The authors acknowledge Evan Beisheim, Nicole Capela, Andrew Herbert-Copley for technical and data collection assistance. Project funding was received from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) and BlackBerry Ltd., including smartphones used in the study.

This protocol was approved by the Ottawa Health Science Network Research Ethics Board.
1. Preparation
<ol>
	<li>Provide participants with an outline of the research, answer any questions, and obtain informed consent. Record participant characteristics (e.g., age, gender, height, weight, waist girth, leg height from the anterior superior iliac spine to the medial malleolus), identification code, and date on a data sheet. Ensure that the second smartphone that is used to capture video is set to at least a 30 frames per second capture rate.</li>
	<li>Securely attach a phone holster to the participant&#39;s front right belt or pant waist. Start the smartphone application that will be used to collect the sensor data (i.e., data logging or WMMS application) on the mobility measurement smartphone and ensure that the application is running appropriately. Place the smartphone in the holster, with back of the device (rear camera) facing outward.</li>
	<li>Start digital video recording on a second smartphone. For anonymity, record the comparison video without showing the person&#39;s face, but ensure to record all activity transitions. The phone can be handheld.</li>
</ol>
2. Activity Circuit
<ol>
	<li>Follow the participant and video their actions, on the second smartphone, while they perform the following actions, spoken by the investigator:
	<ol>
		<li>From a standing position, shake the smartphone to indicate the start of the trial.</li>
		<li>Continue standing for at least 10 sec. This standing phase can be used for phone orientation calibration 14.</li>
		<li>Walk to a nearby chair and sit down.</li>
		<li>Stand up and walk 60 meters to an elevator.</li>
		<li>Stand and wait for the elevator and then walk into the elevator.</li>
		<li>Take the elevator to the second floor.</li>
		<li>Turn and walk into the home environment.</li>
		<li>Walk into the bathroom and simulate brushing teeth.</li>
		<li>Simulate combing hair.</li>
		<li>Simulate washing hands.</li>
		<li>Dry hands using a towel.</li>
		<li>Walk to the kitchen.</li>
		<li>Take dishes from a rack and place them on the counter.</li>
		<li>Fill a kettle with water from the kitchen sink.</li>
		<li>Place the kettle on the stove element.</li>
		<li>Place bread in a toaster.</li>
		<li>Walk to the dining room.</li>
		<li>Sit at a dining room table.</li>
		<li>Simulate eating a meal at the table.</li>
		<li>Stand and walk back to the kitchen sink.</li>
		<li>Rinse off the dishes and place them in a rack.</li>
		<li>Walk from the kitchen back to the elevator.</li>
		<li>Stand and wait for the elevator and then walk into the elevator.</li>
		<li>Take the elevator to the first floor.</li>
		<li>Walk 50 meters to a stairwell.</li>
		<li>Open the door and enter the stairwell.</li>
		<li>Walk up stairs (13 steps, around landing, 13 steps).</li>
		<li>Open the stairwell door into the hallway.</li>
		<li>Turn right and walk down the hall for 15 meters.</li>
		<li>Turn around and walk 15 meters back to the stairwell.</li>
		<li>Open the door and enter the stairwell.</li>
		<li>Walk down stairs (13 steps, around landing, 13 steps).</li>
		<li>Exit the stairwell and walk into a room.</li>
		<li>Lie on a bed.</li>
		<li>Get up and walk 10 meters to a ramp.</li>
		<li>Walk up the ramp, turn around, then down the ramp (20 meters).</li>
		<li>Continue walking into the hall and open the door to outside.</li>
		<li>Walk 100 meters on the paved pathway.</li>
		<li>Turn around and walk back to the room.</li>
		<li>Walk into the room and stand at the starting point.</li>
		<li>Continue standing, and then shake the smartphone to indicate the end of trial.</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
</ol>
3. Trial Completion
<ol>
	<li>Stop the video recording smartphone and ask the participant to remove and return the smartphone and holster. Stop the data logging or WMMS application on the smartphone. Copy the acquired motion data files and the video file from both phones to a computer for post-processing.</li>
</ol>
4. Post-processing
<ol>
	<li>Synchronize timing between the video and the raw sensor data by determining the time when the shake action started. This shaking movement corresponds to a distinct accelerometer signal and video frame. Check for synchronization error by subtracting the end shake time from the start shake time, for sensor and video data sources. Time differences should be similar between the two data sets.</li>
	<li>Determine actual change-of-state times from the gold-standard video by recording the time difference from the start shake time to the video frame at the transition between activities. Use video editing software to obtain timing to within 0.033 sec (i.e., 30 frames per second video rate). Use WMMS software to generate comparable changes-of-state from the sensor data.</li>
	<li>Generate two data sets, one with true activities and the second with predicted activities, by labeling the activity for each video frame (based on the change of state timing) and then calculating the predicted activity at each video frame time from the WMMS output. For WMMS performance evaluation, calculate true positives, false negatives, true negatives, false positives between the gold-standard activity and WMMS predicted activity. Use these parameters to calculate sensitivity, specificity, and F-score outcomes measures. 
	Note: A tolerance setting of 3 data windows on either side of the window being analyzed can be used for determining change-of-state outcomes, and 2 data windows for classification outcomes. For example, since 1 second data windows were used for the WMMS in this study, 3 sec before and after the current window were examined so that consecutive changes within this tolerance are ignored. The consideration was that changes of state that happen in less than 3 sec can be ignored for gross human movement analysis since these states would be considered transitory.</li>
</ol>

