content. PAGE 3 a word from the editor PAGE 4- 5 hello from your HMSA PAGE 6-7 a holla from your pres PAGE 8-9 express yo’self PAGE 10-11 why we wont push the fat man PAGE 12-13 physical evidence PAGE 14-15 recap PAGE 16-17 cutting to the chase PAGE 18 what’s up from medsoc PAGE 19 staff v. student netball PAGE 20 life lessons from the simpsons PAGE 21 the art of dissection PAGE 22-23 the iron experience
Cover and Current Page Photo’s Ellie Meschiati
a word from the editor. After searching google for catchy science puns, jokes or even just random words with no avail, my word from the editor is rather simple; some call it bland, others call it unoriginal, I’d prefer to go with alternative. Semester 142 has brought some great grooving opportunities at The Physical, a game or four at Staff vs. Student Netball, alongside the always present pleasure of mid-semester exams, assignments and other academic delights that usually devour a student’s spare time. This edition showcases some of the wonderful talent from students in our faculty; inside you will find a wide variety of articles from booty-related activities, the art of dreaming, to dissecting the talent of dissecting. A massive thankyou to all our contributors, your talent with words is phenomenal and without such words, Pulse would not happen. For all those eager, untapped talent, if you would like to submit to Pulse, the last edition for the year will be looking for submissions early next semester, so get up, in and around all that. Large amounts of sass, fun and intrigue are prerequisites. The term of the 2013/2014 HMSA committee will complete mid-semester 143, which will be sad to see the team be set free from some fun party planning, our cheeky Monday night meetings and delish food rosters. For all those interested in running for a position, information regarding nominations will be released in the near future, an opportunity I highly recommend and have thoroughly enjoyed being a part of. Best of luck for all students for the next few weeks for exams, placement, studying for barriers or alternatively opening your lecture slides up and attempting to learn an incredible amount of biochemistry in an even more incredible period of time. I always get a thrill out of putting Pulse together, and I hope you enjoy this edition as I have clicking the publish button and print on the printer. Thank you for picking this bad boy up! Adios Amigos
Laura
Publications Director Laura.macdougall@student.bond.edu.au
hello from your hmsa.
NIAMH RAMSAY
STEPH ROCKETT
(Holding up a blood smear) “Can I take this home as a souvenir?”
With the cadavers - ‘Imagine if your penis looked like this’
Next sem, I want a bigger order of pizza is a must as I totally missed out and starved to death all the way to Broadbeach kebabs. If I was an endoplasmic reticulum, how would you want me: smooth or rough?
I aim to remember at least part of the after-party, rather than just spend my whole drink card on tequilas and then pass out If I were a neurotransmitter, I would be dopamine so I could activate your reward pathway
IMOGEN THOMSON “How much would you pay me to eat this?” (You don’t want to know what they were holding...)
Such a fun night all around, hopefully we can get Best FSA Event again! You’re so hot, you denature my proteins
ANGAD SINGH
He would’ve
been alright looking if he was alive Drinking so much at physical 141 that I fell asleep on the bushes outside building 5 close to the blocks Are you made of copper and tellurium? Because you’re Cu-Te
HMSA members were asked: 1. Most outrageous thing you’ve heard in the labs 2. What you hope to achieve at the next Physical. 3. Best science related pick up line.
ANNA THORLEY
When my friend apologised to our lecturer after our spotter exam for the amount of cadaver juice covering her exam paper. Hopefully, next time I wont have chase people for headphones. It’s a good thing you’ve got evaporative cooling, cause i’m gonna make you sweat
LAURA MACDOUGALL ‘Don’t worry babe, I look so much better than this guy naked’. I hope next time I realise that the peeps without the headphones dont understand the necessity of my moves. Shame.
Whenever I am near you, I undergo anaerobic respiration, you take my breath away.
XAVIER DEMANEUF
I don’t do labs.
Always been the greatest night since ever How to make it unforgettable or forgettable depending of level of drunkness Once again, I’m not into science but french and red bearded is just what it is needed
JAMES WIFFEN
What’s a necrophiliac pirates favourite activity? “Digging for booty” This semester I was escorted from Platinum. Plan for next Physical: Be escorted from Platinum I wish I was DNA helicase, so I could unzip your genes
“My adductor isn’t the only thing that’s longus...”
MELAD MUSHFIQ
“This is making me hungry” ( during the cadaver labs)
LILY EDWARDS
“Well now I have no idea what I’m doing.”
