Digital Commons Network^™

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 …

Does Reliance On Kin Erode With Market Integration? A Social Network Perspective, Ruizhe Liu

Anthropology ETDs

Kinship has long shaped human societies. Yet globalization and market integration (MI) are reshaping social structures. This dissertation investigates how kinship-based networks persist, adapt, or erode amid rapid socioeconomic change. It draws on ethnographic and social network data from 229 Mosuo households in southwest China, a matrilineal society experiencing increasing MI, to examine shifts in everyday cooperation.

The first study analyzes fixed name-generator data and finds a general decline in kin support as MI increases, though with considerable variation. The second study uses count models to explore unbounded support networks, showing that kin ties remain central in reproductive contexts, while …

Chamisa Vol 4, University Of New Mexico

Chamisa: A Journal of Literary, Performance, and Visual Arts of New Mexico and the Greater Southwest

No abstract provided.

The Inspired Retirement: Purpose And Passion In Your Next Adventure, Nathalie Martin

Faculty Book Display Case

In this retirement book, Nathalie Martin shows how to plan a meaningful, purpose-driven retirement at any income.

Retirement Can Be Anything We Want, As Long as We Know What We Want

Most people plan for retirement by checking their portfolios. Yet there is so much more to a happy retirement. This book focuses not on the money but what you’ll actually do in retirement, helping readers plan and live a joyful, healthy, meaningful retirement. In a fun and thoughtful way, this book helps you picture, plan and start living a purposeful and inspired next chapter. Through its exploration of your …

A Study Of Machine Learning Techniques In Solving Biochemical And Chemical Problems, Kenneth Micheal Plackowski

Chemistry and Chemical Biology ETDs

Data-driven approaches to solving problems in biology and chemistry require utilization of reliable techniques and machine learning algorithms are the modern reliable approach. This work presents three problems that involve use of supervised learning techniques when classification is the goal and unsupervised learning techniques when global data representation is the goal.

In the first problem, we demonstrate the use of unsupervised clustering techniques, self-organizing maps and K-means, to ascertain analyte detection capabilities of carbon nitride dots. In the second problem, we add scalability features to a functional group classification model applied to infrared data and evaluate its ability to inform …

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 …

Analyzing Environmental Health: Air Pollution And Human Health Using Geospatial Data Science, Yanhong Huang

Geography ETDs

Air pollution from industrial emissions and wildfire smoke poses growing threats to public health. This dissertation employs geospatial data science to examine these challenges through three interrelated studies. The first study investigates the relationship between maternal residential exposure to industrial pollutants and low birth weight, identifying five chemicals as significant risk factors. The second study assesses the impact of industrial air pollution on lung and bronchus cancer survival, finding that exposure to 1,1,1-trichloroethane and cobalt is associated with reduced survival. The third study explores disparities in wildfire smoke PM_2.5 exposure and its association with asthma exacerbations. Results show disparities …

Theoretical And Experimental Investigation Of Liquid-Liquid Phase Separation: Characterizing Elastin-Like-Polypeptides, Adam D. Quintana

Chemical and Biological Engineering ETDs

This dissertation develops and validates a semi-empirical Flory–Huggins-based interaction model, combined with Cahn–Hilliard simulations, for predicting multi-component liquid–liquid phase separation (LLPS) in elastin-like polypeptide (ELP) systems. Equilibrium droplet compositions, measured using a PDMS-based microfluidic device, enabled direct parameterization of interaction coefficients. The model was applied to generate phase diagrams and assess composition dependence in ternary mixtures. Cahn–Hilliard simulations were conducted to explore potential phase morphologies under different interfacial conditions. Multi-component Lattice Boltzmann simulations were implemented to model droplet morphology evolution under varying interfacial and diffusive parameters, reproducing experimentally relevant morphologies. A three-phase wetting study revealed conditions for selective wetting and …

What Can We Learn From The High School Math Reform Efforts In California, Georgia, And Oregon? A Policy Analysis, Yanira Vazquez

Teacher Education, Educational Leadership & Policy ETDs

Using publicly available data sources, this policy analysis examined how three states—California, Georgia, and Oregon—approached high school mathematics reforms to address questions regarding what prompted these states to revise their high school math standards and course pathways; how their approaches to reform were similar or different; and what other states could learn from their methods.

