Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41803322›Full record

ArticleNpj biological timing and sleep2026

Auxiliary data, quality assurance and quality control for wearable light loggers and optical radiation dosimeters.

Johannes Zauner, Oliver Stefani, Gianfranco Bocanegra, Carolina Guidolin, Björn Schrader, Ljiljana Udovicic, Manuel Spitschan

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Npj biological timing and sleep, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Johannes Zauner *TUM School of Medicine and Health, Department Health and Sports Sciences, Chronobiology & Health, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany. johannes.zauner@tum.de.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2171-4566
Oliver Stefani *Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts, Lucerne, Switzerland.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-0199-6500
Gianfranco BocanegraThe Hague University of Applied Sciences, Den Haag, The Netherlands.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0004-5280-4657
Carolina GuidolinMax Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics, Max Planck Research Group Translational Sensory & Circadian Neuroscience, Tübingen, Germany.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0007-4959-2667
Björn SchraderLucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts, Lucerne, Switzerland.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8387-922X
Ljiljana UdovicicFederal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (BAuA), Dortmund, Germany.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6035-8309
Manuel SpitschanTUM School of Medicine and Health, Department Health and Sports Sciences, Chronobiology & Health, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany. manuel.spitschan@tum.de.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8572-9268

Funding

European Association of National Metrology Institutes 22NRM05 MeLiDos
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Wearable light loggers and optical radiation dosimeters are increasingly used in chronobiology and circadian health research, yet their data often lack contextual information (e.g., sleep, activity, environmental conditions) and may be compromised by non-wear periods, compliance issues, or technical faults. To address these limitations, we conducted interviews (n = 21) and a survey (n = 16) with domain experts to distil and iteratively develop auxiliary data and quality-control strategies aimed at improving the accuracy and interpretability of wearable light measurements. From this process, we established a six-domain auxiliary data framework encompassing wear/non-wear logging, sleep monitoring, light-source context, participant behaviour, user experience, and environmental light levels. Survey responses showed strong consensus on the value of auxiliary information (importance 4.0/5), with sleep and wear-time tracking rated as the most essential additions. To support practical adoption, we provide implementation tools, including extensions to the open-source R package LightLogR, enabling streamlined integration of wearable and auxiliary data as well as systematic quality assurance and control. Experts agreed that combining contextual records with rigorous QA/QC procedures substantially improves the reliability of field-collected light-exposure data. These recommendations and tools aim to help researchers in chronobiology, wearable sensing, and health sciences maximise data quality and enhance interpretation in real-world light-exposure studies.

Identifiers

PMID41803322
PMCPMC12972172

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.