It’s an epic night It’s all pretty crazy for everyone, and fun, hopefully our hopefully we can last physical will put on an even be our best! Stay better event next tuned for some semester for our great surprises! last Physical! I wish I were AdeYou’re like telonine because then phase, I admire I could get paired your cleavage. with U
ELLIOT DUONG
JORDI KOPITTKE
“OMG.. (pointing I did see a student at a cadaver) is projectile vomit on that..real?” a lab tech which made my life... This semester’s Physical I go I hope to debut crazy turnt and my break dancing lasted 5 minutes ability at the next in Platinum..10 physical as I didn’t minutes next get to do much time Elliot, dancing last time. 10. Babe you must be My adductor isn’t a neuron, because the only thing you got some that’s longus. action potential
a holla from your pres. Onwards and upwards, the HMSA has been continuing its great work as a committee in the faculty this semester. With the first part of our term completed, we’ve been able to implement and continue some great initiatives to support the student experience.
This semester we’ve had the pleasure of welcoming the new, bright and bushy-tailed med students into the faculty. Their arrival was first noted at the HMSA Welcome Breakfast, where for the first time in history we ran out of food! What’s more, it only took a short eight minutes for this to happen. The Physical 142 went “Out of this World” in all ways this semester! From marketing through alien conspiracy to silent discos, everyone came in complete enthusiasm with their costumes and dedication to the theme – a particular mention to Iso Rositano for painting herself blue from top to bottom and transforming into a real-life Avatar, a feat which only took 5 hours to accomplish. Karaoke for an Education, which raised funds for the Australian Indigenous Mentoring Education group, had everyone proving it was their time to shine and steal the spotlight. A particular highlight included The “Reserved” Table being established to watch an extremely flamboyant and never-ending performance of “I Will Survive”. Another great achievement for the HMSA this semester was the Staff vs. Student Netball event, which finally overcame the many hurdles it faced and proved to be a great night. Despite our lacking staff participation, some great competition was held and rewarded by an overflowing amount of pizza at the end. All in all, it has been an absolute delight to watch this committee become a true team working together to better our faculty and particularly ensure no HSM student goes hungry with our seemingly endless supply of free food. I look forward to seeing the accomplishments achieved in our final term and wish you all the best in your exams!
Express Yo’self GIRL. Written By 2nd Year Biomedical Science Student, Meg Stevens; Full of Funk & exceptional fashion taste Over the last few years, the growing popularity of booty-related activities has contributed to the completely justified growing appreciation of this precious body part. With the sudden rise to fame of the keeper of one of the finest specimens of today, Iggy Azalea, the realest fancy goddess from Mullumbimby, and the recent nuptials of the Queen of Booty herself, Kim Kardashian, an article describing the many benefits of bootyliciousness is timely. A naturally generous gluteofemoral region (a.k.a. a swag ass) has been found to correlate with genetic advantage when it comes protection against chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes due to lower cholesterol and more effective metabolism. Dat ass isn’t only going to prolong your life, but improve the intelligence of your eventual offspring, thanks to the abundance of omega-3 fatty acids required to build da booty.
Aside from being smart and healthy, the emergence of hip-hop culture as the new ‘mainstream’ provides only further benefit for big booty bishes. Hip-hop celebrates women of all shapes and sizes and further worships those who have perfected the art of twerking (n.b. booty required); if you’re one of the blessed few to have the prized possession, I’m sure you would attest to the vast reported psychological benefits that ensue. Don’t forget, physical exercise of any kind is apparently pretty alright for ya (this includes booty-poppin’). So if you hadn’t caught on to booty culture before now, and demonstrate potential in this arena – get that posterior expanding. The physical, mental and emotional benefits are obvious (for both the beholder and observer). Gone is the era of heroin chic; the era of the booty is here – idolising a bitta wobble and living by the maxim, more is more.
Why we will not There are five people tied to a train track. There is an out of control trolley hurtling down the track towards these people. You are on the train tracks by a switch - Would you push a switch to divert the trolley onto an alternative track where there is only one person tied? Forget the trolley. You are a doctor in an isolated hospital - Would you kill one healthy patient traveller in order to use their organs and save five? These two scenarios, the ‘Bystander’ and ‘Hospital’ scenario respectively, appear similar in that both question whether the loss of one life is morally acceptable in the process of saving five lives. Almost always, however, people believe that the loss of the one life in replacement of five is only permissible in the ‘Bystander’ situation … why? Both scenarios offer the same outcome.
