Backward Φ-shifts and universality

In this paper we consider spaces of sequences which are valued in a topological space E and study generalized backward shifts associated to certain selfmappings of E. We characterize their universality in terms of dynamical properties of the underlying selfmappings. Applications to hypercyclicity theory are given. In particular, Rolewicz's theorem on hypercyclicity of scalar multiples of the classical backward shift is extended.