QuantifyMe: An Open-Source Automated Single-Case Experimental Design Platform

Smartphones and wearable sensors have enabled unprecedented data collection, with many products now providing feedback to users about recommended step counts or sleep durations. However, these recommendations do not provide personalized insights that have been shown to be best suited for a specific individual. A scientific way to find individualized recommendations and causal links is to conduct experi ments using single-case experimental design; however, properly designed single-case experiments are not easy to conduct on oneself. We designed, developed, and evaluated a novel platform, QuantifyMe, for novice self-experimenters to conduct proper-methodology single-case self-experiments in an automated and scientific manner using their smartphones. We provide software for the platform that we used (available for free on GitHub), which provides the methodological elements to run many kinds of customized studies. In this work, we evaluate its use with four different kinds of personalized investigations, examining how variables such as sleep duration and regularity, activity, and leisure time affect personal happiness, stress, productivity, and sleep efficiency. We conducted a six-week pilot study (N = 13) to evaluate QuantifyMe. We describe the lessons learned developing the platform and recommendations for its improvement, as well as its potential for enabling personalized insights to be scientifically evaluated in many individuals, reducing the high administrative cost for advancing human health and wellbeing. Keywords: single-case experimental design; mobile health; wearable sensors; self-experiment; self-trackin

Multivariate small sample tests for two-way designs with applications to industrial statistics

In this paper, we present a novel nonparametric approach for multivariate analysis of two-way crossed factorial design based on NonParametric Combination applied to Synchronized Permutation tests. This nonparametric hypothesis testing procedure not only allows to overcome the shortcomings of MANOVA test like violation of assumptions such as multivariate normality or covariance homogeneity, but, in an extensive simulation study, reveals to be a powerful instrument both in case of small sample size and many response variables. We contextualize its application in the field of industrial experiments and we assume a linear additive model for the data set analysis. Indeed, the linear additive model interpretation well adapts to the industrial production environment because of the way control of production machineries is implemented. The case of small sample size reflects the frequent needs of practitioners in the industrial environment where there are constraints or limited resources for the experimental design. Furthermore, an increase in rejection rate can be observed under alternative hypothesis when the number of response variables increases with fixed number of observed units. This could lead to a strategical benefit considering that in many real problems it could be easier to collect more information on a single experimental unit than adding a new unit to the experimental design. An application to industrial thermoforming processes is useful to illustrate and highlight the benefits of the adoption of the herein presented nonparametric approach

The Single-Case Reporting Guideline In BEhavioural Interventions (SCRIBE) 2016 statement

We developed a reporting guideline to provide authors with guidance about what should be reported when writing a paper for publication in a scientific journal using a particular type of research design: the single-case experimental design. This report describes the methods used to develop the Single-Case Reporting guideline In BEhavioural interventions (SCRIBE) 2016. As a result of 2 online surveys and a 2-day meeting of experts, the SCRIBE 2016 checklist was developed, which is a set of 26 items that authors need to address when writing about single-case research. This article complements the more detailed SCRIBE 2016 Explanation and Elaboration article (Tate et al., 2016) that provides a rationale for each of the items and examples of adequate reporting from the literature. Both these resources will assist authors to prepare reports of single-case research with clarity, completeness, accuracy, and transparency. They will also provide journal reviewers and editors with a practical checklist against which such reports may be critically evaluated. We recommend that the SCRIBE 2016 is used by authors preparing manuscripts describing single-case research for publication, as well as journal reviewers and editors who are evaluating such manuscripts.Funding for the SCRIBE project was provided by the Lifetime Care and Support Authority of New South Wales, Australia. The funding body was not involved in the conduct, interpretation or writing of this work. We acknowledge the contribution of the responders to the Delphi surveys, as well as administrative assistance provided by Kali Godbee and Donna Wakim at the SCRIBE consensus meeting. Lyndsey Nickels was funded by an Australian Research Council Future Fellowship (FT120100102) and Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence in Cognition and Its Disorders (CE110001021). For further discussion on this topic, please visit the Archives of Scientific Psychology online public forum at http://arcblog.apa.org. (Lifetime Care and Support Authority of New South Wales, Australia; FT120100102 - Australian Research Council Future Fellowship; CE110001021 - Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence in Cognition and Its Disorders)Published versio

