2021 University Division Presentations

Alexander S Acuna, Electrical and Computer Engineering Technology
New Mexico State University
Mentor(s): Paul M. Furth, New Mexico State University, Professor of Engineering Technology
Program: NM AMP
The current emergency vehicle detection sensors only use the loud audio signal of the siren. These detection sensors are used to allow emergency vehicles to enter gated communities. This new sensor could help improve the reliability of current detection systems and may help (the average response time of emergency vehicles in gated communities). The Visual Emergency Vehicle Detection Sensor (VEVDS) is designed to detect emergency vehicles using the time-varying colored light waves emitted from the vehicle's lightbar. In this project, we implement a zero-crossing counter program using an Arduino microcontroller and optical RGB color sensors. Current progress is in the testing a multi sensor design using two or more color sensors for speed, accuracy, static sensitivity, and processing overhead.

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Carissa M Arthur, Electrical Engineering
New Mexico Tech
Mentor(s): Jianja Yu, PhD., Adjunct Faculty & Leonard Garcia, Research Asscoiate; New Mexico Tech, Petroleum Recovery Research Center
Program: NM AMP
Water on the Navajo Nation is neither safe nor accessible. Contaminants such as Uranium, Arsenic, Calcium, Manganese, Lithium, and Vanadium have been found in watering holes that Navajo Nation residents depend on. Ingesting these contaminants on a regular basis can result in cancer and shorten life expectancy. Creating a cost-effective, self-supporting filter efficient enough to remove specific contaminants is the challenge being faced. We are working with the Navajo Nation Water Purification Project in which much of the information is classified. We are assisting with the development of specialized hollow fibers to filter out dangerous contaminants. We researched and tested different hollow fibers, and worked on the simplicity, reliability, and strength of them. We recently found a way to package and create the filters, and currently are working on assembly and design. In the future, we will build a portable filtration unit to conduct field testing and data collection. We hope to complete Phase 1 of the project by completing the design of the filters. Access to clean water is a human right, and we hope to help Navajo Nation residents obtain that right.

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Mohammad A Badawy, Chemical Engineering
New Mexico State University
Mentor(s): Dr. Reza Foudazi, New Mexico State University Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, Associate Professor
Program: NM AMP
Water security remains the world's largest public health crisis; billions of people lack access to safe water sources. A primary technology to combat this is membrane water filtration. Our research's focus is on the fabrication of an ultrafiltration stimuli-responsive membrane, utilizing Pluronic F-108 as a thermoresponsive surfactant. Multiple potential mesophase compositions were evaluated via Cross-Polymerized Light Microscopy (CPLM), and a Hexagonal-Structure selected. We then conducted a Small Angle X-ray Scattering (SAXS) Scan and determined a pore size of ~30 nm. We also conducted Differential Calorimetry Scanning (DCS) to identify the thermal responses of F-108, which showed two characteristic transitions at ~33℃ and ~49℃, where F-108 melting occurs in two stages, thus proving the potential for F-108 as a thermoresponsive surfactant for ultrafiltration membranes. We fabricated 30 membranes using our CPLM-tested mesophase composition and analyzed the Flux results from repeated cycles of DI-water testing. Our Flux results, however, proved inconclusive, due to errors in the fabrication procedure. Finally, a Total Organic Carbon (TOC) analysis was performed to determine a Molecular Weight Cut Off (MWCO) of ~300 kDa. Future Work still needs to be performed on improving the fabrication procedure, as well as improving the reactivity of the F-108 during polymerization.

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Jacob D Barba, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
New Mexico State University
Mentor(s): Abdessattar Abdelkefi, New Mexico State University, Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering
Program: NM AMP
Bolted joints remain a source of nonlinearities that are typically difficult to predict in bolted structures and require experimental data for designers to evaluate their effects on prototypes before finalizing products. The need for a predictive model has started efforts to develop a computational model based on well-characterized systems, with the Brake-Reuss Beam being initially used in this project. Towards this goal, this project aimed to compare a simplified model of bolted joints against a cantilever beam. This was done to establish a model that could be used for further nonlinear identification. The study was conducted by establishing two sets linear extremes in Finite Element Analysis, with the softest extreme marked by no friction or hard contact at the joint surfaces, and the stiffest extreme marked by rigid coupling of those surfaces. This was compared against two experimental models of the same design, except one machined without a joint. The jointed beam was tested at three bolt torques, one torqued above that recommended for the bolts, and two at incrementally lower torques than recommended. Overall, the natural frequencies identified experimentally remained within the range predicted from FEA, despite there being a noticeable softening nonlinearity.

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Erika A Cano, Chemical Engineering
New Mexico State University
Mentor(s): Dr. Martha Mitchell, New Mexico State University, Professor of Chemical and Materials Engineering
Program: NM AMP
An important characteristic of sands that have been cemented using Enzyme-Induced Carbonate Precipitation (EICP) for ground improvement is the amount of calcium carbonate that precipitated in the sand as a result of the process. The EICP is a soil improvement technique that uses urea hydrolysis catalyzed by urease enzyme to precipitate calcium carbonate and cement soil grains. The calcium carbonate content measurement of biocemented sand can be determined by acid digestion, but the optimal parameters for the digestion have not been determined. The end goal of this research is to study the variation in calcium carbonate reading when the experimental condition for the acid digestion is changed. To get the calcium carbonate measurement we use 4 M of hydrochloric acid to dissolve calcium carbonate from the sample of cemented sand using EICP and then rinse it. The different phases that we were working on is rinse time, HIC concentration, sample size and sample location. Phase 1 - 4 were completed, the rinse time does not show a difference within the variability of the sample. The acid concentration was determined by the acid digestion time, when the acid concertation increments the time increments, the best option is 2 M. The best sample size was 25 g. For sample location it was determined that the upper half of the specimens has smaller variability in CCC compared to the lower half of the specimens. In the future a different sand will be tested to find its optimal parameters for acid digestion.

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Trinity V Casaus, Biology
University of New Mexico
Mentor(s): Christopher Witt, University of New Mexico, Professor and AS Biology General Administrative
Program: NM AMP
Greater (Antigone canadensis tabida) & Lesser (Antigone canadensis canadensis) Sandhill Cranes mate assortatively on breeding grounds & winter in the Rio Grande Valley, New Mexico. Both subspecies exhibit tracheal elongation (TE) by intrasternal coiling. Previous research suggests that Lesser Sandhill Cranes have proportionally longer tracheas than Greater Sandhill Cranes, likely resulting from an interplay between sexual/social selection & body size constraints on migration. If sexual size dimorphism (SSD) is limited by migratory behavior's impact on body size, cryptic SSD may evolve. TE is hypothesized to increase the apparent body size of a calling bird. Sandhill Cranes exhibit moderate SSD (males ~ 13% larger). Both sexes exhibit TE & undertake long distance seasonal migrations. The relationship between TE & body size in Sandhill Cranes represents a unique system to examine scaling relationships of two traits linked to sexual & social selection but potentially constrained by migration. We found that males have disproportionately large tracheae compared to females suggesting sexual selection on trachea length. However, this relationship was substantially more pronounced in the non-migratory Greater Sandhill Cranes suggesting that generally females select for an auditory perception of large body size, but migratory constraints or social selection diminish SSD in migratory birds.

