Abstract: An object of the invention is to provide a lens unit, an illumination cap member, a sample observation kit, and a transmission compound microscope that enable to easily acquire a microscopic observation image by being mounted on a smart device with a simplified structure. A lens unit 10 at least provided with a lens 1, and a holding member 3 which holds the lens 1 is configured such that the lens 1 is disposed on the optical axis of a front camera 22 provided in a smart device 20. The lens 1 of the lens unit 10 and a lens 22a of the camera 22 constitute a transmission compound microscope.

Abstract: A compound microscope device allows simultaneous observation of one specimen by a transmission electron microscope and an optical microscope. The compound microscope device 1 of the present invention has a transmission electron microscope 2 and an optical microscope 4. A specimen 10 and a reflection mirror 41 are disposed on an electron optical axis C of an electron ray. The reflection mirror 41 is inclined from the electron optical axis C toward the optical object lens 43 and the specimen 10. Light from the specimen 10 (fluorescent light, reflection light, and the like) is reflected by the reflection mirror 41 and enters into the optical object lens 43. The electron ray from the electron microscope 2 passes through a mounting center hole 42 of the reflection mirror 41. This makes it possible to observe one specimen simultaneously by the electron microscope 2 and the optical microscope 4.

Abstract: A method for modifying nucleic acid bases by a chemical means, which enables the discrimination of every base species in plural species of bases in a nucleic acid comprising plural nucleotide units, while retaining the base sequence information of the nucleic acid. A nucleic acid base-modified product provided by the method. The nucleic acid base-modified product is essentially a single strand. In accordance with the invention, a novel means for sequencing a nucleic acid by a microscopic means is provided.

Abstract: A compound microscope device allowing simultaneous observation of one specimen by a transmission electron microscope and an optical microscope, is provided. A compound microscope device 1 of the present invention has a transmission electron microscope 2 and an optical microscope 4. A specimen 10 and a reflection mirror 41 are disposed on an electron optical axis C of an electron ray. The reflection mirror 41 is inclined from the electron optical axis C toward the optical object lens 43 and the specimen 10. Light from the specimen 10 (fluorescent light, reflection light, and the like) is reflected by the reflection mirror 41 and entered into the optical object lens 43. The electron ray from the electron microscope 2 passes through a mounting center hole 42 of the reflection mirror 41. This makes it possible to observe one specimen simultaneously by the electron microscope 2 and the optical microscope 4.

Abstract: A phase plate for an electron microscope in which a portion of a magnetic thin-wire ring or a magnetic thin-wire rod spans an opening of a support member having the opening, the magnetic thin-wire ring or magnetic thin-wire rod generates a vector potential, and a phase difference is formed between electron beams that pass through left and right sides of a spanning portion of the magnetic thin-wire ring or the magnetic thin-wire rod. The phase plate prevents the electron beam loss more effectively, can be applied at an accelerating voltage within a wide rage from a low voltage to a high voltage, causes no difficulties in production, has good utility, and makes it possible to obtain a high-contrast image.

Abstract: A method of printing an image of a three-dimensional object includes printing multiple dots of a colored ink to form an image of the object and printing dots of a transparent ink having a refractive index greater than 1 within the image. The dots of transparent ink local alter the path length of light that shines through the image to create phase variations on the image.

Abstract: A method for modifying nucleic acid bases by a chemical means, which enables the discrimination of every base species in plural species of bases in a nucleic acid comprising plural nucleotide units, while retaining the base sequence information of the nucleic acid. A nucleic acid base-modified product provided by the method. The nucleic acid base-modified product is essentially a single strand. In accordance with the invention, a novel means for sequencing a nucleic acid by a microscopic means is provided.

Abstract: A confocal method in which a sample is disposed in the center, a collective lens and a front objective lens are disposed on the incident side, and a back objective lens and a projection lens are disposed symmetrically on the outgoing side is so configured that a spatial filter can be inserted in front of the sample and behind it. As a result, the advantage of the confocal method, which is in the possibility of disposing a spatial filter in front of the sample, is realized and the disadvantages of the conventional transmission phase contrast electron microscope (halo, electron beam loss) are eliminated, thereby providing a phase contrast electron microscope device that enables the establishment of an electron microscopy technology that makes it possible to view of a wide range of materials from material science to life science in a non-dyed state with a high contrast and a high resolution.

Abstract: A phase plate for an electron microscope in which a portion of a magnetic thin-wire ring or a magnetic thin-wire rod (15) spans an opening of a support member (14) having the opening, the magnetic thin-wire ring or magnetic thin-wire rod (15) generates a vector potential, and a phase difference is formed between electron beams that pass through left and right sides of a spanning portion of the magnetic thin-wire ring or the magnetic thin-wire rod (15). The phase plate prevents the electron beam loss more effectively, can be applied at an accelerating voltage within a wide rage from a low voltage to a high voltage, causes no difficulties in production, has good utility, and makes it possible to obtain a high-contrast image.

