FAIR data enabling new horizons for materials research.

The prosperity and lifestyle of our society are very much governed by achievements in condensed matter physics, chemistry and materials science, because new products for sectors such as energy, the environment, health, mobility and information technology (IT) rely largely on improved or even new materials. Examples include solid-state lighting, touchscreens, batteries, implants, drug delivery and many more. The enormous amount of research data produced every day in these fields represents a gold mine of the twenty-first century. This gold mine is, however, of little value if these data are not comprehensively characterized and made available. How can we refine this feedstock; that is, turn data into knowledge and value? For this, a FAIR (findable, accessible, interoperable and reusable) data infrastructure is a must. Only then can data be readily shared and explored using data analytics and artificial intelligence (AI) methods. Making data 'findable and AI ready' (a forward-looking interpretation of the acronym) will change the way in which science is carried out today. In this Perspective, we discuss how we can prepare to make this happen for the field of materials science.

Rat Model of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Recapitulates Human Disease in the Anterior Segment of the Eye.

Changes in the anterior segment of the eye due to type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) are not well-characterized, in part due to the lack of a reliable animal model. This study evaluated changes in the anterior segment, including crystalline lens health, corneal endothelial cell density, aqueous humor metabolites, and ciliary body vasculature, in a rat model of T2DM compared with human eyes. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were fed a high-fat diet (45% fat) or normal diet, and rats fed the high-fat diet were injected with streptozotocin intraperitoneally to generate a model of T2DM. Cataract formation and corneal endothelial cell density were assessed using microscopic analysis. Diabetes-related rat aqueous humor alterations were assessed using metabolomics screening. Transmission electron microscopy was used to assess qualitative ultrastructural changes ciliary process microvessels at the site of aqueous formation in the eyes of diabetic rats and humans. Eyes from the diabetic rats demonstrated cataracts, lower corneal endothelial cell densities, altered aqueous metabolites, and ciliary body ultrastructural changes, including vascular endothelial cell activation, pericyte degeneration, perivascular edema, and basement membrane reduplication. These findings recapitulated diabetic changes in human eyes. These results support the use of this model for studying ocular manifestations of T2DM and support a hypothesis postulating blood-aqueous barrier breakdown and vascular leakage at the ciliary body as a mechanism for diabetic anterior segment pathology.

Advanced Corneal Imaging in Keratoconus: A Report by the American Academy of Ophthalmology.

PURPOSE: To review the published literature on the diagnostic capabilities of the newest generation of corneal imaging devices for the identification of keratoconus. METHODS: Corneal imaging devices studied included tomographic platforms (Scheimpflug photography, OCT) and functional biomechanical devices (imaging an air impulse on the cornea). A literature search in the PubMed database for English language studies was last conducted in February 2023. The search yielded 469 citations, which were reviewed in abstract form. Of these, 147 were relevant to the assessment objectives and underwent full-text review. Forty-five articles met the criteria for inclusion and were assigned a level of evidence rating by the panel methodologist. Twenty-six articles were rated level II, and 19 articles were rated level III. There were no level I evidence studies of corneal imaging for the diagnosis of keratoconus found in the literature. To provide a common cross-study outcome measure, diagnostic sensitivity, specificity, and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) were extracted. (A perfect diagnostic test that identifies all cases properly has an AUC of 1.0.) RESULTS: For the detection of keratoconus, sensitivities for all devices and parameters (e.g., anterior or posterior corneal curvature, corneal thickness) ranged from 65% to 100%. The majority of studies and parameters had sensitivities greater than 90%. The AUCs ranged from 0.82 to 1.00, with the majority greater than 0.90. Combined indices that integrated multiple parameters had an AUC in the mid-0.90 range. Keratoconus suspect detection performance was lower with AUCs ranging from 0.66 to 0.99, but most devices and parameters had sensitivities less than 90%. CONCLUSIONS: Modern corneal imaging devices provide improved characterization of the cornea and are accurate in detecting keratoconus with high AUCs ranging from 0.82 to 1.00. The detection of keratoconus suspects is less accurate with AUCs ranging from 0.66 to 0.99. Parameters based on single anatomic locations had a wide range of AUCs. Studies with combined indices using more data and parameters consistently reported high AUCs. FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE(S): Proprietary or commercial disclosure may be found in the Footnotes and Disclosures at the end of this article.

Safety and Efficacy of Epithelium-Off Corneal Collagen Cross-Linking for the Treatment of Corneal Ectasia: A Report by the American Academy of Ophthalmology.

