In testing the thermal effects of the process, the rolling speed ω = 0.7 rpm was also used. A constant value of the frequency of axial movement of the rollers f = 1 Hz and the amplitude of the displacement of the rollers A = 0.8 mm were assumed. The rolling process for the strands was carried out in six culverts using the average relative crush in the passage of Δh = 15%. Conventional rolling tests were carried out to compare rolling processes, and the obtained data formed the basis for assessing the strain intensity and identifying local deformation zones in the RCMR rolling process. The waveforms of rolling pressures, intensity and non-uniformity of deformation, and increase in the temperature of the strip surface in subsequent culverts were compared with the results obtained in the conventional rolling process.This article presents the results of research carried out on an experimental rolling mill with axial, cyclic movement of rolls (RCMR). The device was made on the basis of an unconventional technical solution for the movement of shaping tools and equipped with a complete measuring system recording all the parameters of the process. The research was conducted on selected copper alloys CuFe2 and CuCr0.6. Rolling tests in the RCMR process were carried out for rolling speeds vr = 3.1 × 10 The commonly used methods for large plastic deformation SPD (Severe Plastic Deformation), despite their great research capabilities, have significant limitations, resulting from imperfections in the construction of stations and the lack of appropriate control and recording systems for monitoring the course of these complex deformation processes. Our own experience, gained during the construction of laboratory stations, confirms that, in many deformation processes, it is necessary to program the deformation path in the control system in advance, which of course further complicates the construction of devices ,2,3. AnoThe basic issue in assessing the correctness of the course of these processes is the ongoing monitoring of the process due to the loss of material coherence, location of the deformation, incorrect material guidance in the deformation valley, temporary lack of contact between the material and the tool surface during deformation, etc. Often, the impact of additional effects generated by the process conditions, in the form of friction, e.g., in the ECAP  jacking test, or the thermal phenomena associated with high deformation intensity, are so large that they completely take over the deformation process ,12,13,14This paper presents the results of tests carried out on a prototype experimental rolling mill, which may be an interesting alternative to the commonly known methods used for large plastic deformations. The tests were carried out on selected CuFe2 and CuCr0.6 copper alloys. These are wrought alloy copper grades containing less than 2% of the main alloying element. Chromium copper is characterized by low production costs, but also has the highest electrical conductivity among copper alloys. The chromium content is in the range 0.4–1.2%, and these alloys are used in the production of, e.g., welder electrodes. Copper–iron alloy with 1.8–2.6% Fe content is characterized by good electrical conductivity. The most frequently produced semi-finished products made of ferrous copper are tapes, which are used to produce elastic elements, trace holes for integrated circuits, connectors, housings for electrical devices, construction elements for computers and mobile phones. Both alloys are subjected to heat treatment, most often solution and aging, in order to give them better strength properties.The main objective of this experimental research was to compare the conventional rolling process with the Rolling with Cyclic Movement of Rolls (RCMR), by assessing the mechanical, structural and thermal effects.The station for rolling in the RCMR process was designed as a duo-roll system. The mechanism of the axial movement of the rolls is an original design solution for the experimental rolling mill ,17. A roThe implementation of the axial movement of the rollers is forced by the hype yoke 5, enforced by a pendulum built on pivots 7, which alternately affects the working rollers 2, moving them along their axis. Yoke 5 is set in motion by an eccentric system consisting of eccentric shaft 9 and eccentric sleeve 8, which cyclically move yoke 5. This cyclic movement of yoke 5 is transmitted to the housings of four bearings 3, and through a bidirectional thrust bearing 3 to working shafts 2. The amount of axial movement of working rollers 2 is regulated by changing the position of eccentric sleeve 8 on eccentric shaft 9. Eccentric sleeve 8 is adjustable relative to eccentric shaft 9 as a result, whereby the resultant eccentricity can vary from zero to the sum of partial eccentricities. This allows for smooth adjustment of yoke deflection 5 and, thus, smooth and stepless axial travel of the working rollers 2.The design of the device allows quick exchange of rollers, setting the gap between the rollers and the desired size of the axial stroke. Adjustments and settings of the device allow change in the deflection of the cylinder from the middle position to ±2 mm, and the frequency of lateral fluctuations of the rollers by up to 3 Hz. Transverse deformation of the band is forced by parallel grooves made on the surfaces of roller barrels . The devr = 3.1 × 10−3, 6.3 × 10−3 and 9.4 × 10−3 m/s, which correspond to the rotational speed of the rolls ω = 1, 2 and 3 rpm for an active diameter of the rolls ϕ = 60 mm. In the tests of the thermal effects of the process, the rolling speed ω = 0.7 rpm was also used. A constant value of the frequency of axial movement of the rollers f = 1 Hz and the amplitude of the displacement of the rollers A = 0.8 mm were assumed. The deformation process was carried out in six culverts using the average relative crush in the passage, εh = 15%. Conventional rolling tests were carried out to compare processes, and the obtained data formed the basis for assessing the strain intensity and identifying local deformation zones in the RCMR rolling process.The tests were conducted on CuFe2 alloys (2% wt. Fe) and CuCr0.6 (0.6 wt. Cr). The materials were heat treated and supersaturated at 1000 °C/1 h/water. Samples (bands) in the form of flat bars with a square cross-section of 8 × 8 mm and a length of l0 = 60 mm were used. Deformation tests in the RCMR process were carried out for rolling speeds vet—total equivalent deformation, εhi—deformation caused by height reduction , εsi—shear deformation caused by the transverse displacement of the cylinders, n—number of single deformations  before and after a single deformation (culvert), and A—amplitude of the transverse displacement of the cylinders.Total equivalent deformation in the RCMR process was determined from the relationship:si = 0 (Equation (1)), and the determination of the total deformation in the process, was reduced to the determination of the total real crush εht for n culverts from the relationship:In the process of conventional rolling, the form deformation caused by the transverse displacement of the rolls εWhen rolling on the duo rolling machine of the free band (without tension and counter-thrust), with the established parameters and the assumption that the rolled strip does not show deviations in shape in the longitudinal and transverse direction, the rolled strip is characterized by isotropy of plastic properties and is arranged centrally in the axis of the cage, and the rollers do not show shape errors (a constant size of the gap is maintained) in the system of forces acting between the rolled strip and the rolls and, further, between the rolls and others The elements of the rolling cage are fixed.It can be assumed that the rolling pressure is divided in half, into the left and right journals of the roller, and if we also do not take into account the internal masses of the bearing arrangements (the weight of the roller including bearings and bearing housings), the forces acting on the left and right journals of the upper and lower cylinders are equal. This is shown in The state described above will change if the rollers, in addition to the rotational motion, perform oscillating axial movements, where they are opposite to each other and there is no slippage between the rollers and the band.Regardless of the type of mechanism causing the axial movement of the rollers and the way it is related to the cage, a tipping moment will appear on the cage, the plane of action of which coincides with the plane containing the roller axes. Therefore, it is a moment acting perpendicular to the subversive moment also acting on the cage in the current method of rolling the strand . The basic geometrical parameters of the mechanism of the axial movement of the rollers are shown in U and lower cylinder xL are:The kinematic analysis of the mechanism shown in Assuming that d >> b and l >> r, Formula (5) takes the simple form:U and xL rollers are determined from Formula (6) and the velocities of the rolls in axial motion determined as:The axial displacements of the x-U = 0,axial displacement of the upper cylinder xL = 0,axial displacement of the lower cylinder xU = −vL = vmax.the velocities of the cylinders in axial motion are directed oppositely and reach maximum values vThe rollers are located in the central positions:-axial displacement of the upper and lower cylinder xU = −xL,velocities of rollers in axial motion vU = vL = 0.The rollers are in opposite extreme positions:In the graph shown in the first depends on the size of the form deformation, i.e., on the axial displacement of the cylinder,the second depends on the speed of deformation, i.e., on the speed of movement of the axial cylinder.Knowledge of the course of displacement and of the velocity of the rollers in axial motion is important, because these quantities describe the parameters of the form deformation of the band in the contact zone with the rollers. These parameters are the magnitude and speed of the form deformation. It can be stated that the force necessary to induce the character deformation, and thus the axial force to be applied to the cylinder, consists of two parts:Disregarding the dependencies between the parameters of the axial movement of the rolls and the forces necessary to induce them, it can be stated, in the case of the process with cyclic, axial movement of the rolls, in the system of forces acting between the rolled strip and the rolls, as well as between the rolls and the elements of the mechanism forcing the axial motion of the rolls, there will be two pairs of forces. The resulting two pairs of forces will result in oscillatory differentiation of the forces acting on the roll necks, bearings, rolling gap setting elements, stands, etc. The appropriate diagram of the system of forces acting on the rolls is shown in The equilibrium conditions for the upper cylinder are as follows:Using Dependencies (9) and (10), Dependence (11) can be presented in the following form:(15) and (16) show the relationships between the forces on the cylinder journals, its axial displacement and the axial force applied to the journal.The basic issue in the analysis of the RCMR rolling process is the behavior of the band during rolling. The burden of kinematic parameters of rolling which are too extreme, and above all the high amplitude and frequency of axial movement of the rolls, causes the occurrence of high axial forces and may result in rotation of the band, instead of deformation of the material in the transverse direction to the direction of rolling. This negatively affects the course of the process, the surface condition of the band material, the amount of actual cumulative deformation, and causes an undesirable effect of distortion of the cross-section of the band .The type of material and the condition after heat treatment also affect the course of the process. Metallic materials with high ductility can be rolled with much higher kinematic process parameters. Thus, we obtain higher values of cumulative deformations. Materials with low ductility require great care in the selection of the most advantageous rolling parameters. This is due to the need to maintain constant contact of the material with the surface of the tool in subsequent phases of the transverse movement of the rollers.The stable course of the RCMR