The only distinctive difference between the two is that one is directly involved in the killing whereas in the switch scenario the death of one occurs more as a side effect of diverting the train. WHY IS THIS ENOUGH TO JUSTIFY THE DIFFERENT MORAL JUDGEMENT? Primarily our brains predispose us to this dissimilarity, as Pigliucci explains in Neuroethics & the Trolley Dilemma (2009). Dr. Joshua Greene’s studies on the brain’s reaction to the Trolley Dilemma in 2004 confirmed that areas involved with abstract reasoning and problem solving (such as the dorsolateral prefrontal Cortex) were active when approaching the Hospital scenario whereas the Medial Gyrus, responsible for emotions was active in the Switch scenario. In another study by researchers at the University of Cambridge in 2011 subjects with damage to the Medial Frontal Gyrus were two hundred percent more likely to kill the patient.
Further studies involving children also found that most would push the switch but not kill the patient. These results are shown in the figure above, with purposeful battery being the hospital scenario whilst knowing battery is the switch dilemma. These findings suggest that our moral justification of these situations is instinctive and exists from the rational and emotional thinking with which we approach the scenario. So in your next moral dilemma, be sure to consult the entirety of your brain.
Written by Biomedical Science Student; Isa Rositano The enthusiastic first year.
push the fat man.
The Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex versus the Medial Frontal Gyrus
Photos By Jude Gur
RECAP
anna thorley social director
The Physical 142 took all that attended out of this world and onto another planet. The HMSA decided that a night involving full body green paint, lots of alfoil and plenty of aliens would be a great way for students from all faculties to get together and have a fab night. After endless hours of cutting out cardboard stars, planets and aliens and a long day of work the HMSA was able to transform Don’s into what seemed like another world. We had DJ Bonka starting up the party on the inside dance floor as well as a silent disco outside with DJ Melhauk which was a massive hit. With only 150 headphones, they were a hot commodity if you could find a set! Rocketships (buses) were launched to Platinum Nightclub in Broadbeach were everyone kept on dancing until early hours of the morning. After last semester’s physical winning best event of 141 we wanted to make this Physical even bigger and better! I definately think we achieved this with over 650 people in attendance on the night. A huge thanks to the HMSA committee for all there help in both preparation, on the night and the following day for pack down. I can’t wait to see you all there next sem for this HMSA’s final Physical - The Physical 143!
Cutting to the Chase Written by the inspired Wilson Makazanyo, the man with alot to say.
Some things just command for judgement. There is a certain cliché that seems bothersome to listen to and that is apparently the most annoying excuse of an advice, “follow your dreams”. Allow me to elaborate to the clear extent of a crystal view; the myth of this rather beatified “advice” is that dreams come alive during sleep. And the science is all to deal with the virtual world of supposedly unicorns and rainbows. The further this could be understood the better. It is a harsh reality that we are exposed to in these pages of time, and as young people who venture in the spineless crafts of life, we believe we are the special ones and yet know of that one person who is better than us at every turn. So what do we do, we decide to follow our dreams. Again with the reality, dreams are meant for sleep and while you were sleeping, the real world was alive in its very devious form. Therefore, while you followed your dream, you were simultaneously tucked in your warm bed distinctly made for a tired dream chaser. What is the lesson here exactly? Easy, don’t follow your dream. I’m not a cynical, blind-minded person, just a realistic, arrogant one. And while we are on my favourite subject, me, I suggest that you understand that it doesn’t matter who the hell I am. I will give you a hint though, I am only a mere messenger sent by the likes of my own will to dispose of your infant thoughts. Believe me, it is not an insult, I’m just claiming that your thoughts are cute. But enough with the baby talk. In dreams, the impossible is made possible and maybe Santa Clause is real, in reality the impossible is impossible and Santa Clause has diabetes and probably needs a health intervention. This is not an advice column but if it was, I would advise you to wake up. And if this was still an advice column, I would employ you to chase one thing that has texture and I’m not talking about money, although it is a possible candidate, I’m simply implying the passion of discovery. I just realised how cheesy that was, but sometimes cheesy is the best expression of all things real.
