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Calling Card
It's never hard to spot a Dickinson poem. In addition to her powerfully abstract ideas and keen intellect, you're sure to spot it if only for the way it looks on the page: dashes up the wazoo, four-line stanzas, and wonky capitals every which way. This poem is classic Dickinson, and checks off all three of those boxes.


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Mrs. Hauser's Homepage
7 - 12 Math
|Sue Hauser
Welcome to my Home Page.
I teach 7th Grade Math, Pre-Algebra, Geometry, Algebra II, Business Math, and General Math.
I received my Bachelors of Science Degree in education from Chadron State College, with majors in math and chemistry. I earned by Masters Degree in Instructional Technology from the University of Nebraska at Kearney.
I live with my husband on a place west of Arnold. We have grown children.
|Room# 310
|School Phone # 308-636-2252

subset: commoncrawl


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Self-Care: A Millennial Approach to Gratitude
I'm a millennial, and it seems that no matter where you turn these days, someone is talking about us; some good, some not so good. Our generation is often defined by its obsessions with social media, avocado toast, Harry Potter, and self-care.
Even with wonderful things like avocado toast in the world, I still find it incredibly easy to let myself get bogged down with all the little negativities. My subway was packed and uncomfortable, my internet is so slow, I still have not totally figured out grad school yet, my ceiling is leaking, I'm late for a video conference, I'm drowning in a sea of emails and it's not even noon yet…. Dwelling on these thoughts, it's easy to get myself stuck in a negative rut that is hard to get out of.
This is where self-care comes in. Though millennials often get credited with creating the self-care fad, it existed long before we did. Ancient Greeks saw it as a way to make people more honest citizens who were more likely to, in turn, care for others. People approach self-care in many different ways, and it is often looked upon as self-serving or even narcissistic. To be fair, if you look up #selfcare on social media, you are sure to find an array of pictures that feature fancy baked goods, spa services, expensive wine, weekend getaways, or binge watching a trendy Netflix series.
Self-care, however, isn't just about warm brownies and soft towels; the most important part of self-care is mindfulness. It is important to have the self-awareness to realize that something isn't right in our day-to-day lives or the world around us and figure out how to restore balance. I find that balance through gratitude. I find that taking time to recognize the blessings around me, and showing gratitude for those things, help me take care of myself by staying positive in everyday life.
By consciously practicing gratitude, I can move out of the old negative rut by opening myself up to really seeing all the blessings in my day-to-day life. Cultivating a grateful heart helps me see God in every situation: in joyful, happy situations, I can honor and thank God; in challenging situations, I find God's perspective and the lessons behind the difficulties. I continue to cultivate gratitude through mindfulness, self-awareness, and self-care.
I have found that we may not always have a choice in the way our journey unfolds, the manner or timing of things that happen, the decisions made by those around us, or even the labels people bestow upon us; however, we can strive to choose to respond with a heart of gratitude in every situation.


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"Science is basically an inoculation against charlatans." - Neil deGrasse Tyson
There is an epidemic of supposed "experts" that want to tell us how to eat, exercise, lose weight, reduce stress and generally live our lives. Some of these people have no credentials in the area of expertise they claim to be an expert in. Others do have credentials or licenses and that makes them even more dangerous to the layperson who's seeking out advice about health and wellness. Two names that come to mind are Dr. Mehmet Oz and Dr. Joseph Mercola.
What is dangerous about Dr. Oz and Dr. Mercola and the many other quacks like them, is that they are genuine doctors which lends them credibility and authority. People generally trust doctors and assume the advice they receive from them is credible and evidence-based. What's even more dangerous is that a good percentage of what Dr. Mercola and Dr. Oz recommend is actually good advice and might improve your health and wellness. But both of these gentlemen are ultimately snake-oil salesmen. They seamlessly mix fact and fiction and make claims about alternative treatments and medicines that are unsubstantiated, unproven and outright false.
A little bit of healthy skepticism and internet investigation reveals a lot about these two charlatans. Mercola seems to be the worst of the two. You can read an in depth breakdown of Mercola's empire and transgressions against science in this QuackWatch article authored by Stephen Barrett MD. This LiveScience article highlights five (of hundreds) bogus health claims made by Dr. Oz.
But the point of this post is not to demonize the above mentioned profit-hungry quacks. The point is to bring your attention to the plethora of false claims and false prophets that saturates the media that many of us consume. The only defense against being misguided by "experts" is to educate yourself on the topics for which you are seeking advice. Skepticism and a general understanding of the scientific method are essential and necessary tools for this process.
Whenever you see something that seems too good to be true, chances are it is and that it warrants further investigation. When someone makes a claim that sugar is the cause for cancer (all cancers?) and that by purchasing their exclusive, revolutionary, patented, breakthrough anticancer multivitamin health tonic, you will eliminate cancer and reduce your future cancer risk, your bullshit detector should sound the alarm. If at the end of any story there's a product to be sold, then the story is probably not a public service announcement and was crafted specifically to make you want or "need" the product. Below is a number of questions that can help you assess the quality of information/claims.
Avoiding Charlatanism
1. Ask yourself where the information is coming from. Is the source valid?
Example: Holistic Healer Bob claims that drinking rhubarb and celery shakes on a daily basis can eliminate pre-cancerous cells in your body. Bob offers no sources for his claim and cites no human studies conducted to test this specific claim. Bob doesn't go into detail about what he means by pre-cancerous cells and doesn't describe any mechanism why the above remedy should work. Bob is not an oncologist and has no medical credentials of any kind. Bob is certified in Reiki and Chakra Therapy from a non-accredited online institute.
The above example is a typical profile for an internet charlatan who you shouldn't take seriously. I'm not saying that Bob has bad intentions or that he's purposely trying to fool or hurt people. In fact, Bob might very much believe in his own pseudo-science. But the fact remains that Bob offers no genuine insight or information that should be taken seriously.
2. Ask yourself whether you are desperate for a solution to your problem.
Example: Susan's daughter was just diagnosed with an aggressive form of leukemia and the prognosis is not good. Susan's options are limited but Susan doesn't want to accept reality. She goes on the internet searching for a miracle cure that might save her daughter's life. She stumbles onto a website which looks like it was made in 1995 by a twelve-year old. The site claims that they have successfully cured childhood leukemia patients with their miracle herbal cure that was originally developed by the Mayan's. This secret tonic helps to balance the "energies" that are out of balance in cancer patients. Susan buys the herbal cure for the low price of $795 with a money order. Not surprisingly, the herbal cure does nothing to mitigate her daughter's cancer.
When people are desperate, their logical faculties are diminished. This leads to an opportunity for snake-oil salesmen and charlatans to take advantage of their weakened mental state. There are no simple solutions for complicated problems. No one is withholding the cure for HIV or pancreatic cancer because the financial profits and notoriety from such a discovery are too great to suppress. Sometimes there aren't any good options or solutions to a problem and lying to yourself rarely makes things better.
3. Ask yourself how much you know about the problem you're trying to solve.
Example: John went to the doctor and was told that his blood cholesterol and lipids are off the charts. The doctor recommended a few dietary interventions and some medication to correct this problem. But John doesn't really trust doctors. They're all just part of the establishment and are trying to keep people sick so they make more money. Instead, John goes to a Spiritual Nutritionist who recommends that John purchase a foam pad and some crystals for $400. This will surely counteract John's daily consumption of cheeseburgers and pizza.
If John admitted to himself that he doesn't understand human metabolism and physiology, he could take the first steps in learning more about what cholesterol is, how and where it's made in the body and what the current science is in treating patients with hypercholesterolemia. Instead John wants an easy solution to a complicated problem and doesn't want to alter his lifestyle to better his health. If you don't know about a particular subject, learn about it! If you're not willing to learn, then you'll remain a fool and will suffer the consequences of being a fool.
4. Be careful of those selling you "The Only Truth"
Some individuals are so sure of themselves and their beliefs. They have all the answers. They don't even need to entertain your concerns or counterarguments because they just know the world is a certain way. Be careful taking advice from such people because their beliefs are usually incomplete, inconsistent and plain wrong. The world is complex and ever-changing. There is no one set of principles that stand the test of time. The beauty of science is that it constantly tries to disprove itself. In science, we can never know anything for sure, we can only know what hasn't worked. This is in stark contrast with gurus, healers, religious clerics and the like who seem to possess "the only truth." You would think that the "ultimate truth holders" would have done a better job at letting us know about dinosaurs, bacteria, nuclear weapons, and other planets. No religious texts or historical gurus make mention of any of these items.
