PINES (Bemidji State University)
Not a member yet
500 research outputs found
Sort by
Analyzing Union Voting by Workforce Sector in the 2016 Presidential Election
No full textIn the 2016 presidential election, there was evident change in the voting behavior of both blue and white collar workers in states such as Ohio and Pennsylvania that assisted in Donald Trump’s win. While there was some realignment in party backing in a handful of unions, there were a number of union members that went against their union recommendation and voted for Trump. I research how union members in private and public sectors voted in the 2012 and 2016 election to compare the rate of union members defecting to Trump across the various sectors of the workforce. In order to do so, I collected data from the Current Population Survey (CPS) to analyze two specific sectors, private and public, and evaluate their level of unionization in those states. I then compared this measure with voting data from 2012 and 2016. I expect to see that private unions will have an increase in support for Trump over Romney, and public unions will have somewhat less of an increase towards Trump
Seasonal Fluctuations of Zooplankton, Dissolved Oxygen, and Temperature in Lake Bemidji, Minnesota
No full textWith the current influx of aquatic invasive species in Minnesota lakes, the status of zooplankton has become vital. Zooplankton are at the base of all food chains in aquatic ecosystems, ecosystems that vary greatly throughout a year’s time. The objectives of this study were to 1) track the location of zooplankton throughout the water column for an entire year, and 2) establish relationships between zooplankton location and specific water column characteristics. Zooplankton, dissolved oxygen, and temperature samples were collected bi-monthly at various depths at the deepest point in the southern basin of Lake Bemidji. Zooplankton were most abundant in the summer with densities ranging from 5-31 specimens per liter, with the highest densities being found in 3-8 meters of water. Densities during the winter ranged from 3-14 specimens per liter while being more homogenous in the water column. Dissolved oxygen remained high in the epilimnion throughout the year, peaking at 14.91 mg/L on 2 May 2017. A steady decline of dissolved oxygen as depth increased was observed in both winter and summer months with the lowest reading being 0.01 mg/L at 15 meters of depth on 15 September 2017. Temperature peaked in the epilimnion at 21.5 °C in the summer with it ranging from -0.5-3.4 °C in the winter. Hopefully these results will help fisheries managers and others interested in this field better understand the trends in zooplankton densities in lakes
Growth of Pelagic Age-0 Yellow Perch in Relation to Hatch Dates and Water Temperature in North-Central Minnesota Lakes
No full textExposure to consistent water warming rates and access to abundant populations of edible sized zooplankton affects growth and increases the probability of survival for newly hatched Yellow Perch Perca flavescens. Seven lakes with varying physical characteristics were selected in north-central Minnesota to study abiotic (water temperature) and biotic (zooplankton community and fish growth) progressions during the spring and early summer (April-June). Mean water temperatures from ice-out to 28 June (11.98-14.62 °C) had significant relationships with mean depth (P \u3c 0.01, R? = 0.85), max depth (P \u3c 0.01, R? = 0.73), and total volume (P \u3c 0.01, R2 = 0.54). Hatch periods ranged from 13 to 19 days in 2015 and 13 to 25 days in 2016. Cumulative degree-days (CDD) were used to predict Yellow Perch hatch periods and explain growth. CDD predicted 21-81% of hatch periods in 2015 and 11-50% in 2016. Mean predicted total lengths at 28 June were 19.65-30.41 mm in 2015 and 20.88-28.54 mm in 2016. There was a significant relationship between CDD and predicted total length (R? = 0.62, P \u3c 0.01) to explain differences in Yellow Perch total length while inhabiting the pelagic zone. Observed gape measurements were highly correlated with predicted gapes from the Schael formula (R? = 0.89, P \u3c 0.01) that was used to assess the availability of edible sized zooplankton for age-0 Yellow Perch in each lake. No predator-prey mismatches were found and earlier hatch dates produced age-0 Yellow Perch with greater predicted total lengths in late June on the majority of lakes. This suggests that earlier hatched Yellow perch have an advantage over later hatched Yellow Perch in attaining greater lengths by late June. Our study provides information on a variety of physical and biological progressions in lakes, which may be used for fisheries management practices in the future
Hunter Harvest Effect on The Breeding Bird Population of Northern Pintail Anas acuta in North America