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Zachary Chavez, Earth and Environmental Science
New Mexico Tech
Mentor(s): Daniel Cadol, New Mexico Tech, Associate Professor of Hydrology
Program: NM AMP
Obtaining measurements of water velocity during flash flooding events is both difficult and dangerous. Safety is of the utmost importance when conducting research in the field, particularly in remote areas with limited vehicle and support access. Traditional methods of measuring water velocity are insufficient, especially when considering the unpredictability of shot-lived ephemeral flash floods. New, automated methods should be evaluated for their accuracy. We evaluated two methods to measure surface water velocity: Doppler velocity radar and Large-Scale Particle Image Velocimetry (LSPIV). The Doppler radar records an average of the surface velocity by directing a beam of radio wave energy at an approaching target. The frequency shift of the reflected energy is proportional to the radial velocity of the target object relative to the velocimeter. LSPIV analysis consists of recording a video of a flood and analyzing each frame for changes in the water surface. Individual particle tracking produces an array of surface velocity vectors. Using cross section and reference target surveys, continuously monitored stage data, and estimates of the ratio of depth-averaged velocity to surface water velocity for a given relative roughness, continuous cross-section-average velocity can be estimated for the flood event, and from this the entire discharge hydrograph.

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Micah Cheng-Guajardo, Aerospace Engineering
New Mexico State University
Mentor(s): Abdessattar Abdelkefi, New Mexico State University, Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering
Program: NM AMP
Uncertainties in structures are a often a result of uncertainties in boundary conditions, geometric properties, and material properties. To better understand the effects of some of these uncertainties, the bucking of beams is studied in this research. Uncertainties are introduced into the boundary conditions, geometric properties, and the material properties. The effects are examined in the static buckling and natural frequencies of beams under axial loading. Sensitivity analysis methods are employed to examine the effects of the various parameters. For the static analysis, up to 28% uncertainty is found in the first critical load as a result of 5% uncertainty in the parameters. It is also found that height is the most influential parameter in the static analysis while length is the most influential in the dynamic analysis.

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Mario A Escarcega, Mechanical Engineering
New Mexico Tech
Mentor(s): Dr. Arvin Ebrahimkhanlou, New Mexico Tech, Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering
Program: NM AMP
This paper explores the use of acoustic-based structural health monitoring (SHM) in lunar habitats to detect damage and failure in aluminum pipelines used to carry resources across lunar habitats. Acoustic-based SHM on Earth is a well studied field of research. Various studies validate the effectiveness of acoustic-based SHM to detect, locate, and characterize damage in pipelines. To the authors' knowledge, little or no research has been conducted regarding simulated lunar pipelines. In this paper, AE waveforms were collected and analyzed for pipes obtaining damage from simulated lunar conditions. Experiments simulating lunar regolith abrasion, internal galvanic corrosion, and irradiation were conducted on aluminum pipes. Lunar pipelines were constantly exposed to radiation, abrasion, and corrosion, As such, it is important to manage the noise and damage resulting from these lunar hazards. The waveform data was clustered based on hit-driven and time-driven properties. Changes in the wave propagation throughout the tests were observed as clusters in the AE data. These waveform clusters can be used to filter out unnecessary noise and to detect corrosion and abrasion waveforms in real-time. Continually monitoring the AE of common corrosion and damage events using AE sensors will improve the ability to predict and prevent catastrophic pipeline failure.

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Brenda Esparza, Chemical & Materials Engineering
New Mexico State University
Mentor(s): Jessica Houston, New Mexico State University, Professor of Chemical & Materials Engineering
Program: NM AMP
In this project Europium coated biotin spheres will be analyzed using Danube flow cytometer. Danube is a custom-built flow cytometer that uses hydrodynamic focusing. The purpose of the analysis of europium is to optimize the quality of data gathered from the Danube flow cytometer through calibration and configuration. The flow cytometer consists of two photomultiplier tube detectors, a 375 nm laser for the excitation of the particles and a 530 LP filter. The europium particles are Eu-Streptavidin (Eu-SA) conjugates. Since the Europium particles are small the limits and capabilities of the flow cytometer can be tested. Since the flow cytometer is in constant adjustment, there is much research about laser alignment and ways to improve the signal. The Europium particles give a low signal which are not bright enough to record data for the flow cytometer used therefore biotin spheres are coated with europium to make the signal brighter and have the flow cytometer give good quality data. The data is collected in scopes of points that form Gaussian-shaped curves that are the optical signals gathered using Travis Software connected to the flow cytometer. These curves are useful to obtain the lifetime analysis using a MATLAB code for 9th order polynomial fitting. The peak-to-peak difference between the excitation and emission peaks are recorded for each curve to get average luminesce lifetimes. As new data is gathered it is approached differently in attempt to give it a time reference and make the flow cytometer time resolved.

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Adriana Fuentes, Biology
University of New Mexico
Mentor(s): Dr. David Hanson, University of New Mexico, Professor of Biology
Program: NM AMP SCCORE
Wall-rocket plant's petiole and gasket were assessed by determining the effects humidity and temperature have on gas exchange and impedance. The data was collected from using a Li-cor and Multi-PIP by measuring the water loss in the plant at two different temperatures (25 °C and 30 °C). The petiole data determined that when water is being lost, impedance increases while the gasket suggest the leaf has hidden water maintaining. This is believed due to the data showing impedance remaining constant despite water being lost at 30 °C. Future work on impedance and gas exchange results in using different plant species leaves and changing the variables in order to discover what and where the water maintaining mechanism hidden in the leaf is.

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Christopher I Gallegos, Biology
University of New Mexico
Mentor(s): Diana Northup, University of New Mexico, Professor of Biology (ret.)
Program: NM AMP
White-nose syndrome (WNS) is a devastating disease to the bat populations in North America. The causative agent, a fungus, Pseudogymnoascus destructans, causes bats to come out of torpor early in the winter, expending crucial energy stores and resulting in the death of up to 99% of some bat species. A new method of UV-C treatment has been shown to be effective in killing Pseudogymnoascus destructans. However, caves are home to a wide range of microbial communities that may be harmed by UV-C. The aim of this experiment is to investigate if this treatment will have potential collateral damage to native cave bacterial species. Samples were taken from caves across three national parks, sub-cultured in the lab, and resulting isolates are being exposed to UV-C treatment. Initial cultures from Lava Beds National Monument, Oregon Caves National Monument, and Mammoth Caves National Park, have resulted in 2,721 subcultures currently under investigation. Sequencing of the 16S rDNA gene is being used to identify a maximum of 100 representative bacterial cultures per national park for UV-C testing in the lab. Understanding the potential negative implications of UV-C on native microbial cave ecosystems is crucial before this treatment can be considered for wider implementation.

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Henry Gatica-Gutierrez, Biochemistry
New Mexico State University
Mentor(s): Dr. Elba Serrano, New Mexico State University, Regents Professor of Biology
Program: NM AMP
Interest in deep space travel is increasing and the ability to grow, maintain, and harvest crops in space will be essential to expeditions farther from Earth. Our laboratory is investigating the effects of diverse gravitational forces (micro to 2000 g) on biological processes such as plant growth and gene expression on crop plants. We hypothesize that increasing the gravitational force would cause a decrease in seed germination and root extension. We are undertaking wet lab experiments that are evaluating the ability of readily available crops such as radishes to germinate and extend their roots under constant acceleration conditions with commercially available centrifuges (hypergravity; 10g ,1000g, and 2000g). We found that there is a decreasing trend in seed germination and root extension as you increase gravity ,however, that is at the extreme 2000g. Future projects will measure the roots and quantitatively compare the difference in size as well as using qPCR to identify any changes in gene expression.

