The perceived quality, value and satisfaction of a sports club. The prospect of parents and adult athletes

Debido al interés por conocer la percepción de los servicios deportivos, este estudio tiene los objetivos de evaluar la calidad percibida, valor y satisfacción de los padres de deportistas y, deportistas adultos de un club deportivo de baloncesto y, examinar la relación entre dichas variables. La muestra se compuso de 112 usuarios (33 mujeres y 79 hombres) de un club deportivo de baloncesto, realizándose en primer lugar un análisis de los descriptivos, análisis factorial exploratorio, análisis de la varianza y finalmente un estudio de regresiones lineales. Los resultados arrojan un instrumento fiable y válido compuesto de cinco dimensiones (actividad, instalación, material, personal y comunicación), donde las dimensiones de actividad y personal fueron las mejor valoradas. Finalmente, tras el análisis de regresiones lineales, se encontró una relación significativa de la calidad percibida y el valor percibido, concretamente de las dimensiones actividad y personal. Además se estableció relación significativa entre el valor percibido y la satisfacción.Due to the interest in knowing the perception of sports services, this study has the objective to assess the perceived quality, value and satisfaction of sports club basketball parents and adult athletes, and to examine the relationship between these variables. Sample was composed by 112 users (33 women and 79 men) of a basketball sport club, being realized first an analysis descriptive, second an exploratory factorial analysis, an analysis of variance and finally linear regressions. Results show a reliable and valid instrument composed by five dimensions (activity, facilities, material, staff and communication) where the activity and staff dimensions were the best rated. At last before linear regressions’ study, a significant relationship was found between perceived quality and perceived value, especially in activity and personal dimensions. Also a relationship between perceived value and satisfaction was established

Impact of nutritional status and dietary habits on the quality of life of multiple sclerosis patients

El suplemento de la revista recoge: Abstracts of the Fundación Iberoamericana de Nutrición (FINUT) Conference 2020Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an inflammatory disease resulting in demyelination and neuronal degeneration. Among the multiple risk factors that contribute to MS progression, malnutrition plays a pivotal role in the impact and quality of life of MS patients. Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of nutritional status and dietary habits on daily function and well-being of patients presenting relapsing-remitting (RR), primary progressive (PP) and secondary progressive (SP) MS forms. Methods: A cross-sectional observational design was used in this work. The nutritional status of MS patients was determined by collecting anthropometric measurements (weight, height and Body Mass Index:BMI), dietary (Mini Nutritional Assessment, MNA) and clinical (biochemical serum parameters: glucose, cholesterol, lipids and proteins) data. Health-related and disablement outcomes were assessed by the questionnaires comprising the Multiple Sclerosis Impact Scale (MSIS-29) and the Expanded Disability Status Scale (ESDD), respectively.[EN] Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an inflammatory disease resulting in demyelination and neuronal degeneration. Among the multiple risk factors that contribute to MS progression, malnutrition plays a pivotal role in the impact and quality of life of MS patients

Targeting mTOR as a Therapeutic Approach in Medulloblastoma

Mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) is a master signaling pathway that regulates organismal growth and homeostasis, because of its implication in protein and lipid synthesis, and in the control of the cell cycle and the cellular metabolism. Moreover, it is necessary in cerebellar development and stem cell pluripotency maintenance. Its deregulation has been implicated in the medulloblastoma and in medulloblastoma stem cells (MBSCs). Medulloblastoma is the most common malignant solid tumor in childhood. The current therapies have improved the overall survival but they carry serious side effects, such as permanent neurological sequelae and disability. Recent studies have given rise to a new molecular classification of the subgroups of medulloblastoma, specifying 12 different subtypes containing novel potential therapeutic targets. In this review we propose the targeting of mTOR, in combination with current therapies, as a promising novel therapeutic approach.J.A. is recipient of a predoctoral fellowship from the Department of Education of the Basque Government. This work was supported by grants from the Department of Industry of the Basque Government (SAIO13-PC13BN011), and the European Regional Developmental Fund, Institute of Health Carlos III (ISCIII) (PI16/01730) to I.G

Bridging population genetics and the metacommunity perspective to unravel the biogeographic processes shaping genetic differentiation of Myriophyllum alterniflorum DC.