The above list of questions is by no means complete but it is a good start to becoming more skeptical and critically examining information being presented to you. The cure for ignorance is knowledge and as you gain an understanding of the world around you, you become better equipped to to make quality life decisions. It is important to periodically examine our beliefs and to test them against the reality of the world.
I hope you were able to gain some insight into quackery and charlatanism from this post and I encourage you to test the claims of others. This includes both academics and non-academics alike. Don't let degrees and certifications fool you. Test the quality of claims on their own merits and not based on who is presenting the information.
I would love to hear your thoughts on this blogpost. Please feel free to comment below.


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Histamine H2 Receptor Antagonists, Left Ventricular Morphology, and Heart Failure RiskThe MESA Study
Author + information
- Received October 30, 2015
- Revision received January 15, 2016
- Accepted January 21, 2016
- Published online April 5, 2016.
Author Information
- Peter J. Leary, MDa,∗ (learyp{at}uw.edu),
- Ryan J. Tedford, MDb,
- David A. Bluemke, MD, PhDc,
- Michael R. Bristow, MD, PhDd,
- Susan R. Heckbert, MD, PhDe,
- Steven M. Kawut, MDf,
- Eric V. Krieger, MDa,
- Joao A. Lima, MDb,g,
- Carolina S. Masri, MDa,
- David D. Ralph, MDa,
- Steven Shea, MDh,
- Noel S. Weiss, MD, DrPHe and
- Richard A. Kronmal, PhDi
- aDepartment of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
- bDepartment of Medicine, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, Maryland
- cNational Institutes of Health Clinical Center, Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland
- dDepartment of Medicine, University of Colorado, Aurora, Colorado
- eDepartment of Epidemiology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
- fDepartments of Medicine and Epidemiology, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- gDepartment of Radiology, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, Maryland
- hDepartments of Medicine and Epidemiology, Columbia University, New York City, New York
- iDepartment of Biostatistics, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
- ↵∗Reprint requests and correspondence:
Dr. Peter J. Leary, Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care, University of Washington Medical Center BB-1361, Campus Box 356522, 1959 NE Pacific Street, Seattle, Washington 98195-6522.
Background Myocardial H2 receptor activation may promote cardiac fibrosis and apoptosis in pre-clinical models and histamine H2 receptor antagonist (H2RA) use may improve symptoms in participants with heart failure (HF); however, relationships between H2RA use, incident HF, and longitudinal change in left ventricular (LV) morphology are not known.
Objectives This study sought to determine whether H2RA use is associated with incident HF and change in LV morphology over time.
Methods We included 6,378 men and women from MESA (Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis), a multicenter prospective observational cohort of participants without cardiovascular disease at baseline. Cox proportional hazards were used to estimate the association between H2RA use and incident HF in adjusted models. In participants with cardiac magnetic resonance imaging, associations between H2RA use, baseline LV morphology (n = 4,691), and longitudinal change in the LV (n = 2,806) were estimated using linear regression.
Results H2RAs were used by 313 participants but not by the other 6,065 individuals. During a median follow-up of 11.2 years, 236 participants developed HF. In adjusted models, baseline H2RA use relative to nonuse was associated with 62% lower risk for incident HF (p = 0.02). H2RA use was associated with preserved stroke volume, LV end-diastolic volume, and mass/volume ratio as measured by cardiac magnetic resonance imaging over approximately 10 years (all p < 0.05). There were no associations between H2RA use and LV mass or ejection fraction.
Conclusions H2RA use was associated with reduced risk for incident HF. Left heart morphology over time suggests less age-related change in H2RA users. These associations suggest histamine signaling may be important in the pathogenesis of HF. (Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis [MESA]; NCT00005487)
Histamine H2 receptor antagonists (H2RAs) are commonly used to treat gastroesophageal reflux disease (1) and have a relatively strong safety profile. Beyond their use for symptomatic control of gastroesophageal reflux, H2RAs also may have a role in cardiac disease. Similar to beta receptors, H2 receptors activate stimulatory G-proteins in the myocardium (2,3). Blockade of histamine receptors or histamine release can prevent heart failure (HF) in rabbits exposed to doxorubicin and dogs with pacemaker-driven tachycardia (4–6). Relative to mice with an intact H2 receptor, mice with the H2 receptor knockout had improved cardiac function and developed less fibrosis when subjected to aortic banding (7). H2 receptor activation may increase mitochondrial permeability in cardiac myocytes and myocardial susceptibility to stress (8).
In men and women with HF and reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF), H2RA use is associated with smaller left ventricular (LV) volumes and less severe symptoms; we have previously shown H2RA use is associated with lower right ventricular mass and smaller volumes (9,10). Alongside the observations in animals, these data suggest histamine signaling may be relevant to the pathogenesis of human HF.
This study examined associations between H2RA use and incident HF in a multiethnic cohort of adults free of clinical cardiovascular disease (CVD) at baseline. This study further evaluated associations between H2RA use, LV morphology, and change in LV morphology over time. The study investigators hypothesized that H2RA use would be associated with a reduced risk for HF.
MESA (Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis) is a prospective cohort study designed to investigate subclinical CVD (11). From 2000 to 2002, MESA recruited participants aged 45 to 84 years from 6 U.S. communities. Evaluation included 5 MESA examinations over approximately 10 years. Exclusion criteria included clinical CVD (physician-diagnosed myocardial infarction, stroke, transient ischemic attack, HF, angina, current atrial fibrillation, any cardiovascular procedure), weight >136 kg, pregnancy, or impediment to long-term participation. Institutional review boards of participating institutions approved the MESA protocols. All participants provided informed consent.
Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) was obtained at the baseline examination for the majority of MESA participants. In a subset of these participants, CMR was repeated approximately 10 years later (12). The CMR protocol and interpretation of LV parameters in the MESA study have been previously described and are included in the Online Appendix (13,14).
Medication use
A validated medication inventory was used to assess medication use (10,15). Participants were asked to bring all medications used during the 2 weeks before a MESA examination. Participants were considered H2RA users in primary analyses if they used prescription or over-the-counter H2RAs at the baseline MESA examination. Other baseline medication use considered for confounding included proton pump inhibitors, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (±diuretic), angiotensin II receptor blockers (±diuretic), beta-blockers (±diuretic), any diuretic alone (including potassium-sparing diuretics), oral steroids, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) (including aspirin, COX-2 inhibitors, and other NSAIDs), digoxin, and leukotriene antagonists.
Ascertainment of events
Full details of event ascertainment and definition are available in MESA's Manual of Procedures (16). Clinical outcomes were assessed at MESA study examinations and by telephone interview every 9 to 12 months. Records were obtained for approximately 99% of hospitalizations and 97% of outpatient cardiovascular diagnostic encounters through the end of calendar year 2012. Incident HF required symptoms of HF, a physician diagnosis of HF, and another objective feature of HF (dilated or poor LV function, pulmonary edema by chest radiograph, treatment, or evidence of diastolic dysfunction). Two physicians from the MESA events committee independently reviewed all medical records for classification and dating of events. If reviewers disagreed, they adjudicated differences. If disagreement persisted, the full events committee made the final classification.
Statistical analysis
The methods of Kaplan and Meier were used to estimate unadjusted associations and Cox proportional hazards to estimate adjusted associations of H2RA use at the baseline exam with incident HF. Covariates were assessed at the initial MESA exam, described in MESA's Manual of Procedures, and chosen a priori (16). In limited models, we adjusted for age, sex, race, height, weight, and study site. In adjusted models, we also included participants' education and cardiovascular risk factors, including intentional exercise, smoking status, pack-years of smoking, hypertension, systolic blood pressure, diabetes mellitus, cholesterol, and fasting glucose. In separate models, we further adjusted for co-medication use or level of the amino-terminal fragment of pro–B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) and cardiac troponin T.
Two restricted cohorts were considered in fully adjusted analyses to further address the possibility of confounding. To account for confounding by indication (in which the underlying disease of gastroesophageal reflux, rather than treatment, could be linked to incident disease or LV morphology), analyses were repeated in a restricted cohort comparing participants who used H2RAs to those who used proton pump inhibitors (8). In a second cohort, to account for confounding related to a participant's likelihood to use H2RAs, propensity scores were used to match H2RA users with nonusers of a similar propensity to use H2RAs. The propensity to use H2RAs was calculated as a logit function including factors hypothesized to predict H2RA use, such as comorbidity, body mass index (BMI), and insurance status (see the Online Appendix for all covariate choices and matching scheme).