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Christine A Gleicher, Chemical Engineering
University of New Mexico
Mentor(s): Eva Chi, University of New Mexico, Professor of Chemical and Biological Engineering
Program: NM AMP
Evaluating the effectiveness of novel conjugated oligomers as surface disinfectants. University of New Mexico Eva Chi, Professor and Reagent's Lecturer, Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of New Mexico New Mexico Alliance for Minority Participation URS Bacteria can survive on surfaces and when contacted, could potentially lead to the spread of diseases. Recently, we have synthesized and shown that OPEs exhibit remarkable light activated killing efficiency against bacteria in solution. The primary aim of this project is to investigate the antimicrobial activity of OPE against bacteria on surfaces as a spray disinfectant, test the effect of light exposure on the OPEs ability to inactivate bacteria, and assess the effect of varied OPE concentrations on killing bacteria. To evaluate the effectiveness of OPEs as surface disinfectants, we treated E. coli bacteria contaminated microslides with an OPE solution spray, exposed the microslides to cool white light, transferred the OPE and E. coli on the surface of the microslide to a buffer, performed serial dilution, and cultured each dilution on agar plates to determine colony forming units. The percentage of bacteria killing was calculated to show that cool white light killing alone did not cause significant killing of E. coli, increasing the concentration of OPE showed a significant increase in killing against E. coli in the dark and a slight reduction in killing efficiency against E. coli in the light, and the OPE spray shows significant dark and light activated antimicrobial activity.

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Jonte' Green, Biology
University of New Mexico
Mentor(s): Dr. David Hanson, University of New Mexico, Professor of Biology
Program: NM AMP SCCORE
In my study, I had measured the electrical impedance of a (Chardonnay) grape vine to inquire if the grape vine had prioritized the grape bunch of the plant the most important, and therefore distributed the most water and sugar into the grape bunch. Electrical impedance is the method of studying plant tissues based on the external electrical currents that pass through the plant cells and how plant tissue effects the electrical current.

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Jonte' Green, Biology
University of New Mexico
Mentor(s): Dr. David Hanson, University of New Mexico, Professor of Biology
Program: NM AMP SCCORE
In my presentation, I will discuss how the electrical impedance of a (Chardonnay) grape vine tends to favor the grape bunch in terms of water and sugar distribution. Electrical impedance is the method of studying plant tissues based on the external electrical currents that pass through the plant cells and how plant tissue effects the electrical current.

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Brittany L Griego, Earth and Planetary Sciences-Geology
University of New Mexico
Mentor(s): Laura Crossey, University of New Mexico, Distinguished Professor of Earth and Planetary Sciences
Program: NM AMP
Springs are an important water resource both for anthropogenic use and support of ecosystems in the arid Southwest. During times of drought, the sustainability of these groundwater systems is a major concern for effective water resource management. During 2017-2019, several springs were visited in the Sandia and Manzano Mountains to perform an inventory of the springs and the surrounding environment. This work is part of an ongoing collaboration between students and faculty at UNM and the US Forest Service (Cibola National Forest). We collected water samples for water quality analysis (major ions and stable isotopes), and field water quality parameters such as pH, total dissolved solids (TDS), dissolved oxygen (DO), and discharge. We analyzed monthly precipitation samples from a collection site near the springs in the Sandia Mountains. We also analyzed snowpack samples from 2019. Spring samples primarily consist of calcium bicarbonate and calcium magnesium chloride sulfate waters. Trends in solute distribution are interpreted to reflect different water-rock interactions on groundwater flow paths. Regional aquifers include the Madera Group (chiefly carbonates) as well as several sandstone aquifers. Fault structures also play a role in controlling spring occurrence. Our results show two distinct trends between spring waters that are interpreted to have undergone silicate weathering and those undergoing carbonate dissolution. Carbonate dissolution occurs in waters traveling through the Madera Group aquifer system while silicate weathering occurs as waters travel through faults within the Sandia granite. Stable isotope analyses show that winter snowpack is the primary recharge mechanism of the majority of these waters. In addition to data collection and analyses, we have made major efforts in compiling all datasets into a regional database (Springs Stewardship Database) to preserve valuable information, make the data accessible to others, and provide important baselines for future comparison.

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Jhanene Heying-Melendrez, Physics
New Mexico Tech
Mentor(s): Dr. Kenneth Minschwaner, New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology, Professor of Physics
Program: NM AMP
Ozone, is an atmospheric gas that greatly affects the surface ultraviolet radiation, air quality, and climate. In the stratosphere, ozone is considered beneficial as it absorbs ultraviolet light from the sun which reduces the exposure of plants and animals to damaging ultraviolet radiation. Closer to the surface in the troposphere, ozone is detrimental to the environment because it is a strong oxidizer and can attack plant tissue and animal respiratory systems. Ozone is also a powerful greenhouse gas that contributes to global warming. Quantifying observed variations in ozone and potential temperature with altitude allows for the detection of ozone laminae (thin layered features), and thus aids in the identification of the mechanisms that produce or destroy ozone. Data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) balloon ozonesondes are used along with algorithms in Interactive Data Language (IDL) software to identify spatial patterns in laminar features of balloon soundings. Plots of the measurements taken via ozonesondes will be analyzed for NOAA stations at Boulder, Colorado, and Pago Pago, Samoa, to determine the relationships between ozone and potential temperature at different altitudes in the troposphere and stratosphere. Comparisons of ozone laminae detected at different stations and across different seasons will be presented. Analysis between different periods of time will be done to see if the data is indicative of correlations between seasonality and changing ozone laminae.

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Constanza A Kremer, Civil Engineering
University of New Mexico
Mentor(s): Mark Stone, University of New Mexico, Professor and Regent's Lecturer Department of Civil, Construction, & Environmental Engineering
Program: NM AMP
Decreasing water resources, variable climate, increasing temperature and increasing wildfires in the Southwest have made monitoring devices essential to understanding and predicting natural hazards. However, monitoring devices, or sensors, are instruments that have been historically expensive and not openly available to the public. Access to inexpensive Arduino software, hardware and open-source resources allows us to develop low-cost sensor devices to measure environmental variables. The objectives of my research project are: (1) learning about and developing low-cost sap flow sensors and ground water monitoring sensors, (2) learning about and developing low-cost wireless sensors, and (3) collecting and processing sap flow data and ground water level data through a field demonstration. These objectives will be obtained by training with graduate students, designing and developing sensors, deploying and testing sensors, and by collecting and processing data. This project continues in its early stages. Accomplishments include development of barometric pressure sensor, temperature sensor, and Relative Humidity sensor. Early findings show that Arduino-based sensors work effectively for monitoring environmental variables and show good promise for observing more complex variables. Next stages of this project include assembling a range finder with an optical distance sensor, synchronizing sensor data collection to WiFi, and executing field tests.

