Complex Observation in Electron Microscopy: III. Inverse Theory of Observation-Scheme Dependent Information Transfer

2002 ◽  
Vol 71 (3) ◽  
pp. 744-756 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shouzou Sugitani ◽  
Kuniaki Nagayama
Author(s):  
D. Van Dyck

An (electron) microscope can be considered as a communication channel that transfers structural information between an object and an observer. In electron microscopy this information is carried by electrons. According to the theory of Shannon the maximal information rate (or capacity) of a communication channel is given by C = B log2 (1 + S/N) bits/sec., where B is the band width, and S and N the average signal power, respectively noise power at the output. We will now apply to study the information transfer in an electron microscope. For simplicity we will assume the object and the image to be onedimensional (the results can straightforwardly be generalized). An imaging device can be characterized by its transfer function, which describes the magnitude with which a spatial frequency g is transferred through the device, n is the noise. Usually, the resolution of the instrument ᑭ is defined from the cut-off 1/ᑭ beyond which no spadal information is transferred.


2021 ◽  
Vol 28 (5) ◽  
pp. 1343-1356
Author(s):  
Yue Zhang ◽  
Peng-Han Lu ◽  
Enzo Rotunno ◽  
Filippo Troiani ◽  
J. Paul van Schayck ◽  
...  

Imaging of biomolecules by ionizing radiation, such as electrons, causes radiation damage which introduces structural and compositional changes of the specimen. The total number of high-energy electrons per surface area that can be used for imaging in cryogenic electron microscopy (cryo-EM) is severely restricted due to radiation damage, resulting in low signal-to-noise ratios (SNR). High resolution details are dampened by the transfer function of the microscope and detector, and are the first to be lost as radiation damage alters the individual molecules which are presumed to be identical during averaging. As a consequence, radiation damage puts a limit on the particle size and sample heterogeneity with which electron microscopy (EM) can deal. Since a transmission EM (TEM) image is formed from the scattering process of the electron by the specimen interaction potential, radiation damage is inevitable. However, we can aim to maximize the information transfer for a given dose and increase the SNR by finding alternatives to the conventional phase-contrast cryo-EM techniques. Here some alternative transmission electron microscopy techniques are reviewed, including phase plate, multi-pass transmission electron microscopy, off-axis holography, ptychography and a quantum sorter. Their prospects for providing more or complementary structural information within the limited lifetime of the sample are discussed.


2008 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 36-47 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yiping Peng ◽  
Mark P. Oxley ◽  
Andrew R. Lupini ◽  
Matthew F. Chisholm ◽  
Stephen J. Pennycook

The relation between image resolution and information transfer is explored. It is shown that the existence of higher frequency transfer in the image is just a necessary but not sufficient condition for the achievement of higher resolution. Adopting a two-point resolution criterion, we suggest that a 10% contrast level between two features in an image should be used as a practical definition of resolution. In the context of scanning transmission electron microscopy, it is shown that the channeling effect does not have a direct connection with image resolution because sharp channeling peaks do not move with the scanning probe. Through a quantitative comparison between experimental image and simulation, a Fourier-space approach is proposed to estimate defocus and sample thickness. The effective atom size inZ-contrast imaging depends on the annular detector's inner angle. Therefore, an optimum angle exists for the highest resolution as a trade-off between reduced atom size and reduced signal with limited information transfer due to noise.


Author(s):  
S. K. Aggarwal ◽  
P. McAllister ◽  
R. W. Wagner ◽  
B. Rosenberg

Uranyl acetate has been used as an electron stain for en bloc staining as well as for staining ultrathin sections in conjunction with various lead stains (Fig. 1). Present studies reveal that various platinum compounds also show promise as electron stains. Certain platinum compounds have been shown to be effective anti-tumor agents. Of particular interest are the compounds with either uracil or thymine as one of the ligands (cis-Pt(II)-uracil; cis-Pt(II)-thymine). These compounds are amorphous, highly soluble in water and often exhibit an intense blue coloration. These compounds show enough electron density to be used as stains for electron microscopy. Most of the studies are based on various cell lines (human AV, cells, human lymphoma cells, KB cells, Sarcoma-180 ascites cells, chick fibroblasts and HeLa cells) while studies on tissue blocks are in progress.


Author(s):  
Gunter F. Thomas ◽  
M. David Hoggan

In 1968, Sugimura and Yanagawa described a small 25 nm virus like particle in association with the Matsuda strain of infectious canine hepatitis virus (ICHV). Domoto and Yanagawa showed that this particle was dependent on ICHV for its replication in primary dog kidney cell cultures (PDK) and was resistant to heating at 70°C for 10 min, and concluded that it was a canine adeno-associated virus (CAAV). Later studies by Onuma and Yanagawa compared CAAV with the known human serotypes (AAV 1, 2, 3) and AAV-4, known to be associated with African Green Monkeys. Using the complement fixation (CF) test, they found that CAAV was serologically related to AAV-3 and had wide distribution in the dog population of Japan.


Author(s):  
L. D. Ackerman ◽  
S. H. Y. Wei

Mature human dental enamel has presented investigators with several difficulties in ultramicrotomy of specimens for electron microscopy due to its high degree of mineralization. This study explores the possibility of combining ion-milling and high voltage electron microscopy as a means of circumventing the problems of ultramicrotomy.A longitudinal section of an extracted human third molar was ground to a thickness of about 30 um and polarized light micrographs were taken. The specimen was attached to a single hole grid and thinned by argon-ion bombardment at 15° incidence while rotating at 15 rpm. The beam current in each of two guns was 50 μA with an accelerating voltage of 4 kV. A 20 nm carbon coating was evaporated onto the specimen to prevent an electron charge from building up during electron microscopy.


Author(s):  
P.S. Porter ◽  
T. Aoyagi ◽  
R. Matta

Using standard techniques of scanning electron microscopy (SEM), over 1000 human hair defects have been studied. In several of the defects, the pathogenesis of the abnormality has been clarified using these techniques. It is the purpose of this paper to present several distinct morphologic abnormalities of hair and to discuss their pathogenesis as elucidated through techniques of scanning electron microscopy.


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