ScholarWorks

ScholarWorks is an open access repository for the capture of the intellectual work of Montana State University (MSU) in support of its teaching, research and service missions. MSU ScholarWorks is a central point of discovery for accessing, collecting, sharing, preserving, and distributing knowledge to the Montana State University community and the world.

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Ecology of methyl-coenzyme M reductase encoding Thermoproteota
(Elsevier BV, 2025-12)
Jay, Zackary J.
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Kellom, Matthew
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Eloe-Fadrosh, Emiley
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Hatzenpichler, Roland
The recent demonstration that members of at least three classes of archaea affiliated with the Thermoproteota superphylum are involved in the production of the climate-active gas methane has sparked discussions about how well we understand the diversity of methanogens. Here, we show that members of all three of these lineages, as well as several other, yet uncultured and physiologically uncharacterized groups within the Thermoproteota that encode the key enzyme of anaerobic methane cycling, methyl-coenzyme M reductase (MCR), are widely distributed in anoxic ecosystems. We postulate that the taxonomic, metabolic, and ecological diversity of methanogenic and MCR-encoding Thermoproteota are poorly understood, and that the contribution of methylotrophic and thermoproteotal methanogenesis to methane production is largely unknown. We hypothesize that thermoproteotal methanogens could contribute, potentially substantially, to methane emissions in many anoxic environments that harbor methylated precursors, including wetlands, sediments, peat, rice paddies, wastewater sludge, and geothermal systems. We highlight the necessity to experimentally test the (eco)physiology of these widely distributed archaea using both culture-dependent (in vitro) and culture-independent (in situ) approaches to assess their potential contribution to methane emissions. Last, we stress the importance of remaining agnostic about the physiology of MCR-encoding Thermoproteota in the absence of experimental data because most of these archaea also carry the genetic potential to grow non-methanogenically.
Data fusion approach for predicting high resolution estimates of crop evapotranspiration
(Springer Science and Business Media LLC, 2025-08)
Nazrul Shimim, Farshina
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Fortin, Mathieu Pagé
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Nocco, Mallika
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Whitaker, Bradley
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Gal, Andrew
Purpose. Spatial estimates of crop water use during the growing season are crucial for precision irrigation management, especially under conditions of water scarcity and climate change. The on-farm trial detailed in this paper focuses on a processing tomato field in the Sacramento Valley of California. Methodology. Different meteorological parameters, including temperature, precipitation, relative humidity, shortwave radiation, and wind speed, were measured hourly at three specific locations in the field using on-the-ground sensors. Additionally, these sensors captured canopy surface reflectance properties in multiple bands, covering the wavelength range of 420–956 nm. The collected hourly meteorological and crop biophysical data were used to predict reference evapotranspiration (ETo) and calculate crop coefficients (Kc), which were then used to derive point-based estimates of canopy evapotranspiration (ETc). High-resolution multispectral and thermal aerial imagery were collected eight times during the growing season of 2021 (June–August). Several canopy properties, including leaf area index and crop height, were computed from the aerial imagery. The spatial data was combined with meteorological information from nearby weather stations to map actual evapotranspiration (ETa) with the High-Resolution Mapping of EvapoTranspiration (HRMET) model at 5 m resolution. Analysis. The eight ETa maps and the daily sensor-based ETc estimates for the entire growing season were combined to predict high-resolution ETa maps for days when aerial imagery was not collected. Three different algorithms for prediction were implemented: Linear Regression, Weighted Piecewise Linear Interpolation, and Forward Interpolation. Results. The performance of these algorithms was evaluated using metrics such as Nash–Sutcliffe Efficiency (NSE), Mean Absolute Error (MAE), Root Mean Squared Error (RMSE), and Kling-Gupta Efficiency (KGE). Results indicate that Forward Interpolation is the most suitable algorithm (NSE = 0.694; MAE = 0.06; RMSE = 0.07; KGE = 0.894) for gap-filling and approximating daily high-resolution ETa maps (average hourly estimates for each day) for the entire growing season for our study site. Conclusion. This innovative procedure aims to establish a decision support system for efficient irrigation scheduling, fusing different sources of spatiotemporal information to optimize irrigation in drought-prone areas.