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Sarah Lind, Genetics and Biotechnology
New Mexico State University
Mentor(s): Amanda Patterson, University of Missouri, Assistant Professor of Reproductive Biology
Program: NM AMP
Uterine fibroids are common tumors that affect between 25% and 89% of women and, when clinically significant, can cause symptoms such as excessive uterine bleeding, pelvic pain and discomfort, as well as anemia. Currently, the only definitive treatment is hysterectomy. Periostin is being studied as a potential druggable target for uterine fibroids because it is a regulator of fibrosis in other tissues, it has been shown to be upregulated in uterine fibroids, and it has been implicated in both TGFβ signaling and Collagen deposition, two hallmarks of fibroids. It was hypothesized that Periostin plays a role in the transition from myometrial to fibroid cells. qPCR was used to analyze expression of known fibroid biomarkers (CCND1, COL3A1, CTNNB1, ESR2, PGR, TGFβ1, and TGIF) and Periostin expression in POSTN-overexpressing cell lines compared to CTRL cell lines. Some fibroid biomarkers showed differences in expression between POSTN and CTRL cell lines, indicating that Periostin may be involved in the transition from myometrial to fibroid-like cells. Ongoing research is being conducted to further determine the effects of Periostin on uterine fibroid development and its potential as a druggable target to treat the disease.

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Alexander G Logan, Chemical Engineering
New Mexico Tech
Mentor(s): Michaelann Tartis, New Mexico Tech, Associate Professor and Chair of Chemical Engineering
Program: NM AMP
Mondisperity of Titanium Nitride Nanoparticles in an Optically Transparent Matrix Design. Titanium nitride (TiN) nanoparticles (NP) are cost-effective, highly efficient photothermal agents that strongly absorb a broad spectrum of sunlight. Given these properties, TiN NP has potential to contribute to novel designs in energy production and drug delivery. In order to harness their photothermal function, TiN NP must be dispersed in an optically transparent matrix. However, nanoparticles easily aggregate, which limits capacity for light-absorption. To prevent aggregation, I chose to suspend TiN NP in a transparent aerogel prepared with sol-gel methods due to its low cost, practical synthesis procedure, and finely tunable parameters to control chemical composition. Here I discuss recent advances in using sol-gel methods for nanoparticle dispersion as well as sol-gel samples absorbances with and without TiN NP.

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Santiago A Lopez, Civil Engineering
New Mexico Tech
Mentor(s): Isabel Morris, New Mexico Tech, Assistant Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Program: NM AMP
Concrete is one of the most utilized materials in world. Its ability to oppose compressive loads has allowed concrete to develop its own niche in the market that cannot be replaced. With concrete, safety is of major concern during the construction process; with more accurate estimates we can better judge the risks and adjust the plans if needed. Many attempts to generate a functional relationship between time and strength have been established but estimations of the strength have yet to be verified. The Maturity Method is used to estimate concrete strength as a function of both time and temperature. Using the ASTM Standard C1074 a calibration curve of the logarithmic function can be made. Using historical data collected the Steicker Bridge will also be used to calculate equivalent age also known as maturity. Using MATLAB, the data was processed and compiled. Overall estimates were found to be the upper bound of compressive strength since the MM ended-up over-estimating by about 10-12%.

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Andrea Loya Lujan, Chemical Engineering
New Mexico State University
Mentor(s): Dr. Catherine Brewer, New Mexico State University, Associate Professor, Department of Chemical & Materials Engineering
Program: NM AMP
Disposal of food waste in landfills results in large emissions of greenhouse gases. The availability of fresh water for composting can be a major challenge. Hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) of food waste has the potential to address both problems. This research focuses on the use of the HTL aqueous phase product in compost production. The aqueous phase contains high amounts of nitrogen and water, both of which are needed for compost. Value-added use of the aqueous phase also increases the potential for implementing HTL as new food waste management systems. In this research, the aqueous phase will be characterized for pH, salinity, carbon and nitrogen content by total organic carbon (TOC) and total nitrogen (TN) analysis, metals by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES), and non-volatiles content by freeze-drying. Previous research has shown that lower temperatures and shorter reaction times (240°C, 0 min) result in the highest amount of nitrogen in the HTL char. Different reaction conditions, and the use of catalysts in HTL, are expected to lead to different levels of nutrients and carbon in the aqueous phase as well. After characterization and comparison among reaction conditions, the aqueous phase product will be tested within a compost system relative to water only and to water + fertilizer additions to understand the impacts of composition on compost performance.

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Frank Maldonado, Mechanical Engineering
New Mexico Tech
Mentor(s): Dr. Ashok Ghosh, New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology, Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering
Program: NM AMP
The goal of the SunChaser is to transition from a former design to a fully functional Mobile Education Tool (MET) that will demonstrate STEM related topics. The SunChaser will display how renewable energy can be implemented in homes and businesses throughout New Mexico and elsewhere. The MET will represent a home or business whose primary renewable energy source is limited to solar. Our work on the SunChaser consisted of developing the educational curriculum for the SunChaser and working on the mechanical subsystems of the SunChaser. The curriculum was finalized over the summer and is suited for K-12 students while being separated into three groups: elementary, middle, and high school. The exterior and interior framing of the SunChaser was also finalized over the summer. Although there are tasks we did not complete over the summer, the project is on track and our work has allowed for the construction of the SunChaser to begin. We will continue to work on finalizing the remaining systems and ensuring that the SunChaser debuts on time.

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Emilia Marmolejo, Civil Engineering
New Mexico State University
Mentor(s): Paola Bandini, New Mexico State University, Associate Professor of Civil Engineering
Program: NM AMP
The demand for environmentally sustainable practices has prompted researchers to investigate alternative materials that could significantly increase strength and durability in adobe. Cement and lime have traditionally been used as additives to improve the properties of poor soils, but they emit significant amounts of CO2 into the environment during their production. Sodium alginate is a natural biopolymer that is extracted from brown seaweed that is believed to affect the soil strength and durability properties depending on percentage of alginate added. The filter paper method is used to determine the soil suction of the adobe, which requires filter papers to be placed within and on top of a soil specimen in an airtight container for at least 14 days at constant temperatures. The suction of the soil and the filter papers will reach moisture equilibrium during this time. The water content of the filter papers is calculated and used to determine matric and total suction which, are graphed on a Soil-Water Characteristic Curve (SWCC) as a function of soil water content. Initial testing on untreated soil revealed that the matric suction was greater than the total suction, which conflicts with definitions of total suction, prompting a second test on untreated soil.

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Nathan P Martinez, Genetics and Biotechnology
New Mexico State University
Mentor(s): Immo Hansen, Ph.D.​ Associate Professor, Molecular Vector Biology​, New Mexico State University ​
Program: NM AMP
Nutrient sensing in mosquitoes is a source for targeting to disrupt egg laying and hatch rates. A cationic amino acid membrane transporter (CAT3) helps with activation for the transcription of yolk proteins. CAT3 is used in the metabolic nutrient-sensing pathway found in mosquitoes. Na-K ATPase beta subunit is thought to interact with CAT3. We hypothesize that the knockdown of the Na-K ATPase subunit beta-2 gene could lead to reduced amino acid transport, and reduced yolk protein production. We predict that lower levels of yolk protein will lead to smaller numbers of eggs laid and lower hatch rates in mosquitoes injected with Na-K ATPase subunit beta dsRNA. Injection of 73 mosquitoes with Na-K ATPase subunit beta (experimental treatment) and 67 mosquitoes with GFP (control treatment) was achieved. Every 24 hours mortality rates were measured in each group. The observed mortality difference between the two groups can be hypothesized that Na-K ATPase knockdown led to a higher rate of mosquito death due to Na-K ATPase significance in the central nervous system. We propose that the significant difference of observed egg numbers laid in our Na-K subunit beta-2 dsRNA group is due to the loss of vitellogenin gene transcription for yolk protein precursors.

