non-clients

Apple is undoubtedly a sui generis and remarkable brand in what concerns to its branding and brand experience, and remains an indisputable reference in the consumer electronics and computer industries. The aim of this study encompasses the development and empirical testing of two conceptual models that evaluate and allow to draw a comparison between Apple clients and non-clients’ perceptions, regarding brand experience, brand perceived value, price perceptions and brand trust; and that determine the antecedents of clients’ loyalty to the brand. Therefore, the contribution of this study to the literature relies on the research of the impact of brand experience on brand perceived value and on price perceptions, as well as the influence of price perceptions (positive and negative) on trust, satisfaction, and commitment to the brand. Two surveys were used to test each conceptual model, through a sample collected across the portuguese academic community. The findings prove the strong influence of the sensory and affective aspects of brand experience on both clients and non-clients. They also reveal that the negative role of price is neutralized in the presence of strong brand experience, and that the fact that Apple is viewed as an “expensive brand” may highlight its association to higher quality and prestige. Also, this study reinforces the important role of satisfaction and commitment in building customer loyalty, corroborating the existent literature. Managerial implications derived from the findings are also discussed.

Expanded porphyrins and their evaluation as anion chemosensors

Expanded porphyrins are synthetic analogues of porphyrins, differing from the last ones and other naturally occurring tetrapyrrolic macrocycles by containing a larger central core, with a minimum of 17 atoms, while retaining the extended conjugation features that are a tremendous feature of these biological pigments. The core expansion results in various systems with novel spectral and electronic features, often uniques. Most of these systems can also coordinate cations and/or anions, and in some cases they can bind more than one of these species. In many cases, these molecules display structural features, such as non-planar structures, that have no antecedents in the chemistry of porphyrins or related macrocyclic compounds. This work will discuss several synthetic approaches for the synthesis of expanded porphyrins, namely the construction of new building blocks by Michael addition, as well as potential synthetic routes towards expanded porphyrins. The synthesis of smaller oligopyrrolic compounds namely, bipyrroles and dipyrromethanes, not only were developed for the synthesis of expanded porphyrins as they were also used in Knoevenagel condensations furnishing chromogenic compounds able to recognize different anions in solution. Also, an approach to the synthesis of novel expanded porphyrins namely sapphyrins has been done by aza-Michael additions. Several synthetic routes towards the synthesis of pyridyl and pyridinium N-Fused pentaphyrins and hexaphyrins have been explored in order to achieve compounds with potential applications in catalysis and PDI, respectively. Studies on the synthesis of compounds with potential anion binding properties, led to the structural characterization and NMR anion binding studies of [28]hexaphyrins functionalized with several diamines in the para position of their pentafluorophenyl groups. These compounds allow NH hydrogen bond interactions with various anions. All synthesized compounds were fully characterized by modern spectroscopic techniques.

Decision-making process in Portuguese Erasmus student mobility: case study

With the evolution of nowadays knowledge-based economies, the labour class becomes more competitive. As a way of getting skills that bring benefits to their careers, university students take advantage of the many opportunities available and go abroad to study. This study develops and empirically tests a structural model that examines the antecedents that influence the decision-making process of an Erasmus student under mobility for studies (EMS) in Aveiro, Coimbra and Porto (2014-2015). Reliability analysis, exploratory factor analysis and linear regressions were used to evaluate the model. Based on a survey with a sample of 872 valid responses, this study has demonstrated that EMS students are also influenced by touristic factors, which gives support to what has recently been approached by other authors. Conclusions and suggestions can be applied by other organizations, mainly Higher Education Institutions in order to attract more EMS students.