<ol>
	<li>Lara, O. D., Labrador, M. A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+Survey+on+Human+Activity+Recognition+using+Wearable+Sensors.">A Survey on Human Activity Recognition using Wearable Sensors.</a> IEEE Communications Surveys Tutorials. 15 (3), 1192-1209 (2013).</li><li>Foerster, F., Smeja, M., Fahrenberg, J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Detection+of+posture+and+motion+by+accelerometry:+a+validation+study+in+ambulatory+monitoring.">Detection of posture and motion by accelerometry: a validation study in ambulatory monitoring.</a> Computers in Human Behavior. 15 (5), 571-583 (1999).</li><li>Elsmore, T. F., Naitoh, P. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=.">.</a> Monitoring Activity With a Wrist-Worn Actigraph: Effects of Amplifier Passband and threshold Variations. , (1993).</li><li>Kripke, D. F., Webster, J. B., Mullaney, D. J., Messin, S., Mason, W. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=.">.</a> Measuring sleep by wrist actigraph. , (1981).</li><li>Lockhart, J. W., Pulickal, T., Weiss, G. M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Applications+of+mobile+activity+recognition.">Applications of mobile activity recognition.</a> Proceedings of the 2012 ACM Conference on Ubiquitous Computing. , 1054-1058 (2012).</li><li>Incel, O. D., Kose, M., Ersoy, C. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+Review+and+Taxonomy+of+Activity+Recognition+on+Mobile+Phones.">A Review and Taxonomy of Activity Recognition on Mobile Phones.</a> BioNanoScience. 3 (2), 145-171 (2013).</li><li>Yang, C. C., Hsu, Y. L. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+Review+of+Accelerometry-Based+Wearable+Motion+Detectors+for+Physical+Activity+Monitoring.">A Review of Accelerometry-Based Wearable Motion Detectors for Physical Activity Monitoring.</a> Sensors. 10 (8), 7772-7788 (2010).</li><li>He, Y., Li, Y. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Physical+Activity+Recognition+Utilizing+the+Built-In+Kinematic+Sensors+of+a+Smartphone.">Physical Activity Recognition Utilizing the Built-In Kinematic Sensors of a Smartphone.</a> International Journal of Distributed Sensor Networks. 2013, (2013).</li><li>Vo, Q. V., Hoang, M. T., Choi, D. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Personalization+in+Mobile+Activity+Recognition+System+using+K-medoids+Clustering+Algorithm.">Personalization in Mobile Activity Recognition System using K-medoids Clustering Algorithm.</a> International Journal of Distributed Sensor Networks. 2013, (2013).</li><li>Dernbach, S., Das, B., Krishnan, N. C., Thomas, B. L., Cook, D. J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Simple+and+Complex+Activity+Recognition+through+Smart+Phones.">Simple and Complex Activity Recognition through Smart Phones.</a> , 214-221 (2012).</li><li>Hache, G., Lemaire, E. D., Baddour, N. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Mobility+change-of-state+detection+using+a+smartphone-based+approach.">Mobility change-of-state detection using a smartphone-based approach.</a> IEEE International Workshop on Medical Measurements and Applications Proceedings (MeMeA). , 43-46 (2010).</li><li>Wu, H. H., Lemaire, E. D., Baddour, N. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Change-of-state+determination+to+recognize+mobility+activities+using+a+BlackBerry+smartphone.">Change-of-state determination to recognize mobility activities using a BlackBerry smartphone.</a> , 5252-5255 (2011).</li><li>Wu, H., Lemaire, E. D., Baddour, N. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Activity+Change-of-state+Identification+Using+a+Blackberry+Smartphone.">Activity Change-of-state Identification Using a Blackberry Smartphone.</a> Journal of Medical and Biological Engineering. 32 (4), 265-271 (2012).</li><li>Tundo, M. D., Lemaire, E., Baddour, N. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Correcting+Smartphone+orientation+for+accelerometer-based+analysis.">Correcting Smartphone orientation for accelerometer-based analysis.</a> IEEE International Symposium on Medical Measurements and Applications Proceedings (MeMeA). , 58-62 (2013).</li><li>Tundo, M. D. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=.">.</a> Development of a human activity recognition system using inertial measurement unit sensors on a smartphone. , (2014).</li></ol>