Exploratory analyses evaluated associations between H2RA use and HF in groups with differing predicted HF risk. These analyses were predicated on the hypothesis that, if a treatment effect exists, it might be most apparent in individuals at the highest risk for HF. A HF risk score derived from the ARIC (Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities) study was estimated for each participant with available measures using baseline characteristics (17). The percentage of participants with incident HF at any point during follow-up for a given predicted baseline risk (estimated by the ARIC risk score) was evaluated using locally weighted scatterplot smoothing (LOWESS). This allowed a depiction of the observed HF incidence in groups of individuals with different predicted risk at baseline. Kaplan-Meier cumulative event curves, HF incidence, relative risk, and risk difference were also presented in stratified cohorts with high (ARIC risk score >11) and low (ARIC risk score ≤11) risk at baseline. Further exploratory models evaluated whether age, sex, BMI category, beta-blocker use, or baseline NT-proBNP level modified associations between H2RA use and HF.
In the primary analyses, H2RA exposure was evaluated at the earliest available time point (baseline) because the etiologic window of H2RA use relevant to HF is unknown, but may be protracted given potential biological mechanisms involving cardiac fibrosis and remodeling. To test the validity of this assumption for H2RA use and explore timing and duration of H2RA use, time-varying exposure models characterized the association between active/current H2RA use with incident HF (Online Figure 1, Online Appendix).
Linear regression was used to characterize associations between H2RA use at the baseline exam, initial LV parameters, and change in LV parameters over time (e.g., baseline LV mass subtracted from LV mass at the follow-up CMR). Models with limited adjustment, full adjustment, and full adjustment with co-medication use were considered in both full and restricted cohorts. We adjusted for the sum of LV parameters (e.g., baseline LV mass added to LV mass at the follow-up CMR) in all models of LV change to address concerns that change in LV parameters was confounded by baseline differences. This allowed inference on LV change independent of differences in the absolute magnitude of LV measures. We used consistency of H2RA use (nonuse, use during any single MESA examination, or use noted during at least 4 MESA examinations) as a plausible surrogate for cumulative dose over time in analyses of LV change and presented these results as marginal predictions from fully adjusted linear regression models. Analyses were performed using STATA 12.0 (StataCorp, College Station, Texas).
Of 6,814 participants enrolled in MESA, follow-up for incident HF was obtained for 6,783 individuals. Covariates were missing in 405 participants, leaving 6,378 subjects in the cohort evaluated for incident HF (94% of all participants). Of these, 4,691 completed a baseline CMR and were included in the cohort describing cross-sectional associations between H2RA use and the LV. A follow-up CMR was obtained in 2,806 participants (107 H2RA users and 2,699 nonusers) a median of 9.4 years after the first CMR (interquartile range 9.1 to 9.7 years). These participants were included in the cohort describing associations between H2RA use and longitudinal changes in the LV (Figure 1).
The mean age of the study sample was 62.3 years, 52.7% were women, and 37.9% were white. The 313 H2RA users in the cohort evaluated for incident HF tended to be older and heavier, were more likely to be white and to use other non-H2RA medications, and had a higher prevalence of hypertension than 6,065 nonusers (Table 1). Of 313 H2RA users, 170 (54.3%) reported use at only 1 MESA exam and 47 (15.0%) reported H2RA use at 4 or more MESA exams. Median follow-up was 11.2 years (interquartile range 10.6 to 11.7 years) and total follow-up was 65,082 person-years. In unadjusted analyses, 6 H2RA users developed HF in 3,082 person-years (1.9 events per 1,000 person-years) and 230 nonusers developed HF in 62,000 person-years (3.7 events per 1,000 person-years) (p value from a log-rank test of the Kaplan-Meier survival function = 0.11) (Central Illustration).
H2RA use at the baseline exam was associated with a 62% lower risk of HF (adjusted hazard ratio [HR]: 0.38; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.17 to 0.86; p = 0.02) (Table 2). This association was stronger when accounting for NT-proBNP and troponin T at baseline (adjusted HR: 0.18; 95% CI: 0.05 to 0.62; p = 0.007) (Table 2). Associations were similar with adjustment for co-medication use, when the cohort was restricted to propensity-matched participants, and when the cohort was restricted to participants who used either H2RAs or proton pump inhibitors (Table 2).
The largest unadjusted risk difference for HF was seen in participants with the highest predicted risk for HF at baseline (Central Illustration). H2RA users with low predicted HF risk (ARIC score ≤11) had a relative risk for HF of 0.5 and experienced 0.5 fewer episodes of incident HF per 1,000 person-years than nonusers. H2RA users with higher HF risk (ARIC score >11) had a relative risk for HF of 0.4 and experienced 5.3 fewer episodes of incident HF per 1,000 person-years (Central Illustration).
Age, sex, BMI, and beta-blocker use did not modify associations between H2RA use and HF (p for the interaction = 0.37, 0.13, 0.49, and 0.25, respectively). Similar to results stratified by HF risk score, baseline NT-proBNP was an effect modifier of the association between H2RA use and HF (p < 0.001). Individuals with a higher level of NT-proBNP at baseline had a greater reduction in the hazard of HF with H2RA use relative to individuals with a lower level of NT-proBNP at baseline. Use of time-varying exposure models to describe associations between active H2RA use and clinical outcomes suggested a more modest association between concurrent "active" H2RA use and HF development (HR: 0.75; 95% CI: 0.37 to 1.51; p = 0.42). The association was stronger, but still not statistically significant, when H2RA use was restricted to participants with at least 1 year of H2RA use (HR: 0.51: 95% CI: 0.21 to 1.23; p = 0.13) (Online Tables 1 and 2 for adjusted and unadjusted associations incorporating time varying definitions of H2RA exposure).
H2RA use was associated with differences in baseline CMR. After adjustment for covariates, H2RA use was associated with a smaller left ventricular end-diastolic volume (LVEDV) (−5.7 ml; 95% CI: −8.8 to −2.6 ml, p < 0.001), smaller stroke volume (−3.5 ml; 95% CI: −5.6 to −1.4 ml; p = 0.001), and a higher mass/volume ratio (0.04 g/ml; 95% CI: 0.02 to 0.07 g/ml; p < 0.001). Associations were unchanged with adjustment for co-medication use and in the propensity-matched cohort. Restriction to participants who used either H2RAs or proton pump inhibitors attenuated associations between H2RA use and baseline CMR metrics (Online Table 3). There was no association between H2RA use and baseline LV ejection fraction or mass.
H2RA use was associated with blunted LV change over time. Among participants who completed both CMRs, LVEDV decreased, LV stroke volume decreased, and mass/volume ratio increased over time. Compared with nonusers, H2RA users had a smaller decline in LVEDV (4.6 ml; 95% CI: 0.4 to 8.8 ml; p = 0.03), a smaller decline in LV stroke volume (3.9 ml; 95% CI: 0.7 to 7.1 ml; p = 0.02), and a smaller increase in mass/volume ratio (−0.05 g/ml; 95% CI: −0.09 to −0.02 g/ml; p = 0.005) over time (Figure 2). Results were not different after further adjustment for co-medication use and in the propensity-matched cohort. Restricting analyses to participants with gastroesophageal reflux disease attenuated associations with LV change (Online Table 4). Increasing consistency of H2RA use over time suggested progressively stronger associations with change over time in LVEDV, LV stroke volume, and mass/volume ratio (Table 3).
In the current study, H2RA use was associated with a lower risk for incident HF in a multiethnic cohort without CVD at baseline. The strongest association (in absolute terms) was seen in individuals at highest risk for HF. H2RA users had smaller LVEDV and stroke volume at baseline, but over time, H2RA use was associated with a smaller decline in stroke volume, a smaller decline in LVEDV, and a smaller increase in the LV mass/volume ratio.
The association between baseline H2RA use and incident HF persisted regardless of the method used to account for confounding. The cohort matched by propensity to use H2RAs suggested H2RA use, and not characteristics of H2RA users, was responsible for the association. Comparing H2RA users to proton pump inhibitor users again suggested H2RA use, and not the presence of gastroesophageal reflux disease, was responsible for the association. Multivariate models argue that measured differences in cardiovascular risk factors between groups do not explain the reduced HF risk. In fact, there was a particularly large association between H2RA use and HF when adjusting for NT-proBNP (one of the strongest predictors of incident HF) and in participants with a high risk of HF as predicted by their ARIC HF risk score (17,18). These findings join previous observations in animal models to suggest a biologically plausible, histamine-related mechanism important to the pathogenesis of HF (4,6,7).
This is the first report to suggest H2RA use is associated with decreased HF incidence in humans, but not the first to suggest H2RA use may be important for the heart. Among 318 Japanese participants with HFrEF, use of famotidine (an H2RA) was associated with better New York Heart Association functional class, lower BNP, and a smaller LVEDV (9). In a subsequent prospective randomized trial of 50 participants with HF, Kim et al. (9) compared famotidine to teprenone use over 24 weeks and found improved functional class, decreased BNP, and decreased LV diameter in the famotidine arm.
