Digital Commons Network^™

Embedding Direction Of Arrival And Antenna Beamforming Algorithms On Automated Software Defined Radio Platforms, Adrian J. Lewis

Electrical and Computer Engineering ETDs

Antenna arrays are an essential technology in the modern era in both communications and radar applications. The algorithms used for antenna arrays are beginning to be embedded in smart device applications to enable greater communication abilities. This thesis explores the idea of embedding direction of arrival and beamforming algorithms using a software defined radio platform. Specifically, the Multiple Signal Classification (MuSiC) algorithm and Minimum Variance Distortionless Response (MVDR) algorithm are combined. The combination of similar algorithms has the potential to be used in many internet of things applications to enable more dynamic communication ability.

Imperial Architecture And Absolute Chronology In The Inka State: The View From Northern Chile, Beau G. Murphy

Anthropology ETDs

Scholars often evaluate the political aspects of imperial architecture in terms of the symbolism of specific buildings, leaving a gap in our understanding of the political calculations of overall site layouts. This study of the architecture of the Inka provincial capital of Turi, located in the Atacama of northern Chile, identifies aspects of planning in the site’s layout that extend our knowledge of the use of architecture by past empires to communicate political messages. In so doing, the study addresses multi-scalar issues of a neglected Inka chronology, including the chronology of Turi itself, of Inka rule of the Upper Loa …

Development And Characterization Of Automated Screen Mesh-Based Microfluidic Device To Perform Continuous Countercurrent Liquid-Liquid Extraction, Quinn Mcculloch

Nanoscience and Microsystems ETDs

Continuous Countercurrent Microfluidic Liquid-Liquid Extraction (CC-MLLE) shows tremendous potential to generate large numbers of equilibrium stages of separation in a small footprint, with a minimum of pumping, valving, and phase separation steps. However, CC-MLLE rarely appears in literature because it requires a delicate balance between capillary and hydrodynamic forces for deterministic flow.

This dissertation showcases a patented screen mesh-based CC-MLLE invention that performs stable, long-duration (> 36 hr.), countercurrent liquid-liquid extraction and achieves 37 equilibrium stages within a 38.5 μl internal volume. The device is fabricated from chemically resistant polyetheretherketone plastic, using standard machine shop equipment, a plotting cutter, screen …

Compassionate Care In Elementary General Music Teaching And Learning As A Way To Respond To The World: A Narrative Inquiry, Julia K. Church Hoffman

Teacher Education, Educational Leadership & Policy ETDs

In this narrative inquiry, where stories were the data, three experienced music teachers from one public school district in the southwestern United States shared stories about their experiences as elementary general music teachers. The stories were told through the lens of compassionate care, a perspective that implies a shared experience between teacher and learners (Hendricks, 2018, 2023). The stories, and my interpretation of them, revealed an understanding of elementary general music, a multimodal, fun, school subject, as a vehicle for teaching children how to be kind and respectful humans. Threads that emerged from the stories linked connections between compassionate care, …

Topics In Wappo Phonology, Aaron W. Marks

Linguistics ETDs

This work examines various topics in the phonology and phonetics of the Wappo language (ʔonaʔcáṭis), an Indigenous American language spoken in Northern California. Utilizing both published written sources and the large audio corpus of spoken Wappo compiled by linguist Jesse Sawyer and housed at the California Language Archive at UC Berkeley, this work addresses several fundamental questions in Wappo phonology, including phoneme inventory structure, phonotactics, phoneme frequency, phonetics and allophony, word-level prosody, morphophonemics, and a detailed discussion of the context of Wappo phonology within the California Linguistic Area, including the question of a localized linguistic sub-area around the …

Adaptive Screen Capture Video Analysis, Ugesh Egala

Electrical and Computer Engineering ETDs

This thesis presents a system for analyzing student activities during class sessions to gain insights into the learning process. A dataset consisting of 14 screen recordings, with 2 videos labeled across two stages, was used for training, validation, and testing. The methodology employs adaptive sampling, initially at 10 frames per minute to identify active regions, followed by detailed analysis at 1 frame per second using OCR to detect typing activities through character changes. The results demonstrate over a 50% reduction in computational load while maintaining high accuracy in detecting student engagement. A total of 26 hours of screen capture videos …

Building Materials Cut From The Earth: A Look At Sod Construction Around The World And In New Mexico, Giulia Caporuscio

Architecture and Planning ETDs

Terrón, or sod, is an earthen building technology that is being lost. The blocks are cut directly from the ground, generally along banks of bodies of fresh water, marshlands, or grassland valleys. The resulting blocks are clay rich with plant root systems that provide strength to the construction material. This building material is found in archeological and modern structures around the world. Today the material and knowledge behind this earthen technology is being lost.