Petri net on expanded networks computes the dynamics of finite multilevel models
(The Royal Society, 2025-08)
Andreas, Elizabeth
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Quist, Eli
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Gedeon, Tomas
We discuss connections between different types of models of gene‑regulatory network dynamics that include Boolean, finite multilevel and monotone Boolean models. We recast the methodology of describing attractors of Boolean and finite multilevel dynamics using motifs of the expanded network eRN in terms of Petri net dynamics on eRN. We show that the Petri net can be used to recover dynamics of the finite multilevel dynamics on the state transition graph. We conclude with new insights that the expanded network viewpoint offers for the robustness of equilibria and complex attractors.
Design, Synthesis, and Biological Evaluation of Novel Heteroaryl, Squaramide, and Indolcarboxamide Derivatives as Formyl Peptide Receptor 2 Agonists to Target Neuroinflammation
(American Chemical Society, 2025-08)
Francavilla, Fabio
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Vitone, Daniele
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Schepetkin, Igor A.
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Kirpotina, Lilya N.
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Carrieri, Antonio
Recent research reveals Formyl Peptide Receptor 2 (FPR2) as a relevant G Protein-Coupled Receptor involved in the resolution phase of inflammation. Therefore, FPR2 agonists are promising agents to tackle neuroinflammatory-based diseases, such as Alzheimer’s Disease or Autism Spectrum Disorder. Here, we describe the synthesis and biological evaluation of novel FPR2 agonists designed through the bioisosteric replacement of the phenyl urea function in the potent FPR2 agonist (S)-1-(3-(4-cyanophenyl)-1-(indolin-1-yl)-1-oxopropan-2-yl)-3-(4-fluorophenyl)urea (5), obtaining novel heteroaryl, squaramide, and indolcarboxamide derivatives. The structural modification had a profound effect on FPR2 agonist potency, metabolic stability, aqueous solubility, and cell permeability, resulting in compounds with distinct profiles. Computational studies have shown that the new compounds exhibit the same contacts with key amino acids in the binding site as the starting FPR2 agonist 5. However, subtle differences in the orientation or the presence and position of heteroatoms in the selected scaffolds translate to substantial differences in FPR2 potency. Among the new compounds, (S)-9a, (S)-12a, and (S)-16b demonstrated neuroprotective, anti-inflammatory, and pro-resolving properties in mouse primary microglial cells, stimulated with lipopolysaccharide. Although the replacement of the phenyl urea with different scaffolds did not lead to the identification of a bioisostere, compounds (S)-9a, (S)-12a, and (S)-16b represent a starting point for the development of a new class of FPR2 agonists.
Managing pests by increasing predators through late termination of cover crops
(Wiley, 2026-05)
Adam, Jared S.
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Wallace, John M.
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Tooker, John F.
BACKGROUND. Adding cover crops to crop rotations can improve the sustainability and ecosystem functioning of agroecosystems. Establishing cash crops into a living cover crop, or planting green, in agronomic systems can provide another set of functional benefits, including improved control of weeds and invertebrate pests, potentially reducing the need for preventative pest management strategies. Here, we studied the role of delayed cover-crop termination in managing invertebrate pests through an increase in natural enemies in corn and soybeans. Our work is among the first studies focused on timing of termination of a cover crop and the role that timing has in managing invertebrate pests. RESULTS. In both crops, we found that delaying termination reduces pest incidence and damage without affecting yield. Although crop type influenced predator and pest responses, neither crop experienced an increase in pest pressure or damage with later timing of termination. Regardless of treatment, soybean harbored greater numbers of natural enemies than corn, a result likely influenced by abiotic conditions associated with crop morphology. CONCLUSION. Our study shows that by delaying cover-crop termination, growers can effectively increase natural-enemy populations and reduce the need for chemical controls. © 2026 The Author(s). Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.