PURPOSE: To review the evidence on the safety and effectiveness of epithelium-off corneal collagen cross-linking (CXL) for the treatment of progressive corneal ectasia. METHODS: A literature search of the PubMed database was most recently conducted in March 2024 with no date restrictions and limited to studies published in English. The search identified 359 citations that were reviewed in abstract form, and 43 of these were reviewed in full text. High-quality randomized clinical trials comparing epithelium-off CXL with conservative treatment in patients who have keratoconus (KCN) and post-refractive surgery ectasia were included. The panel deemed 6 articles to be of sufficient relevance for inclusion, and these were assessed for quality by the panel methodologist; 5 were rated level I, and 1 was rated level II. There were no level III studies. RESULTS: This analysis includes 6 prospective, randomized controlled trials that evaluated the use of epithelium-off CXL to treat progressive KCN (5 studies) and post-laser refractive surgery ectasia (1 study), with a mean postoperative follow-up of 2.4 years (range, 1-5 years). All studies showed a decreased progression rate in treated patients compared with controls. Improvement in the maximum keratometry (Kmax) value, corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA), and uncorrected distance visual acuity (UDVA) was observed in the treatment groups compared with control groups. A decrease in corneal thickness was observed in both groups but was greater in the CXL group. Complications were rare. CONCLUSIONS: Epithelium-off CXL is effective in reducing the progression of KCN and post-laser refractive surgery ectasia in most treated patients with an acceptable safety profile. FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE(S): Proprietary or commercial disclosure may be found after the references.

Outcomes and Complications of Limbal Stem Cell Allograft Transplantation: A Report by the American Academy of Ophthalmology.

PURPOSE: To review the published literature on the safety and outcomes of keratolimbal allograft (KLAL) transplantation and living-related conjunctival limbal allograft (lr-CLAL) transplantation for bilateral severe/total limbal stem cell deficiency (LSCD). METHODS: Literature searches were last conducted in the PubMed database in February 2023 and were limited to the English language. They yielded 523 citations; 76 were reviewed in full text, and 21 met the inclusion criteria. Two studies were rated level II, and the remaining 19 studies were rated level III. There were no level I studies. RESULTS: After KLAL surgery, best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) improved in 42% to 92% of eyes at final follow-up (range, 12-95 months). The BCVA was unchanged in 17% to 39% of eyes and decreased in 8% to 29% of eyes. Two of 14 studies that evaluated the results of KLAL reported a notable decline in visual acuity over time postoperatively. Survival of KLAL was variable, ranging from 21% to 90% at last follow-up (range, 12-95 months) and decreased over time. For patients undergoing lr-CLAL surgery, BCVA improved in 31% to 100% of eyes at final follow-up (range, 16-49 months). Of the 9 studies evaluating lr-CLAL, 4 reported BCVA unchanged in 30% to 39% of patients, and 3 reported a decline in BCVA in 8% to 10% of patients. The survival rate of lr-CLAL ranged from 50% to 100% at final follow-up (range, 16-49 months). The most common complications were postoperative elevation of intraocular pressure, persistent epithelial defects, and acute allograft immune rejections. CONCLUSIONS: Given limited options for patients with bilateral LSCD, both KLAL and lr-CLAL are viable choices that may provide improvement of vision and ocular surface findings. The studies trend toward a lower rejection rate and graft failure with lr-CLAL. However, the level and duration of immunosuppression vary widely between the studies and may impact allograft rejections and long-term graft survival. Complications related to immunosuppression are minimal. Repeat surgery may be needed to maintain a viable ocular surface. Reasonable long-term success can be achieved with both KLAL and lr-CLAL with appropriate systemic immunosuppression. FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE(S): Proprietary or commercial disclosure may be found after the references.

Identification of the surface species in electrochemical promotion: ethylene oxidation over a Pt/YSZ catalyst.

The electrochemical promotion of the C2H4 + O2 total oxidation reaction over a Pt catalyst, interfaced to yttrium stabilized zirconia (YSZ), has been studied at 0.25 mbar and T = 650 K using near ambient pressure X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (NAP-XPS) as an in situ method. The electrochemical promoter effect is linked to the presence of a several layers thick graphitic overlayer that forms on the Pt surface in the presence of C2H4. Our NAP-XPS investigation reveals that electrochemical pumping of the Pt/YSZ catalyst, using a positive potential, leads to the spillover of oxygen surface species from the YSZ support onto the surface of the Pt electrode. Based on the XP spectra, the spillover species on Pt is identical to oxygen chemisorbed from the gas-phase.

