Digital Commons Network^™

Making The Macc: Communities Of Practice And Cultural Citizenship In Austin, Texas, Cassie Lynn Smith

Anthropology ETDs

Meaningful community engagement is a challenge for local governments without a thorough understanding of constituents’ histories and their relationship with City government. This dissertation investigates the City of Austin’s (COA) Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center (MACC) in Austin, Texas, to understand how this culture and arts institution engages with and is influenced by its patrons. This study analyzes the role of the MACC’s community of practice (Lave and Wenger 1991)—an evolving group of educators, activists, artists, and COA staff—in shaping public policy and educational programming as well as creating places of belonging for marginalized people in the city. …

“…Stay On It…”/A Theory///“Illumination Happens”//, Lara E. Goldmann

Art & Art History ETDs

“…stay on it…”/a theory///“illumination happens”// is a critical engagement with the work of contemporary Black artists Arthur Jafa and Adam Pendleton, explored through the lens of the Black radical tradition. Bridging aesthetics, politics, and history, the dissertation investigates how their visual, sonic, and conceptual practices articulate Black life, insurgency, and imagination.

Drawing on theorists such as Fred Moten, Sylvia Wynter, Hortense Spillers, Frantz Fanon, and Cedric Robinson, the study constructs a framework that considers Blackness as an ontological, social, and aesthetic force. It examines how Jafa and Pendleton unsettle dominant epistemologies, staging acts of refusal and creation that resonate within …

Phase Nanoscopy With Correlated Frequency Combs, Xiaobing Zhu

Optical Science and Engineering ETDs

In this dissertation a sensing method applying to any physical quantity that modifies optical phase is developed. Two pulses are produced inside a synchronously pumped Optical Parametric Oscillator, generating two identical, undistinguishable frequency combs. The physical quantity to be measured applies a small phase shift/round trip to one of the pulses, resulting in a frequency shift of the corresponding comb. The latter frequency is measured as a beat by interfering the two combs on a detector. A world record resolution, close to the quantum limit, of 0.033 nanoradian (corresponding to 0.006 fm in displacement) is achieved. A detailed analysis of …

Advancing Diamond Quantum Sensors: Isotropic Flux Concentrators And Phase Noise Mitigation, Maziar Saleh Ziabari

Optical Science and Engineering ETDs

Two methods for improving the sensitivity of nitrogen vacancy quantum sensors in diamond are explored. First, by passively concentrating the magnetic flux, three orthogonally oriented ferrite truncated cone pairs amplify the field isotropically by 19 times, allowing measurement of Earth's field without a bias field and increasing sensitivity. Through thorough analysis, modeling and tuning a novel 3-dimensional flux concentrator system, we achieve a fractional standard deviation of less than 1% anisotropy and quantify minimal deadzones and ambient temperature-limited variations below 40 nT/hour. Second, we characterize, model and calculate phase noise in NV experiments, which in NV sensors is effectively indistinguishable …

Networked Systems: Synchronization, Decomposition And Transient Dynamics, Amirhossein Nazerian

Mechanical Engineering ETDs

This dissertation investigates synchronization, transient dynamics, control, and signal amplification in networked dynamical systems. First, it examines complete and cluster synchronization, including cases with large parametric mismatches, in both natural (e.g., brain networks, fireflies) and technological systems (e.g., power grids, robotics). Second, it studies transient dynamics in consensus processes, designing synchronization strategies that link reactivity, contraction theory, and Lyapunov exponents. Third, it addresses the computational limits of Model Predictive Control (MPC) for large networks by introducing an algebraic decomposition method that enables parallel online computation of smaller subproblems, enhancing MPC performance under hardware constraints. Finally, it analyzes the structural role …

Composition Portfolio Of Doug Falk, Doug Falk

Music ETDs

This composition portfolio contains six compositions:

Heterogeneity (2020) for solo guitar

Amalgamation (2023) for reed quintet

Oil and Vinegar (2024) for wind symphony (satisfying the requirement of one work for large ensemble)

Shouting into the Abyss (2024) for flute with electronics (satisfying the requirements of a work for electronics and a work for voice)

Movements Come, Movements Cease (2025) for voice, trumpet/flugelhorn, marimba, electric bass, drum set and fixed media; written in collaboration with choreography by Laura Orozco Garrett (satisfying the requirement of one collaborative work)

Celestial Bodies in Motion (2025) for 10 piece wind ensemble (satisfying the requirement for …

Optimizing Distributed Boundary Exchanges For Benchmarks, Solvers And Sparse Matrix Operations, Gerald Collom

Computer Science ETDs

Boundary exchanges dominate the cost of both stenciled codes and those that rely on sparse matrix operations. The performance of large boundary exchanges is limited by synchronization overheads and injection bandwidth limitations. Irregular boundary exchanges incur additional overheads due to the large number of required messages. This thesis investigates multiple methods for improving the performance and scalability of both Cartesian and irregular boundary exchanges. Since boundary exchanges are typically performed iteratively, persistent communication presents an opportunity for optimization by sharing and amortizing setup costs. Partitioned communication is also explored to increase asynchrony, reducing bottlenecks from synchronization overheads and data congestion. …

Exploring Immune System Through Computational Modeling: A Comprehensive Study Of Lymph Nodes And Immune Response Scaling, Vaccine Efficacy, And Large-Scale Extreme First Passage Time, Jannatul Ferdous

Computer Science ETDs

The adaptive immune response is a complex defense mechanism that develops over time to recognize and eliminate pathogens with remarkable precision and durability. This dissertation investigates the dynamics, scaling, and efficiency of the adaptive immune response through a synthesis of computational modeling, mathematical analysis, and agent-based simulations. First, we analyze the topology of the lymphatic network and investigate the T cell search time to find the lymph node that is containing the matching dendritic cell. Second we show how the scaling of lymph node number and volume with body mass, leads to scale-invariant search times for T cells locating antigen-bearing …

Network Intelligence For Next-Generation Wireless Networks: Advancing Distribution And Coordination, Yonatan Melese Worku

Electrical and Computer Engineering ETDs

Next-generation wireless networks, encompassing 6G and beyond, face rigorous demands for ultra-low latency, ubiquitous connectivity, exceptionally high data rates, and robust security, necessitating innovative approaches to resource optimization and network protection. This dissertation proposes a pioneering framework that synergizes advanced methodologies—deep reinforcement learning, deep learning, blockchain, and multi-agent systems—to address these challenges. Distributed architectures, underpinned by AI-driven multi-agent systems, form the backbone of this framework, enabling seamless integration and intelligent orchestration across diverse domains. The research advances IoT-based systems leveraging machine learning for resource efficiency in healthcare applications, develops reinforcement learning-driven frameworks to optimize energy and coverage for Unmanned Aerial …

Explore Toolkit, Kimberly Page, Janet Page Reeves, Ivan De La Rosa, Marie Alice Scott, Christina Phillips, Maria Sanchez, Andrew Gorvetzian, Joe Albright, Cynthia Killough, Randall Benalli

Epidemiology, Biostatistics, and Preventive Medicine

Welcome to the Exploring Health Beliefs for Community Engagement and Diversity in Clinical Trials (EXPLORE) Toolkit, a resource designed to support researchers and frontline workers addressing substance use in the Borderlands. The EXPLORE Toolkit was designed by an interdisciplinary team of epidemiologists, social workers, anthropologists, and public health professionals to enhance the engagement of underrepresented communities in substance use clinical trials. Utilizing a strength-based approach, the toolkit addresses equity, stigma, and participation barriers, promoting culturally sensitive and community-centered research practices. This toolkit is an ideal tool for clinical trials researchers and community health workers who are interested in learning more …