Realization of a classical counterpart of a scalable design for adiabatic quantum computation

We implement a classical counterpart of a scalable design for adiabatic quantum computation. The key element of this design is a coupler providing controllable coupling between two bistable elements (in our case superconducting rings with a single Josephson junction playing the role of a classical counterpart of superconducting flux qubits) The coupler is also a superconducting ring with a single Josephson junction that operates in the non-hysteretic mode. The flux coupling between two bistable rings can be controlled by changing the magnetic flux through the coupler. Thereby, the coupling can be tuned from ferromagnetic trough zero to to anti-ferromagnetic.Comment: 3 pages, 3 figures v2: extended discussion experimental result

Procedure to construct a multi-scale coarse-grained model of DNA-coated colloids from experimental data

We present a quantitative, multi-scale coarse-grained model of DNA coated colloids. The parameters of this model are transferable and are solely based on experimental data. As a test case, we focus on nano-sized colloids carrying single-stranded DNA strands of length comparable to the colloids' size. We show that in this regime, the common theoretical approach of assuming pairwise additivity of the colloidal pair interactions leads to quantitatively and sometimes even qualitatively wrong predictions of the phase behaviour of DNA-grafted colloids. Comparing to experimental data, we find that our coarse-grained model correctly predicts the equilibrium structure and melting temperature of the formed solids. Due to limited experimental information on the persistence length of single-stranded DNA, some quantitative discrepancies are found in the prediction of spatial quantities. With the availability of better experimental data, the present approach provides a path for the rational design of DNA-functionalised building blocks that can self-assemble in complex, three-dimensional structures.Comment: 17 pages, 10 figures; to be published in Soft Matte

The effect of cubic damping on a base excited isolator: an experimental study for harmonic excitation

An experimental study has been conducted to validate theoretical solutions for the response of a base excited single degree-of-freedom isolation system possessing pure cubic damping. The cubic damping characteristic was implemented using an electromagnetic shaker with a simple non-linear velocity feedback control. The rig and practical implementation of the active damping are described. The base excitation was harmonic at a set of discrete frequencies with constant displacement amplitude. Consistent with theoretical predictions, the isolation performance at high excitation frequencies is shown to be worse than either the undamped or linear viscously damped isolation system with the displacement transmissibility tending to unity. This is contrary to the case of force excitation reported in the literature where cubic damping offers improved performance. The physical causes of the distinct behaviours and the consequences for isolator design are discusse

Reprint of “The Single-Case Reporting Guideline In BEhavioural interventions (SCRIBE) 2016: explanation and elaboration”

There is substantial evidence that research studies reported in the scientific literature do not provide adequate information so that readers know exactly what was done and what was found. This problem has been addressed by the development of reporting guidelines which tell authors what should be reported and how it should be described. Many reporting guidelines are now available for different types of research designs. There is no such guideline for one type of research design commonly used in the behavioral sciences, the single-case experimental design (SCED). The present study addressed this gap. This report describes the Single-Case Reporting guideline In BEhavioural interventions (SCRIBE) 2016, which is a set of 26 items that authors need to address when writing about SCED research for publication in a scientific journal. Each item is described, a rationale for its inclusion is provided, and examples of adequate reporting taken from the literature are quoted. It is recommended that the SCRIBE 2016 is used by authors preparing manuscripts describing SCED research for publication, as well as journal reviewers and editors who are evaluating such manuscripts.Published versio

Determining the operating distance of air ultrasound range finders : calculations and experiments

Estimating the operating distance of air ultrasound range finders by using the suitably modified radar equation and experimental verification of the developed computational procedure is discussed. It is shown that, despite notable differences between operating conditions of radars and air ultrasonic range finders, the radar equation is applicable to the considered case, and calculations of the relevant terms for this case are presented. The experimental assessment was carried out by evaluating the probability of detection at various distances from the custom built device. The calculated and experimental results seem to agree well despite using a number of values with high degree of uncertainty. The described procedure can be used at the design stage of air ultrasound range finders in order to reduce the number of prototypes before finalizing the design to a single prototype