rolling process, in addition to the kinematic parameters, depends on many variables, especially type of material, geometry of the band and tools, and the shape and size of cuts on the surface of roller barrels. The most beneficial effects of the rolling process can be obtained in the case of a selection of process parameters that will ensure the maximum number of cycles of change of deformation path during the passage of the material through the rolling basin. This is possible if the rolling speed and amplitude of roll deflection, and the maximum frequency of axial movement of the rollers, are used. Discretionary selection of process parameters, not supported by research experience gained directly on the test stand during rolling attempts, is inappropriate, leading to erroneous conclusions and unjustified opinions regarding the test method.The measure of the efficiency and effectiveness of the new rolling process is the amount of total deformation obtained. The amount of total equivalent deformation in the RCMR process is influenced by the kinematic parameters of the process and the number of individual deformations, i.e., the number of bushings. hi in a pass, and total strain εht after n passes.The effectiveness of the method is also evidenced by the distribution of deformations in the section of the rolled strip. A qualitative analysis of the evolution of local deformation zones in the RCMR process was made on the basis of structural studies of the cross-sections of the bands in subsequent passes to obtain the maximum value of total deformation. The maximum value of the total deformation was determined by the technical capabilities of the device and the efficiency of transferring the lateral movement of the rolls to the deformed material. For comparison, conventional rolling tests were carried out with the same values of single strain εObservations of the cross-sectional structure of the bands in subsequent culverts in the RCMR process indicate a significant influence of additional transverse roll movement on the evolution of local deformation zones. i = h0 − hi, ). It follows that the additional impact associated with the cyclic transverse movement of the rolls decreases with increasing distance from the contact surface of the material and the tool to the center of the band height.In the middle zone of the strand cross-section, we observe a structure that is similar to that obtained in the conventional rolling process. In this zone, the deformation is mainly caused by linear deformation related to the reduction of the sample height  compared to the corresponding cross-sections of conventionally rolled strips. This proves the high effectiveness of the impact of the transverse movement of the rollers. In the conventional rolling process, due to the hindered strand flow in the width direction caused by cuts on the roll barrel surfaces, the strand widening is insignificant, intensifying the plastic flow of the strand in the rolling direction. An additional observed geometric effect of the cross-sections of strips rolled using the RCMR method is the characteristic shape of the cross-section, similar to a parallelogram, particularly visible in the initial culverts and disappearing as the number of culverts increases. The analysis of the geometry of the cross-sections of rolled strands is important from the point of view of the final rolled product. Taking up this issue is necessary in undertakings aimed at commercialization of the presented method of rolling.Much more intensive plasticization of the material in the RCMR process, affecting the geometry of the strand cross-section, is also evidenced by the actual height of the rolled strand corresponding to the given pass (with the same setting of the rolling gap). In the process, the RCMR is noticeably lower compared to conventional rolling, which was confirmed by the measurements.The effect of deformation softening in the RCMR rolling process is caused by a permanent change in the deformation path. This phenomenon has already been observed in laboratory tests and technological processes, where the effect of changing the orientation of the main stress components is revealed by a decrease in the hardness of materials in the area of the center of the deformation basin. The phenomenal analysis of the specific mechanism of plastic deformation of metals under the influence of external conditions, as a result of cyclical forcing of a change in the deformation path, was carried out by Korbel ,19,20. AThe effect of deformation softening is also noticeable in the course of unit rolling pressures. Force-energy and microstructural phenomena, accompanying the new deformation method in the rolling process, are also thermally activated. Local temperature rises in microvolumes of an intensively deformed material can reach the starting temperature of recrystallization of a given material. In microstructural studies, the appearance of germs of new grains was observed within a strongly deformed matrix along the shear bands. Shear bands are particularly privileged places for the initiation and development of recrystallization. The volume proportion of these areas in relation to the total volume of deformed material is insignificant. It can be assumed that the appearance of recrystallization embryos in the areas of shear bands is a secondary process to the location of deformation in the shear bands. The assessment of the impact of these phenomena, caused by high plastic deformation, on the effect of increasing material plasticity and decreasing shaping pressures requires further analysis.However, the observed increase in the temperature of the deformed material measured on the band surface, even by several dozen degrees, affects the force and energy parameters of the process, especially for non-ferrous metal alloys with appropriately lower temperatures of structure renewal, healing and recrystallization. The unconventional rolling process is characterized by high deformation intensity, and the shear deformation rates resulting from the transverse movement of the rolls are significant. The increase in the band temperature is caused by two simultaneous phenomena: friction in the contact zone of the material and the tool enabling the material to be moved in the direction perpendicular to the rolling direction, and the conversion of part of the work of plastic deformation into thermal energy.The analysis of temperature fields uses a FLIR A320 thermal imaging camera and ThermaCAM Researcher Pro version 2.8 thermographic image processing software. The advantage of measuring the temperature of the deformed surface of the sample based on the detection of infrared radiation is the ability also to control the uniformity of deformation in the rolling mill basin and, what is important, the method is inertia-free. However, accurate thermographic assessment of thermal phenomena in the rolling process is difficult due to significantly limited access to the space of the deformation basin. In the well-known methods using large plastic deformations, access to strongly deformed zones is also difficult due to the construction of the devices and the shape of the tools.The analysis of the obtained thermographic images showed an intense increase in the strip surface temperature in the rolling process with cyclic, axial movement of the rolls in comparison to conventional rolling. The lower rolling speed in the RCMR rolling process causes a significant increase in the strip surface temperature . This isDuring plastic deformation, the macroscopic behavior of the material is the result of changes in its microstructure. The process of plastic deformation always causes a change in the temperature field in the deformed material, which is a macroscopic response of the phenomena, occurring at the level of its microstructure. The analysis of the results of thermo-vision tests and the development of the energy balance of such complex processes can be helpful in identifying the mechanisms responsible for the decrease in strain work, and an increase in the plasticity of the materials.The presented experimental studies were aimed at determining the effective conditions for controlled interference in the process of plastic flow in the new method of rolling. The conducted research showed the significant research potential of the method. Relationships between strain components and structural effects responsible for the rolling pressure drops and deformation softening of metals were determined. The new method makes it possible to apply a large cumulative deformation in a single pass and to deform samples of “unlimited length”. In the analysis of mechanical and structural phenomena accompanying the rolling process, it is also necessary to use numerical modeling tools .The method is developing and has great application potential, but it requires the solution of difficult construction problems related to the kinematics of tool movement and the effectiveness of the impact on the deformed material. Implementation of the new rolling method is particularly important due to the dominant share of these rolling processes in plastic manufacturing technology, mass production, and the large variety of the range of products. Even a limited application of the method, e.g., for initial processing, can shorten the production cycle by reducing the number of unit operations or rolling stands in the technological line. The expected benefits of using the new method of rolling include, above all, obtaining a large cumulative deformation, reducing the number of passes, lowering rolling pressures, lowering the unit work of plastic deformation (energy-saving process) and obtaining the desired initial metal structure.Due to the occurrence of large, cyclically variable shear stresses, effectively penetrating the band at height, the method can be used in recycling processes for layered composite materials. Rolling tests carried out on strips made of layered laminates gave very promising results. Laminate layers were effectively separated. It is also possible to recycle rubber-based materials reinforced with steel cords, e.g., conveyor belts, car tires, etc. The rolling method allows for effective and quick separation of components.It is justified to conduct further laboratory tests and technological trials in order to fully recognize the possibilities of the method, which is currently at the fourth level of technological readiness, i.e., TRL (Technology Readiness Level).The selection of too extreme kinematic rolling parameters in the RCMR process, and above all the high amplitude and frequency of axial roll movement, may result in band rotation, which affects the amount of the set actual cumulative deformation and causes an undesirable effect of distortion of the cross-section of the band.In the RCMR process, we obtain much larger deformations in a single pass compared to conventional rolling.Zones of intensive local plastic deformation in the RCMR process are formed at the contact surface with the upper and lower cylinder and, in subsequent culverts, migrate from the surface towards the middle of the band, covering an increasing volume. This has a positive effect on the uniformity of deformations in the volume of the rolled band.Forcing additional form deformation in the RCMR process has significant effects in the form of a decrease in rolling pressure forces compared to the conventional process. This effect is independent of the type of material and the initial state after heat treatment.Thermographic analysis showed an intensive increase in band surface temperature in the RCMR process compared to conventional rolling.The rolling method can become an interesting complement to the existing methods used in large plastic deformations. It also has a large application capacity in industrial metal deformation and recycling processes.The conducted experimental studies allowed the formulation of the following conclusions:


Ew − νw wetting model, this paper proposes its corresponding two methods to simulate the collapse settlement of the rockfill dam: the initial strain method and the initial stress method. By simulating the collapse settlement of the Guanyinyan core wall rockfill dam, it is found that the simulated result using the initial stress method is in good agreement with the field monitoring data, while the displacement simulated using the initial strain method is larger. The distribution of displacement contours simulated using the initial strain method is obviously inconsistent in the area where the wetting deformation occurs, and the simulation results of the initial stress method are more reasonable. With the rise in the water level, the wetting deformation of the upstream dam shell material causes the tensile stress zone at the top of the dam. Therefore, the wetting deformation is the direct cause of the crack at the top of the dam, and the initial stress method should be preferred in the simulation of the wetting deformation of rockfill materials.The wetting deformation of the upstream dam shell material during the impoundment of the core wall rockfill dam seriously affects the safety of the dam. Based on the proposed  Wetting deformation of rockfill refers to the deformation of rockfill caused by soaking in water under a certain stress state. The reason is that the particles are soaked and softened and the particles are contacted and lubricated, which triggers the imbalance of the force on the particles, causing the particles to break, rearrange, adjust, and gradually restore the balance so that the stress in the rockfill is redistributed and deformed. The collapse deformation caused by the upstream rockfill wetting deformation during the impoundment of the core wall rockfill dam often affects the safe operation of the dam. In light cases, it will produce collapse cracks at the top of the dam. In severe cases, it will cause deep cracks in important parts such as dam abutments and even form leakage channels, threatening the safety of the dam , 2. DuriThe study of wetting deformation of an earth-rock dam is usually divided into two processes. First, a laboratory triaxial wetting test is carried out to judge the wetting deformation mode of the earth-rock dam, establish the wetting deformation model of the earth-rock dam, and attain the parameters of the wetting deformation model of the earth-rock dam. Then, the established wetting deformation model is applied to the finite element simulation calculation of the earth-rock dam, and the deformation caused by the wetting of the rockfill material is simulated to analyze whether the dam body will produce cracks and then judge the safety of the actual project.The oedometer test and the triaxial test are generally used to study the wetting deformation characteristics of rockfill materials in laboratory experiments. There are generally two kinds of wetting test methods for rockfill materials, namely, the double-line method and the single-line method. The double-line method is used to carry out the triaxial test of the natural water content sample and the saturated sample, respectively. The wetting deformation of the double-line method is calculated as the deformation difference between the natural water content sample and the saturated sample under the same stress state. The single-line method is used to compress the natural water content sample to different deviatoric stress levels and then slowly soak and saturate under the premise of keeping the deviatoric stress unchanged. The wetting deformation of the single-line method is the strain corresponding to the change of the sample from the natural moisture content to the saturation state. Bao and Qu  proposedMany researchers have proposed simulation methods for the numerical simulation of wetting deformation. Based on the nonlinear elastic constitutive model, Nobari and Duncan , 9 used Ew − νw wetting deformation model which can fit the test data well without using the flow rule  and [Di+1] are the elastic matrices before and after the modulus decreases. It can be seen from Section 3.2.3 that the wetting Poisson's ratio is constant during the wetting process, so there is the following formula:I] is the unit matrix. Bring formula , calculate the stress reduction, that is, the wetting stress {∆σiw} caused by the modulus reduction, and perform stress reduction on the corresponding wetting element; finally, the equivalent node load method is used to calculate the wetting deformation, and the calculation formula of element equivalent node load {f} is as follows:In the simulation of the wetting deformation of the dam, the total modulus reduction ∆The simulation process is shown in Ew − νw wetting deformation model and the two wetting deformation simulation methods introduced in The calculation of static deformation of rockfill dams is divided into three parts: transient deformation due to the first filling during the construction period, collapsibility settlement during the storage period, and creep deformation during the operation period. There are corresponding models to simulate the deformation of each part, namely, the constitutive model, wetting model, and creep model. This paper mainly simulates the filling and impoundment process of a Guanyinyan core rockfill dam. According to the Duncan Zhang EB constitutive model (nonlinear elastic model), the deformation of the dam under gravity load during the construction period and water load during the impoundment period is calculated. The seven-parameter creep model is used to simulate the creep deformation of the dam. The The Guanyinyan Hydropower Station, located in the middle reaches of Jinsha River in Yunnan Province, China, is the last station of eight hydropower stations planned in the middle reaches of Jinsha River. The project has the functions of flood control, power generation, reservoir navigation, tourism, and so on. As shown in rd October 2014, the reservoir ceased to hold water. When the water level of the reservoir reached 1110 m on November 20, 2014, cracks appeared at the top of the dam connecting the concrete dam and the core wall rockfill dam. The cracks are mainly distributed at the joint of the core wall and its upstream side. With the development of cracks, cracks also appear on the top of the core wall rockfill dam. On November 26, 2014, when the reservoir water level reached 1117 m, six cracks appeared in the connection area between the concrete dam and the core wall dam. The longest crack is 25 m, the maximum crack width is 5 cm, and the depth is about 5.5 m. There are four longitudinal cracks near the dam crest on the upstream and downstream sides of the core wall dam, and the longest crack on the upstream side is 127 m, as shown in The construction of the rockfill area began in August 2012, and the construction of the core wall began in March 2013. On April 15, 2014, the core wall was filled to a design elevation of 1140 m. On 23Et, and the relationship is expressed as follows:In the Duncan–Chang EB constitutive model, the nonlinear stress-strain relationship is expressed by hyperbola. The instantaneous slope of the curve is tangent modulus Kb is the bulk modulus number and m is the bulk modulus exponent.The bulk modulus can be expressed as follows:ϕ0 is the value of ϕ for σ3=Pa and ∆ϕ is the reduction in ϕ for a 10-fold increase in σ3. There are seven parameters , Rf, K, n, Kb, and m), which can be evaluated by using a group of conventional triaxial tests. Almost all the Mohr–Coulomb envelopes of the soil in contact have varying degrees of bending, and the wider the confining pressure range, the greater the bending degree, especially for noncohesive soil such as sand, gravel, and rockfill. For example, near the middle bottom of the dam, where the rockfill body is subjected to excessive pressure, the friction angle of the rockfill in the middle bottom of the dam may be several degrees smaller than that of the rockfill near the surface of the slope. This change can be described by the following equation:ε(t) is the creep strain developed at time t, εi and εf are the initial and permanent creep strains, respectively, e is the natural index, and ω is a parameter that represents the initial relative deformation rate (or creep strain during the first day). Fang [εvf and permanent shear creep strain γf, as is shown in the following equation:b1, c1, d1, m1, m2, and m3 are the parameters. The creep deformation of the dam is simulated based on the seven parameters' creep model, in which the Merchant equation is used to describe the creep curve,y). Fang  gave theEw − νw wetting deformation model and the simulation method of wetting deformation are shown in The Ew − νw wetting deformation model and its two simulation methods, initial strain method and initial stress method, and applies them to the simulation of collapse settlement during dam impoundment.Based on the analysis and research of the Guanyinyan Dam structure and monitoring data, it was found that the 0 + 990 m section of the dam  and dam crest area (point B and point C) but has little influence on the deformation of the downstream dam slope (point D and point E).A and B are very few, but it can still be seen from the figure that the results of the initial stress method simulation are close to the monitoring values. At point C on the crest of the dam, the simulation results of the initial stress method are well fitted with the monitoring values, whereas the simulation results of the initial strain method are larger. From August to November 2015, a large settlement mutation occurred at the measuring point D of the downstream dam slope. At this time, it was in the rainy season. It was considered that factors such as rainfall and downstream water level rise led to the wetting deformation of downstream rockfill, which was not considered in the simulation, so the fitting effect was poor. E point fitting is better. Therefore, the deformation simulated using the initial stress method is closer to the monitoring data, while the deformation simulated using the initial strain method is larger than the monitoring data, and the simulation results using the initial stress method can represent the actual deformation of this section during the impoundment period. Using the same parameters, the deformation simulated using the initial strain method is greater than that simulated by the initial stress method.Due to the influence of the water level change and other engineering factors, the monitoring data of measuring points Figures In addition, it can be seen from In the above simulation, the initial stress and initial strain are both loaded once and the calculation cost is the same; the parameters of the wetting model were obtained from indoor experiments. It can be seen from the simulation results that the simulation results of the initial stress method are more reasonable; therefore, the initial stress method should be preferred in the simulation of the wetting deformation of rockfill materials.Ew − νw model for calculating wetting deformation and its method for simulating wetting deformation. This model can not only calculate the strain vector of wetting deformation directly according to the generalized Hooke's law and simulate the wetting deformation of the core wall rockfill dam with the initial strain method but also deduce the stress reduction caused by wetting deformation according to the reduction of the secant modulus and simulate the wetting deformation with the initial stress method.This paper introduces the Using the same model and parameters, by comparing the simulation results of the initial strain method and the initial stress method, it is found that the simulated result using the initial stress method is in good agreement with the field monitoring data, the displacement simulated using the initial strain method is larger than that of the initial stress method, and the wetting deformation of the upstream rockfill material after impoundment is more serious. Moreover, the displacement contours simulated using the initial strain method are distributed in the area where the wetting deformation occurs, and there is a phenomenon of deformation inconsistency. It can be seen from the simulation results that the simulation results of the initial stress method are more reasonable; therefore, the initial stress method should be preferred in the simulation of the wetting deformation of rockfill materials.At the same time, by simulating the filling and impoundment process of the 990.0 m cross section of Guanyinyan Dam, it is found that with the rise of the water level, the wetting deformation of the upstream dam shell material causes the tensile stress zone at the top of the dam, and the wetting deformation is the direct cause of the crack at the top of the dam.