No full textHunter harvest and the effects that it can have on population dynamics is a relationship used by wildlife professionals when making management decisions. Hunter harvest can be compensatory or additive on wildlife populations and instances where hunter harvest has been a key role in a population decline, and sometimes demise, is an occurrence studied in wildlife management. Waterfowl numbers in North America have increased 17% since 1960, but during that same time frame the Northern Pintail population has decreased 40%. Hunter harvest data has been recorded by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service since 1961, while they have simultaneously been recording breeding bird populations of waterfowl throughout North America. Regression analysis was used in this study to determine if a significant relationship exists between hunter harvest and the breeding bird population of Northern Pintail. Hunter harvest and the variation in breeding bird population of Northern Pintail was also analyzed to test for a relationship. While direct effects of hunter harvest on the population change of Northern Pintail were found to be insignificant (P = 0.15), hunter harvest and its effect on the variation in population of Northern Pintail were found to be significant (P = 0.01). The decline of Northern Pintail in North America is a prominent issue in wildlife management and factors influencing its population must be studied to ensure the survival of the Northern Pintai
Population Characteristics of a Closed Northern Pike (Esox lucius) Catch-and-Release Population in Minnesota
No full textLiterature regarding catch-and-release populations of Northern Pike are rare and provide a unique perspective on their population dynamics. Shingobee Lake is a 64- ha mesotrophic lake with a maximum depth of 12.2 m located in northern Minnesota. Northern Pike fishing has been catch-and-release only since 2005, and there are no public accesses on the lake. Annual ice-out trap-netting occurred from 2009-2017, and a sizable amount of the Northern Pike recaptured via trapnet or angling had been previously tagged (37-59%). The lack of exploitation and high tagging percentage provided a unique opportunity to study the population dynamics of Northern Pike. Shinogbee’s population of Northern Pike is female dominated and consists of old, slow growing, large individuals. The overall capture ratio of female:male fish was 1.75:1. Only 2.1% of the sampled males were over 600 mm, compared to 37.2% of the female population. Abundance estimates throughout the study period remained stable (21 to 33 fish/ha) and a catch curve indicated an overall mortality rate of 31%. Female Northern Pike grew faster than males in Shingobee Lake, however both sexes lagged behind an international growth standard. Weisberg’s mixed effect growth model showed little year-to-year (environmental) or cohort base variation in growth. Proportional size distribution ranged from 42-56, indicating a stable size structure throughout the study period. The results of this study support the argument that restricting harvest can improve the size structure of a Northern Pike population. Management aimed at improving pike size structure must take into account the importance of protecting large, older individuals
Analyzing the Differentiation Among State Medical Marijuana Policies by Examining State Policies & Trends
No full textSupport for marijuana has been growing nationwide. This increased support has gained a lot of momentum since the late 1990s when California became the first state to legalize marijuana for medical use by enacting Proposition 215, or the Compassionate Use Act. Since the enactment of Proposition 215, 28 more states and the District of Columbia have legalized marijuana for medicinal use. I look into why states have begun to adopt these laws, and what makes these states differ throughout the country in the timeliness of their actions. I assembled data to examine a variety of state policies to attempt to explain its’ policies towards medical marijuana. I chose to look specifically at economic and moral policies across states and internal factors within those states. I then took the information I found and determined what states that allow marijuana as a medicine have in common in these three areas
Examining the Strategies of Formation and Action Among Social Movements: A Comparison of the Civil Rights Movement and Black Lives Matter
