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shinyUMAP: an online tool for promoting understanding of single cell omics data visualization

★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Paper Summary

Paperzilla title
ShinyUMAP: An Interactive Tool to Demystify Single-Cell Data Visualization

This paper introduces shinyUMAP, an online tool that allows users to interactively explore and adjust parameters for UMAP, a common dimensionality reduction technique used for visualizing single-cell omics data. By manipulating parameters and observing their impact on data visualization, users can gain a deeper understanding of UMAP's limitations and avoid misinterpretations.

Explain Like I'm Five

Imagine trying to flatten a crumpled piece of paper. ShinyUMAP lets you see how different flattening methods change how the drawing on the paper looks.

Possible Conflicts of Interest

None identified. The authors declare no conflicts of interest and the research was partially funded by NIH grants, which are generally considered transparent funding sources.

Identified Limitations

Limited Data Size
ShinyUMAP has limitations on the size of datasets it can handle due to the memory constraints of the Shiny environment. This restricts its applicability to very large datasets.
Python-Based
The tool's implementation in Python requires format conversion for data from R workflows, which can be a hurdle for some users.

Rating Explanation

This paper presents a useful tool that addresses a practical challenge in single-cell data analysis: understanding and properly using UMAP. The interactive nature of shinyUMAP and its potential for educational purposes are significant strengths. However, the limitations related to data size and Python-based implementation slightly lower the rating. Overall, the tool fills a need in the community and contributes to more informed interpretations of UMAP visualizations.

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File Information

Original Title: shinyUMAP: an online tool for promoting understanding of single cell omics data visualization
Uploaded: September 09, 2025 at 12:35 PM
Privacy: Public