Surface composition of AgPd single-atom alloy catalyst in an oxidative environment.

Single-atom alloys (SAAs) have recently gained considerable attention in the field of heterogeneous catalysis research due to their potential for novel catalytic properties. While SAAs are often examined in reactions of reductive atmospheres, such as hydrogenation reactions, in the present work, we change the focus to AgPd SAAs in oxidative environments since Pd has the highest catalytic activity of all metals for oxidative reactions. Here, we examine how the chemical reactivity of AgPd SAAs differs from its constituent Pd in an oxidative atmosphere. For this purpose, electronic structure changes in an Ag0.98Pd0.02 SAA foil in 1 mbar of O2 were studied by in situ x-ray photoemission spectroscopy and compared with the electronic structure of a Pd foil under the same conditions. When heated in an oxidative atmosphere, Pd in Ag0.98Pd0.02 partly oxidizes and forms a metastable PdOx surface oxide. By using a peak area modeling procedure, we conclude that PdOx on Ag0.98Pd0.02 is present as thin, possibly monolayer thick, PdOx islands on the surface. In comparison to the PdO formed on the Pd foil, the PdOx formed on AgPd is substantially less thermodynamically stable, decomposing at temperatures about 270 °C lower than the native oxide on Pd. Such behavior is an interesting property of oxides formed on dilute alloys, which could be potentially utilized in catalytic oxidative reactions such as methane oxidation.

Isolated Pd atoms in a silver matrix: Spectroscopic and chemical properties.

Over the past decade, single-atom alloys (SAAs) have been a lively topic of research due to their potential for achieving novel catalytic properties and circumventing some known limitations of heterogeneous catalysts, such as scaling relationships. In researching SAAs, it is important to recognize experimental evidence of peculiarities in their electronic structure. When an isolated atom is embedded in a matrix of foreign atoms, it exhibits spectroscopic signatures that reflect its surrounding chemical environment. In the present work, using photoemission spectroscopy and computational chemistry, we discuss the experimental evidence from Ag0.98Pd0.02 SAAs that show free-atom-like characteristics in their electronic structure. In particular, the broad Pd4d valence band states of the bulk Pd metal become a narrow band in the alloy. The measured photoemission spectra were compared with the calculated photoemission signal of a free Pd atom in the gas phase with very good agreement, suggesting that the Pd4d states in the alloy exhibit very weak hybridization with their surroundings and are therefore electronically isolated. Since AgPd alloys are known for their superior performance in the industrially relevant semi-hydrogenation of acetylene, we considered whether it is worthwhile to drive the dilution of Pd in the inert Ag host to the single-atom level. We conclude that although site-isolation provides beneficial electronic structure changes to the Pd centers due to the difficulty in activating H2 on Ag, utilizing such SAAs in acetylene semi-hydrogenation would require either a higher Pd concentration to bring isolated sites sufficiently close together or an H2-activating support.

High-Density and Thermally Stable Palladium Single-Atom Catalysts for Chemoselective Hydrogenations.

Single-atom catalysts (SACs) have shown superior activity and/or selectivity for many energy- and environment-related reactions, but their stability at high site density and under reducing atmosphere remains unresolved. Herein, we elucidate the intrinsic driving force of a Pd single atom with high site density (up to 5 wt %) under reducing atmosphere, and its unique catalytic performance for hydrogenation reactions. In situ experiments and calculations reveal that Pd atoms tend to migrate into the surface vacancy-enriched MoC surface during the carburization process by transferring oxide crystals to carbide crystals, leading to the surface enrichment of atomic Pd instead of formation of particles. The Pd1 /α-MoC catalyst exhibits high activity and excellent selectivity for liquid-phase hydrogenation of substituted nitroaromatics (>99 %) and gas-phase hydrogenation of CO2 to CO (>98 %). The Pd1 /α-MoC catalyst could endure up to 400 °C without any observable aggregation of single atoms.

Scleral Contact Lenses in an Academic Oculoplastics Clinic: Epidemiology and Emerging Considerations.