The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of the addition of vital wheat gluten to triticale flour on its thermal and rheological properties. In the tested systems (TG), triticale flour from Belcanto grain was replaced with vital wheat gluten in the amounts of 1%, 2%, 3%, 4% and 5%. Wheat flour (WF) and triticale flour (TF) were also tested. For the tested flours and mixtures with gluten, the falling number, gluten content, as well as the parameters of gelatinization and retrogradation characteristics using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and characteristics of pasting using a viscosity analyzer (RVA) were determined. In addition, viscosity curves were plotted, and viscoelastic properties of the obtained gels were also assessed. It was observed that there were no statistically significant differences between the TF and TG samples in terms of falling number. The average value of this parameter in TG samples was 317 s. It was found that the replacement of TF with vital gluten reduced the gelatinization enthalpy and increased the retrogradation enthalpy, as well as the degree of retrogradation. The highest viscosity was characterized by the WF paste (1784 mPa·s) and the lowest by the TG5% mixture (1536 mPa·s). Replacing TF with gluten resulted in a very visible decrease in the apparent viscosity of the systems. In addition, the gels based on the tested flours and TG systems had the character of weak gels (tan δ = G″/G′ > 0.1), while the values of the parameters G′ and G″ decreased as the share of gluten in the systems increased. Triticosecale Wittmack) is a type of cereal grown by crossing wheat (Triticum sp.) and rye . The first mention of the development of a hybrid of wheat and rye dates back to 1875 , K—consistency coefficient, [Pa·sn], −1], n—flow behavior index [To determine the viscosity curves of the tested samples, pastes prepared by the RVA analyzer were used . The anaor index .G′—storage modulus (Pa), G″—loss modulus (Pa), ω—angular frequency (rad/s), K′, K″, n′, n″—experimental constants.The viscoelastic properties of the tested systems were determined using a MARS II rheometer  equipped with a system of parallel plates . The measurement was carried out at 25 °C. Briefly, paste samples obtained using the RVA analyzer . were plThe determination was made in triplicate.p ≤ 0.05. Statistical analysis was performed using Statistica 13.3 PL .The results of this study were subjected to a one-way ANOVA . The significance of the differences between the mean values of the parameters was determined using the Duncan test at a significance level of 0.05. In addition, Pearson’s linear correlation coefficients were calculated between the marked parameters. Their statistical significance was assessed at a significance level of Vital gluten is defined in the Codex Standard 163–1987  as a wheThe share of vital gluten in the mixture with triticale flour significantly increased the amount of leached wet gluten. In addition, with the share of vital gluten at a level of 1%, an increase in the content of wet gluten was noted, both in comparison with triticale and wheat flour. When the content of the additive was in the range of 1–3% of the mass of the mixture, a significant effect on the amount of leached wet gluten from the dough made from the tested mixture was observed, from nearly 5% to more than 16% compared to the flour without the addition of G. It was noted that a higher share of the tested additive, i.e., 4% and 5%, did not increase the content of wet gluten in the tested mixture, which was at the same level as the mixture with 3% of vital gluten.The susceptibility of the grain to sprouting is a typical feature of triticale. This results in flour with increased amylolytic activity , i.e., iO parameter, with the average value of this parameter 57.7 °C. Wheat flour had the highest value of TP and TE parameters, while triticale flour and its mixtures with vital gluten had lower values of these parameters, on average, by 1.3 °C and 2.3 °C. The highest value of gelatinization enthalpy was found in wheat flour, while triticale flour and the tested TG mixtures had a statistically significantly lower value of this parameter. It was shown that, as a rule, TG mixtures were characterized by a lower ΔHG value compared to WF and TF. The level of added gluten did not have a statistically significant effect on the value of ΔHG. The opposite trend was found by Gałkowska et al. [G value in the corn starch/potato protein (PP) systems as the proportion of PP increased. The cited authors explained this phenomenon with a decrease in the water-binding capacity of starch and, consequently, the swelling capacity of starch grains. The result was a reduction in the pasting process. Gelatinization enthalpy is a measure of the ordering of the crystalline structure of starch composed of amylose and amylopectin [O, TP and TE parameters for TF and TG ranged from 43.2 to 44.0 °C, 49.6 to 51.7 °C and 57.3 to 60.2 °C, respectively  was calculated, which ranged from 11.15% (WF) to 36.16% (TG5%) , showed that TO and TP increased under the influence of the addition of SPI from a level of 30%. According to the cited authors, the increase in the TP value may be related to the interaction between the material leached from the granules and the protein and/or between the surface granules and the protein. The value of ∆HG in the tested mixtures (SPI–starch) decreased with the addition of SPI (−8.92–(−5.96) J/g total solids). Other authors [P parameter and the TE (retrogradation) parameters was found . There was also a linear correlation between the ∆HG parameter and the ∆HR parameters . A significant linear correlation was also found between the values of the falling number and the parameters of gelatinization characteristics: TP and TE .Flour is a homogeneous mixture of substances with different chemical structures and properties. The main component of flour is starch, and the other non-starchy ingredients include protein, fat, fiber and minerals. The type, amount and proportion of ingredients present in the flour will affect the thermal and rheological properties of the starch present therein. Characteristic phase transition temperatures and the values of gelatinization and retrogradation enthalpy of starch contained in the analyzed wheat flour (WF), triticale flour (TF) and mixtures of triticale flour (TG) with vital wheat gluten were determined by the DSC method . In the a et al. . The citlopectin ,21. Thuslopectin ,13. Thuslopectin ,14,21. Iectively . The low% (TG5%) . Makowska et al. , the vara et al. , analyzi authors , analyzi authors  and Liu  authors , which mDifferences in the rheological properties of flours and mixtures of triticale flour and vital gluten were assessed using the RVA method. The pasting curves of all analyzed samples are shown in p ≤ 0.05). In the case of the parameters of the characteristics of the gelatinization process, a linear correlation was found between the TP parameter and the HPV, PT and BD parameters . There was also a linear correlation between the ∆HG parameter and PT, PV, HPV, FV and SB . The statistical analysis showed a linear correlation, e.g., between the PV parameter and HPV, FV and SB, respectively . There was also a linear correlation between the parameters of the RVA pasting characteristics, PT, HPV, BD and FV, and the falling number .The gelatinization temperature of wheat flour  was highn and was approximately 20% lower compared to the K parameter describing TF. The tested samples of flours and mixtures with gluten generally did not differ statistically significantly in terms of melt flow index n. Only the TG5% sample differed in this respect from the other tested samples. Newtonian fluids are characterized by the value n = 1, while pseudoplastic fluids are characterized by n < 1. At the same time, a greater deviation of n from 1 indicates a stronger pseudoplastic behavior [R, gluten content, hysteresis loop area, PV, HPV, FV and SB .It was found that both the course of the determined curves  and the behavior . The flobehavior  similarlbehavior ,32, thisIn the tested systems, the areas of the hysteresis loop between the up and down flow curves were marked , which iIn pastes based on WF, TF and TG mixtures, viscoelastic properties were determined using an oscillating rheometer. The storage modulus (G′) and loss modulus (G″) profiles for all examined samples as a function of angular frequency (1–100 rad/s) are shown in p ≤ 0.05), as well as ∆HG . Moreover, there was a significant linear correlation between parameter K′ and the parameters of pasting characteristics PV, HPV, FV and SB, respectively , and parameter K″ and parameters PT, PV, HPV, FV and SB, respectively .At the appropriate concentration, the gelatinized starch contained in the tested flours and systems, after cooling, forms a densely packed gel structure with water molecules enclosed inside. In the case of more complex systems, in addition to starch, other components such as proteins and fats are involved in the formation of the gel structure. The plotted curves  are charThis work examined the effect of the addition of vital wheat gluten to triticale flour on the thermal and rheological properties of pastes. The size of the changes depended on the amount of gluten in the mixture. It was shown that partial replacement of triticale flour with gluten had a significant effect on the viscosity of pastes and weakened the pseudoplastic properties. In addition, it was shown that an increase in the share of gluten in the mixtures resulted in a decrease in the viscoelastic properties of the gels compared to triticale flour and wheat flour. Therefore, the replacement of a part of triticale flour with gluten interfered with the formation of interchain bonds between starch molecules and resulted in a weakening of the thickening effect for which starch is responsible. In the case of multi-component systems, non-starch components generally hinder starch gelatinization, which is reflected in the rheological properties of the gels. Nevertheless, it should be expected that the intentional enrichment of triticale flour with gluten will have a positive effect on the rheological properties of the dough, the baking value of the flour and the quality of the bread obtained. However, this topic requires further research.