Everyday Life In The U.S.: An Intersectional Approach To A North Korean Refugee Woman’S Identities, And Experiences, Lyounghee Kim

Communication ETDs

This dissertation examines everyday experiences of a North Korean refugee woman in the U.S., centering her narratives as sites of critique, resistance, and meaning-making. Grounded in Critical Refugee Studies, Asian American Studies, and Critical Intercultural Communication and framed by intersectionality, it explores how interlocking structures of power shape and are shaped by her life. Rather than focusing solely on trauma or assimilation, this study highlights her digital storytelling, faith, and mutual aid practices as acts of survival, dignity, and moral agency. Using a qualitative, narrative inquiry approach grounded in critical reflexivity, it thematically analyzes her stories to reveal how she …

Ghost Highway: De-Touring Albuquerque's Route 66, Madison A. Garay

Art & Art History ETDs

Route 66 was a U.S. Numbered Highway stretching from Chicago, IL to Santa Monica, CA, rising to fame through music and popular culture. In Albuquerque, New Mexico, Route 66 has a troublesome twin life as Central Avenue, a highly politicized space where bodies are contested. In this thesis, the function of public arts and architecture of Albuquerque’s main street thoroughfare, Central Avenue, will be analyzed as visual devices of U.S. Highway 66, or known in popular culture as “Route 66.” I employ a critical Derridean framework through Mark Fisher’s theorization of hauntology and Gerald Vizenor (White Earth Ojibwe)’s theory of …

Flysurf: A Flying Robotic Surface With Shape Morphing And Motion Control, Kevin Aubert De Luchi Lomellini

Electrical and Computer Engineering ETDs

This thesis introduces FlySurf, a novel flying robotic surface capable of simultaneous shape morphing and motion control. FlySurf is modeled as a mesh-based dynamic structure actuated by multiple unmanned aerial vehicles, enabling complex deformations during flight. The proposed control architecture comprises three main components. First, a state estimator to infer the robotic surface state from limited observations. Second, a shape trajectory planner that incorporates an affine deformation term to preserve surface integrity during shape transitions. Third, a surface controller to minimize the error between the desired and actual surface configurations.

The methodology is validated through realistic simulations and hardware experiments, …

Boricua En La Luna: An Ethnographic Case Study On The Spatializations Of Puerto Ricans In New Mexico, Neritza Díaz Cruz

Language, Literacy, and Sociocultural Studies ETDs

This ethnographic case study investigates the spatializations of Puerto Ricans in New Mexico, a state where the community is small, dispersed, and often invisible. The purpose of this study is to examine how Puerto Rican identity is shaped, expressed, and contested across New Mexican spaces. Drawing from critical spatial theory, this study investigates how broader structures such as language ideologies become spatialized in the everyday lives of five Puerto Rican adults living in the Albuquerque area. Data was gathered through interviews, observations, and participatory mapping. Thematic analysis was used to interpret the data with a focus on how lived, perceived, …

Upcycling Of Polydicyclopentadiene (Pdcpd) Via Dynamic Bonds, Catherine Biju

Biomedical Engineering ETDs

Thermoset polymers are valued for their exceptional mechanical strength and thermal stability, but suffer from irreversibility due to permanent covalent crosslinks, limiting recyclability. Polydicyclopentadiene (pDCPD), a widely used thermoset, exemplifies this limitation despite its excellent mechanical properties. In this study, we report an upcycling strategy for pDCPD through the incorporation of dynamic imine bonds. The successful integration of imine bonds was confirmed by ¹H NMR spectroscopy. Mechanical testing revealed that the modified pDCPD (pDCPD-imine) exhibits enhanced tensile strength and maintains its performance across multiple reprocessing cycles. Moreover, the dynamic nature of the imine bonds imparts healability to the network. This …

Cultural Humility, Holistic Admission Review, And Multicultural Experiences Among Newly Admitted Nursing Students, Janna Michelle Hackett