PURPOSE: To describe the role and efficacy of scleral contact lenses (SCLs) in the treatment of progressive keratopathy in patients who have undergone periocular surgical procedures, to investigate the financial impact of these surgical interventions, and to demonstrate the role of oculoplastic surgery in improving scleral contact lens fit. METHODS: A retrospective medical record review was performed to identify patients who both received SCLs and were examined by the oculoplastics service at the University of Iowa between January 1990 and December 2015. Inclusion criteria also required a minimum of 12 months of patient follow up after being fit with a SCL. The indication for SCL use, as well as clinical outcomes and cumulative relative value units (RVUs) of prior oculoplastic treatments and SCL therapy were recorded for each patient. RESULTS: Six hundred and fifty-nine patients were fitted with SCLs at the authors' institution during the 25-year study period, 43 of whom were examined by the oculoplastics service for reasons related to their SCL. Patients who were fitted for SCLs before (27 patients) or after (16 patients) evaluation in the oculoplastics clinic presented with a variety of corneal and periocular pathology. Corneal indications for SCLs in patients seen secondarily in the oculoplastics clinic included decreased corneal sensation (from CN V palsy or neurotrophic keratopathy), decreased corneal healing from limbal stem cell deficiency, exposure keratopathy, and keratoconjunctivitis sicca secondary to Sjogren's syndrome or orbital radiation. Indications for oculoplastic clinic evaluation in current scleral lens patients included lagophthalmos, trichiasis, epiphora, cicatricial changes in the eyelids or fornices, and eyelid or eyebrow malposition affecting SCL centration. In all 27 patients, surgical intervention resulted in improved SCL centration. Sixteen patients (5 with CN VII palsy, 4 with CN V and CN VII palsy, 4 with neurotrophic keratitis, and 3 with cicatricial entropion) had progressive corneal decompensation despite primary oculoplastics procedures to protect the cornea and ultimately benefitted from SCL treatment secondarily. Fourteen of these 16 patients demonstrated an improved visual acuity of 1 line or more using SCLs. Procedures performed before referral for SCLs included tarsorrhaphies, gold weights, ectropion repair with lateral tarsal strip, retraction repair with spacer grafts, full-thickness skin grafts, cheek lifts, and punctal occlusion. The total RVUs of these procedures performed per patient were tabulated. The RVU range was 10.47-33.96 with an average of 19.5 RVUs (standard deviation = 9.4 RVUs) per patient. CONCLUSIONS: Scleral contact lenses may offer a useful alternative to stabilize the ocular surface, improve vision, and minimize the financial impact and morbidity of multiple periocular procedures in select patients with progressive keratopathy of varying etiologies. The therapeutic indications and utilization of SCLs are likely to increase in oculoplastic practices with optometric support, particularly in academic settings. Surgical correction of eyelid and eyebrow malposition, as well as epiphora, may also be useful adjunctive procedures to optimize SCL fit.

Ethylene Epoxidation at the Phase Transition of Copper Oxides.

Catalytic materials tend to be metastable. When a material becomes metastable close to a thermodynamic phase transition it can exhibit unique catalytic behavior. Using in situ photoemission spectroscopy and online product analysis, we have found that close to the Cu2O-CuO phase transition there is a boost in activity for a kinetically driven reaction, ethylene epoxidation, giving rise to a 20-fold selectivity enhancement relative to the selectivity observed far from the phase transition. By tuning conditions toward low oxygen chemical potential, this metastable state and the resulting enhanced selectivity can be sustained. Using density functional theory, we find that metastable O precursors to the CuO phase can account for the selectivity enhancements near the phase transition.

Incidence and Outcomes of Positive Donor Corneoscleral Rim Fungal Cultures after Keratoplasty.

PURPOSE: To determine the incidence of positive corneoscleral donor rim fungal cultures after keratoplasty and to report clinical outcomes of grafts with culture-positive donor rims. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. PARTICIPANTS: Consecutive donor corneas and keratoplasty recipients at a single tertiary referral center over 20 years. METHODS: Patient charts were reviewed to determine the incidence of positive donor rim fungal cultures and clinical outcomes of all grafts using contaminated tissue. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary outcome measures were positive donor rim fungal culture results and the development of postkeratoplasty fungal infection using corresponding corneal tissue. The secondary outcome measure was the impact of postoperative prophylaxis on donor tissue-associated infections. RESULTS: A total of 3414 keratoplasty cases were included in the statistical analysis. Seventy-one cases (2.1%) were associated with a fungal culture-positive donor rim. Candida species were cultured in 40 cases (56.3%). There was a higher incidence of positive rim cultures over the last 5 years of the analytic period compared with the first 15 years (P = 0.018). Fungal keratitis developed in 4 cases (5.6%), and all patients required further surgical intervention to achieve cure. There were no cases of fungal endophthalmitis. Empiric antimycotic prophylaxis initiated at the time of positive culture result reduced the incidence of keratitis from 15.8% in untreated cases to 1.9% in treated cases (P = 0.056). CONCLUSIONS: Positive donor rim fungal cultures are uncommon, but carry an unacceptably high risk of postoperative fungal infection. This risk may be reduced with prophylactic antimycotic therapy when culture-positive donor rims are identified.