Phyllanthus niruri in mild-to-moderate NAFLD.and purpose: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a significant global health concern with limited pharmacotherapy options. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a standardized extract of P. niruri extract at a dose of 3,000 mg daily (n = 112) or a placebo (n = 114). The primary outcomes were changes in CAP score and liver enzyme levels, while the secondary outcomes were changes in other metabolic parameters. The analysis was performed on an intention-to-treat basis.This was a 12-month randomized controlled trial, in which adults with a controlled attenuation parameter (CAP) score >250 dB/m and a fibrosis score <10 kPa were randomly assigned to receive a standardized After 12 months, there was no significant difference in the change of CAP score between the intervention and control groups . There was also no significant difference in the changes of liver enzyme levels between the two groups. However, the intervention group showed a significant reduction in fibrosis score, which was not observed in the control group . No major adverse events were reported in either group.P. niruri did not significantly reduce CAP score and liver enzyme levels in patients with mild-to-moderate NAFLD. However, a significant improvement in fibrosis score was observed. Further research is needed to determine its clinical benefits at different dosages for NAFLD treatment.This study showed that  ApproxiPhyllanthus niruri is a perennial herb traditionally used for a wide range of diseases, including dyspepsia, diarrhea, jaundice, kidney stones and genitourinary infections [P. niruri possesses hepatoprotective, antiviral, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities [P. niruri, which exert antioxidant and hepatoprotective effects [P. niruri have been shown to stimulate repair mechanisms and normalize enzyme levels in liver tissues following exposure to oxidative stress caused by hepatotoxic agents, such as carbon tetrachloride, acetaminophen and nimesulide [P. niruri with high levels of ellagic acid and phyllanthin was found to exhibit inhibitory effects against the progression of NAFLD in Sprague-Dawley rats with high-fat-diet-induced steatosis [fections . It is pfections ,8. Over tivities . Flavono effects . Extractmesulide ,14,15. Ateatosis .P. niruri in liver diseases is currently limited. A randomized controlled trial comparing P. niruri and placebo in hepatitis B was terminated prematurely due to the absence of apparent treatment benefits [P. niruri significantly improved antioxidant levels and appetite in patients with alcoholic hepatitis [P. niruri was safe, even though its effectiveness against NAFLD was not fully demonstrated due to a limited sample size and clinical heterogeneity in patients [P. niruri in patients with mild-to-moderate stages of the disease.Nevertheless, clinical research into therapeutic values of benefits . In contepatitis . A pilotpatients . Given t22.1This study was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial conducted in three hospitals with gastroenterology services in Malaysia. The study was registered with the National Medical Research Register under the protocol code NMRR-18-117-39930. It was also approved by the Medical Research and Ethics Committee of the Ministry of Health with the approval number 21/KKM/NIHSEC/P18-288. All participants provided written informed consent prior to enrollment.2.2P. niruri extract EPN 797, which included 4% corilagin and 18% flavonoids. The control group received an equivalent number of placebo capsules containing lactose and corn starch. The P. niruri and placebo capsules were identical in appearance, color, smell and taste.The intervention group received Hepar-P, a commercially available liver tonic in Malaysia manufactured by Nova Laboratories. Each capsule of Hepar-P contained 250 mg of P. niruri used in this study was 3,000 mg (12 capsules), administered in two divided doses over a period of 12 months. The dose selection was based on several factors. Firstly, the absence of acute toxicity in Sprague-Dawley rats consuming P. niruri suggested its safety for consumption at high doses up to 5,000 mg/kg per day [P. niruri against NAFLD progression were demonstrated in Sprague-Dawley rats at a dose of 250 mg/kg  per day [The daily dose of  per day . Secondl per day ,21. Last per day .2.3Phyllanthus-containing products within 90 days prior to recruitment or had a history of drug-induced liver injury, viral hepatitis, autoimmune liver disease, hemochromatosis, celiac disease or Wilson's disease.Participants were required to meet the following eligibility criteria: (i) be 18 years of age or older; (ii) have a controlled attenuation parameter (CAP) score >250 dB/m (S2–S3) and a fibrosis score <10 kPa (F0–F2); (iii) have mildly to moderately raised transaminase levels  and an aspartate aminotransaminase (AST) to alanine aminotransaminase (ALT) ratio <0.8; and (iv) consume alcohol <20 g per day for women and <30 g per day for men. Participants were excluded if they had consumed any 2.4P. niruri and placebo capsules in sequentially numbered containers according to the randomization list.Study participants were randomly allocated to either the intervention or control group in a 1:1 ratio using a computer-generated randomization list. To ensure blinding, study participants, investigators and research assistants were all kept unaware of group assignments. Allocation concealment was ensured by dispensing 2.5The recruitment process took place at the gastroenterology clinic between July and November 2018. Potential participants were informed about the study protocol and screened for eligibility. Demographic characteristics and medical history were collected at baseline, while clinical and laboratory data were gathered at baseline and during follow-up visits in months 3, 6, 9 and 12. Along with pharmacological treatment, study participants were advised to follow a set of general recommendations on weight management . These rDuring each visit, trained operators used transient elastography (FibroScan 502 Touch) to measure CAP and fibrosis scores. Additionally, trained research assistants used a Seca scale to measure weight, a Seca stadiometer to measure height and a flexible tape to measure waist circumference. Nurses collected 15 mL of blood from each participant during each visit, and all blood samples were analyzed at a central laboratory. The laboratory tests were conducted using the Cobas 8000 analyzer (Roche), except for the measurement of HbA1C which was performed using the Cobas C513 analyzer (Roche) through an immunoturbidimetric method. AST and ALT were analyzed through a photometric method, while enzymatic methods were used for alkaline phosphatase (ALP), gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT), fasting blood glucose, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL).2.6P. niruri in changing liver, lipid, glycemic and anthropometric profiles was evaluated. The primary outcomes were changes in CAP score, AST, ALT and AST/ALT ratio after 12 months, while the secondary outcomes were changes in fibrosis score, ALP, GGT, fasting blood glucose, HbA1C, total cholesterol, LDL, HDL, BMI and waist circumference after 12 months.In alignment with previous investigations into NAFLD , the eff2.7This study required a sample size of 90 in each group to detect a clinically meaningful difference of 15 dB/m in CAP score, based on previous studies of NAFLD treatment . The calP. niruri or placebo and had at least one post-baseline efficacy assessment. All participants were included in the safety evaluation. Continuous variables were summarized using means and standard deviations (SDs), and categorical variables were summarized using frequencies and percentages. Demographic and baseline characteristics of the two groups were compared using independent t-, Pearson's Chi-square or Fisher's exact test. To analyze within- and between-group mean changes for primary and secondary outcomes, a repeated measures analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was employed, with study site, gender, and age as covariates. The analysis encompassed data from baseline, month 3, month 6, month 9, and month 12.Data were analyzed using the SAS Enterprise Guide 7.1 software, with the statistical significance set at p < 0.05. Missing post-baseline data were imputed using the last-observation-carried-forward method. The intention-to-treat (ITT) analysis included all participants who received at least one dose of 3p. niruri (n = 112) or placebo (n = 114), but 38 of them did not complete the full treatment regimen (19 in each group). Twenty-one participants who did not undergo at least one efficacy assessment after the baseline were excluded from the efficacy analysis.A total of 226 eligible patients were enrolled in this study . The las3.1The demographic and baseline characteristics of the two groups were comparable . The mea3.2After 12 months, the intervention group showed significant within-group changes in CAP score, AST, ALT, AST/ALT ratio, fibrosis score, total cholesterol and HDL. However, there were no significant differences between the intervention and control groups in changes of CAP score , AST , ALT  and AST/ALT ratio  , Fig. 5.3.3During the study period, a total of 88 AEs were recorded, with similar numbers observed in the two groups . The mos4P. niruri in NAFLD. A key strength of this study was its duration of one year, which allowed for a comprehensive evaluation of the long-term effects of P. niruri supplementation. Additionally, this study specifically targeted patients with mild-to-moderate stages of NAFLD, who are most likely to benefit from P. niruri. Although the standardized extract of P. niruri did not demonstrate superiority over placebo in alleviating steatosis, it exhibited clinical benefits by reducing the fibrosis score.To our knowledge, this study represents the first large-scale randomized controlled trial to investigate the effectiveness of P. niruri inhibits steatosis, as suggested by an animal study [P. niruri extract used in this study was determined based on a consensus reached by the study team to adopt the lowest of the three doses tested in rats with high-fat-diet-induced steatosis [P. niruri  [P. niruri was shown to reduce visceral adipose tissue weight and improve liver histology only at a dose of 1,000 mg/kg