PINES (Bemidji State University)
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Student Achievement Conference 2023 Program Booklet
No full textStudent Achievement Conference 2023. Keynote speaker: Mark Wallert.https://pines.bemidjistate.edu/sac-programs/1001/thumbnail.jp
Estimate Of Long-Term Phytoplankton Biomass In Lake Bemidji
No full textPhytoplankton are photosynthetic organisms that are the base of aquatic food webs. In a dimictic temperate lake such as Lake Bemidji, the environment adjusts with the changing water temperatures and sunlight levels. The phytoplankton in a dimictic lake are adapted to subsist in long term seasonal changes but the exact change to the number of phytoplankton in unknown. The focus of this study was to estimate the biomass of phytoplankton in a long term period including winter stratification and summer peak. From a period between March 2023 and October 2023 water samples were collected from the lake in the south basin, filtered, and analyzed with spectrophotometry to find the chlorophyll a content. The data was graphed and analyzed with regression statistics to track the changing biomass of phytoplankton in the study period. The phytoplankton persisted in lower amounts under the ice, but significantly increased during the summer months, peaking in the fall and decreasing again along with decreasing temperatures
Commencement Program, May 2023
No full texthttps://pines.bemidjistate.edu/commencement/1005/thumbnail.jp
Effects of Velocity and Substrate Size on the Formation of Zebra Mussel Druses
No full textZebra Mussels Dreissena polymorpha are an invasive bivalve species that are highly successful at dominating new environments. These invaders have been known to colonize substrate so thoroughly that all they have to attach to are members of their own species. When large mats of interconnected mussels completely cover a riverbed, it can have a drastic effect on the surrounding environment. This study serves to create a better understanding of the hydrologic parameters needed for Zebra Mussels to create these ecosystem-transforming colonies known as druses. Data was collected on a small stretch of the Upper Mississippi River in Northern Minnesota, previously known to be a Zebra Mussel hotspot. The goal was to search for correlations between substrate size, water depth, and water velocity that create optimal zones for Zebra Mussels to form these huge colonies
The Cruel Case of Wrongful Convictions: Conveying a Racial and Criminal Crisis in Our Courts
No full textStarting in 1989 with the advent of DNA analysis, discourse on wrongful conviction has become more prevalent in the U.S., but lacks an explanation for how they happen. There are a number of studies on the effects of wrongful conviction on its victims in social, mental, and historical terms. There is also a concerning level of scope in this concept, with an uncertainty on how to best measure the amount of people who have been victimized by wrongful convictions and what the rate of these convictions may be. Based on this literature I study three different potential causes, these being a victim\u27s race, the way judges are selected or elected in a certain state, and the type of crime the victim is accused of. The data confirms the first hypothesis, with a weak to moderate correlation and a strong statistical significance, with white 41.7% of white exonerees being freed after 1-20 years compared to minorities, of whom only 16.4% get out in their first 1-20 years. The second hypothesis is not affirmed, with states that have partisan judge elections scoring the 2nd lowest overall in their quickness to exonerate among all non-partisan selection methods, but lacking strong correlative measures. The third hypothesis is not affirmed as well, with those accused of violent crimes spending longer in prison than those accused of sex crimes, however, the correlative measures do show a strong correlation between the type of crime someone is accused of and their length of time in prison
Upholding Democracy: Black Voter Mobilization and its Impact on Political Participation and Representation
No full textThe 2020 U.S. Presidential election saw a historic turnout of Black voters, who played a key role in determining the outcome of the election. The Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement has played a significant role in mobilizing voters, particularly among Black Americans, in the 2020 U.S. presidential election. The movement\u27s focus on racial justice has motivated black communities across the country and inspiring the community to report to the ballot box. Including 2020 American National Election Study survey data. I explore how different identities affected voter attitudes and behaviors, as well as how this influenced mobilization strategies. The findings highlight the importance of understanding the diverse experiences and perspectives of Black voters, and the need for approaches to voter mobilization that center on issues of concern within the Black community
The Effects of Medical Malpractice Laws in the American States on Healthcare Expenditures
No full textThe relationship between medical malpractice laws and healthcare has been an issue battling since the early 1980s. The relationship differs among states because some states have stricter malpractice laws and others have less strict laws, which ultimately affects the healthcare costs within that state. It is argued that because of the risks of lawsuits against doctors, they tend to practice more defensive medicine, affecting health costs and lawsuit rewards. I analyze data from The National Conference of State Legislatures, The Court Statistics Project, and The Kaiser Family Foundation to assess the correlation between state tort laws and their effect on healthcare costs. Preliminary results are mixed showing a variety of causal factors that influence healthcare costs
Does Money Matter in House Elections?
No full textAlthough campaign spending has always been prevalent in American political society, the aftermath of decisions like Citizens United has led to higher amounts of election spending than ever before. But does spending have an observable effect on the outcome of elections? This paper evaluates the effect of campaign spending on winning an election using data from the 2020 House election cycle. The data I used consists of every House election from 2020, with seats ranked on a competitiveness scale from “safe Republican/Democrat” to “toss-up” (as categorized by 270ToWin), as well as recording incumbent or challenger victories, and the amount of money the winner and runner-up spent during their respective campaigns (taken from OpenSecrets). I also analyze whether campaign spending has a party bias. The preliminary results illustrate high statistical significance between election competitiveness and an increase in campaign spending
Assessing Environmental Justice in Minnesota: Do Native Americans Face Disproportionate Risks?
No full textEnvironmental justice is an area that has gained traction worldwide in recent years. Today, researchers are analyzing what factors play into this issue and what policymakers and environmental regulation can do to better these issues. Environmental justice focuses on any group that experiences an imbalance of environmental harms. These groups are commonly distinguished by factors such as race and income. I analyze primarily if Native Americans in the state of Minnesota may face disproportionate environmental harms, I also look at Black identifying individuals and population size as a means of comparison. I compared the number of environmental harms and the number of people that identify as Native American or Black in each zip code of Minnesota. My results showed that, on average, as the number of Black identifying individuals increase in each zip code, so do the number of environmental harms. I found the opposite for Native American identifying individuals. This may be because as environmental harms increase in more populous areas so does the percentage of African Americans. Native Americans may tend to live in more rural areas. This study emphasizes the need to further study which factors of environmental justice are affecting Minnesotans, and what changes can be made to create a more equal and just Minnesota
Fall 2023 BSU Today! Conference Program
No full textTLC Presents BSU Today! Coffeehouse-Stye (August 16, 2023