The purpose of this quarterly newsletter is to help build a strong research community surrounding the National Sleep Research Resource (NSRR). The newsletter will inform current and new users of NSRR about updates to the site including any datasets that have been added, new tools or modifications of existing tools and will serve as a channel to share research results that have emerged from utilization of the site among the NSRR community.
Since launching in April 2014, three new datasets in addition to Sleep Heart Health Study (SHHS) have been uploaded to NSRR.
Childhood Adenotonsillectomy Study (CHAT)
Heart Biomarker Evaluation in Apnea Treatment (Heart BEAT)
Cleveland Family Study (CFS)
EDF Editor and Translator
These are Java tools designed to facilitate the de-identification and normalization of signals by editing EDF files and translation of sleep annotations generated in different vendor formats to sleep domain standardized terminology, thereby allowing for integrated signal analysis and query across different applications.
EDF Viewer
The viewer enables the user to open an EDF file and a corresponding sleep annotation file, which contains sleep scoring information. The user can select the signals to view and a myriad of ways are provided to scroll through the signals including: scrolling, clicking on the Hypnogram, and clicking on a specific annotation.
Signal Raster View
The ability to view the EDF headers allows the users to verify the contents prior to analysis. Viewing the EDF can be helpful to diagnose problems that might arise from file corruptions, differences in the EDF implementation, and/or bugs in EDF export functions. The application supports a limited set of functionality in support of quick review of EDF content. Users can select the EDF file they wish to view. Header and signal header information is also available to the user once the EDF file is loaded in the interface. The user can select the signal, x-axis scale, lines per page, display gain, and display monitor for the PowerPoint generated. Users also have the option to customize the PowerPoint file’s title and saved location. Signal Raster View is a MATLAB application created with the MATLAB GUI Development Environment (GUIDE).
Remo Mueller, Ph.D.
Director of Informatics, Sleep and Circadian Disorders; Brigham and Women's Hospital
Q: What feature do you like most on NSRR?
A: I really enjoy the ability to view and explore graphs and tables of dataset variables. The graphs provide great insight into the amount and type of data collected in each dataset, and are automatically generated with every new release of the datasets, so they are always up-to-date!
Q: What are you currently working on for NSRR?
A: I’m currently focusing on streamlining a process for outside collaborators to deposit datasets onto the NSRR. We have set up an infrastructure that allows us to push new datasets regularly to the NSRR, and are looking forward to working with other groups to expand that research knowledge. I am also working on an internal process that will allow the NSRR Review Committee to review submitted DAUAs at a faster pace.
Q: What is your favorite activity to do outside of the office?
A: I enjoy running, cooking, and salsa dancing
Datasets
Tools
Interested in learning more?
Email us at: support@sleepdata.org. Or, start a discussion on our Forum.