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Dominick N Martinez, Mathematics
Northern New Mexico College
Mentor(s): David Torres, Northern New Mexico College, Chair of Mathematics and Physical Science
Program: NM AMP
T cells are lymphocytes that serve an important role in the immune system. The T cells we analyze originate from the lymph nodes of mice. The data comes from the University of New Mexico, where two-photon microscopy was used to record time and three-dimensional Cartesian coordinates of T cell locations.  We computed the speed, turning angle, and slopes from the squared displacement of T cell tracks to create distributions. Distributions illustrate the motion type (e.g. Brownian vs ballistic) and the speeds or angles that occur most frequently. We also computed p-values when comparing different T cell movies to quantify differences in T cell speeds.

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Andy Martinez, Chemical Engineering
New Mexico State University
Mentor(s): Jessica P. Houston, New Mexico State University, Professor of Chemical and Materials Engineering
Program: NM AMP
MCF7 breast cancer cells are known to become resistant to the drug Tamoxifen overtime. Dr. Kevin Houston's lab has hypothesized that the binding protein IGFBP-3 leads to tamoxifen resistance in MCF7 cells. The purpose of this project was to develop a synchronization protocol to offer cell cycle analysis data as additional support for this hypothesis. Flow cytometry and chemical synchronization using the drugs Lovastatin and Mevalonate were used to perform the cell cycle analysis. Successful cell cycle arrest and release were observed in the samples treated with Lovastatin and Mevalonate, respectively. In future experiments, this protocol will be used to perform direct comparison between triple negative and MCF7 cells.

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Mya M Martinez-Metzgar, Biomedical Sciences and Technology
New Mexico Tech
Mentor(s): Joel Sharbrough, New Mexico Tech, Assistant Professor of Biology
Program: NM AMP
Whole genome duplication events (WGDs) are among the most profound mutational changes cells and organisms can endure, and most eukaryotes (including humans) have experienced one or more such events during their evolutionary history. While much work has investigated the immediate and evolutionary consequences of WGD for the nuclear genome, virtually nothing is known about the effects for the mitochondria, the other genomic compartment within the cell. Mitochondria are essential to eukaryotic energy production, and as a result of a history of gene transfers from the mitochondrial genome to the nuclear genome, the proteins that carry out energy production inside the mitochondria are encoded by two distinct and separately inherited genomes: the nuclear and mitochondrial genomes. Successful molecular interactions between the proteins encoded by these two genomes are therefore essential to eukaryotic health and fitness, and changes to one genomic compartment can have dramatic consequences for the other genomic compartment(s) of the cell. Using a previously collected dataset comprised of whole genome sequencing from diploid, triploid, and tetraploid snails, this project will provide the first information collected in an animal about how mitochondrial-nuclear stoichiometry varies in tandem with WGDs in the nuclear genome.The cellular consequences of WGD tested will determine whether WGDs alter stoichiometric balance between the nuclear and mitochondrial genomes resulting in elevated mitochondrial genome copy numbers per cell. We used next-generation sequencing data to quantify the relative numbers of mitochondrial genomes in diploid vs. triploid. vs. tetraploid Potamopyrgus antipodarum, a New Zealand freshwater snail featuring extensive natural variation in nuclear genome copy number. This project provides the first information collected in an animal about how mitochondrial-nuclear stoichiometry varies in tandem with WGDs in the nuclear genome.

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Yaniksa Mata-Solis, Computer engineering
University of New Mexico
Mentor(s): Anjali Mulchandani, University of New Mexico, Professor of Civil, Construction, and Enviromental Engineering
Program: NM AMP SCCORE
Research has shown that 4 billion people across the globe suffer from water scarcity for at least one month each year, and 500 million people suffer from water scarcity throughout the entire year. The atmosphere contains water in the form of water vapor, clouds, and fog. Atmospheric water capture is the process of capturing that water. One method of atmospheric water capture is performed using dehumidification devices. We used two different types of dehumidifiers, compressor dehumidifier and desiccant dehumidifiers, and our objective was to understand how each dehumidifier works and determine which dehumidifier works best in certain weather conditions. Both dehumidifiers were taken apart to understand how they each work, then they were both ran indoors. The dehumidifiers were ran a total of four times for four hours, the water was collected and measured each time. We found that the compressor dehumidifier works best in humid areas and the desiccant dehumidifier works best in arid areas, but requires more electricity. Future work includes measuring electrical efficiency of both dehumidifiers by running them indoors while being connected to an energy monitor and also setting up sensors to measure the quality of the water.

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Arianna Matthews, Chemical Engineering
New Mexico Tech
Mentor(s): Michaelann Tartis, New Mexico Tech, Associate Professor and Chair of Chemical Engineering
Program: NM AMP
This project used a variety of imaging tools to better understand suspected mechanisms behind traumatic brain injuries with the aim to improve protective cranial equipment and exposure guidelines in military training. Shadowgraph imaging was used to observe shockwave and cavitation events in a polyacrylamide human head model under blunt impacts. It is important when imaging this brain phantom to minimize the number of surface artifacts present, so several methods were investigated to create a phantom with as few artifacts as possible.

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Yazbeth Montoya, Mechanical Engineering
New Mexico Tech
Mentor(s): Dr. Ashok Ghosh, New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology, Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering
Program: NM AMP
The goal of the SunChaser is to transition from a former design to a fully functional Mobile Education Tool (MET) that will demonstrate STEM related topics. The SunChaser will display how renewable energy can be implemented in homes and businesses throughout New Mexico and elsewhere. The MET will represent a home or business whose primary renewable energy source is limited to solar. Our work on the SunChaser consisted of developing the educational curriculum for the SunChaser and working on the mechanical subsystems of the SunChaser. The curriculum was finalized over the summer and is suited for K-12 students while being separated into three groups: elementary, middle, and high school. The exterior and interior framing of the SunChaser was also finalized over the summer. Although there are tasks we did not complete over the summer, the project is on track and our work has allowed for the construction of the SunChaser to begin. We will continue to work on finalizing the remaining systems and ensuring that the SunChaser debuts on time.

