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The purpose of this paper is to develop and validate a questionnaire to assess the expectations of university teachers about the importance of generic competences in Higher Education Institutions of Ecuador (E-DUC, acronym in Spanish), based on the competences typology from the Tuning Latin America Project.

A questionnaire with Likert scales was administered to 458 university teachers from seven universities in Ecuador. Exploratory and confirmatory analyzes have been carried out to validate the theoretical model.

After the validation process, four groups of generic competences were confirmed and the measurement model showed high levels of reliability, as well as content and construct validity.

Since tuning project has an international scope, the research could be replicated in other Latin American countries for comparability purposes regarding teachers’ perceived importance of generic competences in teaching activity. In addition, further research can relate teachers’ expectations with teaching performance and other constructs, based on a broad theoretical framework.

These technical characteristics allow the use of E-DUC as an instrument to measure the expectations of teachers on the general competences that are worked on in higher education in Ecuador. Data about these perceptions are useful for the design of teachers’ training programs, curriculum reforms and other higher education policies.

It is the first research carried out in Ecuador and Latin America in order to validate a scale for measuring the expectations of teachers about the importance of the generic competences proposed in the Tuning Latin America Project.

The purpose of this paper is to provide, through a set of indicators, an overview of the way in which Spanish institutional repositories are run and the services they offer their respective institutions and other users. The selected descriptors are based on aspects related to technology, procedures, content, marketing and the personnel responsible for managing repositories.

In order to establish the indicators, a thorough review of the literature was carried out to identify existing indicators that are used to assess repositories. These were divided into five categories (technology, procedures, content, marketing and personnel) with a total of 48 components. An online survey was conducted with the repositories managers of 66 Spanish research institutions in order to verify the degree of fulfilment of the selected indicators.

The survey received forty-six responses, which represented a response rate of 69 per cent. Of these, 44 came from universities and two from research centres. In total, 65 per cent of the repositories have the capacity to import data from and export data to other university systems, mainly Current Research Information System (32 per cent). Most repositories have mechanisms for the large-scale import and export of metadata and digital objects (83 per cent). The use of altmetrics in repositories is widespread (44 per cent). Authors and librarians deposit most frequently (37 and 32 per cent, respectively), in spite of the fact that 44 per cent do not have full-time staff working in the repository. In more than 80 per cent of the repositories, between 90 and 100 per cent of the deposits are full-text documents. With respect to the tools used to promote the repository within the institution, these are primarily face-to-face training sessions (82 per cent), followed by support materials such as manuals and help pages (65 per cent). The academic authorities encourage open access among researchers in 56 per cent of cases, a significant element in repository marketing.

This work proposes a model based on five dimensions and 48 indicators to assess institutional repositories. This approach has been applied to Spanish institutional repositories to provide up-to-date information about their management procedures and promotional methods and the services they offer authors and the university community. This overview of Spanish repositories has provided an insight into the way in which repositories have evolved in recent years and allowed potential improvements to be identified based on the most advanced repositories. This model can also be exported to assess institutional repositories in other countries.

The main aim of this study was to analyze and establish the state of the question about entrepreneurship and intrapreneurship in sport, identify the role of innovation in both of them, as well as to determine the latest study trends and detect possible research niches.

A systematic review of the Web of Science, Scopus, PsycINFO, ERIC, SPORTDiscus and Dialnet databases was performed. The analysis of the selected texts allowed categorizing the entrepreneurship articles into subthemes: precursors of entrepreneurship, intention/orientation of entrepreneurship, different perspectives of entrepreneurship in sport and social entrepreneurship in sport. Of the 49 texts included in the review, only seven articles dealt with intrapreneurship, and they could not be classified into subtopics because the studies are scarce, diverse and with disparate themes.

The main findings show deficiencies in research on precursors/antecedents of entrepreneurial and intrapreneurial behavior, especially in relation to innovation, the importance of the political perspective on entrepreneurship in sport and formulation of behavior training programs for intrapreneurs.

