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Mixing multiple cations can result in a significant configurational entropy, offer a new compositional space with vast tunability, and introduce new computational challenges. For applications such as the two-step solar thermochemical hydrogen (STCH) generation techniques, we demonstrate that using density functional theory (DFT) combined with Metropolis Monte Carlo method (DFT-MC) can efficiently sample the possible cation configurations in compositionally complex perovskite oxide (CCPO) materials, with (La0.75Sr0.25)(Mn0.25Fe0.25Co0.25Al0.25)O3as an example. In the presence of oxygen vacancies (VO), DFT-MC simulations reveal a significant increase of the local site preference of the cations (short-range ordering), compared to a more random mixing without VO. Co is found to be the redox-active element and the VOis the preferentially generated next to Co due to the stretched Co–O bonds. A clear definition of the vacancy formation energy (Evf) is proposed for CCPO in an ensemble of structures evolved in parallel from independent DFT-MC paths. By combining the distribution of Evfwith VOinteractions into a statistical model, the oxygen nonstoichiometry (δ), under the STCH thermal reduction and oxidation conditions, is predicted and compared with the experiments. Similar to the experiments, the predicted δ can be used to extract the enthalpy and entropy of reduction using the van’t Hoff method, providing direct comparisons with the experimental results. This procedure provides a full predictive workflow for using DFT-MC to obtain possible local ordering or fully random structures, understand the redox activity of each element, and predict the thermodynamic properties of CCPOs, for computational screening and design of these CCPO materials at STCH conditions.

ABSTRACTMycobacterium aviumcomplex (MAC) causing pulmonary disease in humanshas emerged worldwide. Thus, effective strategies simultaneously aiming to prevent MAC infection and accelerate therapeutic efficacy are required. To this end, subunit vaccine-induced protection against a well-defined virulent Mycobacterium avium(Mav) isolate was assessed as a preventative and therapeutic modality in murine models. Mav-derived culture filtrate antigen (CFA) was used as a vaccine antigen with glucopyranosyl lipid A stable emulsion (GLA-SE) or GLA-SE plus cyclic-di-GMP (GLA-SE/CDG), and we compared the immunogenicities, protective efficacies and immune correlates. Interestingly, CFA+GLA-SE/CDG immunization induced greater CFA-specific Th1/Th17 responses in both the lung and spleen than among the tested groups. Consequently, protective efficacy was optimally achieved with CFA+GLA-SE/CDG by significantly reducing bacterial loads along with long-lasting maintenance of antigen-specific Th1/Th17 cytokine-producing multifunctional T cell responses and relevant cytokine productions. Thus, we employed this subunit vaccine as an adjunct to antibiotic treatment. However, this vaccine was ineffective in further reducing bacterial loads. Collectively, our study demonstrates that strong Mav CFA-specific Th1/Th17 responses are critical for preventative protection against Mav infection but may be ineffective or even detrimental in an established and progressive chronic disease, indicating that different approaches to combating Mav infection are necessary according to vaccination purposes.

Poor ionic and electronic conductivities are the key issues to affect the electrochemical performance of Li2ZnTi3O8(LZTO). In view of the water solubility, low melting point, good electrical conductivity, and wettability to LZTO, Na2MoO4(NMO) was first selected to modify LZTO via simply mixing LZTO in NMO water solution followed by calcining the dried mixture at 750 °C for 5 h. The electrochemical performance of LZTO could be enhanced by adjusting the content of NMO, and the modified LZTO with 2 wt % NMO exhibited the most excellent rate capabilities (achieving lithiation capacities of 225.1, 207.2, 187.1, and 161.3 mAh g–1at 200, 400, 800, and 1600 mA g–1, respectively) as well as outstanding long-term cycling stability (delivering a lithiation capacity of 229.0 mAh g–1for 400 cycles at 500 mA g–1). Structure and composition characterizations together with electrochemical impedance spectra analysis demonstrate that the molten NMO at the sintering temperature of 750 °C is beneficial to diffuse into the LZTO lattices near the surface of LZTO particles to yield uniform modification layer, simultaneously ameliorating the electronic and ionic conductivities of LZTO, and thus is responsible for the enhanced electrochemical performance of LZTO. First-principles calculations further verify the substitution of Mo6+for Zn2+to realize doping in LZTO. The work provides a new route for designing uniform surface modification at low temperature, and the modification by NMO could be extended to other electrode materials to enhance the electrochemical performance.

•Infection by a single strain of M. abscessuswas observed during antibiotic treatment•SNVs related to antibiotic resistance were not mutated•Genetic changes in M. abscessuswere relatively stable

Solar thermochemical hydrogen (STCH) generation is a promising approach for eco-friendly H2production, but conventional STCH redox compounds cannot easily achieve desirable thermodynamic and kinetic properties and phase stability simultaneously due to a rather limited compositional space. Expanding from the nascent high-entropy ceramics field, this study explores a new class of compositionally complex perovskite oxides (La0.8Sr0.2)(Mn(1–x)/3Fe(1–x)/3CoxAl(1–x)/3)O3with new non-equimolar designs for STCH. In situ X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy shows preferential redox of Co. The extent of reduction increases, but the intrinsic kinetics decreases, with increasing Co content. Consequently, (La0.8Sr0.2)(Mn0.2Fe0.2Co0.4Al0.2)O3achieves an optimal thermodynamic and kinetic balance. The combination of a moderate enthalpy of reduction, a high entropy of reduction, and preferable surface oxygen exchange kinetics enables a maximum H2production of 89.97 mmol moloxide–1in a short 1 h redox duration. Entropy stabilization may contribute to the phase stability during redox cycling without phase transformation, which enables STCH production for >50 cycles under harsh interrupted conditions. The underlying redox mechanism is further elucidated by a density functional theory-based parallel Monte Carlo computation approach. This study suggests a new class of non-equimolar compositionally complex ceramics for STCH and thermochemical looping.