This paper starts by summarizing other studies of sod construction in Indigenous cultures of the Americas, homesteaders of the Plains of the United States and Canada …

Gnss And Insar Observations Of Vertical Motion In The Valles Caldera, Nm, Savannah Chase Devine

Earth and Planetary Sciences ETDs

The Valles caldera is a rhyolitic “supervolcano” formed 1.231 Ma. An understanding of whether Valles caldera is currently deforming is needed to inform volcanic hazard estimates for northern New Mexico and will allow for a better understanding of the hazards presented by other rhyolitic caldera systems. Here, we present an InSAR time series of the Valles Caldera using 37 interferograms, spanning 2014 to 2022, which show a small but consistent signal of broad pattern subsidence/yr. We also present GNSS observations from a survey conducted in October 2022 and compare the results to surveys in 2002 and 2003 to estimate the …

Conserved Mechanisms Of Drug Induced Lifespan Extension In S. Cerevisiae And C. Elegans, Christine E. Robbins

Biomedical Sciences ETDs

Aging is a phenomenon that brings aches, pains and a risk of developing diseases. Many researchers have discovered pathways that regulate aging by altering gene expression. Understanding genetic regulation of aging is key but identifying drugs that target aging will result in translatable treatments. Additionally, understanding how drugs are interacting with our cells allows us to create targeted therapies. I study two types of drugs. First, tRNA synthetase inhibitors are a class of drugs that inhibit charging of tRNAs. I identified a mechanism of lifespan extension by upregulation of the conserved transcription factor, Gcn4 / Atf-4. Second, I found that …

The Iep Team: Team Members’ Perspectives Of The Decision-Making Process, Peggy A. Duffie

Special Education ETDs

The Individualized Education Program (IEP) remains a pivotal document for ensuring educational equity for students with disabilities in public education (Bateman, 2017). This qualitative interview study investigated how an IEP team supporting a student with extensive support needs navigated the decision-making process during annual IEP development. Through in-depth interviews with six out of eight team members, I explored IEP team members’ perceptions of their and others’ responsibilities and contributions to the development of an annual IEP. Qualitative coding revealed four key decision-making themes: Unspoken norms, privileging professional knowledge, avoiding conflict and responding to disagreements, and identifying your place at the …

Breaking The Silence: Autoethnographic Account Of Communication In The Aftermath Of Parental Suicide, Marissa L. Lucero

Communication ETDs

The silence that surrounds the suicide of a parent often masks unresolved feelings of guilt, shame, and powerlessness in families grieving their loss. For children, the long-lasting impact of suppressing communication about parental suicide can endure throughout adulthood. In this autoethnography, I un-salience my voice to reflect on my father’s suicide in the context of my Nuevo Mexicana identity. I assert my Chicana feminist voice through an extraction of gendered and culturally grounded memories, personal journal entries from my childhood, and a review of academic sources on suicide. This thesis is a personal and intellectual engagement with Chicana/o critical theory, …

Pulsed Secondary Electron Yield Measurements Of Metallic And Dielectric Materials Of Interest For High Power Vacuum Electron Devices, Bilal Ahmed Malik

Electrical and Computer Engineering ETDs

Secondary electron emission (SEE) from conductors is thought to play an important role in the initiation of Multipactor breakdown in vacuum electron devices. The SEE of dielectric materials plays a crucial role in numerous scientific and technological applications, including particle accelerators, spacecraft charging, and plasma diagnostics. Additionally, the SEE of an insulator may depend on its electrical stress history. In both cases, SEE strongly depends on any conditioning of the material surface. We present measurements on both conducting and insulating materials of interest in these applications. Measurements are being made in an existing test stand, recently modified to enable measurements …

