ETDB-Caltech: A blockchain-based distributed public database for electron tomography

• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0215531
• Publication Date: 2019-04-15T17:33:27Z
• Authors: Davi R. Ortega; Catherine M. Oiko...; H. Jane Ding; Prudence Rees-Lee; ; Grant J. Jensen
• Keywords: Distributed data store; Data Sharing; Download; Distributed database

Three-dimensional electron microscopy techniques like tomography provide valuable insights into cellular structures, and present significant challenges for data storage dissemination. Here we explored a novel method to publicly release more than 11,000 such datasets, 30 TB in total, collected by our group. Our method, based on peer-to-peer file sharing network built around blockchain ledger, offers distributed solution storage. In addition, offer user-friendly browser-based interface, https://etdb.caltech.edu, anyone interested explore download data. We discuss the relative advantages disadvantages of this system tools other groups mine and/or use same approach share their own imaging datasets.