[EN] The degree to which dispersal limitation interacts with environmental filtering has intrigued metacommunity ecologists and molecular biogeographers since the beginning of both research disciplines. Since genetic methods are superior to coarse proxies of dispersal, understanding how environmental and geographic factors influence population genetic structure is becoming a fundamental issue for population genetics and also one of the most challenging avenues for metacommunity ecology. In this study of the aquatic macrophyte Myriophyllum alterniflorum DC., we explored the spatial genetic variation of eleven populations from the Iberian Plateau by means of microsatellite loci, and examined if the results obtained through genetic methods match modern perspectives of metacommunity theory. To do this, we applied a combination of robust statistical routines including network analysis, causal modelling and multiple matrix regression with randomization. Our findings revealed that macrophyte populations clustered into genetic groups that mirrored their geographic distributions. Importantly, we found a significant correlation between genetic variation and geographic distance at the regional scale. By using effective (genetic) dispersal estimates, our results are broadly in line with recent findings from metacommunity theory and re-emphasize the need to go beyond the historically predominant paradigm of understanding environmental heterogeneity as the main force driving macrophyte diversity patternsSIWe thank all the members of the limnology group at the University of Leon for their assistance in field work. This research was funded by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Technology (project CL2017-84176R) and by the Junta of Castilla y León (project LE004G18

Implementation and design of a service-based framework to integrate personal and institutional learning environments

The landscape of teaching and learning has changed in recent years because of the application of Information and Communications technology. Among the most representative innovations in this regard are Learning Management Systems. Despite of their popularity in institutional contexts and the wide set of tools and services that they provide to learners and teachers, they present several issues. Learning Management Systems are linked to an institution and a period of time, and are not adapted to learners' needs. In order to address these problems Personal Learning Environments are defined, but it is clear that these will not replace Learning Management Systems and other institutional contexts. Both types of environment should therefore coexist and interact. This paper presents a service-based framework to facilitate such interoperability. It supports the export of functionalities from the institutional to the personal environment and also the integration within the institution of learning outcomes from personal activities. In order to achieve this in a flexible, extensible and open way, web services and interoperability specifications are used. In addition some interoperability scenarios are posed. The framework has been tested in real learning contexts and the results show that interoperability is possible, and that it benefits learners, teachers and institutions.Peer ReviewedPostprint (author's final draft

Efectos Económicos de la Constitución de los Comités de Auditoría

El propósito de este trabajo consiste en analizar la valoración del mercado bursátil español respecto a la constitución del comité de auditoría en las empresas cotizadas, teniendo en cuenta que esta reacción puede diferir de la observada en mercados del ámbito anglosajón debido a las peculiaridades que presenta la auditoría de cuentas en España. Para ello, aplicando la metodología del estudio de eventos, se analizan las rentabilidades anormales próximas a la creación del comité, considerando factores como su voluntariedad, las opiniones previas del auditor o el tamaño de la firma auditora. Los resultados confirman que el mercado reacciona negativamente ante el establecimiento voluntario del comité y cuando éste se implanta en sociedades que venían recibiendo informes de auditoría favorables. No obstante, dicho anuncio no parece tener efecto cuando la compañía es receptora de informes calificados ni parece diferir por el hecho de ser auditada por una gran firma frente a otros auditores.The aim of this paper is to analyze the Spanish market reactions arising from the formation of the audit committees in the listed companies. This reaction could reasonably differ from that observed in Anglo-Saxon markets given the peculiarities of the audit process in Spain. With this aim, using the event study methodology, we have measured the abnormal returns surrounding the constitution of the audit committee, taking into account factors such as its voluntary formation, the auditor’s previous opinion and the auditor’s firm size. Our results confirm the existence of negative market reactions in the case of a voluntary formation of the committee and when this formation corresponds to a firm that has received a favourable audit report. However, we have observed no significant market reactions when the firm has received a qualified opinion and these reactions did not differ when the company was audited by one of the big audit firms or by other auditor

Effects of introduced salmonids on macroinvertebrate communities of mountain ponds in the Iberian system of Spain

