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Unit of study_

MRSC5045: Medical Radiation Science 1 Radiography

Semester 1, 2020 [Normal day] - Cumberland, Sydney

This unit of study introduces the student to ionizing radiation and its interactions with matter. The physical principles of the appropriate use of ionizing radiations in the medical radiation sciences including its radio-biological effects will be covered. The student will be introduced to the fundamental principles of radiation protection and equipment. Cellular biology applicable to the medical radiation sciences will be covered.

Unit details and rules

Unit code MRSC5045
Academic unit Clinical Imaging
Credit points 6
Prohibitions
? 
MRSC5002
Prerequisites
? 
None
Corequisites
? 
None
Assumed knowledge
? 

None

Available to study abroad and exchange students

No

Teaching staff

Coordinator Mohamad Ali, hanafi.ali@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s) Peter Kench, peter.kench@sydney.edu.au
Patrick Brennan, patrick.brennan@sydney.edu.au
Mohamad Ali, hanafi.ali@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Final exam Final exam
Written examination
60% Formal exam period 1 hour
Presentation group assignment Mid-semester presentation
Oral presentation with written elements
40% Week 07 10 minutes per group + 3 minutes QA.
Outcomes assessed: LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7 LO8 LO9 LO10
group assignment = group assignment ?

Assessment summary

  • Mid-semester presentation: Students will be given a choice of two titles, the title chosen will be the discussion point for the project. Students are free to agree or disagree with the statement, however the view taken must be fully supported by references from current literature. This assessment requires a PowerPoint presentation, summary handout, and contribution description.
  • Final exam: This examination comprises two long answer questions.

Detailed informtion for each assessment can be found on Canvas.

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a high distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

Result name

Mark range

Description

High distinction

85 - 100

 

Distinction

75 - 84

 

Credit

65 - 74

 

Pass

50 - 64

 

Fail

0 - 49

When you don’t meet the learning outcomes of the unit to a satisfactory standard.

For more information see sydney.edu.au/students/guide-to-grades.

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

  • Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
  • After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website  provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.  

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

You may only use artificial intelligence and writing assistance tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator, and if you do use them, you must also acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section.

Studiosity is permitted for postgraduate units unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission.

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

WK Topic Learning activity Learning outcomes
Week 01 Basic physical concepts Lecture (2 hr)  
Week 02 Radioactivity Lecture (2 hr)  
Week 03 X-ray production Lecture (2 hr)  
Week 04 Exposure and dose quantities Lecture (2 hr)  
Week 05 Radiation interactions and biology 1 Lecture (2 hr)  
Week 06 Radiation interactions and biology 2 Lecture (2 hr)  
Week 08 Diagnostic reference levels Lecture (2 hr)  
Week 09 Digital imaging 1: fundamentals and introduction to spatial frequency Lecture (2 hr)  
Week 10 Digital imaging 2: MTF and sampling theorem Lecture (2 hr)  
Week 11 Exposure indicator Lecture (2 hr)  
Week 12 Physical image measurement (non-clinical) Lecture (2 hr)  
Week 13 Clinical image measurement (ROC and VGA) Lecture (2 hr)  

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Required readings

All readings for this unit can be accessed through the Library eReserve, available on Canvas.

  • Seeram, E. (2017). Radiation protection in diagnostic X‐Ray imaging. Burlington, MA: Jones & Bartlett Learning.

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

  • LO1. demonstrate an understanding of the concepts of the interactions of ionising radiation with matter
  • LO2. demonstrate an understanding of the concepts of range, energy, specific ionisation, and hazards of ionising radiations
  • LO3. correctly apply the concepts of radiation protection
  • LO4. describe the instruments used to detect ionising radiation and their appropriate selection
  • LO5. describe the methods of personal radiation monitoring and the legislative and regulatory requirements in NSW
  • LO6. explain the concepts of radiation exposure dose, absorbed dose, and dose equivalent
  • LO7. summarise the methods of interaction of ionising radiation with biological systems that lead to mutations and cell death
  • LO8. distinguish between the somatic and genetic effects of ionising radiation
  • LO9. appreciate the difference between stochastic and deterministic (non-stochastic) events
  • LO10. identify the factors influential in minimising radiation dose to patients
  • LO11. demonstrate an understanding of image quality parameters and methods for assessing image efficacy
  • LO12. describe and apply the concepts of the rudimentary physics of atomic structure, radioactivity, and interactions of ionising radiation with matter
  • LO13. evaluate and explain energy level diagrams of energy transitions in atoms and nuclear transition equations with particular emphasis on excitation and ionisation effects
  • LO14. explain nuclear instability, describe radioactive decay for relevant decay modes, and calculate the mass defect associated with changes in binding energy in appropriate units
  • LO15. predict and calculate the statistical effects of radioactive decay, including an understanding of the concept of half-life, mean-life, and activity
  • LO16. explain the concepts associated with the production of x-rays, and the resulting spectra and attenuation expressed in terms of fractional value layers
  • LO17. describe the construction and operation of x-ray equipment, including explaining the physical principles involved in the production and use of diagnostic x-ray beams.

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1 Depth of disciplinary expertise

Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.

GQ2 Critical thinking and problem solving

Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.

GQ3 Oral and written communication

Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.

GQ4 Information and digital literacy

Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.

GQ5 Inventiveness

Generating novel ideas and solutions.

GQ6 Cultural competence

Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.

GQ7 Interdisciplinary effectiveness

Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.

GQ8 Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity

An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.

GQ9 Influence

Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes Graduate qualities
GQ1 GQ2 GQ3 GQ4 GQ5 GQ6 GQ7 GQ8 GQ9

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

No Changes have been made since this unit was last offered.

A list of key texts and recommended journals will be placed on the Learning Management System (LMS) site. The Coordinator will inform students when texts are relevant to the course.

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.