in rats [P. niruri in humans remains unclear.In this study, the intervention and control groups showed a similar decrease in CAP score, which does not support the hypothesis that al study . Howeverteatosis . The selg daily) . While P in rats , the impThe improvement in steatosis observed in both the intervention and control groups in this study was likely due to changes in lifestyle . All parP. niruri to lower liver enzyme levels at a dose as low as 250 mg/kg in rats [anti-NAFLD effects of P. niruri in humans. Nevertheless, demonstrating significant between-group differences would require a higher dose of P. niruri, as seen in the case of the CAP score.Apart from CAP score, the intervention group showed a significant within-group reduction in AST and ALT levels in this study. The findings align with a preclinical study, which reported the ability of  in rats . A large in rats . Abnorma in rats . AlthougP. niruri can effectively reduce fibrosis score. This is in line with mounting evidence suggesting the reversibility of liver fibrosis of different etiologies [P. niruri has antiangiogenic and adipocytokine-regulating activities [P. niruri in suppressing the pathological expansion of adipose tissues, improving insulin signaling and preventing inflammation [P. niruri can improve fibrosis, adding to the existing literature on its potential therapeutic benefits for NAFLD.In this study, it was observed that iologies ,33. Whiliologies , a precltivities . These pammation . The curP. niruri when used at a dose of 3,000 mg for an extended period. These findings were consistent with a pilot clinical study of P. niruri, which showed no major adverse events when a smaller dose of 1,500 mg was administered daily for 48 weeks [P. niruri for hepatitis B at a dose of 250 mg twice daily also reported that it was generally well-tolerated [This study also demonstrated the safety of 48 weeks . Anotherolerated .P. niruri in mitigating insulin resistance was not explored in this study. Moreover, this study did not investigate the effects of different dosing strategies for P. niruri. The study duration was also likely not long enough to assess the potential of P. niruri in preventing full-blown cirrhosis. Therefore, further investigation into the use of P. niruri at higher doses and for longer treatment durations is warranted.One of the study limitations is the absence of histological examination through liver biopsy due to its invasive nature. The decision not to use liver biopsy was made based on lessons learnt from a previous pilot study , in whic5P. niruri was not shown to be more effective than placebo in reducing CAP score and liver enzyme levels in patients with mild-to-moderate NAFLD, it demonstrated clinical benefits by reducing fibrosis score. The long-term consumption of P. niruri was also found to be safe. Future research could focus on exploring different dosing strategies of P. niruri and its effectiveness in mitigating insulin resistance.Although one-year supplementation with M. R. Abu Hassan, H. K. Chan: Conceived and designed the experiments; Analyzed and interpreted the data; Contributed reagents, materials, analysis tools or data; Wrote the paper.R. Hj Md Said, Z. Zainuddin, H. Omar, S. M. Md Ali, S. A. Aris: Conceived and designed the experiments; Performed the experiments; Wrote the paper.Data will be made available on request.National Key Economic Area Entry Point Project 1 of the Economic Transformation Program in Malaysia. Nova Laboratories provided both the study product (Hepar-P) and placebo used in the study.This study was supported by the grant provided by the Nova Laboratories Ltd.The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests: Huan-Keat Chan reports equipment, drugs, or supplies was provided by


Flavonoids may help ameliorate the incidence of the major causes of tumor-related mortality, such as pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) and lung cancer, which are predicted to steadily increase between 2020 to 2030. Here we compared the effect of chrysin and chrysin nanoparticles (CCNPs) with 5-fluorouracil (5-FLU) on the activity and expression of mitochondrial complex II (CII) to induce apoptosis in pancreatic (PANC-1) and lung (A549) cancer cells.50 was evaluated in normal, PANC-1, and A549 cell lines using the MTT assay. The effect of chrysin and CCNPs on CΙΙ activity, superoxide dismutase activity, and mitochondria swelling were evaluated. Apoptosis was assessed using flow cytometry, and expression of the C and D subunits of SDH, sirtuin-3 (SIRT-3), and hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF-1α) was evaluated using RT-qPCR.Chrysin nanoparticles (CCNPs) were synthesized and characterized, and the IC50 of CII subunit C and D binding to chrysin was determined and used to evaluate the effectiveness of treatment on the activity of SDH with ubiquinone oxidoreductase. Enzyme activity was significantly decreased , which was confirmed by the significant decrease of expression of SDH C and D, SIRT-3, and HIF-1α mRNA (CCNPs < chrysin < 5-FLU). There was also a significant increase in the apoptotic effects (CCNPs > chrysin > 5-FLU) in both PANC-1 and A549 cells and a significant increase in mitochondria swelling  than that in non-cancerous cells.The ICTreatment with CCNPs improved the effect of chrysin on succinate-ubiquinone oxidoreductase activity and expression and therefore has the potential as a more efficient formulation than chemotherapy to prevent metastasis and angiogenesis by targeting HIF-1α in PDAC and lung cancer.The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12263-023-00723-4. Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) and lung cancer will surpass colorectal and breast cancer as the second most common cause of cancer-related deaths by 2030 . A comprThe switch from oxidative phosphorylation to aerobic glycolysis arises as a result of metabolic reprogramming and is fundamental for cellular adaption to a hypoxic environment. Hypoxia-inducible factor 1 (HIF-1) is a cellular oxygen sensor that regulates hypoxic responses at a molecular level . An elevThe activity of SDH is also regulated at the post-translational level through different mechanisms, in particular phosphorylation and acetylation. Thirteen lysines of SDH subunit A are reported to be acetylated, and the loss of SIRT-3, a NAD-dependent deacetylase, results in a decrease of SDH enzymatic activity, indicating that SIRT-3 is an important regulator of SDH activity .Inhibiting tumor-specific abnormalities of mitochondrial metabolism by using a natural product could be an efficient treatment approach for activating the cell death pathway in cancer cells . ChrysinChitosan (CS) nanoparticles have received considerable attention due to their outstanding physical and biological properties. In our studies, we used chitosan polymer among other materials, due to chitosan being also regarded as a highly versatile polymer. These benefits include its cationic nature, biodegradability, high adsorption capacity, biocompatibility, permeability-enhancing effect, film-forming capabilities, and adhesive features .Chrysin is known to strongly inhibit SDH activity with an increase in ROS generation associated with apoptosis in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) without affecting the mitochondrial of normal cells by chrysin . TherefoAll analytical grade reagents and chemicals used in this work were purchased from Sigma-Aldrich and were similar to those previously described . SuperoxPure chrysin powder was dissolved in 96% methanol to blend with CS nanoparticles. The chrysin solution was then combined with 0.1% w/v CS solution with stirring , 44.µe) .Fig.Fig50 va50 value caused a significant (*p < 0.0001) decrease in succinate–coenzyme Q oxidoreductase activity as measured by the DCPI dye in cancer and non-cancerous cell lines. In non-cancerous cells, 5-FLU showed a significant decrease in enzyme activity but chrysin and CCNPs had the lowest effect on ubiquinone reductase (5-FLU < chrysin = CCNPs) However, in A549 and PANC-1 cells, CCNPs produced a significant (*p < 0.0001) decrease in activity, whereas 5-FLU treatment resulted in the lowest decrease in SDH activity CCNPs < chrysin < 5-FLU)  Fig. .Fig. 3Efp < 0.001) decrease in SOD activity in a time-dependent manner following the administration of their IC50 dose to A549 and PANC-1 cells  increase in mitochondria swelling in A549 and PANC-1 cells following CCNP treatment. Mitochondrial swelling in the two cancer cell lines induced by CCNPs was greater than that produced by chrysin or 5-FLU (CCNPs > chrysin > 5-FLU) compared with swelling in untreated cells. All treatments produced significant changes in swelling in non-cancerous cells (*p ≤ 0.0001)  (CCNPs > chrysin > 5-FLU). There was a necrotic effect in A549 cells (CCNPs > chrysin > 5-FLU) and in PANC-1 (chrysin > 5-FLU > CCNPs), although there were no significant effect changes in non-cancerous cells (*p > 0.05)  Fig. .Fig. 6Grp ≤ 0.0001) downregulation of SDH C and D mRNA expression in A549 and PANC-1 cells following administration of chrysin, CCNPs, or 5-FLU at their IC50 concentration for 48 h compared with that in untreated cells. The lowest expression of SDH C and D mRNA was found in cells treated with CCNPs followed by that in cells treated with chrysin or 5-FLU (CCNPs < chrysin ≤ 5-FLU) with significant effect in non-cancerous cells  downregulation of HIF-1α mRNA expression in PANC-1 and A549 cells following administration of chrysin, CCNPs, or 5-FLU at their IC50 concentrations for 48 h as compared with that in untreated cells. The lowest expression was found in cells treated with CCNPs, followed by chrysin and 5-FLU (CCNPs < chrysin < 5-FLU)  Figs. , 8 and 9*p ≤ 0.0001) downregulation of SIRT-3 mRNA expression l in A549 and PANC-1 cells following administration of chrysin, CCNPs, or 5-FLU at IC50 concentration for 48 h compared with that in untreated cells. The lowest expression was in the cells treated with CCNPs and 5-FLU followed by chrysin in PANC-1 and non-cancerous cells (CCNPs = 5-FLU < chrysin) and in A549 cells (CCNPs < chrysin < 5-FLU)  Fig. , 8 and 9PDAC and non-small lung tumors are predicted to be among the most common cancers globally between 2020 to 2030. A promising strategy for cancer therapy among those currently emerging is the targeting of tumor bioenergetics. The biochemical pathways that are involved in energy