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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 developed a theoretical model to test the relationship between digital capability and Industry 4.0 (I4.0) and its effect on innovation performance in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

The proposed theoretical model was evaluated using partial least-squares structural equation modeling and fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis. The data were obtained from a sample of 536 SMEs in Chile.

The proposed model presented two dimensions of digital capability: management and information and communication technologies (ICTs). Management models composed of enterprise resource planning and customer relationship management systems are essential for optimizing organizational management. Meanwhile, ICTs facilitate the smooth flow of information within an organization, leading to improved efficiency in production processes. I4.0 is encouraged by exposing SMEs to base technologies such as data analytics. These results confirm that I4.0 influences innovation performance.

SME managers should encourage the development of digital capabilities to transition toward I4.0, as this can make SMEs more competitive and innovative in changing and dynamic scenarios.

I4.0 adoption and the development of digital capabilities can directly affect employment and national economic growth.

Most studies focus on the organizational factors affecting SMEs’ I4.0 adoption. They do not, however, address the role played by current digital capability in I4.0 technology adoption and its effect on firms’ innovation performance.

Este estudio desarrolló un modelo teórico para probar la relación entre la capacidad digital y la Industria 4.0 (I4.0) y su efecto en el desempeño de la innovación en pequeñas y medianas empresas (PYME).

El modelo teórico propuesto se evaluó mediante el uso de modelos de ecuaciones estructurales de mínimos cuadrados parciales y análisis comparativo cualitativo de conjuntos difusos. Los datos se obtuvieron de una muestra de 536 pymes de Chile.

El modelo propuesto presenta dos dimensiones de la capacidad digital: la gestión y las tecnologías de la información y la comunicación (TIC). Los modelos de gestión compuestos por sistemas de planificación de recursos empresariales y de gestión de relaciones con los clientes son esenciales para optimizar la gestión organizacional. Por su parte, las TIC facilitan el flujo fluido de información dentro de una organización, lo que conduce a una mejora de la eficiencia en los procesos de producción. La I4.0 se fomenta exponiendo a las PYME a tecnologías de base como el análisis de datos. Estos resultados confirman que la I4.0 influye en el rendimiento de la innovación.

La mayoría de los estudios se centran en los factores organizativos que afectan a la adopción de la I4.0 por parte de las pymes, pero no abordan el papel que desempeña la capacidad digital actual en la adopción de la tecnología I4.0 y su efecto en el desempeño innovador de las empresas.

Los gestores de las PYMES deben incentivar el desarrollo de capacidades digitales para realizar la transición hacia la I4.0, ya que esto puede hacer que las PYMES sean más competitivas e innovadoras en escenarios cambiantes y dinámicos.

La adopción de la I4.0 y el desarrollo de capacidades digitales pueden afectar directamente al empleo y al crecimiento económico nacional.

This paper aims to ascertain that Latin America's current urban growth through large and organized ‘land squattings’ and limited invasions is a massive, plural and common phenomenon which, to a certain extent, has been, up to now, ignored by 'the academic world and by formal urban planning.

On July 5, 1999, 10,000 organized individuals occupied a 23.45 ha. plot at Peñalolén, in Santiago de Chile. The event had great impact and received much attention, and the author closely followed the events that led to the consolidation of the ‘settlement‘ (1999-2006) through phases of negotiation, evacuation and relocation of its settlers, and finally to the current (2008) transformation stage which the plot is undergoing in order to become ‘Peñalolén's Communal Park’.

This paper emphasizes the main paradigms that can be drawn from the different occupation stages, with special focus on peculiarities found at ‘Peñalolén Settlement’ compared to other Latin American ‘squattings’, in an attempt to systematize and draw conclusions on ‘self-development urbanism’.

Indian banking sector is facing a number of challenges, and increasing number of corporate frauds and employee turnover are among the top list. Literature reveals that gaining insights about ethical climate may provide a possible solution and relief from the challenges being faced. This paper aims to contribute to the understanding of the prevalent various ethical climate types in the Indian banking industry. Furthermore, it presents interesting results by investigating the effect of five theorized ethical climate types on organizational commitment along with its three components in the banking sector.

