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In the carbon neutrality strategy, understanding the effects of green finance on green technology innovation is conductive to promoting the green transformation of the economy. Based on the micro-level and provincial panel data of Shanghai and Shenzhen A-share listed companies from 2012 to 2019, this study explored the impact of green financial development on the enterprises’ green technology innovation. Both mediating effect and moderating effect models were employed to determine the impact of green finance on green technological innovation. It was found that green finance significantly improved the enterprises’ green technology innovation, despite sufficient incentives for “quantity” and relatively insufficient motivation for “quality”. The mechanistic tests demonstrated that the green finance could encourage enterprises to improve green technology innovation by alleviating corporate financing constraints. The green innovation effect of green finance was gradually increased when the regional intellectual property protection was improved. The heterogeneity test indicated that the incentive effect of green financial development on green technology innovation was more evident in state-owned enterprises, enterprises with good internal control quality, and enterprises in the growth period. If only enterprises in the recession stage received green financial support, a “green innovation bubble” might occur. The research conclusions enrich the theories on the driving factors of enterprise green innovation and provide empirical evidence for enhancing the competitiveness of enterprise green innovation and achieving carbon neutrality.

This study presents a novel two-dimensional hyperchaotic map, referred to as the 2D exponent-logarithm-sine chaotic map (2D-ELSCM), which is intricately designed through the interplay of exponential, logarithmic, and sine functions. To comprehensively evaluate the chaotic performance of the 2D-ELSCM, several critical metrics are employed, including the largest Lyapunov exponent (LLE), permutation entropy (PE), sample entropy (SE), Kolmogorov entropy (KE), and the results of the 0–1 test, which yield values of 8.3175, 0.9998, 1.9826, 2.1117, and 0.9970, respectively. Furthermore, the 2D-ELSCM successfully passes the NIST randomness tests, collectively confirming its exceptional randomness and complexity. Building upon this robust chaotic map, we develop a distinctive chaotic image encryption scheme that employs an improved Knuth-Durstenfeld shuffle (IKDS) to rearrange pixel positions, effectively disrupting the correlation between adjacent pixels. Complementing this, we introduce a dynamic diffusion mechanism that integrates DNA encoding with the Zigzag transform, thereby promoting global pixel diffusion and enhancing encryption security. The initial conditions of the chaotic map are generated from the SHA-512 hash of the plaintext image in conjunction with an external key, which not only expands the key space but also significantly improves key sensitivity. Simulation results demonstrate that the proposed encryption scheme achieves correlation coefficients approaching 0 in the encrypted test images, with an average NPCR of 99.6090% and UACI of 33.4707%. These findings indicate a strong resistance to various attacks and showcase excellent encryption quality, thereby underscoring the scheme’s potential for secure image transmission and storage.

Single crystals which exhibit mechanical flexibility are promising materials for advanced technological applications. Before such materials can be used, a detailed understanding of the mechanisms of bending is needed. Using single crystal X-ray diffraction and microfocus Raman spectroscopy, we study in atomic detail the high-pressure response of the plastically flexible coordination polymer [Zn(μ-Cl) 2 (3,5-dichloropyridine) 2 ] n ( 1 ). Contradictory to three-point bending, quasi-hydrostatic compression of ( 1 ) is completely reversible, even following compression to over 9 GPa. A structural phase transition is observed at ca . 5 GPa. DFT calculations show this transition to result from the pressure-induced softening of low-frequency vibrations. This phase transition is not observed during three-point-bending. Microfocus synchrotron X-ray diffraction revealed that bending yields significant mosaicity, as opposed to compression. Hence, our studies indicate of overall disparate mechanical responses of bulk flexibility and quasi-hydrostatic compression within the same crystal lattice. We suspect this to be a general feature of plastically bendable materials. Mechanically flexible single crystals are promising materials for advanced technological applications. Here, the authors study the high pressure response of a plastically flexible coordination polymer and provide indication of an overall disparate mechanical response of bulk flexibility and quasi-hydrostatic compression within the same crystal lattice.

