The Effects of Technology Integration On AVID Students Compared to Other Middle School Students

Student disengagement in the learning process is problematic, especially in the middle grades. Studies show that technology infusion in classroom instruction promotes student learning and behavior when effectively integrated. Employing the theory of constructivism, this study explored technology infusion in a college and career readiness program based on the assumption that integration aids in the construction of knowledge. The purpose of this study was to analyze the difference between the performance scores of AVID and non-AVID groups in middle schools. Archived test results for the Preliminary Scholastic Achievement Test (PSAT) were compared on a sample of non-AVID and AVID middle school groups in schools with both programs located in Texas. A quantitative casual-comparative design explored the dependent and independent variables. PSAT performance scores represented the dependent variable. The independent variable was defined as the type of instruction provided (AVID vs. Non-AVID). The independent samples t-test tested hypotheses for significance at 0.05 level. There was not a statistically significant difference in the mean scores of the two groups in the schools. The results had implications for determining whether technology integration assists in motivating students to perform and for aiding the teaching profession in general in decision making regarding infusing technology in classroom instruction

Empagliflozin in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease

Background The effects of empagliflozin in patients with chronic kidney disease who are at risk for disease progression are not well understood. The EMPA-KIDNEY trial was designed to assess the effects of treatment with empagliflozin in a broad range of such patients. Methods We enrolled patients with chronic kidney disease who had an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) of at least 20 but less than 45 ml per minute per 1.73 m(2) of body-surface area, or who had an eGFR of at least 45 but less than 90 ml per minute per 1.73 m(2) with a urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio (with albumin measured in milligrams and creatinine measured in grams) of at least 200. Patients were randomly assigned to receive empagliflozin (10 mg once daily) or matching placebo. The primary outcome was a composite of progression of kidney disease (defined as end-stage kidney disease, a sustained decrease in eGFR to < 10 ml per minute per 1.73 m(2), a sustained decrease in eGFR of & GE;40% from baseline, or death from renal causes) or death from cardiovascular causes. Results A total of 6609 patients underwent randomization. During a median of 2.0 years of follow-up, progression of kidney disease or death from cardiovascular causes occurred in 432 of 3304 patients (13.1%) in the empagliflozin group and in 558 of 3305 patients (16.9%) in the placebo group (hazard ratio, 0.72; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.64 to 0.82; P < 0.001). Results were consistent among patients with or without diabetes and across subgroups defined according to eGFR ranges. The rate of hospitalization from any cause was lower in the empagliflozin group than in the placebo group (hazard ratio, 0.86; 95% CI, 0.78 to 0.95; P=0.003), but there were no significant between-group differences with respect to the composite outcome of hospitalization for heart failure or death from cardiovascular causes (which occurred in 4.0% in the empagliflozin group and 4.6% in the placebo group) or death from any cause (in 4.5% and 5.1%, respectively). The rates of serious adverse events were similar in the two groups. Conclusions Among a wide range of patients with chronic kidney disease who were at risk for disease progression, empagliflozin therapy led to a lower risk of progression of kidney disease or death from cardiovascular causes than placebo