metabolism contribute to tumor initiation, survival, and resistance to therapy . MitochoWe recently performed a docking analysis that showed that the phenolic moiety of chrysin were tightly bonded to the active site of SDH by several hydrogen bonds, van der Waals, hydrophobic, and electrostatic bonds. The affinity of chrysin with SDH-like protein appeared to be caused by a putative conventional hydrogen bond with  and  at the active site side-chain. These results strongly suggest that SDH may interact with chrysin by forming a hydrogen link between the carbon-hydrogen chain  and inactive side-chain sites , which would correlate with ubiquinone binding of SDH. The free binding energy was − 4.9, − 5, − 8.2, and − 8.4 kcal/mol , 44, 57.The technique of ionic gelation has enabled the manufacture of low-weight compounds with good encapsulation efficiency . Our preThe zeta potential was found to be increased from + 35 to + 77.02 mV as shown in a previous study . A posit50 of chrysin, CCNPs, CNPs, and 5-FLU was evaluated in mitochondria isolated from normal adult mice at 34.66, 12.2, 184.1, and 0.05 μg/mL for SDH respectively. These IC50 values agreed with another study [50 of chrysin ranged from 5–100 μM in liver rat mitochondria. Our results from the in vitro cytotoxicity study here gave IC50 values for chrysin of 57, 93, and 129.11 μg/mL in A549, PANC-1, and normal fibroblast cells, respectively. This agreed with previous studies [50 values of chrysin in different cancer cell lines of 38.7 to 49.2 μg/mL in A549 cells and 88.7 μg/mL for PANC-1 cells.In our recent study , the IC5er study  that sho studies , 44 that50 values for CCNPs and CNPs were 14, 20, and 155.6 μg/mL and 394, 285, and 311 μg/mL in A549, PANC-1, and normal fibroblast cells, respectively, which agreed with results from previous studies [50 of 5-FLU was 2.8, 5.8, and 8.07 μg/mL in A549, PANC-1, and normal fibroblast cell lines, respectively [The IC studies , 1. Thes studies . The IC5ectively , 54.50 was determined, the activities of the C and D subunits of SDH were evaluated in different cell lines. Exposure to drugs at concentrations equal to their IC50 values caused a significant (p < 0.0001) increase in SDH inhibition as measured by the MTT assay. The sequence of inhibition was 5-FLU > chrysin > CCNPs for non-cancerous cells and chrysin > CCNPs > 5-FLU for A549 and PANC-1 cells. However, for SDH activity measured by DCPI assay, the sequence of inhibition was 5- FLU > chrysin > CCNP for non-cancerous cells and CCNPs > chrysin > 5- FLU for A549 and PANC-1 cells; treatment with CCNPs showed a significant (p < 0.0001) decrease compared with that with chrysin or 5-FLU.After the ICSDH is known as CII in the mitochondrial respiratory chain complex, and CII acts as a direct link between the respiratory chain and the TCA cycle . CII is Our results suggested that chrysin reduces SDH activity because of the high binding affinity of chrysin to CΙΙ subunits as theoretically shown via molecular docking. Chrysin can increase the generation of ROS through the disruption of CII activity, and our result agrees with those from a previous study , 51 thatOur results also showed that the CCNPs were more targeted to the ubiquinone site than chrysin, thereby improving the therapeutic and targeting effect. CCNPs also improved drug sensitivity in cancer cells with fewer side effects in non-cancerous cells compared with the effect of 5-FLU treatment .2. Superoxide anion free radical (O2-) is dismutated by these proteins into molecules of oxygen and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) [p < 0.001) decreased SOD activity in a time-dependent manner in A549 and PANC-1 cells at their IC50 doses. This result agrees with a previous study that reported that inhibition and shifting UbQ frHom the membrane subunits of CII lead to the accumulation of electrons, that react with O2 and increase ROS to induce apoptosis [2 to produce superoxide free radicals in lung and pancreatic cancer cells [We also assessed the effect of chrysin, CCNPs, and 5-FLU on the superoxide dismutase activity in cells. SOD, a vital cellular antioxidant, is heavily involved in the removal of Oe (H2O2) . Excessie (H2O2) . In addie (H2O2) . Our respoptosis , 6. Our er cells , 44, 49.p ≤ 0.0001). We have shown that inhibition of SDH led to ROS accumulation, which then disrupted pore permeability in the inner mitochondrial membrane; this consequently increased solute uptake by mitochondria, leading to swelling of the mitochondrial matrix and also a break-up of the outer mitochondrial membrane. This enables soluble proteins (such as cytochrome c) to be released from the space between both membranes [These results correlated with the significant increase in mitochondrial swelling in A549 and PANC-1 cells. CCNP treatment increased mitochondria swelling in the two cancer cell lines more than that induced by chrysin or 5-FLU (CCNPs > chrysin > 5-FLU). However, all the drugs induced significant changes in non-cancerous cells . The decreases in SDH C and D mRNA expression complement the inhibition of SDH C and D activity by CCNPs.Molecular analysis demonstrated significant downregulation of SDH C and D mRNA expression in A549 and PANC-1 cells following administration of chrysin, CCNPs, or 5-FLU at the IC50 concentration for 48 h compared with that in untreated cells. The lowest expression of HIF-1α mRNA was found in cells treated with CCNPs, followed by treatment with chrysin or 5-FLU (CCNPs < chrysin < 5-FLU), although this did not occur in non-cancerous cells (CCNPs = 5-FLU < chrysin). These results indicated that chrysin and CCNPs are potent inhibitors of HIF-1α expression and provide a new sight into their anticancer mechanisms. The inhibition of HIF-1α via multiple pathways can reduce tumorigenicity and angiogenesis that result from the inhibition of mitochondria CΙΙ [.HIF-1α is an essential transcription factor for the regulation of hypoxia-related genes . Severaldria CΙΙ , 6.50 concentration of IC50 for 48 h compared with that in untreated cells. The lowest SIRT-3 mRNA expression was in cells treated with CCNPs or 5-FLU followed by chrysin (CCNPs = 5-FLU < chrysin) in PANC-1 and non-cancerous cells, although in A549 cells both CCNP and chrysin were more effective than 5-FLU in decreasing expression (CCNPs < chrysin < 5-FLU). Recent studies have shown that by targeting a range of crucial regulators and their relevant pathways, SIRT-3 may perform the role of either a tumor suppressor or oncogene by affecting cell growth, leading to a decrease in cell proliferation. Accordingly, SIRT-3 has been shown to influence the biological behaviors of various tumors through different metabolic regulation patterns [Sirtuins are class III histone deacetylases proteins, which have emerged as major non-histone protein acetylation regulators. The mitochondrial SIRT-3 can affect mitochondrial energy production, oxidation of substrates, and apoptosis. SIRT-3 can regulate CΙΙ subunits (SDHA) activity , 6. Our patterns , 31. FroA diet that is rich in flavonoid-containing plants could indeed lead to reduced incidences of the more common types of cancer, such as pancreatic and lung cancers, that will be a major burden on global health by 2030–2035. Our study showed that CCNPs and chrysin were also likely to be powerful inhibitors of angiogenesis and tumorigenesis. Furthermore, we showed that CCNPs had more targeted action than chrysin at ubiquinone sites at CII subunits C and D, as indicated by molecular docking studies. Additionally, inhibition of succinate-ubiquinone oxidoreductase induced apoptosis because of the accumulation of electrons and increased superoxide formation with a significant decrease in superoxide dismutase activity as well as increased mitochondrial swelling in cancer cells. Molecular analysis showed that CCNPs significantly downregulated the expression of mRNA of the CΙΙ C and D subunits. Furthermore, CCNPs downregulated the expression of mRNA of SIRT-3, the most powerful regulator of SDH. CCNPs and chrysin also significantly downregulated the expression of an mRNA of HIF-1, whose activity in cells correlates with tumorigenicity and angiogenesis. We concluded that CCNPs improved the inhibitory effect of chrysin on succinate-coenzyme Q oxidoreductase expression and activity. In addition, both were more potent inhibitors of HIF-1 and SIRT-3 than 5-FLU, especially in pancreatic and lung cancers.Additional file 1:Table 1. The in vitro drug release profile of chrysin from the CCNPs. Table 2. Determination of succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) and Coenzyme Q reductase (complex II) activities by IC50. Table 3. Determination of succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) and Coenzyme Q reductase (complex II) activities by IC50 in normal fibroblast cell lines. Table 4. forward and reverse primers of 5 genes (1)- housekeeping gene GAPDH ,  – SDH subunit C ,D. (4) – sirtuin-3 (5) –HIF. Table 5. Cytotoxic activity of chrysin on non-cancerous, A549, PANC-1 cell lines after 48h incubation. Results were expressed as . Table (6): IC50 of chrysin ,CCNPs, CNPs and 5-FLU on non-cancerous , A549 and PANC-1 cell lines for 48 h. Table 7. Effect of chrysin , CCNPs and 5-FLU on SDH activity by MTT Test in normal , A549 and PANC-1cancer cell lines. Table 8. Effect of chrysin and CCNPs on Succinate-coenzyme Q oxidoreductase activity by DCPI in non-cancerous cell lines , A549 and PANC-1 cancer cell lines. Table 9. Effect of 48h administration of chrysin CCNPs and 5-FLU on superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity in non-cancerous, A549 and PANC-1 cancer cell lines. Table 10. Effect of IC50 of chrysin, CCNPs, and 5-FLU on mitochondria swelling for 18 min in non-cancerous, A549 and PANC-1 cancer cell lines. Table 11. Percent of viable, apoptotic, necrotic, and dead (a) Normal, (b) A549, and (c) PANC-1 after treatment with IC50 chrysin, CCNPs and 5-FLU after 48 h incubation. Table 12. Effect of chrysin, CCNPs, and 5-FLU on the relative expression of SDH C, D, HIF, and sirtuin-3 genes in non-cancerous cells after 48h of incubation. Table 13. Effect of chrysin, CCNPs, and 5-FLU on the relative expression of SDH C, D, HIF, and sirtuin-3 genes in A549 cells after 48h of incubation. Table 14. Effect of chrysin, CCNPs, and 5-FLU on the relative expression of SDH C, D, HIF, and sirtuin-3 genes in PANC-1cell lines after 48h of incubation.