The authors declare that they have no competing financial interests.

Human activity recognition with a wearable mobility monitoring system has received more attention in recent years due to the technical advances in wearable computing and smartphones and systematic needs for quantitative outcome measures that help with clinical decision-making and health intervention evaluation. The methodology described in this paper was effective for evaluating WMMS development since activity classification errors were found that would not have been present if a broad range of activities of daily living...

Ubiquitous sensing has become an engaging research area due to increasingly powerful, small, low cost computing and sensing equipment&#160;1. Mobility monitoring using wearable sensors has generated a great deal of interest since consumer-level microelectronics are capable of detecting motion characteristics with high accuracy&#160;1. Human activity recognition (HAR) using wearable sensors is a recent area of research, with preliminary studies performed in the 1980s and 1990s 2-4.
Modern smartphones contain the necessary sensors and real-time computation capability for mobility activity recognition. Real-time analysis on the device permits activity classification and data upload without user or investigator intervention. A smartphone with mobility analysis software could provide fitness tracking, health monitoring, fall detection, home or work automation, and self-managing exercise programs 5. Smartphones can be considered inertial measurement platforms for detecting mobile activities and mobile patterns in humans, using generated mathematical signal features calculated with onboard sensor outputs 6. Common feature generation methods include heuristic, time-domain, frequency-domain, and wavelet analysis-based approaches&#160;7.
Modern smartphone HAR systems have shown high prediction accuracies when detecting specified activities&#160;1,5,6,7. These studies vary in evaluation methodology as well as accuracy since most studies have their own training set, environmental setup, and data collection protocol. Sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, recall, precision, and F-Score are commonly used to describe prediction quality. However, little to no information is available on methods for &#34;concurrent activity&#34; recognition and evaluation of the ability to detect activity changes in real-time 1, for HAR systems that attempt to categorize several activities. Assessment methods for HAR system accuracy vary substantially between studies. Regardless of the classification algorithm or applied features, descriptions of gold standard evaluation methods are vague for most HAR research.
Activity recognition in a daily living environment has not been extensively researched. Most smartphone-based activity recognition systems are evaluated in a controlled manner, leading to an evaluation protocol that may be advantageous to the algorithm rather than realistic to a real-world environment. Within their evaluation scheme, participants often perform only the actions intended for prediction, rather than applying a large range of realistic activities for the participant to perform consecutively, mimicking real-life events.
Some smartphone HAR studies 8,9 group similar activities together, such as stairs and walking, but exclude other activities from the data set. Prediction accuracy is then determined by how well the algorithm identified the target activities. Dernbach et al. 9 had participants write the activity they were about to execute before moving, interrupting continuous change-of-state transitions. HAR system evaluations should assess the algorithm while the participant performs natural actions in a daily living setting. This would permit a real-life evaluation that replicates daily use of the application. A realistic circuit includes many changes-of-state as well as a mix of actions not predicable by the system. An investigator can then assess the algorithm&#39;s response to these additional movements, thus evaluating the algorithm&#39;s robustness to anomalous movements.
This paper presents a Wearable Mobility Monitoring System (WMMS) evaluation protocol that uses a controlled course that reflects real-life daily living environments. WMMS evaluation can then be made under controlled but realistic conditions. In this protocol, we use a third-generation WMMS that was developed at the University of Ottawa and Ottawa Hospital Research Institute 11-15. The WMMS was designed for smartphones with a tri-axis accelerometer and gyroscope. The mobility algorithm accounts for user variability, provides a reduction in the number of false positives for changes-of-state identification, and increases sensitivity in activity categorization. Minimizing false positives is important since the WMMS triggers short video clip recording when activity changes of state are detected, for context-sensitive activity evaluation that further improves WMMS classification. Unnecessary video recording creates inefficiencies in storage and battery use. The WMMS algorithm is structured as a low-computational learning model and evaluated using different prediction levels, where an increase in prediction level signifies an increase in the amount of recognizable actions.

