Evidence map›Paper›PMID 29099843›Full record

ArticlePloS one2017

Water without windows: Evaluating the performance of open cell transmission electron microscopy under saturated water vapor conditions, and assessing its potential for microscopy of hydrated biological specimens.

Cathal Cassidy, Masao Yamashita, Martin Cheung, Chola Kalale, Hidehito Adaniya, Ryusuke Kuwahara, Tsumoru Shintake

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in PloS one, 2017. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Liquid Phase Biological Electron Microscopy: Many Published Results and Claimed Benefits Are Fantasy, Not Fact.Microscopy and microanalysis : the official journal of Microscopy Society of America, Microbeam Analysis Society, Microscopical Society of Canada · 2025
    Article
  2. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Cathal CassidyQuantum Wave Microscopy, OIST Graduate University, 1919-1 Tancha, Okinawa 904-0495, Japan.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-0828-731X
Masao YamashitaQuantum Wave Microscopy, OIST Graduate University, 1919-1 Tancha, Okinawa 904-0495, Japan.
Martin CheungQuantum Wave Microscopy, OIST Graduate University, 1919-1 Tancha, Okinawa 904-0495, Japan.
Chola KalaleQuantum Wave Microscopy, OIST Graduate University, 1919-1 Tancha, Okinawa 904-0495, Japan.
Hidehito AdaniyaQuantum Wave Microscopy, OIST Graduate University, 1919-1 Tancha, Okinawa 904-0495, Japan.
Ryusuke KuwaharaQuantum Wave Microscopy, OIST Graduate University, 1919-1 Tancha, Okinawa 904-0495, Japan.
Tsumoru ShintakeQuantum Wave Microscopy, OIST Graduate University, 1919-1 Tancha, Okinawa 904-0495, Japan.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

We have performed open cell transmission electron microscopy experiments through pure water vapor in the saturation pressure regime (>0.6 kPa), in a modern microscope capable of sub-Å resolution. We have systematically studied achievable pressure levels, stability and gas purity, effective thickness of the water vapor column and associated electron scattering processes, and the effect of gas pressure on electron optical resolution and image contrast. For example, for 1.3 kPa pure water vapor and 300kV electrons, we report pressure stability of ± 20 Pa over tens of minutes, effective thickness of 0.57 inelastic mean free paths, lattice resolution of 0.14 nm on a reference Au specimen, and no significant degradation in contrast or stability of a biological specimen (M13 virus, with 6 nm body diameter). We have also done some brief experiments to confirm feasibility of loading specimens into an in situ water vapor ambient without exposure to intermediate desiccating conditions. Finally, we have also checked if water experiments had any discernible impact on the microscope performance, and report pertinent vacuum and electron optical data, for reference purposes.

Indexed as

Microscopy, Electron, TransmissionWaterWater

Identifiers

PMID29099843
PMCPMC5669482

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.