This empirical research encompasses a descriptive research design. Sample uses 266 respondents from four prime banks of the Indian banking industry.

Statistical analyses unveiled that all five conceptualized ethical climate types are prevalent in the Indian banking industry. However, the perception of employees for caring climate was the highest among all others. In contrast to the results reported by Western studies, this research reveals a strong negative impact of instrumental climate on affective commitment. Furthermore, it has been seen that instrumental climate is a significant predictor for the three components of commitment (affective, continuance and normative). However, it fails to predict the overall organizational commitment construct. Likewise, opposed to findings of Western countries, law and code, rules and independent climate types have shown significant relationship and impact on organizational commitment for Indian banking sector employees. It has been found that different commitment components are predicted by a diverse mix of climate types in India.

Findings highlight varying strength of relationship and predictive ability of different ethical climate types with commitment. This helps in elucidating that managers and top executives should focus on building an ethical work environment to warrant high-level commitment among employees. Congruence between employee, manager and organizations’ perception of ethics is a pre-requisite for maintaining a long-term relationship among the parties. This study will enable understanding the role of ethical climate in reducing corporate frauds and employee turnover.

This research addresses a significant gap in literature by exploring the relationship between ethical climate and organizational commitment. The study uses data from the Indian banking industry which contributes to expanding knowledge of the relationship in the Indian context.

Traditionally, remittances have been analyzed in the context of their socioeconomic impact on the receiving communities. Consequently, little is known about the macroeconomic factors that influence their behavior. This paper aims to evaluate the importance of several macroeconomic indicators on the flow of remittances from the USA to El Salvador.

The analysis considers cointegration and common cycle tests. It includes as explanatory variables gross domestic product (GDP) and the interest rates differential in El Salvador, employment in California, and M2 as a measure of the stance of US monetary policy. These variables are intended to capture macroeconomic conditions in the host and home countries.

The study finds that all variables share a common trend and a common cycle with remittances; though the association with the interest rates differential in the short‐run is weak. That is, remittances respond significantly to transitory and permanent changes in macroeconomic conditions. El Salvador's GDP is negatively associated with remittances, while employment, the interest rates differential, and M2 exhibit a direct relationship at both time horizons.

Understanding how macroeconomic conditions influence the supply of US dollars via remittances is fundamental for policy makers in a dollarized economy. In the absence of tools to implement discretionary monetary policy, officials in El Salvador can benefit from learning how the flows of US dollars to the economy respond to macroeconomic shocks.

Analyzing the macroeconomic determinants of remittances for a dollarized economy is a novel exercise. Furthermore, the combined long‐ and short‐run approach allows recognizing how macroeconomic conditions influence this capital flow in the steady state and during transitory episodes.

This study aims to apply theory on consumer learning in virtual experiences to compare how media technologies (i.e. virtual reality [VR] and standard websites) and users’ gender influence the ways in which tourists gather pre-purchase information.

A laboratory experiment with fully immersive VR was conducted to examine consumers’ behavior in gathering pre-purchase information. The sample comprised 128 consumers who had taken a cruise vacation or who were considering purchasing a cruise package in the near future.

The results generally reveal the central role of the feeling of presence, which, in turn, positively impacts users’ enjoyment and aspects of consumer learning (i.e. brand attitude, product knowledge and purchase intent). In particular, the results suggest that compared with standard websites, VR facilitated the tourists’ learning as consumers, especially among women, who tend to dominate the information-gathering stage of planning family vacations.

The results imply that travel agencies and tourism centers working with cruise vacation companies should incorporate VR to make their offers more attractive, especially to women.

The study was the first to apply theory on consumer learning in the cruise tourism industry, specifically to compare fully immersive VR devices versus standard websites and gauge the effect of gender.