Improved HF symptoms may be related, but are distinct from our description of decreased HF incidence, and our study suggested important differences relative to these previous studies. Among participants with HFrEF, randomized famotidine use was associated with a smaller LV diameter. This agrees with our current cross-sectional observation of a smaller LVEDV among H2RA users, but differs from our finding of a smaller decline in LVEDV over time among H2RA users. This discrepancy may reflect the difference in duration (10 years vs. 24 weeks) and differences in the population being studied. The famotidine trial studied participants with HFrEF in which a decrease in the size of a pathologically enlarged LV was a marker of improvement (19). MESA participants were initially free of clinical CVD and without a pathologically enlarged LV at baseline. Some participants developed HFrEF, some developed HF with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF), but most did not develop HF. Decrease in LV size is not always a marker of improvement. In HFpEF, decreased LV size is associated with disease progression, hospitalization, and death (20). Protection from an age-related decrease in LV size appears better aligned with the current findings and protection from HFpEF might provide a rationale for our observations. Pathophysiology relevant to HFpEF may be further suggested by the less pronounced increase in mass/volume ratio over time in H2RA users, which may imply less concentric remodeling, and the lack of an association between H2RA use and ejection fraction (21,22). Currently, there are no beneficial therapies for HFpEF, which is common and serious (23). Although highly speculative based on the current findings, further study of histamine signaling in the pathogenesis of HFpEF may be warranted.
Timing and duration of H2RA use are likely important. Associations with LV morphology were strongest in individuals who reported consistent H2RA use over several MESA exams. Also, although baseline H2RA use was strongly related to HF risk, "active use" was only weakly related to incident HF unless "active use" was restricted to participants who used H2RAs for at least 1 year. This may suggest benefits with early, prolonged, and/or consistent H2RA use exist that are not present with short-term use or use beginning during later stages of HF pathogenesis.
Study limitations
Associations with cardiac morphology were less consistent than those with HF, particularly after restricting to participants with gastroesophageal reflux disease. Furthermore, H2RA users had smaller LVEDV and LV stroke volume at baseline, but less decline in these measures over time, which could represent regression to the mean. Regression to the mean would not explain associations with HF, and small sample size likely contributed to inconsistency after restriction to participants with gastroesophageal reflux disease; however, inference on cardiac structure and a paradigm of "protection" from age-related changes in cardiac morphology, which informed our discussion of mechanism, should be more cautious. In addition, HF is a heterogeneous disease. Because of the small number of HF events among H2RA users, this study could not reliably characterize important differences between types of HF relative to H2RA use. Importantly, this included an inability to characterize differences in HFpEF relative to HFrEF. Timing and duration of H2RA use may be important, but could not be fully evaluated because MESA did not assess medication use more frequently than every other year, and medication use before the baseline exam was not known. Residual confounding, unmeasured confounding, and misclassification in a nonrandomized study are always possible, and for this reason, inference on pharmaco-epidemiology must be cautious. The relatively small sample size of participants who used H2RAs may lead to less stable estimates of HF incidence than would be seen in a larger population, which further reinforces the need for cautious inference when interpreting the current findings.
H2RA use was associated with a lower risk for incident HF and better preserved stroke volume, LVEDV, and mass/volume ratio over time in community-dwelling adults. Histamine signaling may be important in the pathogenesis of HF and could be an important target for therapy or prevention of HF.
COMPETENCY IN MEDICAL KNOWLEDGE: Histamine signaling may be important in the pathogenesis of heart failure by inhibiting myocardial fibrosis and apoptosis, and in a cohort observed over 10 years, the use of H2 receptor antagonists was associated with a lower the risk for incident heart failure.
TRANSLATIONAL OUTLOOK: Randomized trials are needed to verify whether the use of H2 receptor antagonists can influence the development or progression of heart failure and clarify the mechanisms responsible for this effect.
The authors thank investigators, staff, and participants of MESA for their valuable contributions.
This research was supported by contracts N01-HC-95159, N01-HC-95160, N01-HC-95161, N01-HC-95162, N01-HC-95163, N01-HC-95164, N01-HC-95165, N01-HC-95166, N01-HC-95167, N01-HC-95168 and N01-HC-95169 from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, and by grants UL1-TR-000040 and UL1-TR-001079 from NCRR. This publication was supported by the National Center For Advancing Translational Sciences of the National Institutes of Health under Award KL2TR000421. MESA investigators reviewed the manuscript for scientific content and consistency of data interpretation with previous MESA publications. Significant comments were incorporated before submission for publication. A full list of participating MESA investigators and institutions can be found at https://www.mesa-nhlbi.org/aboutMESAPersonnel.aspx. The authors have reported that they have no relationships relevant to the contents of this paper to disclose.
Listen to this manuscript's audio summary by JACC Editor-in-Chief Dr. Valentin Fuster.
- Abbreviations and Acronyms
- body mass index
- confidence interval
- cardiac magnetic resonance imaging
- cardiovascular disease
- histamine H2 receptor antagonists
- heart failure
- HFpEF
- heart failure with preserved ejection fraction
- HFrEF
- heart failure with reduced ejection fraction
- hazard ratio
- left ventricle/ventricular
- left ventricular end-diastolic volume
- nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug
- NT-proBNP
- N-terminal pro–B-type natriuretic peptide
- Received October 30, 2015.
- Revision received January 15, 2016.
- Accepted January 21, 2016.
- 2016 American College of Cardiology Foundation
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- ↵MESA Coordinating Center. MESA Manual of Operations: Field Center and Laboratory Procedures. Available at: http://www.mesa-nhlbi.org/manuals.aspx. Accessed March 17, 2014.
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- Zile M.R.
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Still looking to fulfill your new year's resolution by eating healthier? Look no further! This banana avocado smoothie is super simple to make and only requires 5 minutes of your time.
I've stressed the health benefits of avocado in my previous posts, they are rich in omega 3 fatty acids, folate, vitamin K, vitamin c, fiber, and potassium. Bananas are also rich in vitamin c, potassium, vitamin b6 and manganese, and they help regulate your blood sugar. Other benefits include aiding in digestion and weight loss. Pineapples have a high vitamin C content and are also anti-inflammatory.
With the combination of chia seeds, which are high in magnesium (perfect for restoring your muscles after a workout) and are loaded with antioxidants, you have a perfect meal in this banana avocado smoothie.
Need more plant-based nutrition information? Check out Dr. Greger's Nutrition Facts. They have an encyclopedia of plant-based health information, it's my top choice for health research. If you really want to read about the benefits of a plant-based lifestyle, read How Not To Die by Dr. Greger. Together with The China Study, it's a vast comprehensive study of plant-based nutrition.
This is also a perfect post-workout smoothie because it contains the necessary nutrients to help you with muscle recovery and the vitamins you need to speed up your metabolism.
I really love this smoothie, it's tasty, healthy, and really easy to make. It also keeps me full for a long time!
I know many people would love to get into the habit of making green smoothies or juices for breakfast but lack the knowledge on how to start. Honestly, all you need are fresh whole-foods and a blender. Most of us already have blenders sitting at home so give this recipe a try and make it for lunch or breakfast tomorrow.
If you don't like one of the ingredients replace it with a fruit of your choice! If you need help with ideas, send me a message!
Try this banana avocado smoothie recipe today and comment below with your experience!
5 Minute Banana Avocado Smoothie
Delicious Banana Avocado Smoothie ready in 5 minutes!