Cell And Molecular Mechanisms Of Plasticity And Injury Associated With Spreading Depolarization, Jordan E. Weisend

Biomedical Sciences ETDs

Spreading depolarization (SD) is now established as a critical event contributing to the expansion of acute brain injuries. In areas with insufficient access to metabolites, SD results in episodic glutamate accumulation and NMDA receptor over-activation. Intriguingly, in areas with sufficient access to metabolites SD can result in synaptic strengthening, together suggesting SD consequences may vary widely based on metabolic context. Utilizing acute murine brain slices, this dissertation sought to interrogate the cell and molecular mechanisms of SD induced detriment and revitalization. We describe evidence that the primary NMDAR subtype involved in SD is GluN2A-containing NMDARs, and when targeted during SD …

Deep Sequence-Coupled Biopanning And Vaccine Development, Julianne Peabody

Biomedical Sciences ETDs

Virus-like particles (VLPs) are nanoparticles comprised of viral structural proteins. They physically resemble the virus from which they are derived but lack genomic material. They are non-infectious, non-replicating, and have a favorable safety profile. VLPs are highly immunogenic with a dense, repetitive structure that is strongly activating for B cells. VLPs can be utilized to develop vaccines and can be used either as direct immunogens or platforms for the display of heterologous antigens. The display of foreign peptides on VLPs can be used to elicit high-titer antibodies against the displayed peptide. A virus-like particle based on the RNA bacteriophage MS2 …

Ridgecrest: Past, Present & Future, Sunanda Sharmin

Architecture and Planning ETDs

The goal of historic preservation is to record our understanding of the past but also, look into the future. Preserving old buildings, structures and landscapes reduces carbon emission and preserves cherished glimpses of our shared human history. Consequently, adapting our treasured historic sites to endure the mounting impact of climate related challenges—be it rising sea levels, tempestuous storms, inundating floods, relentless droughts, or raging wildfires—stands as an imperative mission.

This thesis documents a historic landscape - the Ridgecrest Drive in Albuquerque, New Mexico and then explores principles and ideas that need to be considered to generate a more responsive setting …

Reported Incidence Of Infections Caused By Pathogens Transmitted Commonly Through Food: Impact Of Increased Use Of Culture-Independent Diagnostic Tests - Foodborne Diseases Active Surveillance Network, 1996-2023, Hazel J. Shah, Rachel H. Jervis, Katie Wymore, Tamara Rissman, Bethany Laclair, Michelle M. Boyle, Kirk Smith, Sarah Lathrop, Suzanne Mcguire, Rosalie Trevejo, Marcy Mcmillian, Stic Harris, Joanna Zablotsky Kufel, Kennedy Houck, Carey E. Lau, Carey J. Devine, Dave Boxrud, Daniel L. Weller

Pathology Research and Scholarship

Reducing foodborne disease incidence is a public health priority. This report summarizes preliminary 2023 Foodborne Diseases Active Surveillance Network (FoodNet) data and highlights efforts to increase the representativeness of FoodNet. During 2023, incidences of domestically acquired campylobacteriosis, Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli infection, yersiniosis, vibriosis, and cyclosporiasis increased, whereas those of listeriosis, salmonellosis, and shigellosis remained stable compared with incidences during 2016-2018, the baseline used for tracking progress towards federal disease reduction goals. During 2023, the incidence and percentage of infections diagnosed by culture-independent diagnostic tests (CIDTs) reported to FoodNet continued to increase, and the percentage of cases that yielded an …

Deep Learning For Multiple Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Coordination In Air Corridors, Liangkun Yu

Electrical and Computer Engineering ETDs

In the future, city skies will be filled with Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) for rapid urban transport, including parcel deliveries and air taxis. NASA's Urban Air Mobility (UAM) envisions UAVs navigating air corridors. These virtual pathways ensure safety and compliance with regulations. However, current research on UAM practical applications is limited. This dissertation focuses on designing air corridors, developing UAV control systems, and ensuring the robustness of control algorithms against disturbances in real-world environments.