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"Maria-Adeliz Ordoñez, Mechanical Engineering
New Mexico State University
Mentor(s): Mahdi Haghshenas-Jaryani, Ph.D., New Mexico State University, Assistant Professor, Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering
Program: NM AMP
A body of studies over soft-bodied robots in the past decade have shown promising findings in the use of different types of compliant materials and novel methods to design soft robotic arms inspired by invertebrate animals and their versatile, flexible appendages. This research focuses on fabrication, modification, and experimental testing of a single soft-bodied module based-off the multi-module variable stiffness manipulator developed by De Falco, et al. [1] that’s pneumatically actuated for engineering applications designated by the Bio2robotics Laboratory at New Mexico State University. The soft robotic arm is manipulated by a pneumatic actuation and stiffened by a granular jamming technique. This paper explains the fabrication techniques from previous studies for optimized fabrication time and silicone materials needed (Ecoflex-050 and Dragon skin-010, Advanced Reynolds Materials) that was found by comparing various single module prototypes to each other. SolidWorks CAD modeling was used for modifying the casting molds used for fabrication as well as creating attachments for the single module. Lastly, the Arduino-based pneumatic controller successfully utilized a 6-DoF inertial measurement unit sensor (3 axis of accelerometer and gyro) to measure rotational angles from the furthest end of the single soft-bodied module to its fixed base. The single module is pneumatically manipulated for testing the desired bending angles and various orientations.

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" Daniela Palacios, Chemical and Materials Engineering
New Mexico State University
Mentor(s): Dr. Adriana Romero Olivares, New Mexico State University, Assistant Professor of Biology
Program: NM AMP
The growing concern about our planet and waste production has led to the exploration of new materials to decrease plastic and animal-based production in society. The use of bio-based mycelium materials are trending due to their ability to turn other industries' waste into another material and for their physical and mechanical properties. Previous research has been done in the design and textile applications without any establishment of publicly available scientific procedure and thus producing variable results depending on where and by whom it is produced. Therefore the objective of this project was to conduct a scientific experiment to design a consistent and repeatable procedure to produce a bio-based mycelium material. We used mason jars with two different substrates, oak shavings and pecan shells (i.e., pecan industry waste). In the first round of the experiments, mason jars were inoculated with blue oyster and pink oyster and incubated at 28 °C . We observed mycelium growth after three days of incubation. Ten days later, one of the mason jars which was completely colonized and free of contamination was successfully molded and dehydrated to create a biomaterial. However, the biomaterial developed mold after a couple of days and was not sturdy enough. A new protocol is being developed to eliminate contamination in mason jars and bio-based material, as well as to improve the material strength. Successfully establishing a procedure to create a bio-based textile from mycelium is significant because it could potentially compete with plastic and animal-based material while reducing waste production from different industries.

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Edgard Parra, Petroleum Engineering
New Mexico Tech
Mentor(s): Hamid Rahnema, New Mexico Tech, Associate Professor of Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering
Program: NM AMP
In this paper, a produced water treatment train was designed with the ability to be upscaled for industrial applications. Different technologies were evaluated for their use in treating oilfield produced water. Produced water should be used to waterflood an oil-wet carbonate reservoir for filtering solids and reducing its oil concentration. Thermal distillation can be used for water desalination and to separate produced water into its chemical components, i.e., fractions. The fraction of water will be collected and undergo a liquid-liquid extraction process to remove any residual hydrocarbons that were collected from vapors of chemicals with a low flashpoint. In order to account for the high-heat requirements of water desalination, a proposal is made to use geothermal energy for fractional distillation, water desalination, and energy production from steam turbines. A benchtop apparatus was also created to simulate this proposed method of treating oilfield produced water.

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Kenda L Pina, Biology
University of New Mexico
Mentor(s): Benjamin Clark, University of New Mexico, Associate Professor of Psychology
Program: NM AMP
In my research project I am further studying Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders in Prenatal Exposed Rats and the effects this exposure has on the spatial navigation of these rats. Depending on the level exposure I am trying to see whether the rats begin to use other "non-spatial," strategies in learning tasks such as the Morris Water Task which will be the focus of my entire project. The research collected is important because it has the possibility of showing how FASD affects people and the correlation it has with cognitive decline and possibly even the development of neurodegenerative diseases. The overall purpose of this experiment is to find that correlation early on by observing the behavior of these rats and their spatial navigation within the given testing environment. I learned that both exposed/non-exposed groups were able to complete the Morris Water Task in both the independent and control group and therefore more testing needs to be done regarding the prenatal alcohol exposed groups uses different navigational strategies.

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Brenda Prieto, Cell & Molecular Biology, Chemistry, and Mathematics
Western New Mexico University
Mentor(s): Nancy Livingston, Western New Mexico University, Professor of Math and Computer Science
Program: NM AMP
This research is about an overlooked phenomenon called dental anxiety. A survey posted on canvas was used to collect data from anonymous individuals who choose to participate. The main goal for this research was to understand dental anxiety more in college students at WNMU. This data was interpreted as part of a broader population from rural Hispanic Serving Institutions. As a future general dentist, I wanted to comprehend the level of anxiety and ways to cope from students who could be similar to my future patients. The knowledge from this research will hopefully aid the rural HSI population in understanding the phenomenon of dental anxiety and potentially encourage seeking improvement in oral health.

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Joel A Ramos, Mechanical Engineering Technology
New Mexico State University
Mentor(s): Samah Ben Ayed, Ph.D. , New Mexico State University, Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering Technology
Program: NM AMP
Throughout the research Joel had a great advantage of applying what he was learning from two courses and applying them to the research. The heat transfer course and HVAC course were helping Joel gain a better understanding of concepts that he was reading through articles in order to come up with more efficient solutions of implementing HVAC systems. Some of the different strategies that Joel concluded were the most efficient that New Mexico State University tend to implement already is the Ice Thermal Storages. The way in which this works is that the university takes advantage of using electricity to make ice during the night time in the summer when the on-peak period is during the day where it is more expensive to use electricity. To save costs, the ice made at night can be saved throughout the day for cooling to buildings and then distributed through underground tunnels. Joel is trying to research if by using this strategy and combining it with thermal grid, meaning that if the university can save that heat that is being extracted to provide cooling during the summer, possibly that heat could play a part in making that ice saving more on electricity. To be able to gain more experience and gather accurate results the last portion of the research was to gain practice with OpenStudio, SketchUp Pro, and EnergyPlus that can run simulations with buildings using different properties. Some of the challenges that Joel had encountered through this research was trying to find articles that would target what he was trying to research, which was the thermal grid and thermal storage. Another challenge that was encountered was through the second half of the research in trying to find the programs to run a simulation. There were technical difficulties with the different types of files that were only compatible with some types of programs. Since everything is online, there is of course a communication barrier in case of having any questions it will take a while to get it figured out. By being online the experience will be different since there is no hands-on experience.

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Bryce Roberts, Biology
University of New Mexico
Mentor(s): Davorka Gulisija
Program: NM AMP
The central question of population biology is "What forces enable population persistence in the face of continuous environmental change?" While classic theory assumed that persistence occurs mostly through genetic adaptation via new beneficial mutations, recent studies propose that populations may persist via adaptation from balanced polymorphism under the storage effect. The theory on storage effects in populations, however, was only examined in models assuming either infinite or a constant population size, where population persistence could not be examined. Here, we extend a model of storage effects under spatially heterogeneous cyclic selection to a population of variable size to explore the effect of storage effects on the persistence of finite populations. Using mathematical modeling and forward-in-time computer simulations, we find that the balanced polymorphism under storage effects promotes population persistence under a wide set of selection regimes and population subdivision scenarios. Models of storage effects under logarithmic population growth, such as ours, are crucial for the understanding of the relevance of storage effects on natural population adaptation and persistence.