Although bacterial communities play important roles in the suppression of pathogenic diseases and crop production, little is known about the bacterial communities associated with bacterial wilt. Based on 16S rRNA gene sequencing, statistical analyses of microbial communities in disease-suppressive and disease-conducive soils from three districts during the vegetation period of tobacco showed that Proteobacteria was the dominant phylum, followed by Acidobacteria. Only samples from September were significantly correlated to disease factors. Fifteen indicators from taxa found in September (1 class, 2 orders, 3 families and 9 genera) were identified in the screen as being associated with disease suppression, and 10 of those were verified for potential disease suppression in March. Kaistobacter appeared to be the genus with the most potential for disease suppression. Elucidating microbially mediated natural disease suppression is fundamental to understanding microecosystem responses to sustainable farming and provides a possible approach for modeling disease-suppressive indicators. Here, using cluster analysis, MRPP testing, LEfSe and specific filters for a Venn diagram, we provide insight into identifying possible indicators of disease suppression of tobacco bacterial wilt.

Background Soil salinization is a major abiotic stress that severely constrains global forestry productivity. Plants deploy sophisticated gene regulatory networks for adaptation, in which microRNAs (miRNAs) have emerged as crucial post-transcriptional modulators. However, a comprehensive understanding of the dynamic and phase-specific roles of miRNAs in the salt stress response of perennial woody plants remains limited. Results We performed an integrated miRNA-seq and RNA-seq analysis on Populus yunnanensis leaves across four treatment points: control (CK), short-term salt stress (T1) and long-term salt stress (T4), and recovery after stress (TR). Small RNA sequencing identified 571 miRNAs, including 339 known and 232 novel candidates, with expression dynamics highly sensitive to stress phases. Differential expression analysis revealed stage-specific miRNA repertoires across five biologically defined phases: Early Response (ER, T1vsCK; 6 DEMs), Long-term Adaptation (LA, T4vsCK; 17 DEMs), Recovered State (RS, TRvsCK; 17 DEMs), Stress Progression (SP, T4vsT1; 15 DEMs), and Recovery Process (RP, union of TRvsT1 and TRvsT4; 18 DEMs). Notably, ptc-miR6462 and ptc-miR6476 were unique to ER; ptc-miR169 was specific to SP; ptc-miR6457 was specific to RP; ptc-miR477 was unique to RS; while ptc-miR395 family members were active across all stages except ER. Concurrent transcriptomics unveiled extensive, duration-dependent transcriptional reprogramming, with DEGs increasing from 603 in ER to 3,027 in LA, and 2,239 DEGs persisting in RS. KEGG enrichment highlighted the central role of metabolic pathways across all stages, with phase-specific activation of signaling pathways (MAPK, plant hormone transduction) in LA and RS, membrane remodeling pathways (alpha-Linolenic acid metabolism) in RP, and sustained metabolic adjustments (cysteine and methionine metabolism, secondary metabolite biosynthesis) in RS. Integrated miRNA-mRNA network analysis constructed core regulatory circuits underpinning stage-specific adaptation, including ptc-miR395-APS1 (ATP sulfurylase 1) for antioxidant synthesis, ptc-miR319-MYB for growth-defense balance during recovery, and novel circuits involving ptc-miR6457b-MazG and ptc-miR6476-GINS, suggesting roles in nucleotide homeostasis and DNA replication protection. Conclusions Our study delineates a complex, phase-specific post-transcriptional regulatory network that orchestrates the salt stress adaptation of P. yunnanensis . By distinguishing five distinct phases-early response, long-term adaptation, stress progression, recovery process, and recovered state-we demonstrate that miRNAs function as precise temporal tuners, sequentially regulating distinct biological processes: from initial signal perception and DNA protection (ER), through sustained metabolic adaptation and antioxidant defense (LA, SP), to active recovery mechanisms (RP) and the establishment of stress memory (RS). These findings provide novel insights into the molecular basis of salt tolerance in trees and furnish valuable genetic resources for breeding stress-resilient forest varieties.