<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="1314">
	<tbody>
		<tr height="20">
			<td height="20" style="height:20px;width:516px;">Smartphone or wearable measurement device</td>
			<td style="width:627px;">Blackberry</td>
			<td style="width:108px;">Z10</td>
			<td style="width:64px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="20">
			<td height="20" style="height:20px;">Smartphone for video recording</td>
			<td>Blackberry</td>
			<td>Z10 or 9800</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="20">
			<td height="20" style="height:20px;">Phone holster</td>
			<td>Any</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="20">
			<td height="20" style="height:20px;">Data logger application for the smartphone</td>
			<td>BlackBerry World - TOHRC Data Logger for BlackBerry 10</td>
			<td></td>
			<td><a href="http://appworld.blackberry.com/webstore/content/32013891/?countrycode=CA">http://appworld.blackberry.com/webstore/content/32013891/?countrycode=CA</a></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="20">
			<td height="20" style="height:20px;">Wearable mobility measurement</td>
			<td>Custom Blackberry 10 and Matlab software for mobility monitoring</td>
			<td></td>
			<td><a href="http://www.irrd.ca/cag/smartphone/">http://www.irrd.ca/cag/smartphone/</a></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="20">
			<td height="20" style="height:20px;">Video editing or analysis software</td>
			<td>Motion Analysis Tools</td>
			<td></td>
			<td><a href="http://www.irrd.ca/cag/mat/">http://www.irrd.ca/cag/mat/</a></td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

evaluation of a smartphone-based human activity recognition system in a daily living environment

An evaluation method that includes continuous activities in a daily-living environment was developed for Wearable Mobility Monitoring Systems (WMMS) that attempt to recognize user activities. Participants performed a pre-determined set of daily living actions within a continuous test circuit that included mobility activities (walking, standing, sitting, lying, ascending/descending stairs), daily living tasks (combing hair, brushing teeth, preparing food, eating, washing dishes), and subtle environment changes (opening doors, using an elevator, walking on inclines, traversing staircase landings, walking outdoors). 
To evaluate WMMS performance on this circuit, fifteen able-bodied participants completed the tasks while wearing a smartphone at their right front pelvis. The WMMS application used smartphone accelerometer and gyroscope signals to classify activity states. A gold standard comparison data set was created by video-recording each trial and manually logging activity onset times. Gold standard and WMMS data were analyzed offline. Three classification sets were calculated for each circuit: (i) mobility or immobility, ii) sit, stand, lie, or walking, and (iii) sit, stand, lie, walking, climbing stairs, or small standing movement. Sensitivities, specificities, and F-Scores for activity categorization and changes-of-state were calculated.
The mobile versus immobile classification set had a sensitivity of 86.30% &#177; 7.2% and specificity of 98.96% &#177; 0.6%, while the second prediction set had a sensitivity of 88.35% &#177; 7.80% and specificity of 98.51% &#177; 0.62%. For the third classification set, sensitivity was 84.92% &#177; 6.38% and specificity was 98.17 &#177; 0.62. F1 scores for the first, second and third classification sets were 86.17 &#177; 6.3, 80.19 &#177; 6.36, and 78.42 &#177; 5.96, respectively. This demonstrates that WMMS performance depends on the evaluation protocol in addition to the algorithms. The demonstrated protocol can be used and tailored for evaluating human activity recognition systems in rehabilitation medicine where mobility monitoring may be beneficial in clinical decision-making.