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Diego Ruiz, Biology and Microbiology
New Mexico State University
Mentor(s): Teri Orr, New Mexico State University, Assistant Professor of Biology
Program: NM AMP
Establishing a set of methods to determine reproductive stage as well as bat sperm storage is important to begin future research into immune mechanisms of bats. When organisms encounter foreign cells, an immune response protects the host against harm. In certain bat species where sperm can be stored for several months, this can communicate that the immune system is not actively attacking those sperm. Studying these immune mechanisms can have human reproductive health implications specifically in low sperm survival rates. To establish a foundation for these studies, methods to determine five key reproductive stages are needed (proestrus, estrus, metestrus, diestrus and female sperm storage). Vaginal lavages were conducted to obtain cells from the vaginal canal than were stained (using a Papanicolaou stain) to see different characteristics of the cells. Two stages were observed using the lavage and pap stain techniques meaning that the methods were reliable for determining different reproductive stages. To create greater contrast, changes in the lavage technique will be made to have a greater density of cells and the pap staining will slightly change to create a greater contrast of color between cells and more.

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Estela J Salinas, Civil Engineering
New Mexico Tech
Mentor(s): Isabel Morris, New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology, Assistant Professor of Civil Engineering
Program: NM AMP
The purpose of this project is to develop a program that gives a labeled map of the locations of construction materials based on attribute analysis from Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) scans. Attribute analysis is advantageous because it allows researchers to study more than one characteristic about a material or structure that is not visible from the surface. Attributes are characteristics of the GPR data that can identify material composition and are calculated from GPR scans of a site. The chosen attribute is attenuation. Attenuation is the rate at which a signal travels or decays through a material. The program is based on a binary classification system that locates different materials based on their attenuation. The binary system allows for more attributes or materials to be added to the program while still being able to locate them properly. We present an application of attribute analysis and classification of GPR scans from Corvin Castle (Hunedoara, Romania), which is composed of many different materials from a number of restorations and expansions since the 13th century. Categorizing materials based on their attributes can improve damage detection techniques. By establishing what range of attribute values correspond to different materials and displaying the resulting classification, the program will provide a visual overview of the locations of the different materials. The information gained from this project can aid restoration and preservation efforts.

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Fillipp Edvard L Salvador, Chemistry
New Mexico Tech
Mentor(s): Wenyang Gao, New Mexico Tech, Associate Professor of Chemistry
Program: NM AMP
Metal-organic frameworks are a growing class of porous materials composed of a metal node and organic linker. The customizability made possible by the many different metal and organic linker combinations allows MOFs to be utilized in many applications. Some of them are gas capture, gas separation, gas storage, catalysis, and drug delivery. This promising family of materials is conventionally synthesized solvothermally or hydrothermally, which uses excess solvent and high temperatures. This takes away from the environmental benefits that MOFs may have. An alternative synthetic method is through mechanochemistry, which forms the extended structure through mechanical force. This method as of now has been used to recreate already known MOFs; we synthesized and characterized a family of hafnium based MOFs mechanochemically. We also synthesized a family of hafnium-zirconium multimetallic MOFs, and found that mechanochemistry allows for the synthesis of cluster precise multimetallic MOFs. Mechanochemistry gives the user a higher degree of control in the distribution of metals in multimetallic MOFs, and we believe that this is a step towards a deeper understanding of MOF chemistry.

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James T Sanchez, Physics
New Mexico Tech
Mentor(s): Caitano da Silva, New Mexico Tech, Assistant Professor of Physics
Program: NM AMP
Runaway electron phenomena pose many exciting - and largely unanswered - questions involving their behavior in and implications to earth's atmosphere. Even in the absence of well-defined experimental methods for analyzing runaway electrons, great insight can be gained from utilizing Monte Carlo methods to computationally simulate them. We made use of the Geant4 C++ toolkit to simulate streamer discharges, mirroring an experimental setup carried out in 2017 (da Silva et al., GRL, 44, 11174, 2017). Thousands of (monoenergetic) simulations were carried out, each producing a unique deposited energy spectrum. Methods including random sampling and random combination were used to combine the simulation spectra to yield a non-monoenergetic distribution. The combining of spectra was done for the purpose of matching computational data with experimental data obtained from the experiment that our simulation was modeled after. Estimations of the shape of the energy / initial electron count distribution were made, but to no greater accuracy than R-squared values of 0.52. It is clear that machine learning methods are the next step to obtain the desired energy / initial electron count distribution. Early analysis suggests that an unsupervised probabilistic clustering algorithm would be very useful for this application.

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Lillian Sandoval, Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering
New Mexico State University
Mentor(s): Abdessattar Abdelkefi, New Mexico State University, Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering
Program: NM AMP
There has been a spike in interest in the development of more innovative Aquatic Unmanned Vehicles (AUVs), with the transition from rigid-bodies to flexible-bodies. Biomimicry allows for the replication of the movement and/or body shape of a fish. The most successful designs provide a combination of rigid and flexible parts, to create a system that mimics the fish movement and has capabilities for maneuverability, power efficiency, speed, endurance, and production of thrust. Research was conducted to develop the fabrication process and create the molds for the compliant tail. To do this, we researched soft robotics and biomimicry and determined the actuation method to be used in the robotic fish drone. We developed a fabrication plan, designed the mold for the fabrication of the compliant tail, and determined materials to be used for our system. We developed the fabrication process for an AUV with both a completely flexible and hybrid design. We will fabricate the tail and develop the gear pump. We will assemble the drone and iterate on our design. We will also address issues including buoyancy and waterproofing and conduct a comparative study to decide the best configuration and discuss the limitations of our designs.

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Hunter Sedillo, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
New Mexico State University
Mentor(s): Abdessattar Abdelkefi, New Mexico State University, Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering
Program: NM AMP
The Box Assembly with Removable Component (BARC) structure has been recently introduced by Sandia National Labs and Kansas City National Security Campus as a challenge problem for the study of the effects of boundary conditions on vibration testing and modal analysis. Current efforts in studying shaker input excitations on the BARC structure have focused on either varying the degrees of freedom of the test, varying the input signal or varying boundary conditions. The effects of different environmental conditions introduced to the BARC system have not been fully investigated. This study presents an investigation on the effects of different environmental conditions introduced to the BARC system and how they affect the dynamic response. This investigation will be done by introducing sand/ dust particles to the BARC system to compare any changes to the dynamic responses and to identify any nonlinearities that arise. The anticipated effect due to the introduced environmental conditions, would be a small change in the dynamics response and increase in nonlinear effects.

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Nathaniel J Serda, Mechanical Engineering
New Mexico Tech
Mentor(s): Dr. Mostafa Hassanalian, New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology, Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering
Program: NM AMP
On July 30th, 2020, NASA launched the Perseverance Rover to Mars. This is an autonomous rover that is going to be used to gather research on the red planet for 687 days (1 Mars year). A problem that can occur with this mission is the possibility of the rover getting stuck in craters or rocky terrain. However, there is an idea that has not been circulated through the space exploration community yet. In this research, a new concept of rover design is proposed to be a robotic mechanism with the ability of jumping, based on the physical structure and characteristics of a locust bug. What is fascinating about the locust is its mobility and movement patterns; the ability to jump from point "a" to point "b". Constructing a robot that has the mobility mechanics of this bug, or similar to the Locust can open more/new areas for scientists to conduct research on. An example of this being that the moon is filled with craters and rocky terrain that a rover cannot access without getting stuck or having great difficulty This is where a locust like design on a rover could potentially successfully take over; being able to jump in, out, or over difficult areas of reach.