Individual state cases were developed, focusing on content standards, course pathways, and graduation requirements. A cross-case study was created to compare reforms from the three states.

While all states aimed to reform high school mathematics to address equity issues and offer options aligned with students’ …

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, …

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 …

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, …

Seeking Structure In Complex Systems: From Feature Analysis To Space-Time Causal Discovery With Earth Science Applications, Jeffrey J. Nichol

Computer Science ETDs

Complex systems are difficult to study because of their many interacting parts, emergent phenomena, and feedback loops. These systems underpin all life on Earth. We need improved tools for seeking an understanding of them. This body of research presents my investigations into data-driven methods for understanding complex systems, including my invention of a novel causal discovery meta-algorithm for space-time gridded data. I demonstrated machine learning feature importance and causal discovery capabilities for comparing simulated and observed climate data. I developed a new benchmark for modeling space-time dynamics of locally driven phenomena and examined a prominent causal discovery algorithm. Finding that …

Facilitating Novice Learning In Visual Search: Baseline-Dependent Effects Of Transcranial Electrical Stimulation Over The Right Inferior Frontal Gyrus, Bradley M. Robert

Psychology ETDs

Transcranial electrical stimulation (tES) has shown potential to modulate attention and enhance learning, yet its effects in applied, real-world contexts, remains underexplored. This study investigated the impact of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) and high-frequency transcranial random noise stimulation (hf-tRNS with DC offset) on performance in a synthetic aperture radar (SAR) visual search task requiring both target identification and change detection. Participants (N = 63) were randomly assigned to tDCS, hf-tRNS, or sham conditions, with stimulation applied to the right inferior frontal gyrus (F10) during the training phase. Accuracy served as the primary outcome, with supplementary EEG and eye-tracking data …

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 …

Pd-Based Hydrogen Separation Membranes Synthesized Via A Liquid-Phase Route, Chase W. Thompson

Chemical and Biological Engineering ETDs

Palladium (Pd) membranes have gained significant attention for their ability to selectively separate hydrogen, a critical process for clean energy applications such as fuel cells and hydrogen storage. However, challenges such as grain growth, sintering, hydrogen embrittlement, and film uniformity limit their scalability and long-term stability. This thesis focuses on the controlled synthesis, deposition, and stability of Pd nanoparticles to optimize membrane performance for hydrogen separation. This work investigates solution-phase synthesis of Pd nanoparticles, focusing on temperature, precursor concentration, and solvent composition as key variables influencing particle growth and dispersion. Pd membranes were fabricated using nanoparticle deposition onto porous supports, …

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. …

Access Research Materials Hslic Doesnt Own: Document Delivery & Interlibrary Loan, Evelyn Wang

HSLIC Faculty and Staff Instructional Resources

This informational flyer, "Access Research Materials HSLIC Doesn’t Own: Document Delivery & Interlibrary Loan," outlines the services available at the University of New Mexico Health Sciences Library and Informatics Center (HSLIC) for obtaining research materials not held by the library. It explains the difference between Interlibrary Loan (ILL)—borrowing materials from other libraries—and Document Delivery—electronic delivery of HSLIC-owned materials. The flyer details eligibility, costs, request procedures, delivery timelines, and support contacts for both services, aiming to help users efficiently access needed articles, book chapters, and more.

