Cell-level metadata are indispensable for documenting single-cell sequencing datasets.

Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) provides an unprecedented view of cellular diversity of biological systems. However, across the thousands of publications and datasets generated using this technology, we estimate that only a minority (<25%) of studies provide cell-level metadata information containing identified cell types and related findings of the published dataset. Metadata omission hinders reproduction, exploration, validation, and knowledge transfer and is a common problem across journals, data repositories, and publication dates. We encourage investigators, reviewers, journals, and data repositories to improve their standards and ensure proper documentation of these valuable datasets.

Treating medical data as a durable asset.

Access to medical data is central for conducting research on genomics. However, to tap these metadata (observable traits and phenotypes, diagnoses and medication, and labels), researchers must grapple with the complex and sensitive nature of the information. In this Perspective, we argue that, at this exciting time for genomics and artificial intelligence, several critical aspects of data generation, infrastructure and management are pillars of a modern data ecosystem. Many risks to privacy and many obstacles to medical research can be eliminated or mitigated by new secure data analytics. Finally, we discuss the potential consequences of medical data exiting the institutions and being managed by individuals. These shifts in data ownership have the potential for profound disruption and opportunity across many fields.

Los metadatos, la búsqueda y recuperación de información desde las Ciencias de la Información / Metadata, search and information retrieval from the Information Science

Resumen El desarrollo de la informática y las Tecnologías de la Información y de la Comunicación (TIC) han transformado de manera preponderante el crecimiento y el acceso a la información, así como las maneras de concebir y realizar la búsqueda y recuperación de la información en la Internet acorde al nuevo contexto. Dicho proceso ha dejado de ser unidireccional y el usuario se ha convertido en ente participativo en la dinámica del proceso, introduciendo un modelo cognitivo y superando el tradicional; de manera que, el presente trabajo analiza los presupuestos teóricos-metodológicos entorno a la representación de la necesidad de información como elemento que define el resultado de una estrategia de búsqueda. Para ello, se adentra en el análisis de diferentes enfoques presentes en la interacción usuario máquina durante la búsqueda y la recuperación de la información. En este sentido, se reconocen los aportes de otras disciplinas que contribuyen a encontrar soluciones para optimizar la recuperación de información en la Internet. Con este empeño se propone el uso de metadatos para lograr una mejor comunicación e interpretación por parte de los Sistemas de Recuperación de Información de los distintos puntos de vista de un usuario determinado.

Abstract Computing, and information and communication technology development has preponderantly transformed the growth and access to information, as well as the ways of conceiving and performing search and retrieval of information on Internet in accordance with the new context. This process has ceased to be unidirectional and the user has become a participative entity in dynamics of the process introducing a cognitive model and surpassing traditional one. Therefore, this paper aims to analyze theoretical-methodological assumptions around the representation of the need for information as an element that defines the result of a search strategy. In order to do this, it delves into the analysis of different approaches present in the user-machine interaction during search and retrieval of information. In this sense, the contributions of other disciplines that contribute to finding solutions to optimize the retrieval of information on the Internet are recognized. With this effort, the use of metadata is proposed to achieve better communication and interpretation by the Information Retrieval Systems of the different points of view of a given user.