Just to dot the T's and cross the I's here - I actually don't want to *have to* deposit images routinely. I definitely hope that this is not going to be a mandatory step in PDB deposition any time soon - for a simple reason: at the moment this is too much trouble. Connections are too slow, and images are too bothersome to store beyond say 12 months. Add to this the need to also deposit 'site files' (or their equivalents for various software) and one gets to deal with an unholy mess.
I certainly see the merit of depositing images for 'new and hot' structures, especially if data is questionable, and doubly so if the publication results in extraordinary or revolutionary conclusions. But please - I beg you - don't make me deposit images for yet another PTP1B structure. There - now if the movement towards having an image depot fizzles out you can blame me for that. Artem --- When the Weasel comes to give New Year's greetings to the Chickens no good intentions are in his mind. -----Original Message----- From: CCP4 bulletin board [mailto:ccp...@jiscmail.ac.uk] On Behalf Of Eric Bennett Sent: Friday, March 20, 2009 7:10 PM To: CCP4BB@JISCMAIL.AC.UK Subject: Re: [ccp4bb] fake images Bernhard Rupp wrote: >I only scratched the surface and I think it would be hard work to fake >the images in a way that later expert forensics would >not readily provide evidence. Also, there are 'watermarks' available from >cryptographic methods that are even 'post-processing' resistant. A practical question is, even if it could be detected in theory, is anyone looking for it in practice? How many journal reviewers are going to audit this information? Today some structures still don't get deposited with structure factors. Not all journals enforce deposition policies well. Even if some future image repository can do automated image auditing, people who want to commit overt fraud will pick a journal that doesn't enforce deposition requirements, and decline to provide their images. A watermark or statistical analysis won't help you if you don't have access to the image. This discussion started regarding a place for people who _want_ to deposit images; unfortunately some people aren't going to do it voluntarily. -Eric --
