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This research explores teenagers' knowledge representation of six digital technologies – email, IM, internet, digital photos, sms and games. Instead of pre-imposing a specific structure, teens freely express everything they consider relevant by identifying the meanings associated with each digital technology. Drawing on cognitive psychology theories and teenagers' social development theories, the data from thirteen focus groups were analyzed. The nature of attributes comprising technical features, personal and socially relevant activities/experiences, feelings and attitudes towards these instruments only partially matched other IT conceptualizations. However, those studies applied different methodological approaches. Among the 133 attributes suggested, 30 were shared by at least two digital technologies. The Multiple Correspondence Analysis showed that games were psychologically and functionally (physical attributes) more integrated with IM and internet whereas digital photos were segregated. The communicational and product design implications of assessing attributes are discussed.

Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to study the nature and concept of emoticons/emojis. Instead of taking for granted that these user-generated formats are necessarily emotional, we empirically assessed in what extent are they and the specificity of each one. Drawing on congruent mood state, valence core and emotion appraisal theories we expected a compatible statistical association between positive/negative/neutral emotional valence expressions and emoticons of similar valence. The positive emoticons were consistently associated with positive valence posts. Added to that analysis, 21 emotional categories were identified in posts and correlated with eight emoticons.


Design/methodology/approach
Two studies were used to address this question. The first study defined emoticon concept and interpreted their meaning highlighting their communication goals and anticipated effects. The link between emojis and emoticons was also obtained. Some emoticons types present more ambiguity than others. In the second study, three years of real and private (Facebook) posts from 82 adolescents were content analyzed and coded.


Findings
Only the neutral emoticons always matched neutral emotional categories found in the written interaction. Although the emoticon valence and emotional category congruence pattern was the rule, we also detected a combination of different valence emoticons types and emotion categories valence expressions. Apparently the connection between emoticon and emotion are not so obviously straightforward as the literature used to assume. The created objects designed to communicate emotions (emoticons) have their specific corresponding logic with the emotional tone of the message.


Originality/value
Theoretically, we discussed the emotional content of emoticons/emojis. Although this king of signals have an Asian origin and later borrowed from the western countries, their ambiguity and differing specificity have never been analyzed.

14 páginas, 4 tablas, 10 figuras ; The Water Framework Directives aims a reduction in concentration of hazardous substances in the marine environment. Consequently, there is a need to distinguish between anthropogenically influenced metal concentrations from natural background levels. To better achieve this goal in the Portuguese coast, dissolved and particulate trace metal (TM) concentrations along the Portuguese coast were determined in 46 sites distance 1–3 km from the shoreline. Dissolved values ranged within the following intervals: 0.01–0.89 nM for Cd, 0.01–3.37 nM for Co, 0.90–45.4 nM for Cu, 3.30–140 pM for Hg, 1.88–15.1 nM for Ni, 0.01–0.15 nM for Pb and 1.40–62.0 nM for Zn. Whereas Cd, Co, Cu, Ni and Zn were enhanced in the southern coast, while Pb values were higher in the central part of the western coast. Mercury concentrations showed punctual increases all along the coast. Values of trace metals in suspended particulate matter varied in a broad range: 36–2902 μmol g−1 for Al, 0.10–15.1 nmol g−1 for Cd, 1.50–165 nmol g−1 for Co, 50.0–990 nmol g−1 for Cu, 2.80–76.4 nmol g−1 for Hg, 22–1471 nmol g−1 for Ni, 10.0–347 nmol g−1 for Pb and 416–10,981 nmol g−1 for Zn. Higher values for Al, Ni and Co were found in the central part of the western coast. However, Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn increased their levels from the north coast towards the central and south areas. The variability of both dissolved and particulate metals appears to be mainly associated with oceanographic conditions and continental inputs at North and central areas of the coast, and in the south coast to geological features rather than to anthropogenic pressures. On the basis of these results, regional baseline concentrations are proposed for the three typologies in Portuguese coastal waters defined under the Water Framework Directive ; Dr. Santos-Echeandia would like to thank the Basque Government for financial support (post-doctoral contract). ; Peer reviewed

Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to examine and compare the influence of age, education, income, product involvement and sales promotion (SP) characteristics on consumer attitudes towards SP across eight culturally dissimilar environments.


Design/methodology/approach
A multi-country mall intercept and mail survey was conducted in Brunei, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore and Thailand (n=4,125 respondents).


Findings
Country, education level and income significantly influence consumer attitudes towards SP. Some countries show a significant monetary value interaction effect. Consumers using delayed-reward SPT reported a significantly more positive attitude towards SP. Discounts and coupons are the two most highly ranked SP across the sampled countries.


Research limitations/implications
Limitations include the use of intercept and mail sampling. Extending the study to include additional Asian countries and other regions would benefit the understanding of cultural influences on SP.


Practical implications
Multinational marketing managers should consider three aspects of SP implementation strategy: cultural and demographic factors, interaction between delayed-reward SP and socio-demographics variables; country specific SP preferences to promote both sales and brand equity.


Originality/value
This study investigates and extends research on SP across cultures. In particular the research helps better understand the impact of demographic factors and culture on attitudes towards SP, and implementation of global promotions.