I have recently completed a MD project and wriitin it up as a paper. My computer has since been stolen and I have lost the MD simulations (backup was taken too). Would the paper still be able to be published?
I would suggest you consult with the editor of the journal to which you want to submit the paper. If he or she tells you it is not appropriate, then that has saved you a lot of time waiting for the reviews that can be used instead to reproduce the data.
Personally, I wouldn't submit the paper. If someone later publishes a paper that contradicts what you have said or challenges the integrity of your data and you are given the opportunity to defend your work, you can't. Even if, as in this case, the loss of data is from something unfortunate like disaster (fire, flood) or theft, if the data are questioned without response from you, it can create a very negative view of you and your work (fair or not), because many people will never know (or believe) the truth. Reproducibility is also a concern, especially when fraud is so prevalent these days. I have often been asked (and professionally obligated) to provide certain input files, other data files, etc from my papers for others to use.
In a more immediate sense, if you submit the paper, you'd better cross your fingers that the reviewers don't ask for any additional data analysis, because you won't be able to do it. At that point, probably any editor or reviewer is going to reject the paper. Disputing whether or not some particular analysis is relevant is a part of the process, but simply stating "we can't do it" generally won't fly, though it will depend on the necessity of analysis in question.
Just my $0.02. I'd be curious to hear what others think.
In general, journals do not ask for access to your data files unless they suspect fraud. You could try to publish the paper, but you may get in difficulty if the reviewers or editor ask you to add a field or re-sort your data or add a different calculation. Now that the data has gone for a long walk, why not move on to your next project. Thieves cannot take away from you your skills and knowledge! My wife is reading a book now by an author who had her first book MS stolen. It took her 6 years to start writing again! Recover quickly, please.
Dear Matt Bawn
Better you upload your article and hope that reviewer won't ask any additional work. If you didn't publish your work, then the work is going to a waste. You should share your knowledge and ideas to the world. So better you upload it.
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