WHAT’S UP FROM MED SOC MSSBU Update The Medical Students’ Society of Bond University (MSSBU) in 142 has thoroughly connected, represented and engaged its students through a variety of events and initiatives. Sem 142 welcomed the new medical cohort of 2014. Following the successful Initiation Day & Med Eagle, Medsoc’s premier event occurred in week 4 of the semester with ‘Mental Health Awareness Week’. The week saw bake sales, moctails, a comedy gala and a special Olympics all in the name of mental health. The week was awarded the Australian Medical Students’ Association Wellbeing Cup for best initiative undertaken for student health and wellbeing. Week 6 delighted many with Medsoc hosting its first Careers Expo and the annual dodge ball competition was a huge hit with the winners yet to be decided. All in all the MSSBU has had a successful year with many new initiatives and engagements with students and the wider Bond community. A big thank you, to the committee for all their work and to the students for their support over the semester and year. Rehan Sequeira MSSBU President 2014
hmsa staff v. student netball Staff vs Student netball was lining up to be one of the premier sporting events of semester 142. A chance for students to get one back for the apparently endless stream of lab reports and group projects the staff seem to find some sick satisfaction in scheduling. However, it was not to be. When they were called upon to take part in the action, the Staff showed the same enthusiasm some of their students show for their lectures, and were nowhere to be seen. Whether it was pure cowardice or just plain laziness the staff were absent from proceedings. Nevertheless the competition went on and was very successful with a number of high-energy games taking place before celebratory pizzas arrived. To all those that participated thanks for coming down and having some fun and we hope to see you there next time! To the staff of the HSM faculty, this is a call out for the next Staff vs Student netball competition. We’re waiting, the ball is in your court‌
Words By James Wiffen
Written by Emily Horan, The Queen of Quirk Setter of trends in HSM Life lessons from the satiric adventures of a working-class family in the misfit city of Springfield. If you’re like me and grew up loving The Simpsons, then you’re probably aware of the profound knowledge and wisdom that can be learnt from watching them. Matt Groening conceived The Simpsons family in 1989, with the characters based on his own family members. There are 552 episodes so far, each enriching my love for Homer’s blissful stupidity, Marge’s affectionate nagging, Bart’s overachieving bad ass-ness, Lisa’s compassionate intelligence, and Maggie’s mute sassiness. The Simpsons are not only a sweet pastime with an abundance of episodes to watch instead of doing any real work, but they are also a direct source for life lessons. Any problem you might come by, they can always help you out. Why? Because The Simpsons already did it. They’ve been through marriages and breakups, invaded by aliens, travelled to Japan, Brazil and Australia, and even to jail. Their vast array of characters, and situations that they get themselves into reflect in one way or another our lives and the people in them. They let you come to terms with that niggling feeling that maybe those freaks and weirdo’s you call your friends and family, are somewhat normal… maybe. They dip their sticky fingers into controversial issues about family life, nature, religion, politics, marriage, homosexuality, and foreigners, in a light-hearted, amusing way. Religion and spiritual beliefs have been teased in many episodes without being disrespectful. Bart addresses the concept of having a soul in “Bart Sells His Soul” (Season 7, Episode 4), and Homer often finds God as his last refuge, whilst mixing up
certain aspects like his faith in ‘Jebus’, and
referring to the waffle stuck to the roof at God. The show continues to captivate an appreciative audience among many people of different faiths and religions. Themes of homosexuality have been explored through characters like Waylon Smithers. Smithers’ love for Mr. Burns appears in many episodes with his fantasy of a naked Mr. Burns popping out of a birthday cake in “Rosebud” (Season 5, Episode 4). The show has approached the right for homosexual marriage (Season 16, Episode 10) with the episode being described as a ‘ray of light’ by the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation. The non-fiction book ‘The Simpsons and Philosophy’, written by William Irwin among others, analyzes the philosophy and popular culture effects of the show, and is one of the main texts used to teach philosophy at Siena Heights University, and the University of California, Berkeley. The Simpsons are more quotable than Wikipedia, and probably a more reliable source too. So next time you’re freaking out because you’re stuck in a rut, or out of nowhere you’ve got a mountain of work, and you’re feeling like you might just turn into the lizard queen, indulge yourself in an episode of the Simpsons. “Television! Teacher, mother, secret lover”- Homer J. Simpson.