Effects of introduced salmonids on macroinvertebrate communities of mountain ponds in the Iberian system of Spain This study aimed to assess the impact of salmonid stocking on macrobenthic communities in Spanish mountain ponds. Macroinvertebrates were collected with a hand net folIowing a multihabitat, time-limited sampling in eight ponds (four of them stocked with salmonids and four non-stocked) in the lberian system. A number of macroinvertebrate-based metrics, as welI as several physical and chemical variables, were measured and compared between stocked and non-stocked sites. We hypothesised that stocked ponds would have lower abundances and richness of large and mobile taxa and higher amounts of phosphorus in the water column than non-stocked ones. The results proved that macroinvertebrates were adversely affected by salmonid introductions and might be appropriate indicators of this type of impact. Total richness (both measured and estimated) and diversity were significantly lower in disturbed ponds. Coleoptera, Trichoptera and Heteroptera, large and mobile taxa, were particularly sensitive to the impact. No significant differences in nutrients were detected, although total phosphorus concentrations were usually higher in stocked ponds.El objetivo de este estudio fue testar el impacto de la introducción de salmón idos sobre las comunidades de maeroinvertebra-dos de un conjunto de lagunas de montaña en el noreste de la Península Ibérica. Los macroinvertebrados fueron colectados con una red de mano siguiendo un muestreo de tipo multihábitat, con un determinado tiempo limitado de muestreo en ocho lagunas (cuatro de ellas con introducción de salmón idos y otras cuatro sin dicho impacto) del sistema ibérico. Se compararon características físicas, variables químicas y atributos de la comunidad de macroinvertebrados entre los dos grupos de lagunas (con introducción y sin introducción de salmón idos ). Partimos de la hipótesis de que en aquellas lagunas en las que se habían introducido salmónidos nos encontraríamos con baja abundancia y riqueza de taxones de macroinvertebrados móviles y de gran tamaño, así como de altas concentraciones de fósforo en la columna de agua. Los resultados mostraron que la co-munidad de macroivertebrados se vio seriamente afectada por la introducción de salmónidos y que podrían ser indicadores apropiados de ese tipo de impacto. Riqueza total (tanto medida como estimada) y diversidad de macroinvertebradosfueron significativamente más bajas en lagunas en las que se llevó a cabo las introducciones de salmón idos. Coleoptera, Trichoptera y Heteroptera, taxones grandes y móviles, fueron particularmente sensibles a dicho impacto. La concentración de fósforo fue usualmente más elevada en aquellas lagunas que habían sufrido la introducción de salmón idos aunque las diferencias no fueron estadísticamente significativas

The Application of Business Process Model Notation to describe a Methodology for the Recognition, Tagging and Acknowledge of Informal Learning Activities

[EN] Learning is a process that takes place anywhere and at any moment of our life. That means that not all learning happens linked to an institution. However, that kind of learning, known as informal learning, is usually invisible for people in charge of organizations. This is because either the learner is not aware of having learned something or because he/she is not able to show or make visible this type of learning to other. In order to facilitate the exploitation of this knowledge, TRAILER project poses a methodology supported by a technological ecosystem. This methodology is quite complex; it involves different stakeholders and components. For defining the methodology, a flexible and understandable notation was used, Business Process Model Notation. It helps in the designing and implementation of the solution and it also has been used to guide experts during the methodology testing

Designing a minimal reactive goalie for the RoboCup SPL

This paper presents the basic design and implementation of a goalkeeper made according to the regulations of the two-legged Standard Platform League of the RoboCup Federation. The paper describes the perceptive schemas created using the architecture of the TeamChaos-URJC team as well as the action schemes designed to create a minimal reactive goalie. This player was tested in the 2009 German Open international competition. The results obtained there are analyzed and the future works derived from that analysis are presente

The effectiveness of the audit committee in Spain: Implications of its existence on the auditor's opinion

This research work is aimed at determining the effectiveness of the Audit Committee (AC), analyzing its impact on the reliability of accounting information issued by spanish listed companies. With this aim, we study whether certain features such as its voluntary or otherwise compulsory formation, its independence and activity lead to an improvement of financial reporting quality, which is defined as the removal of avoidable qualifications in the audit report. We considered the periods where ACs were voluntary (1998-2002) and compulsory (2003 onwards). The results obtained suggest that: (a) compulsory ACs are more effective than voluntary ones; (b) ACs with a higher proportion of independent members do not lead to greater improvements in the quality of accounting information; and (c) the number of meetings of the AC is directly related to improvements in the quality of accounting information