This paper provides valuable and global information about entrepreneurship and intrapreneurship in sport, of which there were scattered or grouped data in some reviews.

Sedentary living and respiratory/cardiovascular diseases affect respiratory and peripheral muscles. Muscle training can prevent, improve and reverse these changes. Their research question suggests that precise nutraceutical administration can enhance antioxidant capacity and muscle function. This sudy aims to evaluate the impacto of an innovative nutraceutical on blood biomarkers such as essential aminoacids, antioxidants, lipid profile, and REDOX status in healthy individuals, stable Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) patients, and mechanically ventilated patients.

The authors designed a nutraceutical to assess its effects on serum amino acids, lipid profile, vitamins, minerals and reduction-oxidation function. Conducted at a high-complexity care hospital, a study with a non-equivalent group design compared pre- and post-treatment administration.

The 29 participants were categorized into healthy individuals (n = 10), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients (n = 10) and COPD patients receiving mechanical ventilation in an intensive care unit (ICU, n = 9) due to exacerbation. Analyzing serum values of selected markers and components before and after nutraceutical intake revealed significant differences. Oxygen radical absorption capacity units significantly increased (p = 0.0051) in healthy individuals. Isoleucine, valine, phosphorus, magnesium and calcium levels significantly increased in the healthy group.

The small sample size and short duration limit the generalizability of results. The non-equivalent group design and lack of randomization may introduce bias, affecting reliability. Future research should involve larger, randomized controlled trials to confirm HIC1® benefits. Additionally, exploring long-term effects and optimal dosing in various populations, including different COPD stages and other chronic conditions, will provide more comprehensive insights. Despite these limitations, the study suggests promising implications for enhancing muscle function and antioxidant capacity through precise nutraceutical administration.

The administration of HIC1® demonstrates potential for improving antioxidant capacity and muscle function, particularly in sedentary individuals and those with respiratory or cardiovascular diseases. This study’s findings suggest that even short-term use of HIC1® can lead to significant increases in serum amino acids and other vital nutrients. Health practitioners should consider incorporating nutraceuticals like HIC1® into treatment plans for COPD patients and those requiring mechanical ventilation. Future research and clinical practice should explore optimal dosing and long-term benefits, potentially improving patient outcomes in chronic disease management.

The use of nutraceuticals like HIC1® could have a significant impact on public health, especially for vulnerable populations such as the elderly and those with chronic illnesses. Improving muscle function and antioxidant capacity can reduce dependence on intensive care, decrease the economic burden on healthcare systems and enhance patients’ quality of life. Additionally, access to effective nutraceutical treatments could democratize healthcare, providing an affordable complementary option for preventing and managing muscle and respiratory diseases, promoting healthy and active aging in society.

This study is pioneering in evaluating the effects of a specifically designed nutraceutical, HIC1®, on both healthy individuals and those with chronic respiratory conditions. By focusing on precise nutraceutical administration, it addresses the gap in research on non-pharmaceutical interventions for enhancing muscle function and antioxidant capacity. The findings provide valuable insights into the potential of HIC1® to improve clinical outcomes in COPD patients and those undergoing intensive care, offering a novel, natural and potentially cost-effective approach to complement traditional treatments and support overall health and well-being.

This study aims to analyze the precursors of high and low intrapreneurial intentions among fitness center employees, considering various variables (gender, age, organization size and job satisfaction).

The study involved 166 fitness center employees of the Portuguese fitness center. The study used a two-part questionnaire to gather sociodemographic data and assess variables related to intrapreneurial intentions and job satisfaction among fitness employees. The first part collected basic demographic information, while the second used validated scales to measure intrapreneurial intentions (innovation and risk-taking) and job satisfaction (intrinsic and extrinsic).