The Art
of
Dissection
The guide to Dissection, written by the lovely Arielle Tay, 2nd Year Medicine Student Two weeks ago the second years had their first dissections. It was a bit confronting at the start, but overall it was an incredible learning experience. For the first years or anyone else who is interested here are a few of my tips on how to get through dissections: 1. Prepare beforehand This really helps when you’re trying to look like you know what you’re doing! You also make the most of the experience if you can identify the structures that you’re looking at 2. Don’t be embarrassed if you’re worried It’s perfectly normal to be a bit scared before your dissection. It’s a confronting experience and it takes time to get used to. If you feel uncomfortable at any time talk to one of the tutors or go outside to get a drink of water and some fresh air. It’s also a good idea to find a supportive friend who you can talk to. 3. Try not to eat too much beforehand You may feel a little bit queasy so it might be a better idea to eat afterwards. 4. Listen to the lab instructions This is super important! You don’t want to hurt yourself or other people, especially when you’re using scalpels. Another thing is to know the purpose of each container. We had lidded yellow bins for the excess tissue that we were cutting off and I found a few dirty tissues in there. Safe to say that digging them out wasn’t very fun! 5. Wear old clothes No point wearing your favourite jeans because they might be a bit dirty when you’re finished. Try not to wear suede shoes because they stain quite easily. 6. Participate… The only way to learn is by doing! 7. … but don’t get too over enthusiastic! “Don’t get too scalpel happy”- Allan Sterling 8. Respect the cadaver Always remember that the cadaver lying on the table in front of you was a person. They had family, friends, memories and emotions just like us. 9. Don’t drink red juice afterwards I made the mistake of drinking a red coloured juice after dissections and it looked quite similar to what I was suctioning out of the cadaver. Pretty sure I won’t be ordering that again (even though it tasted delicious)! I hope you found these tips useful! Always remember that we’re incredibly lucky to have this experience, so make the most of it!
The iron Experience
Written By ANDY KOH Have you ever wake up in a state of fatigue, sweat dripping off the side of your face, clothes soaked with vomit & tears, heart pounding, muscles aching and thinking to yourself why or how did I get here? Isn’t it obvious? And no, it’s not from getting loose at ‘The Physical 142’ nor any of the other social events at Bond University, it’s racing in an Ironman triathlon. The Ironman is a long distance triathlon where you swim 3.8km, cycle 180km ,and run 42.2km. That’s 226km in total, the equivalent to travelling from Bond University to Noosa. I was an average student, content with most things in university with a good circle of friends, decent grades, decent relationship, unmotivated and only praying to god on the night before an assignment is due. However, a volley of unfortunate events occurred, dad was hospitalised, relationship went sour and grades plunging faster than the atomic bomb hitting Hiroshima. Life seemed pretty bleak till the topic of doing an Ironman sprung up during a team dinner during the Australian University Games with elite Ultramarathon runner, Moritz Auf Der Heide. I signed up with the intention of getting life back on track and 6 months later, it was race day. Months of preparation and I still couldn’t believe I was minutes away from the biggest race of my life. The air temperature was 12C, water temperature was 18C, and the winds were howling at 28km/h. The gun goes off and the calm waters of the Hastings River turns white with over 1700 athletes flailing their arms like salmon during mating season. The bike leg of the race was where men cried like little girls and where boys become Ironmen when they conquer the infamous 20% incline on Matthew Flinders Drive twice. The run leg of race was calm until I realised that I had 40km to the finish. My knees were burning, eyes watering, and crying for sweet baby Jesus to have mercy, I pushed on reminding myself of the hurt I’ve gone through. Waves of random enthusiastic and wonderful locals cheering me and every other athlete on to the finish. At kilometre 41, my body was at its breaking point but the pace increased and I sprinted toward the finishing chute. Flashing lights and silhouettes of hands waving for high fives were all I could remember before crossing the finish line. The commentator yelled out to the heavens ‘YOU ARE AN IRONMAN’. Crossing that finish line was a symbolic and all those petty problems seemed miniscule, life was good and I have found a new form of appreciation toward the community. Life is just like that race, there are new interesting experiences which would hurt or help you but to get to the end it depends on self-determination. This could be applied to any aspect in life, from university exams to a career, going through a rough relationship or even if you’re just having a bad day, it’s important to remember the goals you have for yourself and continuously stride toward it. Benefits of endurance racing/ aerobic sport • Your body’s serotonin levels will increase, leaving you happier for longer • You burn as much fat as a HPV Ute burns petrol • With the right diet, you can lose 10kgs in a couple of months if you run 20k/day
“Pain is temporary. It may last a minute, or an hour, or a day, or a year, but eventually it will subside and something else will take its place. If I quit, however, it lasts forever”.-Lance Armstrong