Reverse Water-Gas Shift or Sabatier Methanation on Ni(110)? Stable Surface Species at Near-Ambient Pressure.

The interaction of CO, CO2, CO + H2, CO2 + H2, and CO + CO2 + H2 with the nickel (110) single crystal termination has been investigated at 10(-1) mbar in situ as a function of the surface temperature in the 300-525 K range by means of infrared-visible sum frequency generation (IR-vis SFG) vibrational spectroscopy and by near-ambient pressure X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (NAP-XPS). Several stable surface species have been observed and identified. Besides atomic carbon and precursors for graphenic C phases, five nonequivalent CO species have been distinguished, evidencing the role of coadsorption effects with H and C atoms, of H-induced activation of CO, and of surface reconstruction. At low temperature, carbonate species produced by the interaction of CO2 with atomic oxygen, which stems from the dissociation of CO2 into CO + O, are found on the surface. A metastable activated CO2(-) species is also detected, being at the same time a precursor state toward dissociation into CO and O in the reverse water-gas shift mechanism and a reactive species that undergoes direct conversion in the Sabatier methanation process. Finally, the stability of ethylidyne is deduced on the basis of our spectroscopic observations.

Descemet membrane adhesion strength is greater in diabetics with advanced disease compared to healthy donor corneas.

Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK) is an increasingly popular surgical procedure for treating ocular diseases that require a corneal transplant. Previous studies have found that tissue tearing during surgical preparation is more likely elevated in eyes from donors with a history of diabetes mellitus. To quantify these potential differences, we established an experimental technique for quantifying the force required to separate the endothelium-Descemet membrane complex (EDM) from stroma in human donor corneal tissue, and we assessed differences in adhesion strength between diabetic and non-diabetic donor corneas. Transplant suitable corneas were obtained from 23 donors 50-75 years old with an average preservation to assay time of 11.5 days. Corneas were classified from a medical records review as non-diabetic (ND, n = 9), diabetic without evidence of advanced disease (NAD, n = 8), or diabetic with evidence of advanced disease (AD, n = 10). Corneas were sectioned into 3 mm wide strips and the EDM peeled from the stroma. Using the force-extension data obtained from mechanical peel testing, EDM elastic peel tension (TE), elastic stiffness (SE), average delamination tension (TD), and maximum tension (TMAX) were calculated. Mean TE, SE, TD, and TMAX values for ND corneas were 0.78 ± 0.07 mN/mm, 0.37 ± 0.05 mN/mm/mm, 0.78 ± 0.08 mN/mm, and 0.94 ± 0.17 mN/mm, respectively. NAD values did not differ significantly. However, AD values for TE (1.01 ± 0.18 mN/mm), TD (1.09 ± 0.21 mN/mm), and TMAX (1.37 ± 0.24 mN/mm) were greater than ND and NAD corneas (P < 0.05). SE did not differ significantly between groups. These findings provide proof of the concept that chronic hyperglycemia from diabetes mellitus results in a phenotypically more adhesive interface between Descemet membrane and the posterior stroma in donor corneal tissue. Results of this study provide a foundation for further investigations into the impact of diabetes on the posterior cornea, eye banking, and keratoplasty.

