Nicholls State University

About: Nicholls State University is a education organization based out in Thibodaux, Louisiana, United States. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & The Internet. The organization has 456 authors who have published 795 publications receiving 20031 citations.

Open Data, Collaborative Working Platforms, and Interdisciplinary Collaboration: Building an Early Career Scientist Community of Practice to Leverage Ocean Observatories Initiative Data to Address Critical Questions in Marine Science

Abstract: Ocean observing systems are well-recognized as platforms for long-term monitoring of near-shore and remote locations in the global ocean. High-quality observatory data is freely available and accessible to all members of the global oceanographic community—a democratization of data that is particularly useful for early career scientists (ECS), enabling ECS to conduct research independent of traditional funding models or access to laboratory and field equipment. The concurrent collection of distinct data types with relevance for oceanographic disciplines including physics, chemistry, biology, and geology yields a unique incubator for cutting edge, timely, interdisciplinary research. These data are both an opportunity and an incentive for ECS to develop the computational skills and collaborative relationships necessary to interpret large data sets. Here, we use observatory data to demonstrate the potential for these interdisciplinary approaches by presenting a case study on the water-column response to anomalous atmospheric events (i.e., major storms) on the shelf of the Mid-Atlantic Bight southwest of Cape Cod, United States. Using data from the Ocean Observatories Initiative (OOI) Pioneer Array, we applied a simple data mining method to identify anomalous atmospheric events over a four-year period. Two closely occurring storm events in late 2018 were then selected to explore the dynamics of water-column response using mooring data from across the array. The comprehensive ECS knowledge base and computational skill sets allowed identification of data issues in the OOI data streams and technologically sound characterization of data from multiple sensor packages to broadly characterize ocean-atmosphere interactions. An ECS-driven approach that emphasizes collaborative and interdisciplinary working practices adds significant value to existing datasets and programs such as OOI and has the potential to produce meaningful scientific advances. Future success in utilizing ocean observatory data requires continued investment in ECS education, collaboration, and research; in turn, the ECS community provides feedback, develops knowledge, and builds new tools to enhance the value of ocean observing systems. These findings present an argument for building a community of practice to augment ECS ocean scientist skills and foster collaborations to extend the context, reach, and societal utility of ocean science.

Old World Tethyan occurrences of Lyrischapa (Gastropoda; Volutidae) and biogeographic implications

Abstract: Lyrischapa Aldrich (1911), originally described from the Eocene of North America, is represented in the Old World Tethyan paleobiotic province by three species that previously have been referred to other genera: L. haimei (d'Archiac), from the late Paleocene or early Eocene upper Ranikot Formation of Pakistan; L. sismondai (d'Archiac), from the upper Ranikot Formation and the late Paleocene Hangu Shales of Pakistan; and L. soudanense (Douville), from the late Paleocene Kalambaina Formation in the Republic of Niger. A fourth unnamed species of Lyrischapa may be represented by an internal mold from the middle Eocene Khirtar Formation of Pakistan. Lyrischapa probably originated within the ancient Tethys seaway between Eurasia and the Gondwana continents of Africa and southern India because its oldest known occurrence (late Paleocene) and closest relatives (Indovoluta Eames, 1952; Gosavia Stoliczka, 1865, 1868; possibly also Diconomorpha Wenz, 1943) are in that region. It has no apparent ancestor among described American Paleogene or Cretaceous Volutidae. Because its large protoconch suggests that it lacked a teleplanic larval stage, the trans-Atlantic migration of Lyrischapa to the New World probably resulted from chance dispersal, either by rafting of egg masses attached to floating plant debris or by drift of floating egg capsules.

A behavioral anomaly detection strategy based on time series process portraits for desktop virtualization systems

Abstract: As the application of desktop virtualization systems (DVSs) continues to gain momentums, the security issue of DVSs becomes increasingly critical and is extensively studied. Unfortunately, the majority of current researches on DVSs only focuses on the virtual machines (VMs) on the servers, and overlooks to a large extent the security issue of the clients. In addition, traditional security techniques are not completely suitable for the DVSs' particularly thin client environment. Towards finding a solution to these problems, we propose a novel behavioral anomaly detection method for DVS clients by creating and using process portraits. Based on the correlations between users, virtualized desktop processes (VDPs), and VMs in DVSs, this proposed method describes the process behaviors of clients by the CPU utilization rates of VMs located on the server, constructs process portraits for VDPs by hidden Markov models and by considering the user profiles, and detects anomalies of VDPs by contrasting VDPs' behaviors against the constructed process portraits. Our experimental results show that the proposed method is effective and successful.

Facilitators and barriers to success among ethnic minority students enrolled in a predominately white baccalaureate nursing program.

Abstract: This study identified facilitators and barriers to academic success among ethnic minority students enrolled in a BSN program. The following research questions were asked: What factors (a) facilitate academic performance; (b) are barriers to academic performance; (c) influence the college experience and academic success; (d) within the nursing department, influence academic success; (e) What is the impact of socialization on academic performance; (f) What were facilitators of academic success identified among study participants; and, (g) Which facilitators, identified by subjects, were most common among those participants? A retrospective-descriptive study design consisted of a sample of all minority students who were enrolled in clinical at a baccalaureate nursing program between 2005 and the fall of 2010. Bandura's theory on self-efficacy was used. Loftus and Duty's Survey of Factors Influencing Student Retention and Academic Success was adapted. Data were analyzed using SPSS 19.0 with ANOVA to determine if a significant difference in responses existed.

Improved environmental DNA sampling scheme for Alabama sturgeon provides new insight into a species once presumed extinct

Abstract: Detection of rare species can be challenging and time‐consuming using conventional methods, but environmental DNA (eDNA) is becoming a commonly used tool for detection in conservation and management of species. This study demonstrates the utility of the precipitation method (precipitated and preserved in 3 M sodium acetate and 95% ethanol) for collection of eDNA to detect the seasonal distribution of the critically endangered Alabama sturgeon (Scaphirhynchus suttkusi). Surface and benthic water samples were collected across a wider geographic area than previously published for Alabama sturgeon eDNA. Surface and benthic samples both yielded detections and resulted in a similar proportion of positive detections to previous work. However, by sampling a greater portion of the distribution of the Alabama sturgeon, further insight was provided on potential sturgeon movement. The results of the precipitation method show that Alabama sturgeon detections increase during spawning months, and that the fish may be overwintering in the Tombigbee River. High detections from winter benthic samples suggest that habitat choice may play a role in detectability and highlight the need to consider natural history when designing environmental DNA studies. When designing environmental DNA collection for rare species, sampling design should factor in species ecology, habitat use, site characteristics, and specific questions driving the research.