Nursing ETDs

This study explored the impact of Holistic Admissions Review (HAR) on demographic characteristics, multicultural experiences, and cultural humility (CH) levels among newly admitted pre-licensure nursing students. Fostering CH and diversity among healthcare providers may help reduce health disparities. Traditional admissions methods may not identify candidates with traits supporting CH development, whereas HAR considers diverse backgrounds and experiences. Two groups were surveyed: one admitted through HAR and the other through traditional methods. No significant differences in CH scores were found, but significant differences were found in age, living abroad, and volunteering with diverse populations. Students admitted through HAR were younger and …

Strategic Development Plan – San Pedro Dr. Main Street Corridor, Adrian N. Carver

Student Publications

The San Pedro MainStreet Strategic Development Plan is a place-based, community-driven roadmap for revitalizing the San Pedro Drive corridor in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The corridor sits at the intersection of historical significance and present-day opportunity—bridging the old and new alignments of Route 66 while serving a diverse, working-class population. Drawing from urban planning theory, spatial analysis, and community input, this plan identifies challenges and assets related to land use, infrastructure, business development, housing, and cultural identity. Special attention is given to past and ongoing patterns of racialized disinvestment and displacement, with strategies proposed to ensure equitable reinvestment and climate resilience. …

Community Health Workers: Key To Decreasing Food Insecurity In Pregnant Individuals, Linda Waggener Dnp

Doctor of Nursing Practice Scholarly Projects

Objectives: Food insecurity (FI) in pregnant individuals (PI)s is a global threat to birthing individuals and fetuses with potential immediate and intergenerational impacts on family and community. Community Health Workers (CHWs) facilitate support including food resources for FIPIs. The Family Fresh Rx (FFRx) program, within Food as Medicine (FaM) model provides fresh fruits and vegetables, optimize nutrition, and mitigates threats to health. This Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Quality Improvement (QI) project’s two objectives were CHWs’ FFRx program and referral process satisfaction evaluation through a pre, post, and four-week post refresher presentation (RP) modified System Usability Scale (mSUS) …

Speak Now With The Courage To Confront: An Educational Intervention To Address Bullying, Dominique Desiree Gomez

Doctor of Nursing Practice Scholarly Projects

Abstract

Background: Nurse-to-nurse bullying is a critical issue within the nursing profession, impacting close to half of all nurses. This phenomenon, articulated by the phrase "nurses eat their young," detrimentally influences employee retention, job satisfaction, morale, and ultimately, patient care. Furthermore, nurse-to-nurse bullying significantly affects the well-being of nursing professionals, particularly targeting novice nurses. This targeting raises substantial concerns regarding their retention, as many consider leaving the profession within their initial years of practice due to experiences of bullying. The educational intervention project titled “Speak Now with the Courage to Confront” is designed to mitigate bullying among novice nurses through …

Educating Healthcare Providers To Prevent And Mitigate The Effects Of Zoom Fatigue, Andrea Lima

Doctor of Nursing Practice Scholarly Projects

Zoom Fatigue (ZF), or physical and neuropsychological responses to excessive videoconferencing (VC), increased during the COVID-19 pandemic. Like burnout, ZF can compromise patient safety by causing decreased job satisfaction, social isolation, disrupted focus, and difficulty empathizing with patients. This Plan-Do-Study-Act quality improvement project aimed to assess feelings about VC, raise awareness of the adverse effects of overuse, and empower primary care providers (PCPs) to improve their work experiences. A group of on-site PCPs at a tertiary care medical center in the Southwest, who continued holding exclusive virtual team meetings after the pandemic, was asked to complete the 15-question Zoom Exhaustion …

Investigating Vacuum Insulator Flashover Resistance Of Rexolite And Acrylic Before And After Applying Novel Insulator Cleaning Techniques, Ritin Joseph