Plant respiratory burst oxidase homologs (Rbohs) are essential in the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and play critical roles in plant stress responses. Despite their importance, Rbohs in poplar species remain under-explored, especially in terms of their characteristics and functional diversity across different species within the same genus. In this study, we employed bioinformatics methods to identify 62 Rboh genes across five poplar species. We analyzed the gene structure, physical properties, chromosomal distribution, and cis-elements. Additionally, we used qRT-PCR to examine the expression of ( ) under various stress treatments and yeast two-hybrid (Y2H) assays to confirm interactions with calcium-dependent protein kinases (CPKs). All identified Rboh genes consistently contained six conserved functional domains and were classified into four distinct groups (I-IV). The number of Rboh members across poplar species was consistent with evolutionary patterns. These Rbohs exhibited relatively conserved amino acid lengths (832-989) and shared basic protein characteristics, including cell membrane localization. Chromosomal distribution analysis revealed an uneven distribution of across chromosomes, with abundant collinearity pairs among different plant species, indicating tandem segment duplications and a shared evolutionary origin within group members. Cis-element analysis identified stress-responsive and hormone signaling-related elements. qRT-PCR demonstrated the upregulation of under salt, drought, PEG, and ABA treatments. Protein interaction predictions using the STRING database identified potential functional mechanisms of , including interactions with CPKs. Y2H assays confirmed the interaction between and CPKs, suggesting that CPK binding might regulate activity and ROS production. Overall, these findings provide a comprehensive understanding of the evolutionary, structural, and functional diversity of poplar Rbohs. They highlight promising candidate genes for enhancing stress tolerance in poplar species and lay a foundation for future research on the molecular mechanisms underlying Rboh-mediated stress responses in poplar.

Background Cervical cancer (CC) is the one of most common malignant gynecological tumors, which is characterized with the high mortality and recurrence rate. Previous studies have elucidated the oncogenic role of small nucleolar RNA host gene 6 (SNHG6) in some types of human cancers, whereas it is unclear whether it functions as an oncogene in CC. This study was aimed at unveiling the role of SNHG6 in CC. Methods qRT-PCR analysis was implemented to evaluate the expression levels of SNHG6, miR-485-3p and STYX in CC cells. RNA pull down assay and luciferase reporter assay were conducted to verify the interaction between miR-485-3p and SNHG6 or STYX. Functional assays, such as colony formation assay, JC-1 assay and TUNEL assay were applied to detect the biological behaviors of CC cells. The resistance of CC cells to radiation was evaluated by colony formation assay. Results SNHG6 was expressed at a high level in CC cells. Silenced SNHG6 suppressed cell proliferation but promoted cell apoptosis. Additionally, silenced SNHG6 could sensitize CC cells to radiation treatment. miR-485-3p could bind to both SNHG6 and STYX. Knockdown of miR-485-3p or overexpression of STYX could abolish the effects of SNHG6 silencing on CC cell growth. Conclusions LncRNA SNHG6 enhances the radioresistance of CC cells and promotes CC cell growth by sponging miR-485-3p to release STYX.

Plant HKTs (High-affinity K + transporters) are essential transporters for ion transport and homeostasis and play crucial roles in plant growth and stress responses. However, the evolution of HKTs in Populus species and their functions require further investigation. In this study, we identified 16 HKTs from six Populus species. All poplar HKTs were classified as Class I HKTs because of their physiological relationships and the conservation of amino acids in key structures, which aligns with their conserved evolutionary coding sequences. The analysis of the protein domains, motifs and gene structures of 16 poplar HKTs revealed consistent conservation, with the exception of two members. The number of homologs and their chromosome locations indicated the differentiation of HKTs during poplar evolution and adaptation. Poplar HKTs can be classified into two subgroups on the basis of their physiological relationships and distinct protein structures. Gene expression pattern analysis revealed that poplar HKTs presented relatively high expression levels in roots and stems under salt stress. Furthermore, cis-element analysis and protein interaction predictions provide insights into the functions of HKTs under salt stress through the activation of ion transporters, proline content, and ATPases regulated by hormonal signals and MYB transcription factors. In conclusion, our research established a theoretical framework for investigating the evolutionary relationships and functional roles of HKTs in Populus species and offered valuable insights into the functions and underlying mechanisms of poplar HKTs in specific tissues under various stress conditions.