- 1/2 lb chopped pineapple
- 1/2 large avocado
- 1 banana
- 1 tbsp chia seeds
- juice of 1 lime
Combine all ingredients in a blender and pulsate until smooth


text: Survey URLs You can distribute a survey by giving survey users a survey URL. Survey administrators can obtain one of the following types of URLs. A general URL for a survey, which users can open to take the survey questionnaire. The following process occurs. When someone opens the URL, the system ensures that the person is logged in. It then searches for an instance of the associated survey that is assigned to the logged-in user. If a survey instance is found, the appropriate action occurs based on the State of the survey instance (see table). If there are multiple active survey instances (Ready to take or In progress), the instance with the earliest due date opens. If no survey instance is found, the system creates a new instance for the survey, assigns it to the user, and opens the survey questionnaire. A URL for a specific survey instance, which the assigned user can open to take the survey questionnaire. The following process occurs. When someone opens the URL, the system ensures the person is logged in as the user the survey instance is assigned to. Only the assigned user can access the survey questionnaire. The appropriate action occurs, depending on the State of the survey instance (see table). Table 1. Survey states Survey instance state Action upon opening URL Ready to take: User has not saved any responses. The survey questionnaire appears for the user to begin. The user can save or submit responses. In progress: User has saved at least one response. The survey questionnaire appears for the user to continue. Any previously saved responses are displayed. The user can save or submit responses. Complete: User has submitted all required responses. If the schedule period is No Limit or if the period restriction has expired, the survey questionnaire for a new survey instance appears for the user to begin. If the schedule period restricts the number of times a user can take the same survey, and the period restriction has not expired since the user last completed survey, an error message appears. If someone opens a URL for an unpublished or deactivated survey, an error message appears. Obtain and distribute a general survey URLYou can distribute a general survey URL to allow any eligible user to open a survey questionnaire.Deactivate auto-notification for surveysWhen you send a survey notification with a general survey URL to a survey user, the user may receive a second system-generated notification. To avoid this issue, you can deactivate auto-notification.Obtain a survey instance URLYou can distribute a survey instance URL to allow the assigned user to open a survey questionnaire.Test a survey URLWhen there are survey users associated with a survey, the survey is restricted so only those users can use the survey URL. You can test the survey URL to ensure it is restricted.Related tasksSend survey invitations to usersCreate a survey moduleRelated conceptsSharing surveys: export and import


text:
Early Gaga's most avant-garde looks might have only been latex bike shorts and platinum hair bows (tame, when compared to her alien cheek implants and egg vessels). On her latest cover of Rolling Stone, she pays homage to her roots and brings back that beloved hair bow that compelled hundreds of girls across the world to spend hours in their bathrooms in frustration with a bottle of hairspray and too many broken bobby pins. This cover is far more demure than last years' with the machine gun boobs. The issue is on newsstands now.
United States
- Switch To
- United Kingdom
- Germany
- France
- Canada


text:
"You win a few, you lose a few. Some get rained out. But you get to dress for all of them"
Those immortal lines were spoken by the baseball player that Joe DiMaggio called the best and fastest pitcher he ever faced. The player was Satchel Paige, who many felt should have preceded Jackie Robinson as the first player to break the infamous colour line in segregated America. He played until he was 59, or even 61, depending on which birth documents were correct.
Last week I stuck my neck out and declared that the Proteas have found something special in the new regime under Ottis Gibson. A few readers accused me of being OTT and snorted that it was early days to make such an outrageous claim. However, I recognised what I saw in Cape Town because I have experienced it when a sports team gets inspired. It is metamorphic when it happens. It was there to see in the body language, demeanour and performance of the players.
However, I must confess to being a bit nervous going into Supersport Park, especially when an Indian wicket was revealed. You see hats are there to be eaten. You win a few, you lose a few.
The optimism was repaid in spades and suddenly all seems well with our cricket. The shambles of the T20 Global League debacle and the poor series against England are forgotten. We have just outplayed the best team in the world, shown real fighting spirit, fielded like supermen (fielding is the symptom of spirit in cricket), and in the process, discovered a real diamond in the fast bowling stakes. A pretty good week overall.
There was one shot on the TV that was telling. Lungi Ngidi had just taken a wicket and, for a moment, he and Kagiso Rabada were together in shot. Suddenly it was like déjà vu. Here were two young, lanky, black athletes right at the top of the world fast bowling tree. They looked relaxed yet they radiated raw muscular menace. People of my vintage have seen it before. We saw it and were scared.
Lungi reminds one of Patrick Patterson or Wayne Daniel from the generation before. Look at the shoulders. Look at the smile. Kagiso is more fluid in his action and reminds one of Michael Holding or a less jerky Andy Roberts. The great thing, or scary thing, depending on your favour, is that Ottis Gibson has just started with these two youngsters. Even veterans Morne Morkel and Vernon Philander bowled degrees better than they have of late. How much improvement can we expect under the coach who transformed England? Much, I predict.
The reaction to the win has been lovely. That these two young bowlers led the charge has been recognised as symbolic and important as our sport transforms and develops. However, that both went to top private schools, as did Temba Bavuma, has also been noted. There is nothing wrong with that. However, how much potential is out there that is not being picked up and given expert tuition? How much is lost in the system? How can this pair inspire and captivate a whole new generation of cricketers of all backgrounds?
The answer to the last is easy. Keep bowling fast and knocking over batsmen and strong young kids will want to copy you. Cricket is back at the top of the cool tree. That is an opportunity, let's not waste it.
On the subject of barrier breaking athletes, it was sad to learn of the death of Cyril Regis during the week. When black soccer players were rare in England, he, Brendan Batson and the late Laurie Cunningham starred for West Bromwich Albion. Cyril was built a bit like a fast bowler and was a marvellous leader of the forward line. He was only 59.
You win a few, you lose a few. The point is to recognise and maximise the influence of the people who can make a difference to their worlds. Sport can do that.


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Sonoma State University
Sonoma State University (SSU, Sonoma State, or Sonoma) is a public university in Rohnert Park in Sonoma County, California. It is one of the smallest members of the California State University (CSU) system. Sonoma State offers 92 Bachelor's degrees, 19 Master's degrees, and 11 teaching credentials.[6][7]
Former names
|Sonoma State College (1960–1978)
|Lux Mentis, Lux Orbis (Latin)
Motto in English
|Light of the Mind, Light of the World
|$49.1 million (2018)[2]
|$149 million (2019)[3]
|Judy K. Sakaki [1]
Academic staff
|8,649 (Fall 2019)[4]
|8,032 (Fall 2019)[4]
|617 (Fall 2019)[4]
United States
|Suburban, 269 acres (109 ha) (main campus)
|Navy, Columbia blue[5]
|NCAA Division II – California Collegiate Athletic
|California State University, COPLAC
|Lobo the Seawolf
Sonoma State College was established by the California State Legislature in 1960 to be part of the California State College system, with significant involvement of the faculty from San Francisco State University. As with all California State Colleges, Sonoma State later became part of the California State University system. Sonoma opened for the first time in 1961, with an initial enrollment of 250 students. Classes offered took place in leased buildings in Rohnert Park where the college offered its first four-year Bachelor of Arts degree in Elementary Education. With the completion of its two main classroom halls, Stevenson Hall, named for politician Adlai Stevenson II, and Darwin Hall, named for Charles Darwin, the college moved to its permanent campus of 215 acres (87 ha) in 1966 where the first graduating class received their degrees.[8]
Early development
As enrollment increased, Sonoma State built more on-campus facilities, including Ives Hall for performing arts, The University Commons for dining, a small library, and a gymnasium. These buildings followed the physical master plan of the school which stated that the facilities would be urban in character, defining the use of smooth concrete building façades with landscaped courtyards. Among the landscaping features added with these facilities were the "Campus Lakes", two small reservoirs located behind the Commons next to Commencement Lawn, the site of the university's annual commencement ceremonies, as well as one lake near a housing facility, Beaujolais Village; the lakes are home to local waterfowl.
In 1969, the first master's degrees in biology and psychology were offered. The new cluster school concept, coupled with a more intense focus on the surrounding rural environment, influenced the new physical master plan. The first facility built under the new plan was the Zinfandel residence area. The new Student Health Center used a primarily redwood façade with a landscaped ground cover of wild roses and poppies. In 1975, Nichols Hall was built as the newest classroom hall and named in honor of Sonoma's founding president, Ambrose R. Nichols.
Early development of the modern campus came to a close in 1976 when the Student Union was constructed between the main quad and the lakes. This building continued the use of the physical master plan, using primarily redwood and preceded the similarly built Carson Hall, an art building, a childcare center, additional parking, and a computer center which was added onto the library.[8]
The modern university
In 1978, Sonoma State College became Sonoma State University when the school officially gained university status. In response to this achievement, the surrounding community provided funds for the new university to build a large swimming pool, completed in 1982, and the 500-seat Evert Person Theatre, 1989 and which dominates the view when entering campus through the main drive. Further enrollment increases and a new goal of movement toward a residential campus as opposed to a commuter campus facilitated the building of Verdot Village in 1995.[8]
21st-century expansion
In May 2001, the Board of Trustees approved a new master plan, which added 48 acres (19 ha) to the campus, located north of Copeland Creek. Rapidly accelerated growth of the residential student body was alleviated by the construction of the third phase of on-campus housing named Sauvignon Village, offering housing to non-freshman students. In the same year, the Jean and Charles Schulz Information Center was completed to accommodate the expanded needs of the library and computing services. The facility was built as a prototype library and information complex for the 21st century, housing more than 400,000 volumes in its stacks. The center also houses an advanced Automated Retrieval System (ARS) which contains an additional 750,000 volumes in a computer-managed shelving system in the library wing.
