Intraclass correlation - A discussion and demonstration of basic features.

A re-analysis of intraclass correlation (ICC) theory is presented together with Monte Carlo simulations of ICC probability distributions. A partly revised and simplified theory of the single-score ICC is obtained, together with an alternative and simple recipe for its use in reliability studies. Our main, practical conclusion is that in the analysis of a reliability study it is neither necessary nor convenient to start from an initial choice of a specified statistical model.

Ten Demands of Improved Usability in eHealth and Some Progress - Co-Creation by Health and Social Care Professionals.

Current healthcare organizations often do not accomplish the intended effects of their eHealth systems due to inadequate usability. Commissioned by the Swedish Ministry of Health and Social Affairs, the usability of current eHealth systems in Swedish health and social care has been analysed from the perspective of their professionals. The objective of the study was to report on current problems, potential solutions as well as to relate these to research in relevant areas.

Elastic scattering cross section models used for Monte Carlo simulation of electron tracks in media of biological and medical interest.

Purpose: Elastic scattering is important for the spatial distribution of electrons penetrating matter, and thus for the distribution of deposited energy and DNA damage. Scattering media of interest are in particular liquid and gaseous water and gaseous nitrogen. The former are used as surrogates for tissue and cell environments (since more than 70% of the cell consists of water), while cross section data for nitrogen have been scaled and used as input in Monte Carlo (MC) codes simulating scattering in biologically relevant media.

A model calculation of coherence effects in the elastic backscattering of very low energy electrons (1-20 eV) from amorphous ice.

Purpose: Backscattering of very low energy electrons in thin layers of amorphous ice is known to provide experimental data for the elastic and inelastic cross sections and indicates values to be expected in liquid water. The extraction of cross sections was based on a transport analysis consistent with Monte Carlo simulation of electron trajectories. However, at electron energies below 20 eV, quantum coherence effects may be important and trajectory-based methods may be in significant error.

Nursing informatics in Sweden - the agenda for the future.

With the purpose of getting an overview of the current research and development in information systems and terminology for nursing practice and outline strategies for the future, an initiative for a workshop was taken at the national level in Sweden by the Section for Nursing Informatics, the Society of Nursing and the Association of Health Professionals in 2007. For the workshop around 30 nurses were invited, representing clinical practice, education, and research. The workshop resulted in recommendations for future strategies to support the development of nursing informatics in Sweden.

Recovery of electromyograph median frequency after lumbar muscle fatigue analysed using an exponential time dependence model.

The recovery of the median frequency of the power spectrum of the electromyogram (EMG) after fatigue has been studied to obtain reference data for healthy subjects (n = 55). In a seated position, the subjects performed a 45 s isometric back muscle contraction at 80% of maximal voluntary contraction, followed by 5 s contractions after 1, 2, 3, and 5 min in the recovery phase. In an additional reliability study (n = 11), this was performed six times.

Influence of interelectrode distance and force level on the spectral parameters of surface electromyographic recordings from the lumbar muscles.

In order to study the influence of interelectrode distance and force level on the electromyographic (EMG) spectral parameters and on their reliability, bipolar surface EMG measurements were performed on the lumbar muscles of 15 subjects. Two test contractions (45 s) at 40% of maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) were performed, one with 2 cm interelectrode distance and the other with 4 cm, followed by two contractions at 80% MVC with the same change in interelectrode distance. Increasing the interelectrode distance from 2 to 4 cm caused a significant mean decrease (about 8%) in the initial median frequency.