Potassium (K + ) is essential for plant growth and high-affinity K + transporters (HAKs) play vital roles in K + uptake, translocation, and stress response. Although HAK genes have been characterized in various plants, they remain unexplored in Populus yunnanensis , an ecologically and economically important tree species in Southwest China. Here, we identified 32 HAKs in P. yunnanensis and classified them into six distinct phylogenetic groups, a structure conserved across six analyzed Populus species. Evolutionary analysis suggested that purifying selection (Ka/Ks < 1) has shaped all HAKs of the six tested poplar species with gene duplication events contributing to its expansion. All PyHAKs that were conserved contained abundant helical structures and transmembrane segments, which supported their conserved transport function. However, variations in protein and gene structure suggest potential functional diversification. Promoter analysis revealed an abundance of hormone-responsive cis-elements, and expression profiling confirmed that selected PyHAKs respond significantly to ABA, drought, heat, and osmotic stress. Furthermore, protein-protein interaction predictions, which were partially validated by yeast two-hybrid assays, indicated that PyHAK activity may be post translationally regulated via phosphorylation by calcineurin B-like (CBL) proteins. Our study provides the first comprehensive genomic and functional analysis of the HAK family in P. yunnanensis , establishing a foundation for future research on potassium regulation and stress resistance in woody plants.

Background Heat shock proteins (HSP20s) are crucial components in plant stress responses, acting as molecular chaperones to safeguard cellular integrity and prevent abnormal protein aggregation. While extensive research has been conducted on HSP20s in various plant species, limited information is available regarding the HSP20 protein family in poplar ( Populus yunnanensis ), a species of significant ecological and economic importance native to southwestern China. Results To elucidate the distribution, structural features, and functional characteristics of HSP20 proteins in P. yunnanensis , a combination of bioinformatics tools and experimental validation was utilized. A total of 53 PyHSP20s were identified within the P. yunnanensis genome and classified into 12 subfamilies: CI, CII, CIII, CIV, CV, CVI, CVII, MI, MII, ER, CP, and Px containing 24, 1, 1, 1, 2, 2, 14, 3, 1, 1, 2, and 1 HSP20 proteins, respectively. Classification was based on subcellular localization and phylogenetic relationships, revealing subfamilies with varying exon–intron structures and conserved motifs. The 3D structures analysis showed significant differentiation, with the CI subfamily PyHSP20s exhibiting 8 β-sheets, compared to 7 β-sheets in other subfamilies. Additionally, the N-terminal arms displayed heterogeneity in length and sequence. The 53 PyHSP20s were unevenly distributed across 15 chromosomes, with tandem segmental duplications explaining the expansion of subfamilies, particularly CI, CV, CVI, and CVII. The analysis of cis-elements associated with stress response and hormone regulation underscored the critical role of PyHSP20 in stress adaptation. Expression profiling via database analysis and qRT-PCR confirmed the responsiveness of PyHSP20s to multiple stressors, including salt, mannitol, drought, heat, and abscisic acid (ABA). Furthermore, Yeast Two-Hybrid (Y2H) assays demonstrated potential regulatory interactions between PyHSP20s and other functional proteins involved in stress responses. Conclusions These findings provide a comprehensive understanding of the classification, structural differentiation, and functional roles of PyHSP20s in P. yunnanensis , thereby establishing a foundation for future functional investigations into this protein family.