This study underscores intrapreneurship as key for the evolving global fitness sector, highlighting job satisfaction as critical for fostering intrapreneurial intentions. Age, organizational size and gender diversity are also significant, suggesting that fostering a diverse and satisfied workforce under transformational leadership can enhance fitness organizations’ adaptability and growth.

This research supports the growth of the fitness sector by demonstrating how intrapreneurship, propelled by job satisfaction, can resolve challenges, benefiting fitness centers regardless of size, age or gender diversity.

The study highlights the vital role of intrapreneurs in the fitness industry, advocating a nongender-biased approach to intrapreneurship and identifying job satisfaction as key to fostering intrapreneurial intentions, beneficial for all fitness centers.

The application of new public governance by many countries has led to the creation of new management systems in public administration and the development of an effective accounting structure with efficient internal control to guarantee a proper provision of services that meet citizens’ requirements. The purpose of this paper is to focus on Spanish local government with the intention of determining the impact of the internal control structure on the disclosure of financial information on the internet.

The empirical analysis used combines a descriptive aspect with an explanatory one and seeks to answer the question of whether the internal control system (ICS) influences the disclosure of financial information on the websites of Spanish LGs. The authors use a multivariate model that allows us to verify the predictive capability of the previously defined explanatory variable, internal control, in 1,806 local governments. To test the hypotheses, the authors use two different models.

The authors consider the existence and quality of the financial information disclosure in relation to ICSs, and a series of financial and non-financial variables. The authors conclude that the structure of the ICS influences financial information disclosure and its quality. Also, the socio-political variable gives a better explanation of financial information disclosure than the financial variable.

This research is novel to determine whether the development of ICSs in Spanish municipalities has favored and increased the disclosure of financial information financial through the municipalities’ website transparency portal. These findings will contribute to increase the importance of internal control in the management of public entities.

The authors provide a comprehensive review of existing turnover studies in Spain. The literature review reveals that research on voluntary turnover is scarce, while other types of mobility, such as involuntary separations, downsizing, and planned turnover through contract date expiration, have received substantial attention. The authors identify the main institutional characteristics of Spain and explain why these may contribute to the low incidence of voluntary turnover. Specifically, the authors note that employment protection legislation, high unemployment, high unemployment insurance, centralized collective bargaining, the composition of the sector, high power distance, and in-group collectivism are important drivers of the patterns observed in existing turnover studies. The authors also explore how some of the mechanisms and processes exposed by key turnover theories may be applicable to the Spanish context. This chapter highlights the importance of paying attention to the role of the institutional and cultural context to understand different mobility patterns in the labor market. The authors also suggest several avenues for future research including the study of different turnover types, employer and employee outcomes, cultural variations, and employment practices.

The purpose of this review is to conduct a bibliometric analysis of financial fraud exploiting the elderly by mapping its evolution, identifying major metrics and discussing directions for future research.

A bibliometric analysis was conducted, based on 434 articles retrieved from the Web of Science that represent the academic literature on the topic from 1995 to the first quarter of 2024. This paper analyses the antecedents of financial fraud exploiting the elderly, the publication trends and the most prolific countries, institutions, journals, research areas and authors. Bibliometric analyses based on co-citation and co-words explore the intellectual structure of the topic. A bibliographic coupling analysis reveals the hottest research trends in this field.

A significant increase in the number of publications in recent years shows the importance gained by this research stream. The bibliometric analysis identifies four clusters throughout the literature: differentiation of types of elder abuse; protection of the elderly from fraud; cognitive and decision-making capacity in ageing; and factors influencing fraud victimization of the eldest. The most recent research lines identified through bibliographic coupling focused on the contextual and personal antecedents of financial exploitation of the elderly, as well as the possible impact of interventions. Several key research gaps and additional suggestions for further studies, as well as action lines for the financial authorities and economic agents, are outlined.

This paper contributes to knowledge about financial fraud exploiting the elderly synthesizing the existing literature, stressing that the banking industry has to deal with such financial fraud in the context of a growing relevance of the silver economy.