Electrical and Computer Engineering ETDs

Pulsed power involves accumulating large amounts of electrical energy and releasing it instantaneously. Large pulsed power accelerators use a vacuum insulator stack to facilitate power transfer from the liquid to vacuum section. Limiting the probability of surface flashover in this setting to acceptable levels improves machine longevity and prevents energy loss. Post-shot debris deposition requires a refurbishment process to prevent deterioration of dielectric performance, though the current technique of hand-sanding is long, labor-intensive, and pose serious health hazards. I have collected flashover data on frustrum-shaped Acrylic and C-Lec Rexolite® (cross-linked polystyrene) samples using a 500-kV, 20-ns risetime pulsed power test …

Unm Hslic Organizational Chart, David Lucero

HSLIC Organizational Charts

No abstract provided.

Ms4 Swmpp 2025, National Technology & Engineering Solutions Of Sandia, Llc (Ntess) And Department Of Energy (Doe)

Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) Permit

Stormwater discharges from Sandia National Laboratories/New Mexico (SNL/NM) are eligible for coverage under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) Permit. This Stormwater Management Plan (SWMP) was prepared by National Technology and Engineering Solutions of Sandia (NTESS) for the Department of Energy (DOE) National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) Sandia Field Office (SFO), owner of SNL/NM, located in Albuquerque, NM.

Hypersoft Set And Mcdm Methodology For Impact Of A Volleyball Program On Undergraduate Students' Physical Fitness And Health Elements, Chenming Zhang, Lejia Zhang

Neutrosophic Sets and Systems

No abstract provided.

Vocabulary Learning Strategies Among Saudi Efl Military Cadets: Patterns And Preferences, Fahad Aldosari

Language, Literacy, and Sociocultural Studies ETDs

This study investigates the vocabulary learning strategies (VLSs) of 126 Saudi military EFL cadets, an underexplored group in second language acquisition research. Using an explanatory sequential mixed-methods design, a questionnaire identified the most and least used strategies, followed by interviews with 10 participants for deeper insights. Findings show cadets frequently use bilingual dictionaries, vocabulary lists, and group work, while cognitive strategies like written repetition and note-taking are underutilized. No significant differences in VLS use were found between Level 1 and Level 2 cadets, suggesting stable strategy preferences. Additionally, emerging strategies such as gamified learning and collaborative storytelling indicate a shift …

Triangular Overconorm With Mcdm Methodology For Association Between Speaking Proficiency And Self-Assurance In English Language And Literature, Censhu Ouyang, Boqi Hou

Neutrosophic Sets and Systems

No abstract provided.

Neutrosophic N-Superhypernetwork: A New Approach For Evaluating Short Video Communication Effectiveness In Media Convergence, Shouxian Zhu

Neutrosophic Sets and Systems

No abstract provided.

Baa Nihiłdah)Zh) - Chronicles Of Diné College Graduates In Pursuit Of Educational Attainment, Kerenthia J. Swan

Teacher Education, Educational Leadership & Policy ETDs

This study investigated the educational, cultural, familial, and tribal factors that influenced the academic success of four Diné (Navajo) students who earned a college degree from the University of New Mexico. Utilizing the Diné Educational Philosophy Paradigm and Indigenous methodology grounded in Diné values and cultural perspectives, this study centered the voices and lived experiences of Diné graduates to gain insight into the supports and obstacles encountered throughout their higher educational journey. The findings highlight the crucial role of family encouragement, traditional teachings, cultural values centered on collective responsibility, and the availability of culturally supportive academic resources. A recurring theme …

Measuring Teaching Success In College Foreign Literature Programs: An Evaluation Perspective Using Double Framed Superhypersoft Set, Lingling Chen

Neutrosophic Sets and Systems

No abstract provided.

Evaluation Of College Students' Innovation And Entrepreneurship Abilities In The New Media Environment Using Tree Soft Set And Neutrosophic Modeling, Xiang Lou

Neutrosophic Sets and Systems

No abstract provided.