A large portion of the funding to build the information center was donated by Charles Schulz, cartoonist and author of the popular Peanuts comic series, and his wife Jean.[9]
In January 2005, the university began the renovation of Darwin Hall, the university's science building, which had been built in 1967. The new building was designed to provide efficient academic classrooms and study areas for faculty and their students. The renovated structure was completed and re-opened in fall 2006 and provided new laboratories and classrooms to support the needs of a modern science curriculum.[10]
The new property approved by the board of trustees in 2000 is also the site of the Donald and Maureen Green Music Center, funded by private donors. A component of the Green Music Center, Music Education Hall, was state-funded. The center contains the 1,400-seat Joan and Sanford I. Weill Hall, which was completed in 2012. Students began taking classes and occupying the building in fall 2008. Its resident orchestra is the Santa Rosa Symphony.[11]
In May 2007, SSU faculty voted no confidence in President Armiñana based upon financial issues surrounding the building of the Green Music Center,[12] and faculty allegations that the building of the center took money away from academic programs. The center, originally intended to be a $10 million project, grew into a $120 million complex as additional venues and features were added to the original plan. The construction of the center was initially funded by bond measures, loans, and private donations as the use of academic funds for other uses is illegal.[13] The Board of Trustees continues to support Armiñana despite the vote.[14]
In February 2010, the FBI and investigators from the Sonoma County District Attorney's offices raided the campus's administrative and finance offices, seizing dozens of boxes from a storage area, as well as examining computers. The operation focused on an alleged misuse of federal grant money by the California Institute for Human Services (CIHS),[15] a unit closed by SSU in 2007. The two top CIHS administrators were dismissed at that time.[16]
A new social center for the university gained approval in April 2011. Students voted to raise their fees by $150 a semester to cover the cost of the $65 million facility.[17]
The Office of the President began with the university's founding in 1960 when Ambrose R. Nichols, Jr. became the founding president of the university. There have been six presidents of Sonoma State University.[8] In January 2016, the California State University Board of Trustees appointed Judy Sakaki as Sonoma State's next president.[18] Sakaki's term began July 1, 2016.[19]
|Years as President
|Ambrose R. Nichols, Jr.
|Thomas H. McGrath
|Marjorie Downing Wagner
|Peter Diamandopoulos
|David W. Benson
|Ruben Armiñana
|Judy K. Sakaki
|* All levels, freshman through graduate
|African American
|Asian American
|Filipino American
|Pacific Islander
|White European Americans
|Native American/American Indian
|Mexican American/Chicano
|Other Latino American
|Multiracial Americans
|Non-resident alien
Sonoma State occupies approximately 269 acres (109 ha) on the east side of the main suburban area of Rohnert Park. Directly adjacent to the main campus is Wolf's Den Plaza, a frequent hangout and eating area for SSU students. As of fall 2018 Sonoma State has the third-largest White enrollment percentage of Americans in the California State University system.[20]
University library
The three story, 215,000-square-foot (20,000 m2) library is separated into two wings housing different areas on each floor. The building has a total of 5 acres (2.0 ha) of indoor floor space and 50,000 feet (15,000 m) of shelving. The library houses a collection of writings and original letters from Jack London, as well as memorabilia relating to his works.[21] The $41.5 million building is named after Charles M. Schulz, the creator of the Peanuts comic cartoon, and his wife Jean, who donated $5 million to help build and furnish the structure.[22]
Campus Bookstore
The Sonoma State Bookstore was operated by Sonoma State Enterprises, Inc. until the spring of 2006 when the operation was outsourced to Barnes & Noble College Booksellers, despite some opposition from faculty members.[23]
Off-campus sites
In addition to the main campus, the university also owns and operates two off–campus study sites for students of the natural sciences. The first site is the 411-acre (166 ha) Fairfield Osborn Preserve, located on nearby Sonoma Mountain.[24] The second site is the 3,200-acre (1,300 ha) Galbreath Wildlands Preserve in Mendocino County.[25] Both offer opportunities for research and hands-on education to students of the university. Sonoma State also offers students the opportunity to obtain their bachelor's degree in liberal arts partly through classes offered at Napa Valley College and the Vallejo Satellite Campus of Solano Community College.
Green Music Center
Music Education Hall (one of 4 components of the Green Music Center) opened its doors in 2008 to students taking classes in the two 60-person classrooms. The focal point of the Green Music Center is a 1,400-seat concert hall featuring precision engineered acoustics, named the Joan and Sanford I. Weill Hall.[26] The entire rear wall of the hall opens to lawn seating for a total of 4,000 additional guests.[13][27] The Hospitality Center, which includes a restaurant/executive conference center, opened in 2010. A $12 million donation from Joan and Sandy Weill, announced in March 2011, provided the funds to complete the concert hall for the fall 2012 opening. The 250-seat Schroeder Recital Hall opened in 2014.[28]
On-campus housing
Sonoma State provides suite-style housing. There are six villages on campus, all named after wine.
|University rankings
|U.S. News & World Report[31]
|Master's University class
|Washington Monthly[32]
Schools and special programs
The more than 65 departments and academic programs are divided into six distinct schools,[33] all offering undergraduate and graduate degrees and courses, and nearly all offering minors and doctorates.
- School of Arts & Humanities
- School of Business & Economics
- Wine Business Program
- School of Education
- School of Science & Technology
- School of Extended & International Education
- School of Social Sciences
Accreditations and memberships
Sonoma State is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges. Several of the schools within Sonoma State also have additional accreditations, such as the School of Business and Economics, which is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. Sonoma State University remains the only California school that belongs to the Council of Public Liberal Arts Colleges.[37]
Hutchins School of Liberal Studies
The Hutchins School of Liberal Studies is a nationally–known interdisciplinary learning community within the larger institution of Sonoma State University.[38] HIPPS is currently under the direction of professor Francisco Vázquez.
Wine Business program
Sonoma State's location in the California Wine Country allows the school to offer the Wine Business program as well and related courses in viticulture. Sonoma State's program offers a curriculum targeted at the business challenges of the wine industry. Courses are offered in wine marketing, wine finance and accounting, human resources management, wine business strategies, wine production, operations, and distribution.[39]
Department of Engineering Science
With the support of the local industries and community, the department's laboratories located in the Cerent Engineering Science Complex are equipped with instruments to conduct study and research.[40]
Art from the Heart
An annual fundraising event, Art from the Heart, has taken place at the university since 1984. Held in the university's art gallery, the silent art auction raises funds for the art gallery's display, advertising, and lecture program by selling artwork created by invited professional artists.[41]
Student life
Sonoma State teams compete in intercollegiate athletics as the Sonoma State Seawolves. Sonoma State University is an NCAA Division II member and part of the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA), Western Water Polo Association (WWPA) and the Pacific West Conference (PacWest). Ten of SSU's sports are in the CCAA, water polo is in the WWPA, and men's and women's tennis are in the PacWest.
Sonoma State athletics began in 1964 with the school's first men's basketball team. Through the years, the Seawolves have had various successes including national championships in 1990 (women's soccer), 2002 (men's soccer), and 2009 (men's golf). The school's traditional colors are navy, Columbia, and white. SSU athletic teams participate in the CCAA, an association within the NCAA's Division II. The SSU Athletic Department offers nine NCCAA women's sports teams and five men's teams. Women's track and field has recently been re-added to university's program.[42]
Student housing
The housing of Sonoma State offers 6 different villages for freshman, upperclassman, and transfers.[43] Sonoma States dorms are ranked #25 in the nation as of 2015, according to Niche Rankings.[44]
Campus life
Sonoma State University has over one hundred chartered student organizations, including fraternities and sororities. More than 20 sports clubs are offered. Several teams compete regionally and in national tournaments. These teams are formed, developed, governed, and administrated by students.[45]
Associated Students
Associated Students (AS) is a student-run and student-owned organization that represents the goals and interests of the student population. The AS Senate is the student government and board of directors of the corporation. AS also encompasses two smaller divisions, Associated Students Productions (ASP), which plans and produces on-campus concerts and student events, and Join Us Making Progress (JUMP), which organizes community service programs.