Hslic Resources And Services For Clinical Scholarship, Evelyn Wang

HSLIC Faculty and Staff Instructional Resources

This resource guide, "HSLIC Resources and Services for Clinical Scholarship," provides an overview of essential tools, databases, and support services available through the University of New Mexico Health Sciences Library and Informatics Center (HSLIC) for clinical scholars. It details resources for literature searching, full text access, patient education, research organization, digital archives, and professional development. The guide highlights platforms such as PubMed, EMBASE, PsycINFO, CINAHL, UpToDate, MedlinePlus, BrowZine, LibKey Nomad, and more, as well as services like interlibrary loan, data management, and open access publishing. Contact information for personalized support is included.

Clinical & Educational Librarian Services, Evelyn Wang

HSLIC Faculty and Staff Instructional Resources

This informational handout, "Clinical & Educational Librarian Services: Training, Onsite Support, and Research Guidance," summarizes the key services provided by the Health Sciences Library and Informatics Center (HSLIC) for clinical and educational support. The document outlines tailored training sessions aligned with ACGME Milestones, onsite support for real-time literature searches and resource introductions during rounds and academic meetings, research guidance for developing questions and managing citations, and group workshops on databases and research tools. Contact information for scheduling consultations and requesting literature searches is included.

Zotero Citation Management: Streamline Your Research And Writing, Evelyn Wang

HSLIC Faculty and Staff Instructional Resources

No abstract provided.

Memory, Reconciling Genocide, And Other Post-Cold War Realities In Guatemala., Dr. Andy Hernández

LAII Events

Wednesday, July 09, 2025 | 03:30 pm - 04:30 pm

Max Salazar Building (MS 408) at CNM

900 University Blvd SE

Home to Mayans and other Indigenous groups for thousands of years, Guatemala was claimed by conquistadores in the sixteenth century. The Spanish colonial period gave way to independence, which in turn gave way to increasing U.S. business and strategic interests in the 20th century. An early site for covert intervention, U.S. officials cultivated various right-wing governments during the Cold War, particularly after Nicaragua’s Sandinista Revolution. Increasingly repressive governments intensified violence in rural Guatemala throughout the 1980s ultimately carrying out …

Cup Contamination: Research Reveals Alarming Microplastic Levels In Beverages, Dustin Roberto

HSC Newsroom

No abstract provided.

Under Pressure: Performance Loads And Recovery In Ncaa Division I Women’S Soccer During Fixture Congestion, Jade X. Dawson, Fabiano T. Amorim

Health, Exercise, and Sports Sciences ETDs

Soccer places high physiological demands on athletes, and match congestion—playing more than two games per week—is a growing concern at the NCAA Division I level. Limited recovery time between matches can impair performance and increase injury risk, prompting widespread use of recovery strategies. However, research on their effectiveness remains inconclusive, and most existing studies focus on male athletes, leaving a gap in evidence specific to female players. This review and observational study aim to evaluate non-nutritional recovery strategies in NCAA Division I women’s soccer and examine how recovery duration influences performance.

Match load data were collected from eleven female athletes …

Self-Determination In The Implementation Of Treaty Reserved Rights, Kekek Jason Stark

Tribal Law Journal

No abstract provided.

Don’T Throw The Book: Customary Tribal Laws Can Heal Rather Than Punish Addiction, Coleman Griffith

Tribal Law Journal

No abstract provided.

Fulfilling An Obligated Duty To The Diné By Incorporating And Defining A Core Principle, Tó’Eí’Iiná Até (Water Is Life) Into The Navajo Nation Tribal Water Code: Making A Connection To The Diné In The “Checkerboard” Area., M. Tyanne Benallie

Tribal Law Journal

No abstract provided.

Front Matter, Tribal Law Journal

Tribal Law Journal

No abstract provided.

Stop Killing The Klamath: Rights Of Nature Protections With Tribal Law, The National Historic Preservation Act, And Collaborative Management Strategies For A Tribe On The Front Lines Of Climate Change, Juliette A. Jackson

Tribal Law Journal

No abstract provided.