Abstract: A method of printing an image of a three-dimensional object includes printing multiple dots of a colored ink to form an image of the object and printing dots of a transparent ink having a refractive index greater than 1 within the image. The dots of transparent ink local alter the path length of light that shines through the image to create phase variations on the image.

Abstract: A method for determining the sequence of at least a portion of a single-stranded nucleic acid molecule by base-specifically labeling the exposed bases of the nucleic acid molecule using heavy element-substituted nucleotide bases which form Watson-Crick type base-pairs with the exposed bases of the nucleic acid molecule and then imaging the labeled single-stranded nucleic acid molecule using electron microscopy, e.g., transmission electron microscopy (TEM), or some other method that permits discrimination of the heavy element substituted nucleotide bases is described. The image is analyzed to determine the base sequence of at least a portion of the nucleic acid molecule.

Abstract: A phase plate (10) for phase-contrast electron microscopes is characterized by comprising a conductive core phase plate (14) which has a phase plate body (11) and a phase plate support (12) supporting it and is arranged in the path of electrons having passed through the objective lens of an electron microscope and in which the phase plate body (11) is so supported on the phase plate support (12) having an opening (13) as to cover at least a part of the opening (13) and a conductive shield thin film (15) covering the periphery of the core phase plate (14) including the upper and lower sides thereof. Consequently, a phase plane for phase-contrast electron microscopes preventing the lens effect incident to charging completely and applicable to the field of material science, its manufacturing method and a phase-contrast electron microscope can be provided.

Abstract: Novel DNA sequence determination method and DNA sequencer system providing a sequencing speed 103 to 104 times faster than the current DNA sequencing speed (105 bases per day with a lane at maximum) of the existing DNA sequencer based on electrophoresis. The method includes the step of discriminating base-specific labels of heavy elements using a magnified image of elongated single-chain DNA or RNA produced by a transmission electron microscope (TEM). The DNA sequencer system uses this method. The invention provides a DNA sequencing speed that is higher than the existing speed by 3 or 4 orders of magnitude.

Abstract: Novel DNA sequence determination method and DNA sequencer system providing a sequencing speed 103 to 104 times faster than the current DNA sequencing speed (105 bases per day with a lane at maximum) of the existing DNA sequencer based on electrophoresis. The method includes the step of discriminating base-specific labels of heavy elements using a magnified image of elongated single-chain DNA or RNA produced by a transmission electron microscope (TEM). The DNA sequencer system uses this method. The invention provides a DNA sequencing speed that is higher than the existing speed by 3 or 4 orders of magnitude.

Abstract: A method of forming a particle film on a surface of a solid or liquid substrate involves contacting the substrate, in the presence of a gas, with a liquid medium containing a plurality of particles suspended therein. A liquid meniscus is thereby formed between the substrate and the gas. An edge of the liquid meniscus is moved relative to the substrate, so that said particles in the liquid medium form the particle film on the surface of the substrate.

Abstract: A lens system for use with a phase plate in a transmission electron microscope comprises a phase plate placed after the back-focal plane of the objective lens in an imaging system mounted downstream of the objective lens. Phase lenses image the back-focal plane of the objective lens onto the phase plate such that the position and tilt of the electron beam relative to the optical axis are made conjugate. An alignment coil may direct the electron beam going out of the phase lenses toward the phase plate. A second alignment coil may direct the electron beam going out of the phase plate toward the imaging lenses located after the phase plate.

Abstract: A method for determining the sequence of at least a portion of a single-stranded nucleic acid molecule by base-specifically labeling the exposed bases of the nucleic acid molecule using heavy element-substituted nucleotide bases which form Watson-Crick type base-pairs with the exposed bases of the nucleic acid molecule and then imaging the labeled single-stranded nucleic acid molecule using electron microscopy, e.g., transmission electron microscopy (TEM), or some other method that permits discrimination of the heavy element substituted nucleotide bases is described. The image is analyzed to determine the base sequence of at least a portion of the nucleic acid molecule.

Abstract: Phase manipulation is used to produce a high contrast electron microscope image. A phase plate is placed at the back focal plane of an objective lens and used to form a differential contrast image.

Abstract: A method of forming a particle film on a surface of a solid or liquid substrate involves contacting the substrate, in the presence of a gas, with a liquid medium containing a plurality of particles suspended therein. A liquid meniscus is thereby formed between the substrate and the gas. An edge of the liquid meniscus is moved relative to the substrate, so that said particles in the liquid medium form the particle film on the surface of the substrate.

Abstract: Phase manipulation is used to produce a high contrast electron microscope image. A phase plate is placed at the back focal plane of an objective lens and used to form a differential contrast image.