Notable faculty and alumni
|Known for
|Relationship to Sonoma
|Larry Allen
|Former Dallas Cowboys offensive guard
|Played on now defunct football team
|David V. Brewer
|Associate Justice of the Oregon Supreme Court
|Bachelor of Arts, Economics ('74)
|Abdul Rahman Dahlan
|Member of the Parliament of Malaysia
|BA Economics & Management
|Kevin Danaher
|Author and activist, co-founder of Global Exchange
|William C. Davis
|Civil War historian
|Bachelor of Arts, Master of Arts ('69)
|Michael Fellows
|Noted computer science researcher
|BA Mathematics
|Justin Gross
|Voice Over Actor
|BA Criminal Justice Administration
|Sam Hernandez
|Arena Football League Hall of Fame lineman
|Played on now defunct football team
|Mike Horner
|Adult Film Actor
|BA Philosophy, 1980
|Andrew McGuire
|Public Health Advocate, Documentary Filmmaker, MacArthur Fellow
|Doctor of Humane Letters, Cal. State University, conferred at SSU, 1996,
BA History, English, 1971
|Mike McGuire
|California State Senator[46]
|BA Political Science, 2002
|Carole Migden
|Former California State Senator
|Tendai Mukomberanwa
|Soapstone Sculptor
|Bachelor of Fine Arts
|Carl Peterson
|Kansas City Chiefs Former president & general manager
|Coached on now defunct football team
|Jon Provost
|Played Timmy Martin in the CBS series Lassie
|Ulf-Dietrich Reips
|Pioneer of Internet-based research, Professor of Psychology
|MA Psychology, 1992
|Jason Robinson
|American jazz saxophonist, electronic musician, and composer
|Jazz Studies and Philosophy
|Greg Sarris
|Author and Native American leader
|Mario Savio
|Civil liberties activist
|Nancy Silverton
|Chef, baker, and author
|Dave Smeds
|Science fiction author & Nebula Award finalist
|Virginia Strom-Martin
|Former California State Assemblywoman
See also
- "Quick Facts". Sonoma State University. Archived from the original on July 2, 2016. Retrieved July 3, 2016.
- As of June 30, 2018. "U.S. and Canadian Institutions Listed by Fiscal Year (FY) 2018 Endowment Market Value and Change in Endowment Market Value from FY 2017 to FY 2018" (PDF). National Association of College and University Business Officers and Commonfund Institute. 2018. Retrieved 2019-07-12.
- https://web.sonoma.edu/budget/campus-budget-plan.html
- "Fall Term Student Enrollment". The California State University Institutional Research and Analyses. Retrieved November 18, 2019.
- "University Colors : Sonoma State University Identity Standards". www.sonoma.edu. Archived from the original on 2015-10-13.
- Search CSU Degrees Archived 2016-05-26 at the Wayback Machine. Degrees.calstate.edu. Retrieved on 2013-07-21.
- "Californioa State University Credential Programs : 2013-4" (PDF). Degrees.calstate.edu. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 April 2015. Retrieved 18 February 2015.
- "Looking Back: 40 Years at Sonoma State University, 1961-2001," University Affairs Office, Sonoma State University, 2001.
- "About the Building". Sonoma State University Library. Archived from the original on February 7, 2015. Retrieved February 6, 2015.
- Norberg, Bob (June 3, 2006). "$29.5 million evolution of SSU's Darwin Hall complete". The Press Democrat. Santa Rosa, California. Archived from the original on February 7, 2015. Retrieved February 6, 2015.
- "About Us". Santa Rosa Symphony. Archived from the original on February 6, 2015. Retrieved February 6, 2015.
- Elia Powers (May 30, 2007). "No Confidence Vote at Cal State". Inside Higher Education. Archived from the original on August 29, 2007. Retrieved 2007-09-11.
- Bob Norberg (November 25, 2008). "Music Center Still Silent". The Press Democrat. Archived from the original on July 26, 2011. Retrieved 2008-11-26.
- George Lauer, "SSU Faculty Approves 'No Confidence' in President," Santa Rosa Press Democrat, May 19, 2007, pp. A1, 8.
- Bob Norberg, "Institute was thriving, 125-employee operation," The Press Democrat, Feb. 19, 2010, p. A5."Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2010-02-21. Retrieved 2010-02-19.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
- Nathan Halverson and Jeremy Hay, "FBI raids Sonoma State offices," The Press Democrat, February 19, 2010, pp. A1, A5."Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2012-03-22. Retrieved 2010-02-19.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
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Historically, Indonesia has already had IPR laws and regulations since 1840s. Dutch Colonial Government introduced the first law concerning IPR protection in 1844. Subsequently, Dutch Government promulgated Trademark Law (1885), Patent Law (1910), and Copyright Law (1912). Indonesia, which was still called Netherlands East-Indies at that time, had been a member of Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property since 1888 and also a member of Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works since 1914. In Japanese occupation era - 1942 to 1945 - all IPR laws and regulations remained in force.
On August 17, 1945 Indonesian people proclaimed their independence. As stipulated in the transitional provisions of The 1945 Constitution, all laws and regulations of Dutch colonial legacy remained in force as long as they were not in conflict with The 1945 Constitution. Copyright Law and Dutch legacy law still applied, but not with the Patent Law which was considered to be in conflict with Indonesian government. As stipulated in Dutch legacy Patent Law, a patent application can be filed at patent office located in Batavia (now Jakarta), but the examination must be conducted in Octrooiraad in the Netherlands.
In 1953, Indonesian Minister of Justice issued an announcement which was the first national regulation regulating patent, namely the Announcement of the Minister of Justice No. J.S. 5/41/4, regulating the temporary filing of domestic patent application, and the Minister of Justice Announcement No. J.G. 1/2/17 regulating temporary filing of foreign patent application.
On October 11, 1961, Indonesian government promulgated Law No. 21 of 1961 on Corporate Mark and Trademark (1961 Trademark Law) to replace Dutch colonial Trademark Law. The 1961 Trademark Law was the first Indonesian IPR law. Based on article 24, Law No. 21 of 1961, "This law addressed as the 1961 Trademark Law and comes into effect one month after this law is promulgated". The law came into force on 11 November 1961. The establishment of the 1961 Trademark Law was intended to protect public from counterfeit/pirated goods. Nowadays, November 11 - which was the date of enactment of Law No. 21 of 1961 – was commemorated as National IP Day.
On May 10, 1979, Indonesia ratified the Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property (Stockholm Revision 1967) based on Presidential Decree No. 24 of 1979. Indonesia's participation on the Paris Convention at that time was not full yet because Indonesia made exceptions (reservations) to a number of provisions, namely Article 1 to 12, and Article 28 section (1).
On April 12, 1982, the Government enacted Law No.6 of 1982 on Copyright (1982 Copyright Law) to replace the Dutch legacy Copyright Law. Ratification of the 1982 Copyright Law was intended to encourage and protect creation, promote culture in the field of science, art and literature and accelerate the development of nation's intellectual life as well.
Year of 1986 considered to be the beginning of the modern era of IPR systems in the country. On July 23, 1986, the President of the Republic of Indonesia formed a special IPR team through Presidential Decree No. 34/1986 (better known as the Presidential Decree 34 Team/Tim Keppres 34). The main task of Tim Keppres 34 were to formulate IPR national policies, to design IPR legislation and to disseminate IPR systems among relevant government agencies, law enforcement officials and wider community. Tim Keppres 34 then made a number of breakthroughs, among others by taking a new initiative in dealing with national debate about the urgency of patent system in the country. After Tim Keppres 34 re-revised the Patent Bill which had completed in 1982, finally in 1989, the Government enacted the Patent Law.
On September 19, 1987, the Indonesian Government enacted Law No. 7 of 1987 as amendment to Law No. 12 of 1982 concerning Copyright. In the elucidation of Law No. 7 of 1987 clearly stated that amendment to Law No. 12 of 1982 was carried out due to the increasing of copyright infringement which could endanger social life and destroy the creativity of the society.
Following the ratification of Law No. 7 of 1987, Indonesian government signed a number of bilateral agreements in the field of copyright as implementation of the law.
Directorate General of Copyright, Patents and Trademarks (abbreviated as DJ HCPM) was established in 1988 based on Presidential Decree No. 32 to take over the task and functions of Patent and Copyright Directorate which is one of the echelon II units within the Directorate General of Laws and Legislations on Ministry of Justice.
On October 13, 1989 the House of Representatives passed the Patent Bill, which was subsequently enacted into Law No. 6 of 1989 (1989 Patent Law) by the President of the Republic of Indonesia on November 1, 1989. The 1989 Patent Law entered into force on August 1, 1991. The ratification of the 1989 Patent Law finally put an end to a long debate about the importance of the patent system and its benefits to Indonesia. As stated in the consideration of the 1989 Patent Law, legal instruments in the field of patents are needed to provide legal protection and create a good environment for technology-based innovation activities, considering that technology plays a very important role for national development in general and specially in industrial sector. Ratification of the 1989 Patent Law was also intended to attract foreign investment and facilitate transfer of technology into the country. However, it was also emphasized that all efforts to develop IP system, including patent in Indonesia were not solely due to international pressure, but also because of national urgency to provide an effective IPR protection system.