No full textIn today’s tumultuous political landscape, the question of what makes an effective social movement? is often asked. This can be a complicated question to answer as social movements vary greatly across racial, ethnic, economic, and political boundaries. Therefore, I am conducting a case comparison of two widely-known socio-political organizations, the Civil Rights Movement and Black Lives Matter. In this comparison I will examine whether or not they truly fit the definition of a social movement, look at the strategies of action that have or could prove successful in enacting long-standing socio-political change, and make recommendations on how movements could continue to evolve. As a case study, I will examine the academic literature and the histories of the movements to show that while both are influential and viable, the Civil Rights Movement proves to be a more definitive example of a “movement” from an academic perspective. Black Lives Matter intentionally detaches itself from traditional movement staples, lending to a more fast-and-loose use of the term. Ultimately, I aim to contribute another voice to the social movement dialogue in order to help further the likelihood of future movement success
Beyond the Movement: State Action in Addressing Campus Sexual Violence
No full textThe Me Too movement, started by actress Alyssa Milano, has helped shine a light on the prevalence of sexual harassment and sexual violence throughout the country. While it has helped the public understand the magnitude of the issue, it has only started the conversation about sexual violence. And while the focus has mostly been on Hollywood, there has been one area that is being overlooked; sexual violence on College and University campuses. With Secretary DeVos\u27 repeal of Obama era policies, the current administration is being a lot less transparent when it comes to sexual violence, in general. With policy-making responsibility falling back on the states, it begs the question; which states are more likely to have effective policies regarding sexual violence on campuses? The data I collected includes elements taken from sexual violence statutes gathered from all 50 states. In addition, I collected data on the number of incidents of sexual violence from campuses in each state, a possible indication of effectiveness among state level campus sexual violence policies. The tentative results indicate which states are the most prepared to handle the increased responsibility for addressing campus sexual violence
Culture in Context: A Pilot Study on Culturally-Oriented Metacognitive Feedback (COMF)
No full textMany institutions aim to bring new social dynamics to their education system, as well as to increase diversity within and between institutions. One way higher-education institutions reach this goal is with outreach programs geared towards international students. These students’ cultures have provided a framework that built their schemas, and this in turn molded their style of writing. Lacking years of foundation building through the American school system, international students may struggle to fulfill the requirements for successful writing in American universities. However, professors have at their disposal a tool to aide students – feedback that incorporates metacognition. This study investigated whether Culturally-Oriented Metacognitive Feedback (COMF) improved the writing performance of international students more than Traditional Feedback (TF) using the PEG Writing Scholars Program. A between-subjects experiment was conducted, and results demonstrated that there was no significant difference in pre-test and post-test scores between the COMF and TF groups, nor were there any significant changes in the categorical scores given by PEG, between groups. Despite this, qualitative data demonstrated perceived differences between the writing pedagogy in the students’ country of origin and the writing pedagogy of professors at American universities. Furthermore, the differences went beyond country to country: there were also perceived differences in writing within the same culture. These differences highlight the complexity of cultural influences, and the need for greater awareness
Synthesis of Gd-DETA-MAM for the Capture and Release of Phosphate in Water
No full textExcess phosphorus in lakes from fertilizer runoff causes eutrophication, which in turn promotes algal blooms. These algal blooms can produce toxins that pollute drinking water for entire cities. A catch and release system for phosphate is proposed that features Gd-DETA- MAM, which is a derivative of Gd-TREN-MAM. Gd-TREN-MAM has been shown to selectively and reversibly bind phosphate in a pH dependent manner. The derivation aims to increase the binding affinity of phosphate by reducing steric hinderance around the gadolinium atom. The rational for this hypothesis is that the linear DETA backbone will have increased accessibility compared to a TREN backbone. The first three reactions in the synthesis of Gd-DETA-MAM have been successfully performed in lab, and varying reaction parameters have been tested to increase yields of each reaction step. Each reaction was monitored by TLC, and synthetic intermediates were be characterized via 1H NMR. DFT calculations have been performed to determine the lowest average structures of both Gd-DETA-MAM and Gd-TREN- MAM. The calculated energy values for the hydrated and phosphorylated complexes were used to calculate theoretical binding affinities for the complexes