Boston type 1 keratoprosthesis for failed keratoplasty.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the outcomes of the Boston type 1 keratoprosthesis (Kpro-1) in eyes with failed keratoplasty. A retrospective review was performed of every patient treated with a Kpro-1 at a tertiary eye care center between January 1, 2008 and July 1, 2013. Eyes with a failed keratoplasty originally performed for corneal edema, trauma, or keratoconus were included in the statistical analysis. The main outcome measures were visual outcome, prosthesis retention, and postoperative complications. Twenty-four eyes met the inclusion criteria, including 13 eyes with corneal edema, 8 eyes with trauma, and 3 eyes with keratoconus. After a mean follow-up period of 28.9 months (range 7-63 months), the median best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was 20/125. The BCVA was ≥ 20/40 in 4 (16.7 %) eyes, ≥ 20/70 in 9 (37.5 %) eyes, and ≥ 20/200 in 14 (58.3 %) eyes. Overall, the postoperative BCVA improved in 17 (70.9 %) eyes, was unchanged in 3 (12.5 %) eyes, and was worse in 4 (16.7 %) eyes. The initial Kpro-1 was retained in 22 (91.7 %) eyes, and was successfully repeated in the other 2 eyes. One or more serious prosthesis- or sight-threatening complications occurred in 8 (33.3 %) eyes. These included 1 case of wound dehiscence leading to prosthesis extrusion, 1 case of fungal keratitis leading to prosthesis extrusion, 4 cases of endophthalmitis, and 5 retinal detachments. The Boston Kpro-1 is associated with an excellent prognosis for prosthesis retention and satisfactory visual improvement in eyes with previous failed keratoplasty.

The influence of intercalated oxygen on the properties of graphene on polycrystalline Cu under various environmental conditions.

Intercalation of oxygen at the interface of graphene grown by chemical vapour deposition and its polycrystalline copper catalyst can have a strong impact on the electronic, chemical and structural properties of both the graphene and the Cu. This can affect the oxidation resistance of the metal as well as subsequent graphene transfer. Here, we show, using near ambient pressure X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (NAP-XPS), X-ray absorption near edge spectroscopy (XANES), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) and (environmental) scanning electron microscopy (ESEM) that both the oxygen intercalation and de-intercalation are kinetically driven and can be clearly distinguished from carbon etching. The obtained results reveal that a charge transfer between as grown graphene and Cu can be annulled by intercalating oxygen creating quasi-free-standing graphene. This effect is found to be reversible on vacuum annealing proceeding via graphene grain boundaries and defects within the graphene but not without loss of graphene by oxidative etching for repeated (de-)intercalation cycles.

Squishy matters - Corneal mechanobiology in health and disease.

The cornea, as a dynamic and responsive tissue, constantly interacts with mechanical forces in order to maintain its structural integrity, barrier function, transparency and refractive power. Cells within the cornea sense and respond to various mechanical forces that fundamentally regulate their morphology and fate in development, homeostasis and pathophysiology. Corneal cells also dynamically regulate their extracellular matrix (ECM) with ensuing cell-ECM crosstalk as the matrix serves as a dynamic signaling reservoir providing biophysical and biochemical cues to corneal cells. Here we provide an overview of mechanotransduction signaling pathways then delve into the recent advances in corneal mechanobiology, focusing on the interplay between mechanical forces and responses of the corneal epithelial, stromal, and endothelial cells. We also identify species-specific differences in corneal biomechanics and mechanotransduction to facilitate identification of optimal animal models to study corneal wound healing, disease, and novel therapeutic interventions. Finally, we identify key knowledge gaps and therapeutic opportunities in corneal mechanobiology that are pressing for the research community to address especially pertinent within the domains of limbal stem cell deficiency, keratoconus and Fuchs' endothelial corneal dystrophy. By furthering our understanding corneal mechanobiology, we can contextualize discoveries regarding corneal diseases as well as innovative treatments for them.

Convolutional neural network framework for the automated analysis of transition metal X-ray photoelectron spectra.

X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy is an indispensable technique for the quantitative determination of sample composition and electronic structure in diverse research fields. Quantitative analysis of the phases present in XP spectra is usually conducted manually by means of empirical peak fitting performed by trained spectroscopists. However, with recent advancements in the usability and reliability of XPS instruments, ever more (inexperienced) users are creating increasingly large data sets that are harder to analyze by hand. In order to aid users with the analysis of large XPS data sets, more automated, easy-to-use analysis techniques are needed. Here, we propose a supervised machine learning framework based on artificial convolutional neural networks. By training such networks on large numbers of artificially created XP spectra with known quantifications (i.e., for each spectrum, the concentration of each chemical species is known), we created universally applicable models for auto-quantification of transition-metal XPS data that are able to predict the sample composition from spectra within seconds. Upon evaluation against more traditional peak fitting methods, we showed that these neural networks achieve competitive quantification accuracy. The proposed framework is shown to be flexible enough to accommodate spectra containing multiple chemical elements and measured with different experimental parameters. The use of dropout variational inference for the determination of quantification uncertainty is illustrated.