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Background: In view of the complexity of dietary and nutritional education for most patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), a simplified approach called the "restricted diet with a plate" or "plate model" is recommended.Purpose: To evaluate whether the plate model can effectively improve glycemic control and cardiovascular risk markers in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), while reducing the time devoted to education and avoiding weight gain.Methods: The study was a randomized, multicenter, controlled study, conducted between October 2018 and October 2019, among patients with T2DM living in Nanjing. The study included 419 participants who were randomly divided into a plate group and a counting group. The plate model included three components: a low-literacy, color leaflet containing the explanation and composition of the plate model, health education, and medical visits. Patients in the counting group received health education, group medical visits, and a paper booklet containing traditional carbohydrate counting education. Primary outcomes were glycemic control and weight.Results: Participants in the plate model reduced HbA1c by 0.7% in the first three months, and reduced to a greater extent at six months (1.44%), but this was not sustained, and HbA1c increased slightly over the following six months. Fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and 2-h postprandial glucose (2hPG) values were significantly reduced at the endpoint in the plate model (9.25 ± 1.72% vs. 7.44 ± 0.88%, P = 0.008; 12.07 ± 2.94 vs. 8.35 ± 1.99%; P = 0.004); however, the 2hPG values decreased most significantly. Total cholesterol (TC) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels decreased significantly in the plate group, which occurred at six months and lasted for 12 months. In the first three months, the average weight loss in the plate group was 1.2 kg/month (95% CI 0.92-1.48), and in the fourth to twelfth months, the average weight gain was 0.21 kg/month (95% CI 0.08-0.34). There was significant difference in education time between the groups (17.3 ± 4.42 vs. 38.6 ± 12.63; P < 0.001).Conclusions: The plate model is at least as effective as the counting model over the short term for glycemic control and perhaps even better for weight and lipid control. Plate model has the potential to improve education of those with low health literacy by reducing reading demands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study devotes to the reverse electrodialysis (RED) – air gap diffusion distillation (AGDD) coupled system of converting the low-grade waste heat recovered from the steel production to hydrogen for steelmaking. This approach not only recovers waste heat but also reduces carbon emissions. To assess the feasibility of the coupled system, a techno-economic model has been developed. The influences on the levelized cost of hydrogen (LCOH) of the ion exchange membranes (cost and lifetime), the operating condition of RED stack (current density and feed solution velocity), the AGDD unit (feed solution flowrate), and the numbers of RED stacks in a multistage series system are investigated. The high price of ion exchange membrane is currently the main factor causing non-commercialization, which is almost 6.63–19.9 times larger than the LCOH of hydrogen production from renewable electricity. The membrane lifetime is the critical factor in increasing the maximum permitted membrane cost. Assuming the membranes cost is 1 RMB/m2, the optimal current density, feed solution velocity (in RED stack), and the solution volume flowrate (in AGDD unit) of are 50 A/m2, 0.00075 m/s, and 0.7 m3/h, respectively. The series systems take a considerable advantage in reducing the required AGDD units compared with one stage. • It is the first study of techno-economic analysis on H 2 production by RED–AGDD method. • The 90 °C waste heat from steel production can be recovered to produce H 2. • Currently, the levelized cost of H 2 is 6.63–19.9 times higher than the Green-H 2 production. • Ion exchange membranes and AGDD cost are key parts of the levelized cost of hydrogen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • A practical method used to distinguish P. dives from other ant species. • 16 Peptides were identified as potential specific peptides in P. dives. • An effective method was developed to quantify 7 specific peptides of P. dives. • Quantitative analysis with preliminary biological activity assays was employed. Polyrhachis dives (P. dives) is a traditional edible insect with high nutritional value and is the only ant species that is administered as medicine and food. Therefore, it is of great significance to identify the authenticity of the species. In the current study, peptidomics analysis combining untargeted MS with targeted MS was developed and applied for the identification of specific peptides in P. dives and the establishment of quality control. A total of 16 specific peptides were screened, and 7 specific peptides with satisfactory signal response were obtained by targeted mass spectrometry, which could be used to distinguish P. dives from other ant species and ensure the quality of edible ants. Subsequently, the 7 specific peptides were quantitatively analyzed, followed by clustering analysis and biological activity experiments to categorize them into distinct qualities, providing valuable references for further development of quality control methods for P. dives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]