Our design features an air corridor system with horizontal lanes and on-off ramps, conceptualized as cylindrical spaces and tori, respectively. To enable each UAV to locally …

Rectal Cancer Treatment: Sexual Function Is Not The Sole Determinant Of Quality Of Life, Sarah M. Popek

Biomedical Sciences ETDs

Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer. Rectal cancer patients face genitourinary dysfunction, impacting physical, psychological, and social well-being. This study examined the prevalence of sexual dysfunction in rectal cancer patients to assess the impact of sexual dysfunction on quality of life (QoL).

This mixed method study included 19 completing the survey portion and 10 completing an interview, evenly split between men and women, and those with and

without a stoma. Most experienced significant sexual dysfunction, and discussion of sexual function was rare. Quality of life scores were high. Themes from the interviews included (1) the relationship between the …

Mitigating Algorithmic Bias: Strategies For Addressing Discrimination In Data, Sonia Gipson Rankin

Faculty Scholarship

This article examines the pervasive issue of algorithmic bias, particularly within large language models (LLMs) and the legal system. It argues that unlike simple programming bugs, these biases are deeply ingrained in the design and training data of artificial intelligence (AI) systems. By understanding the historical roots of bias and its realworld consequence across various sectors, we can develop effective strategies to mitigate its impact and ensure AI serves as a tool for progress. Weaving together historical insights, case studies, and forward-looking recommendations, the article aims to equip legal professionals with the knowledge and tools necessary to lead the charge …

“We’Ve Been Doing Mindfulness Since Time Immemorial”: Provider Experiences Using Mindfulness-Based Interventions In American Indian And Alaska Native Communities, Jalene L. Herron

Psychology ETDs

American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) individuals are underrepresented in mindfulness research. Mindfulness may be relevant to some AI/AN traditions and aid in providing culturally responsive mental healthcare. This study examined the experiences of providers who use mindfulness-based interventions with AI/AN clients. Twenty-five providers completed interviews about their experiences. Three primary themes were identified using thematic analysis: 1) using a cultural lens in providing therapy, where providers integrate cultural practices and utilize a client centered approach; 2) framing mindfulness in AI/AN contexts through cultural adaptations to demonstrate the applicability of mindfulness to cultural settings; and 3) processes in implementing culturally …

Honors College Apr Spring 2024 Self-Study & Documents, Unm Academic Program Review

UNM Academic Program Review

UNM Honors College self-study & review team report for Spring 2024, fulfilling requirements of Higher Learning Commission.

Unm Hslic Organizational Chart 2024, Sally Bowler-Hill

HSLIC Organizational Charts

No abstract provided.

Identity Configuration Of Physician Clinician Educators: A Mixed Methods Study, Lindsey D. White

Organization, Information and Learning Sciences ETDs

This study explores identities of physician clinician educators (CEs) and finds that their identities are multiple and that the COVID-19 pandemic impacted CE identity configuration. Following a sequential explanatory mixed-methods design (quan -> QUAL), participants (n = 115) completed the Physician Clinician Educator Identity Survey (PCEIS) and semi-structured interviews (n = 12). Exploratory factor analysis resulted in a three-factor model; the PCEIS is an acceptable measure of singular CE identity, collective identity, and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on CE identity. Qualitative results confirmed the quantitative results and revealed that CEs experience identity enhancement and conflict among multiple identities …

Essays On The Societal Impacts Of Housing Programs And Substance Use Disorder Treatment, Rex W. Sitti

Economics ETDs

I present three essays that contribute to understanding the secondary costs and benefits associated with programs that address homelessness and substance use disorder (SUD) treatment. The first essay investigates whether homeless shelters impact property values. Despite anecdotal claims of property devaluation, endogeneity challenges limit empirical research on homelessness programs. Using data from the Department of Housing (HUD) and Seattle’s King County Department of Assessment, I address these challenges using spatial difference-in-differences methodology, revealing nuanced effects favoring permanent supportive housing. The second essay leverages the Built for Zero program to examine the link between homelessness and crime. Analyzing HUD and crime …

Unm Pathology, Pathfinder Summer 2024, Unm Department Of Pathology

Newsletters

No abstract provided.