The results showed that, compared with the control (2.17 mL/g), three PGA brands  significantly increased the specific volume of the bread to 3.34, 3.40, and 3.36 mL/g, respectively. Only PGA from brand Q significantly improved the specific volumes of bread and steamed bread. The color of the bread was affected by the Maillard reaction. The addition of PGAs also augmented the moisture content of the fresh bread crumbs and steamed bread crumbs. All three PGAs improved the textural properties of bread and steamed bread. During storage, PGA addition delayed the staling of bread and steamed bread. In summary, our study showed that the addition of 0.3% PGA from three different producers improved bread properties, with PGA from brand Q having the most substantial effect. PGA had a more substantial effect on bread than steamed bread. Our results provide a theoretical basis to guide the development of insect-formulated flour-based products.Mealworm-flour-formulated flour-based products have gained increasing attention; however, their textural properties need to be improved. Propylene glycol alginate (PGA) is a commercial food additive with excellent emulsifying and stabilizing capabilities. We evaluated the effects of adding three commercially available PGAs (0.3%  Tenebrio molitor) has gained attention in recent years owing to its nutritional composition, accessibility, and legal approval, according to Regulation (EU) 2015/2283 [Insect food has emerged as a new trend in protein alternatives and supplements . Insects015/2283 , breads 015/2283 , and mea015/2283 ,8. Mealw015/2283 ,10. Howe015/2283 , who fou015/2283 , the spe015/2283  observedHydrocolloids are often used to enhance dough consistency and air bubble entrapment capacity in flour-based products ,14. AmonThis study hypothesized that different commercial PGAs could improve the properties of mealworm-flour-formulated bread and steamed bread, providing evidence supporting the use of PGA in bread production. Specific volume, porosity, colorimetric, and textural analyses of bread and steamed bread were conducted. To further investigate the influence of PGA on the staling of bread and steamed bread, texture measurements were performed to analyze starch retrogradation during storage. This study aimed to provide a theoretical basis for selecting appropriate PGA raw materials for the development of insect-formulated flour-based products.3 mg/kg) was supplied by Qingdao Sino-Crown Biological Engineering Co., Ltd.  [High-gluten wheat flour (protein content: 12.8%) and whole wheat flour (protein content: 12.5%) were supplied by Xinxiang Xinliang Cereals Processing Co., Ltd., Xinliang, China. The mealworm flour  ,19.To create composites of wheat/whole wheat flour and mealworm flour, mealworm flour was used to replace wheat/whole wheat flour at a weight ratio of 10%.w/w). Bread without PGA was used as a control (CB). The raw materials were mixed using a dough mixer  Co., Ltd., Zhuhai, China) for 20 min. The resulting dough was then leavened at 30 °C in a fermentation cabinet  for 70 min. After fermentation, the dough was divided into approximately 75 g pieces, shaped into round shapes, and proofed at 30 °C for 45 min. Finally, the bread was baked at 175 °C using top and bottom heat in a steam oven  for 20 min. After baking, the breads were cooled in air for 1 h. Then, the cooled samples were stored in hermetically sealed bags for evaluation or at room temperature for 0–3 days.Bread production was performed as previously described . The breThe bread was configured with PGA from different manufacturers and named QB, MB, and YB.w/w). Steamed bread without PGA was used as a control.The method used to prepare (SB) is shown in A yeast mixture was prepared by mixing yeast (3 g) in water (50 mL). All raw materials, yeast liquid, and additional water (160 mL) were mixed in a dough mixer  Co., Ltd., Zhuhai, China) until the gluten was expanded. Subsequently, the dough was removed and fermented in a fermentation cabinet  for 60 min at 30 °C and at 85% relative humidity. The fermented dough was kneaded manually into the exhaust gas and sheeted with a rolling pin. The dough sheet was rolled into a cylinder and cut into a suitably sized steamed bread dough before further fermentation for 20 min. The resulting steamed bread dough was steamed in a steam oven  for 30 min at 105 °C. Finally, the steamed breads were cooled at room temperature for 1 h for evaluation or packed in hermetically sealed bags and frozen at −18 °C for 0–3 days. L*, a*, and b* color system.We referred to our previous experimental methods for color measurements . The colVolumes of bread and steamed bread were measured using the millet displacement method described by Xie et al. . The forCrumb porosity was estimated using ImageJ software . According to Kowalski et al. , image aTo perform texture profile analysis (TPA) of the crumb, a TA-XT Plus texture analyzer  equipped with a P/36R cylinder probe was used, following a previously described method. The bread was stored at room temperature for 0–3 days. Bread slices (each 2.0 cm thick) were cut from the center of each bread.The test parameters were as follows: deformation of 40% in two subsequent cycles, pre-test speed of 3 mm/s, test and post-test speeds of 1 mm/s, and a trigger force of 5 g. The crumbs were evaluated in terms of several parameters, including hardness, springiness, chewiness, gumminess, cohesiveness, and resilience.The steamed breads stored at −18 °C for 0–3 days were re-steamed at 105 °C for 30 min and kept an air environment for 1 h.The textural properties of the steamed bread crumbs were studied using the same TA-XT plus texture analyzer with a cylinder probe (P/36). Steamed bread (1.5 cm) was cut for testing. In the texture profile analysis mode, the pre-test speed was 3 mm/s, and the test and post-test speeds were both 1 mm/s, with a delay of 2 s between the first and second compressions. A trigger force of 10 g was used to compress steamed bread slices to 50% of their original height. Hardness, springiness, chewiness, gumminess, cohesiveness, and resilience were recorded. According to American Association of Cereal Chemists (AACC) Method 44-15A , the moip < 0.05). All tests were performed at least in triplicate. Values are presented as arithmetic means ± standard deviation (SD), and Origin 8.0 software  was used to analyze the results. The data were analyzed using an analysis of variance (ANOVA), and Tukey’s test was performed for comparative analysis at a significance level of 95%  of the crumbs in whole wheat flour steamed bread samples with different commercial PGAs. The appearance of steamed bread and crumbs is shown in L*, a*, and b* parameters showed no significant changes. Thus, the results indicated that PGA addition had no significant influence on the color of the steamed bread crumbs.Color is a crucial quality indicator for foods, including steamed bread, which is a staple food in the daily diet of Chinese residents. Color is a key factor in both consumption and popularity because it serves as an intuitive indicator of steamed bread . Table 5The desirable quality characteristics of steamed bread include a high specific volume, soft texture, and homogenous crumb grain structure . Table 5Incorporating PGA into steamed bread samples resulted in a less homogenous crumb grain structure, which was reflected by lower porosity. The data in The addition of PGAs also augmented the moisture content of the fresh steamed bread crumbs. The moisture contents of QSB (46.90%) and MSB (46.42%) were significantly higher than that of the control sample (45.47%). The moisture content of YSB was similar to that of the control group, but still higher than that of the control group.The texture of food is related to its sensory properties and is primarily defined by its tissue characteristics. The textural characteristics of steamed bread crumbs were affected by the addition of PGA . These fThe results in L*, a*, and b*) is crucial, as bread color is a significant quality indicator. The color of bread samples can be affected by various factors, such as the ingredients used, their ratio in the recipe, and baking conditions. Additionally, the color value can impact the acceptability of bread to consumers [Assessing the color parameters (onsumers . Based o2 gas produced by the yeast could be efficiently trapped by the PGA wheat flour bread dough [PGA is the most frequently employed hydrocolloid for bread-making. Hydrocolloids are used to form a viscoelastic structure that compensates for gluten deficiency . The surad dough .3/g). They found that compared to the control sample, 2.0% (w/w) PGA significantly increased the height and specific volume of bread, indicating a positive impact of PGA addition on the quality of bread. Our experimental results were similar to those reported by Zhao et al. . They foThe texture of bread crumbs is affected by the ingredients and recipes used. Peressini et al.  found thw/w) on the staling of bread. They revealed that bread containing 1.0 g/kg PGA had a lower hardness value after 5 d of storage than the control bread sample after only 1 d of storage. Generally, bread crumb hardness is often used as an index of bread staling during storage ,22,33. TOn the other hand, the effect of PGA addition on the specific volume, porosity, and texture of steamed bread differed from that of baked bread. This may be due to differences in the production of bread (baking) and steamed bread (steaming). The impact of incorporating PGA into steamed bread may differ from its effects in baked bread, owing to differences in the redistribution of water from hydrated proteins to native starch during the heating process. Steaming bread is characterized by simultaneous heat and water transport during the steaming process . Gao et This study compared the effects of three commercially available PGAs on mealworm-flour-formulated bread and steamed bread. Each PGA enhanced the quality of bread and steamed bread as demonstrated by significant increases in specific volume and moisture content, lower hardness, and slower staling. Overall, PGA from producer Q demonstrated the best effect on quality improvement of mealworm-formulated bread and steamed bread. The results of this study provide theoretical evidence for the development of insect-formulated flour-based products, and aid in the selection of appropriate PGAs for bread production.