The study protocol was conducted with a convenience sample of fifteen able-bodied participants whose average weight was 68.9 (&#177; 11.1) kg, height was 173.9 (&#177; 11.4) cm, and age was 26 (&#177; 9) years, recruited from The Ottawa Hospital and University of Ottawa staff and students. A smartphone captured sensor data at a variable 40-50 Hz rate. Sample rate variations are typical for smartphone sensor sampling. A second smartphone was used to record digital video at 1280x720 (720p) resolution.
<p class="jove_co...

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Evaluation of a Smartphone-based Human Activity Recognition System in a Daily Living Environment

A standardized evaluation method was developed for Wearable Mobility Monitoring Systems (WMMS) that includes continuous activities in a realistic daily living environment. Testing with a series of daily living activities can decrease activity recognition sensitivity; therefore, realistic testing circuits are encouraged for valid evaluation of WMMS performance.

An evaluation method that includes continuous activities in a daily-living environment was developed for Wearable Mobility Monitoring Systems (WMMS) that ...

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8.8K Views.  University of Ottawa. A standardized evaluation method was developed for Wearable Mobility Monitoring Systems (WMMS) that includes continuous activities in a realistic daily living environment. Testing with a series of daily living activities can decrease activity recognition sensitivity; therefore, realistic testing circuits are encouraged for valid evaluation of WMMS performance.

Video: Evaluation of a Smartphone-based Human Activity Recognition System in a Daily Living Environment

Two-photon Calcium Imaging in Mice Navigating a Virtual Reality Environment

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A Protocol for Housing Mice in an Enriched Environment

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Measuring the Kinematics of Daily Living Movements with Motion Capture Systems in Virtual Reality

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Ethologically relevant behavioral testing is a critical component of any study that uses mouse models to study the cognitive effects of various ...

Impact of High-intensity Interval Exercise and Moderate-Intensity Continuous Exercise on the Cardiac Troponin T Level at an Early Stage of Training

An elevation in cardiac troponin T (cTnT), as a highly specific biomarker of cardiomyocyte damage, after moderate-intensity continuous exercise (MCE) has been described. The exercise-induced cTnT response distorts the diagnostic role of the cTnT assay. Although high-intensity interval exercise (HIE) is growing in popularity and concerns remain about its safety, available data related to cTnT release after HIE is limited, which hampers the use of HIE as a health intervention. Here, we present three representative HIE protocols [traditional HIE (repeated 4 min cycling at 90% V&#775;O2max interspersed with 3 min rest, 200 kJ/session); sprint interval exercise (SIE, repeated 1 min cycling at 120% V&#775;O2max interspersed with 1.5 min rest, 200 kJ/session); and repeated sprint exercise (RSE, 40 x 6 s all-out sprints interspersed with 9 s rest)] and one representative MCE protocol (continuous cycling exercise at an intensity of 60% V&#775;O2max, 200 kJ/session). Forty-seven sedentary, overweight young women were randomly assigned to one of four groups (HIE, SIE, RSE, and MCE). Six bouts of respective exercise were performed by every single group, with each being 48 h apart. Meanwhile, for four groups, the duration of the entire testing period was identical, being 10 days. Before and after the first and final exercise bouts, an assessment was conducted of cTnT. The current study provides a frame of reference giving a clear picture of how a specific exercise session affects the circulating cTnT concentration at the early stage of training. The information may assist with clinical interpretations of post-exercise cTnT elevation and guide the prescription of exercise, especially for HIE.

Here, we present protocols of high-intensity interval and moderate-intensity continuous exercise to observe the response of circulating cardiac troponin T (cTnT) concentration to acute exercise over 10 days. The information may assist with clinical interpretations of post-exercise cTnT elevation and guide the prescription of exercise.

An elevation in cardiac troponin T (cTnT), as a highly specific biomarker of cardiomyocyte damage, after moderate-intensity continuous exercise (MCE) has ...