Formalizing The Santa Fe Water Bank, Walker Williamson

Water Resources Professional Project Reports

Water users depend on institutional flexibility to efficiently allocate water in legally constrained and overallocated basins. Adaptive market-based mechanisms such as water banking proffer flexibility and fairness, but often face practical challenges fueled by empirical and institutional uncertainties. The Santa Fe Water Bank is a case in point. The City of Santa Fe transfers agricultural water rights from the Middle Rio Grande to its municipal Water Bank for sustainable development. Combined uncertainties in this process can obscure latent changes in water balance and foster misunderstanding, potentially provoking transfer protests. This study develops a formal model clarifying the interrelated institutional and …

Reproducing And Challenging Islamophobia In News Framing Of Ilhan Omar And Rashida Tlaib, Two Prominent Muslim Women In U.S. Politics, Saiqa Shahzadi

Communication ETDs

ABSTRACT

Muslim women are frequently misrepresented in U.S. mainstream media and often portrayed adversely as a homogeneous group of women defined and silenced by religious and gender oppression. Scholarly research has documented how this historical pattern of representation ignores their intersectional, complex identities and reinforces the discourse of Islamophobia. This thesis will explore this problem in the case of the first Muslim American women elected to the U.S. House of Representatives: Ilhan Omar (D-Minnesota) and Rashida Tlaib (D-Michigan). Drawing on theories of media framing, intersectionality, and Islamophobia, the research examined 12 in-depth stories from 2019 and 2023 in three mainstream …

Application Of Ncms And Multialism In Indigenous Art Analysis, Allison J. García-Guano, Victoria S. Ruiz-Pinto, Bertha A. Paredes-Calderón, Manuel E. Lanas López

Neutrosophic Sets and Systems

This study utilizes Neutrosophic Cognitive Maps (NCMs) to investigate cultural interactions in Tigua, an indigenous vil-lage in Ecuador known for its rich artistic heritage. The approach evaluates five crucial factors: ancestral traditions (A), external influences (B), cultural synthesis (C), artistic creativity (D), and education and cultural transmission (E). The ac-tivation of cultural synthesis (node C) is crucial for merging traditions with new influences, leading to the development of cultural and artistic breakthroughs. By integrating MultiAlism notions into the discourse, the comprehension of Tigua artworks is heightened since it establishes a correlation between indigenous and postcolonial art. This synthesis not only …

Analysis Using Treesoft Set Of The Strategic Development Plan For Extreme Poverty Municipalities, Edwin Collazos Paucar, Jeri G. Ramón Ruffner De Vega, Efrén S. Michue Salguedo, Agustina C. Torres-Rodríguez, Patricio A. Santiago-Saturnino

Neutrosophic Sets and Systems

The analysis of the Strategic Development Plan for extreme poverty municipalities in the Province of Huancayo, Peru in 2019 using Treesoft Set and neutrosophic sets represents an innovative and rigorous approach to evaluate development strategies in challenging socioeconomic contexts. In this study, advanced data analysis and uncertainty management tools are used to thoroughly examine the actions proposed in the strategic plan and their potential impact on the most vulnerable communities. The combination of Treesoft Set, a comprehensive platform for data analysis, and neutrosophic sets, which allow the modeling of imprecision and ambiguity in collected data and opinions, offers a robust …

Plithogenic Analysis Of The Psychosocial Perceptions Of Call Center Operators In Quito, Martha P. Silva-Guzmán, Bryan M. Barragán-Pazmiño, María J. Hernández-Mesa

Neutrosophic Sets and Systems

This study focused on evaluating the perceptions of a group of call center operators in Quito regarding their work envi-ronment using Plithogenic statistics to address the complexity and ambiguity of the responses. The sample included 114 workers from three companies, assessed using the Battery of the Ministry of Social Protection of Colombia and a work stress questionnaire. The results revealed high job demands, perceived as stressful by employees, although satisfaction with the rewards received was shown. However, significant uncertainty was identified regarding control over work, lead-ership, and social relationships, suggesting critical areas for improvement. The use of Plithogenic logic allowed …