Connecting schools and communities : a case study of prekindergarten collaboration

textIn an effort to increase access to public prekindergarten programs, many states are linking school- and community-based early childhood education (ECE) providers together to jointly deliver services. This strategy leverages existing ECE programs as part of the ongoing expansion of state-funded prekindergarten. Understanding how these efforts unfold at the local level is important for future policymaking that seeks to address the provision and improvement of publicly funded ECE programs. This dissertation explores how prekindergarten collaboration members work together, influence one another, and contribute to increased alignment within the field of ECE. This research presents findings from a case study that examined prekindergarten collaboration in one Texas community. Data were collected primarily through semi-structured interviews with individuals directly involved in prekindergarten collaboration implementation or with families served through public prekindergarten. Findings show that the depth and nature of the partnerships in this effort varied by the location of services and level of support made available to collaboration members. Key program features, such as classroom structure, instruction, and curriculum, were aligned across all three programs. Based upon these findings, I discuss the potential implications for policy and practice and suggest further topics of study related to these issues.Educational Administratio

Perception of the quality of tourist services in rural areas: Cuenca-Ecuador case

El objetivo de este trabajo es analizar las percepciones de la calidad del servicio de los turistas que visitaron las áreas rurales de la ciudad de Cuenca, Ecuador, como complemento de la oferta turística de este destino ‐patrimonio cultural de la humanidad‐. Se realizó un cuestionario con una escala Servqual ‐ Service Quality a una muestra de 326 turistas para medir la calidad de los servicios turísticos. Se aplicó un análisis Factorial Exploratorio (AFE) para determinar las dimensiones de calidad del servicio que recogió solamente las percepciones de los ítems definidos y un Análisis Factorial Confirmatorio (AFC) para confirmar la estructura factorial. Los hallazgos evidencian cinco dimensiones de la calidad: seguridad, tangibilidad, fiabilidad, empatía y capacidad, y se corroboró la estructura factorial, con un ajuste adecuado de los índices. El estudio sugiere que los espacios rurales deben ofrecer calidad en su oferta turística como atractivo para los turistas dentro del destino.he aim of this paper is to analyze the perceptions of the quality of the service of the tourists who visited the rural areas of the city of Cuenca, Ecuador, as a complement to the tourist offer of this destination ‐cultural heritage of humanity‐. A questionnaire with a scale Servqual ‐ Service Quality was obtained from a sample of 326 tourists to measure the quality of tourist services. An Exploratory Factor Analysis (AFE) was applied to determine the dimensions of service quality that collected only the perceptions of the defined elements and a Confirmatory Factor Analysis (AFC) to confirm the factorial structure. The findings show five dimensions of quality: security, tangibility, trust, empathy and capacity, and its factorial structure was corroborated, with an adjustment of the appropriate indices. The study suggests that rural spaces should offer quality in their tourism offer as an attraction for tourists within the destination

Prevalence of Premorbid Metabolic Syndrome in Spanish Adult Workers Using IDF and ATPIII Diagnostic Criteria: Relationship with Cardiovascular Risk Factors

<div><p>Background</p><p>Metabolic Syndrome (MetS) is a complex disorder defined as a cluster of interconnected risk factors such as hypertension, dyslipidemia, obesity and high blood glucose levels. Premorbid metabolic syndrome (PMetS) is defined by excluding patients with previously diagnosed cardiovascular disease or diabetes mellitus from those suffering MetS. We aimed to determine the prevalence of PMetS in a working population, and to analyse the relationship between the diagnostic criteria of the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) and of the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III (ATPIII). The relationship between the presence of PMetS and cardiovascular risk factors was also analysed.</p><p>Research Methodology/Findings</p><p>A cross-sectional study was conducted in 24,529 male and 18,736 female Spanish (white western European) adult workers (20–65 years) randomly selected during their work health periodic examinations. Anthropometrics, blood pressure and serum parameters were measured. The presence of MetS and PMetS was ascertained using ATPIII and IDF criteria. Cardiovascular risk was determined using the Framingham-REGICOR equation. The results showed MetS had an adjusted global prevalence of 12.39% using ATPIII criteria and 16.46% using IDF criteria. The prevalence of PMetS was slightly lower (11.21% using ATPIII criteria and 14.72% using IDF criteria). Prevalence in males was always higher than in females. Participants with PMetS displayed higher values of BMI, waist circumference, blood pressure, glucose and triglycerides, and lower HDL-cholesterol levels. Logistic regression models reported lower PMetS risk for females, non-obese subjects, non-smokers and younger participants. Cardiovascular risk determined with Framingham-REGICOR was higher in participants with PMetS.</p><p>Conclusions</p><p>PMetS could be a reliable tool for the early identification of apparently healthy individuals who have a significant risk for developing cardiovascular events and type 2 diabetes.</p></div

Prevalence of premorbid metabolic syndrome following the ATP III and the IDF criteria by ages (p<0.001).

<p>Prevalence of premorbid metabolic syndrome following the ATP III and the IDF criteria by ages (p<0.001).</p

Crude and adjusted^* prevalence of PMetS in Balearic working population with ATPIII and IDF criteria.

<p>*Adjusted by Balearic population. PMetS: premorbid metabolic syndrome.</p

Cardiovascular risk determined using Framingham-REGICOR equation.

<p>Comparison between ATP-III and IDF criteria.</p><p>Framingham-REGICOR >10% high CVD risk, 5–9.9% moderate CVD risk, <5% low CVD risk.</p

General characteristics of the participants categorized by gender.

<p>BMI: Body mass index; SBP: Systolic bold pressure; DBP: Diastolic blood pressure; HDL: High density lipoproteins; WC: Waist circumference.</p

Adjusted ORs for PMetS determined following ATP III and IDF criteria by age, gender, BMI and smoking status.

<p>PMetS: premorbid metabolic syndrome; BMI: body mass index.</p

Distribution of risk factors by the presence/absence of PMetS.

<p>PMetS: premorbid metabolic syndrome; BMI: body mass index; SBP: systolic bold pressure; DBP: diastolic blood pressure; HDL: high density lipoproteins; WP: waist perimeter.</p