Optogenetic Manipulation of Neuronal Activity to Modulate Behavior in Freely Moving Mice

Optogenetic modulation of neuronal circuits in freely moving mice affects acute and long-term behavior. This method is able to perform manipulations of single neurons and region-specific transmitter release, up to whole neuronal circuitries in the central nervous system, and allows the direct measurement of behavioral outcomes. Neurons express optogenetic tools via an injection of viral vectors carrying the DNA of choice, such as Channelrhodopsin2 (ChR2). Light is brought into specific brain regions via chronic optical implants that terminate directly above the target region. After two weeks of recovery and proper tool-expression, mice can be repeatedly used for behavioral tests with optogenetic stimulation of the neurons of interest.
Optogenetic modulation has a high temporal and spatial resolution that can be accomplished with high cell specificity, compared to the commonly used methods such as chemical or electrical stimulation. The light does not harm neuronal tissue and can therefore be used for long-term experiments as well as for multiple behavioral experiments in one mouse. The possibilities of optogenetic tools are nearly unlimited and enable the activation or silencing of whole neurons, or even the manipulation of a specific receptor type by light.
The results of such behavioral experiments with integrated optogenetic stimulation directly visualizes changes in behavior caused by the manipulation. The behavior of the same animal without light stimulation as a baseline is a good control for induced changes. This allows a detailed overview of neuronal types or neurotransmitter systems involved in specific behaviors, such as anxiety. The plasticity of neuronal networks can also be investigated in great detail through long-term stimulation or behavioral observations after optical stimulation. Optogenetics will help to enlighten neuronal signaling in several kinds of neurological diseases.

With optogenetic manipulation of specific neuronal populations or brain regions, behavior can be modified with high temporal and spatial resolution in freely moving animals. By using different optogenetic tools in combination with chronically implanted optical fibers, a variety of neuronal modulations and behavioral testing can be performed.

Optogenetic modulation of neuronal circuits in freely moving mice affects acute and long-term behavior. This method is able to perform manipulations of ...

Iterative Development of an Innovative Smartphone-Based Dietary Assessment Tool: Traqq

To collect dietary intake data in a fast and reliable manner, a flexible and innovative smartphone application (app) called Traqq was developed (iOS/Android). This app can be used as a food record and&#160;24-h recall (or shorter recall periods). Different sampling schemes can be created on either prespecified or random days/times within a predetermined period for both methods, with&#160;push notifications to urge the participants to register their food intake. In case of non-response, notifications are automatically rescheduled to ensure complete data collection. For use as a food record, respondents can access the app and log their food intake throughout the day. Food records close automatically at the end of the day; recalls close after submission of the consumed items. The recall as well as the food record module provide access to an extensive food list based on the Dutch food composition database (FCDB), which can be accustomed to fit different research purposes. When selecting a food item, respondents are simultaneously prompted to insert portion size, i.e., in household measures (e.g., cups, spoons, glasses), standard portion sizes (e.g., small, medium, large), or weight in grams, and eating occasion/time of consumption. Portion size options can be adjusted, e.g., only entry in grams in case of a weighed food record or time of consumption instead of eating occasion). The app also includes a My Dishes function, which allows the respondent to create their own recipes or product combinations (e.g., a daily breakfast) and only report the total quantity consumed. Subsequently, the app accounts for yield and retention factors. The data are stored on a secure server. If desired, additional questions, i.e., in general or those related to specific food items or eating occasions can be incorporated. This paper describes the development of the system (app and backend), including expert evaluations and usability testing.

This article describes the protocol for the development of an innovative smartphone-based dietary assessment application Traqq, including expert evaluations and usability testing.

To collect dietary intake data in a fast and reliable manner, a flexible and innovative smartphone application (app) called Traqq was developed ...

Controlled Rotation of Human Observers in a Virtual Reality Environment

The low cost and availability of Virtual Reality (VR) systems have supported a recent acceleration of research into perception and behavior under more naturalistic, multisensory, and immersive conditions. One area of research that has particularly benefited from the use of VR systems is multisensory integration, for example, the integration of visual and vestibular cues to give rise to a sense of self-motion. For this reason, an accessible method for the controlled physical rotation of an observer in a virtual environment represents a useful innovation. This paper presents a method for automating the rotation of an office swivel chair along with a method for integrating that motion into a VR experience. Using an example experiment, it is demonstrated that the physical motion, thus produced, is integrated with the visual experience of an observer in a way consistent with expectations; high integration when the motion is congruent with the visual stimulus and low integration when the motion is incongruent.

The controlled physical rotation of a human observer is desirable for certain experimental, recreational, and educational applications. This paper outlines a method for converting an office swivel chair into a medium for controlled physical rotation in a virtual reality environment.

The low cost and availability of Virtual Reality (VR) systems have supported a recent acceleration of research into perception and behavior under more ...