On August 28, 1992, Indonesian Government enacted Law No. 19 of 1992 on Trademarks (1992 Trademark Law), which entered into force on April 1, 1993. The 1992 Trademark Law replaced the 1961 Trademarks Law. On April 15, 1994, the Indonesian Government signed the Final Act on Embodying the Result of the Uruguay Round of Multilateral Trade Negotiations, which includes the Agreement on Trade Related to Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPs).
Three years later, in 1997, Indonesian Government revised the IPR legislation, namely the 1987 Copyright Law jo. Law no. 6 of 1982, the 1989 Patent Law, and the 1992 Trademark Law.
At the end of 2000, three new IPR laws were enacted, namely Law No. 30 of 2000 on Trade Secrets, Law No. 31 of 2000 on Industrial Design and Law No. 32 of 2000 on Integrated Circuits Layout Design.
In order to harmonize all IPR laws and regulations with TRIPS Agreement, in 2001, Indonesian Government enacted Law No. 14 of 2001 on Patents, and Law No. 15 of 2001 on Trademarks. These two laws replaced the previous law in related fields. Subsequently, in mid-2002 previous Copyright law was replaced and became effective one year after its enactment.
Note: Change to the Nomenclature of Department of Law and Human Rights becoming Ministry of Law and Human Rights based on Ministerial Decision Number M.HH-02.OT.01.01 of 2011 on Adjustment of the Use of the Nomenclature of the Ministry of Law and Human Rights of the Republic of Indonesia.


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My Mouillère
My Mouillère - WHITE
All prices incl. MwSt. / VAT*
Biking home late at night and it's raining? Well, two choices: bike to the next club to rock in your glow-in-the-dark rubber shoes or cycle home safe while your shoes will light up the bike lane and increase safety and visibility!
Why we love it? Because the idea is so simple, genius and good looking!
Slip on the Mouillere® to protect the base and top of your shoe from water, mud and dirt and due to the elastic TPR rubber the The Mouillere® adapts to all kinds of shoes, sneakers, flats and boots. The Mouillere® GLOW will glow in the dark.
How it works?
The material stores energy (from electrical or natural light) and produces light with an autonomy of 14 h.
But no matter the "rainy" occasion. Walking the dog, biking to work, horse-back riding, gardening, running to catch the train, or simply taking a stroll in the nearby park on a rainy sunday. You'll look great and don't have to worry about your shoes.
The size has been defined taking into account the outside of your shoes. Simply choose your mouillere® size from the size chart. No need to size up!
More colors available here


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Is your garden a danger zone for your pet?
While you might like pretty blooms or your overgrown 'oasis', some seemingly harmless things can be deadly for pets
08 May 2016 By Leanne Philpott Comments
Inquisitive puppies and curious kitties love nothing more than romping around in the garden and hiding in flower beds, but are you aware of all the nasties and creepy crawlies in your backyard that could be harmful to your fur baby?
When you're looking to pet-proof your garden it's important to take note of all the things curious little noses might find. Garden plants and bugs are one of the biggest threats to household pets, while tools, chemicals, leftover building materials, and even garden décor can be just as dangerous too.
Plants to watch out for in your garden
Many different types of indoor and outdoor plants can cause serious harm to your pet, often it's the more beautiful and useful plants that pose the biggest risks. So be aware of what's hiding in your garden As poisonous plants can cause kidney failure, intestinal and stomach issues, paralysis and, in the worst cases, they can even cause death.
It is recommended that puppies and kittens aged under 18 months be very closely monitored while roaming in the garden. Flowerbeds, vegetable patches and planted areas should be fenced off.
The most common poisonous plants in the garden include:
- Bulbs— onion and all the spring favourites e.g. daffodils, tulips and snowdrops
- Castor oil plants
- Iris, Jasmine and Lilac varieties— the seed pods and flowers can be very nasty to pets if ingested
- Liliums (Lilies)— all parts of the plant are particularly deadly to kittens and cats
- Brunfelsia— especially dangerous to puppies if any part of the plants are eaten including the fruit which grows after flowering
- Wandering Jew— an insatiable weed that grows in darker, moist places and is very tricky to remove
- Wildflowers and wild mushrooms
TIP: While it's not a plant as such, the Macadamia nut can be lethal for dogs. The toxic principle is unknown but the signs of poisoning include: depression, hyperthermia, weakness, muscular stiffness, increased heart rate, tremors and vomiting so keep Macadamia nuts out of reach of your canine chum.
Insects that pose a danger to your pet
We all hate creepy crawlies in the garden and even more so when they make their way inside! Many of the bugs attracted to your backyard can be very dangerous for your pet. Regularly check your pet's fur, mouth and sensitive feet for any nasties they may have picked up outside including:
- Fleas— they hide in cool shaded areas until a new 'host' like you puppy or kitten walks past and jump on, quickly becoming an itchy menace
- Ticks— they also like to hide out in cool, wooded areas until they can latch on, they then feed off the hosts blood, and can transmit a variety of blood diseases and even attach to humans
- Stinging bugs such as bees, wasps or ants— just like humans, your pet's skin is vulnerable to the pain, swelling and itching that comes from bites or stings, keeping curious noses away from nests and monitoring their behaviour is the best fix
- Caterpillars, moths and butterfly— their 'slime' and the casings of their cacoons, as well as their wings when they have developed, can contain harmful toxins
Common symptoms of poisoning include: vomiting, diarrhoea, hyper-salivation, lethargy and abdominal discomfort. If you suspect your pet has been affected by a poison or insect bite, take them to a vet for attention immediately.
How safe is your garden?
Everyday garden fertilisers and insecticides contain a cocktail of ingredients that can be deadly for dogs and cats, they come in liquid, granular and solid forms and are made up of different amounts of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium— all ingredients that can cause nasty gastrointestinal irritations in pets.
Less common fertilisers such as blood meal and meat meal (fine powders made of blood and meat products with a high protein content) can be attractive to dogs and some cats so make sure they are properly stored away from the reach of super-sensitive nostrils.
Rat and mouse poisons are one of the most common causes of pet poisoning and injury. The poisons contain anticoagulants which stop the clotting of the blood; these chemicals can also affect your pets in the same way. The RSPCA suggests trying more human ways of taking care of infestations such as live and snap traps.
National Poison Prevention Week 2017 runs from March 19-25. For more information, visit the Pet Poison Helpline. NOTE: this is an American site (unfortunately Australia doesn't have a pet poison helpline) but the information is useful. Alternatively, contact your local vet.
Written by Erin Donovan
08 May 2016 By Leanne Philpott Commentscomments powered by Disqus


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As soon as we completed the video on WOW RAK's Iceland, the largest water theme park in the region located in Ras Al Khaimah, we posted it on YouTube.
Within less than a week more than 45,000 people had viewed it!
It's a month now and the number of views has crossed 77,000 and increasing as I write this.
That shows the power of video on the web.
It underscores the point we have been making – a well made video can drive traffic to your site.
But first you need to produce that video.
Whether you think it is an expense or an investment depends on which side of the internet divide you are on.
We know it is an investment worth making.
The YouTube figures prove it.


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NATHAN Ellington is confident he can form a deadly strike partnership with Rob Earnshaw to help kick-start Albion's Premiership campaign.
The Baggies take on Charlton this weekend hoping to end a run of four Premiership games without a victory.
The duo scored three of Albion's goals in Tuesday's 4-1 League Cup win - the first time they have started together.
And Ellington is hoping Bryan Robson will keep faith with his new-look forward line, especially as Rob Earnshaw scored a hat-trick the last time Albion played Alan Curbishley's men.
"Our partnership can bloosom," said Ellington, who joined Albion for #3million last month. "We are both bright thinking and we work quite well together.
"I just think the more games we play together, the more understanding you get with a player no matter who it is and Rob is a good player to play with. We can compliment each other really well.
"We have such a different array of strikers, the strong type, the quick type, we've got everything really.
"Myself and Robbie have been training together and linking up there as well. We had a lot of link-up play on Tuesday. I tried to get him through a few times and he tried to do the same for me - we got our goals and rewards in the end.
"We are both very hungry for goals. Our records are very similar, although I think he has scored a few more than me, but he is a really good player and I enjoy playing with him.
"If I can match the impact that he had last season (13 goals) I will be very happy. I want to get in there and start scoring some goals."
Despite their midweek form, neither player is guaranteed a first-team start, especially with Kevin Campbell and Kanu also available.
Baggies boss Robson will be hoping to get the all-clear on Geoff Horsfield, following his calf strain, while Chris Kirkland's fitness will also be assessed after he suffered a back injury earlier in the week.
One man unlikely to be fit is Diomansy Kamara, who suffered ankle ligament damage in Albion's Carling Cup win.
Steve Watson is expected to keep his place following Martin Albrechtsen's sending-off in the same match.