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Stephen I Simko, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
New Mexico State University
Mentor(s): Andreas Gross, New Mexico State University, Associate Professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
Program: NM AMP
In today's high-bypass jet engines, the low-pressure turbine (LPT) drives the fan which produces up to 80% of the thrust. For my research, two-dimensional simulations of a 50% reaction stage with two L2F airfoils are performed for a Reynolds number of 100,000. The effect of the wake passing frequency on the laminar separation from the suction side of the rotor blade will be investigated for different wake passing frequencies. Results show that for the two-dimensional instantaneous flow field, the wakes appear to suppress laminar separation from the suction side of the blade, whereas for the flow analysis, the shape factor approaches 1.4 indicating that the boundary layer is fully turbulent at the outflow.

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Bianca M Soto, Biology
University of New Mexico
Mentor(s): Dr. David Hanson, University of New Mexico, Professor of Biology
Program: NM AMP SCCORE
Dr. Jacob Torres started a community science project that UNM collaborated on to figure out which Martinez Chimayo chile pepper is the spiciest. Chiles are specifically favorable for space because of their capsaicin content, which is the spice you feel when you consume them, and their health benefits. The zero gravity environment means astronauts have decreased sense of taste, so chiles would make the best food to consume in space. This project aimed to find if red or green Martinez chimayo peppers had a higher capsaicin content. The goal of this project was to find out who and how the hottest chile pepper was grown (the growth parameters). This project will help NASA collect data and figure out how to grow healthy and successful chiles in the zero gravity atmosphere at the space station.

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Azul Toledo Vega, Industrial Engineering
New Mexico State University
Mentor(s): Dr. Delia Valles-Rosales, New Mexico State University, Professor of Industrial Engineering
Program: NM AMP
Industrial and, more specifically, consumer level 3D Additive Manufacturing (AM) processes have raised concerns in the technology field regarding health factors associated with their usage. While there is lack of research, it is known that 3D processes expose the user to particles suspended in the area around which could lead to potential damage to internal organs when inhaled. The goal of this project is to measure the particulate suspension characteristics coming from a specific printer using a BLATN Air Quality Monitor during different testing setups and investigate potential particulate suspensions that could be outside the appropriate healthy range. The sensor is to be placed during the mixing of the PLA + metal composite and in a proximity to the 3D Replicator MakerBot printer. Ample data samples will be collected and used to integrate data analytics to propose and design an integral data model that will identify product feature and propose a classification scheme. The use of computer neural networks will assist in creating the characterization data model that will feature representations and recommendations to lessen the health risks associate with AM processes, by alarming the user of live issues that could impact the user's health when 3D printing.

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Karina Alyssa Tovar, Environmental Science
New Mexico State University
Mentor(s): Dr. Nicole Pietrasiak, New Mexico State University, Assistant Professor for Environmental Soil Microbiology, Plant & Environmental Sciences Department
Program: NM AMP
Our project goal is to enrich our knowledge of dryland soil microbiology by adding baseline information of how Chihuahuan Desert microhabitats structure soil microbial communities. We will conduct an observational study of Chihuahuan Desert soil microbial communities at the Jornada Experimental Range. Our specific objectives are to: 1) Investigate if the soil microbial communities differ across microhabitats including the soil under a desert shrub, a perennial grass, biological soil crusts, and the barren space in between desert plants, hereafter termed plant interspace. 2) Identify the types of microbes that grow particularly in surface soils. 3) Link the patterns we will observe to ecosystem processes important to support plant life in the desert, e.g., nutrient cycling and availability.

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Rosa I Villalba, Environmental Science
New Mexico State University
Mentor(s): Manoj Shukla, New Mexico State University, Professor, Plant and Environmental Sciences
Program: NM AMP
The most used irrigation type used in New Mexico is Flood Irrigation. Flood Irrigation has been shown to lose a high percentage of water through evaporation. By incorporating the micro-gravity drip irrigation system, water waste could potentially be cut. Water for agricultural use is becoming scarce globally. It is essential to provide a solution to improve water use efficiency. In this project, the micro-drip irrigation system was installed by one irrigation line per one crop row. Sixteen total Chile rows were used to calculate data. Soil, plant, and water samples were collected and analyzed. Two different irrigation rates were used to compare and determine irrigation water output. This practice provides a demonstration of water conservation innovation. Overall, the micro-gravity drip irrigation system accurately monitors soil moisture and plant stress and determines when to increase or reduce irrigation. And improves crop yields while decreasing incidents of disease.

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Justin E Walton, Petroleum Engineering
New Mexico Tech
Mentor(s): Dr. Tan Nguyen, New Mexico Institute of Technology, Professor of Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering
Program: NM AMP
What are drilling fluids and why are they important to the creation of a successful well? Drilling fluids are added to the wellbore to help with various issues that are present while drilling. Such as cleaning out cuttings, well control, drill bit cooling/lubrication, and prevention of rock formation damage. For my research, I used the Society of Petroleum Engineers Wiki as well as lectures and labs from drilling engineering at the New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology. I also used the 2009 version of the API Recommended Practice for field testing water-based fluids. As a result, I increased my knowledge and understanding of how to test drilling fluids, specifically water-based drilling fluids. I also completed various tests and calculations for specific properties such as filtration, mud weight, viscosity and gel strength, and sand content. The main goal of this research project was to be a step forward toward understanding the purpose and process of drilling fluids. I will be moving ahead with this goal by completing the remaining methods of testing as well as using this knowledge to assist and work to improve my field of study.

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Jacob R Wood, Applied Mathematics
Western New Mexico University
Mentor(s): Nancy Livingston, Western New Mexico University, Professor of Mathematics
Program: NM AMP
To gather data about student's math capabilities in and outside of class and create an analysis to see where students are and if there 'should' be a way to better help students in and outside the classroom in regards to mathematics.

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Taylor C Yazzie, Environmental Science
New Mexico Tech
Mentor(s): Jianja Yu, PhD., Adjunct Faculty & Leonard Garcia, Research Asscoiate; New Mexico Tech, Petroleum Recovery Research Center
Program: NM AMP
Water on the Navajo Nation is neither safe nor accessible. Contaminants such as Uranium, Arsenic, Calcium, Manganese, Lithium, and Vanadium have been found in watering holes that Navajo Nation residents depend on. Ingesting these contaminants on a regular basis can result in cancer and shorten life expectancy. Creating a cost-effective, self-supporting filter efficient enough to remove specific contaminants is the challenge being faced. We are working with the Navajo Nation Water Purification Project in which much of the information is classified. We are assisting with the development of specialized hollow fibers to filter out dangerous contaminants. We researched and tested different hollow fibers, and worked on the simplicity, reliability, and strength of them. We recently found a way to package and create the filters, and currently are working on assembly and design. In the future, we will build a portable filtration unit to conduct field testing and data collection. We hope to complete Phase 1 of the project by completing the design of the filters. Access to clean water is a human right, and we hope to help Navajo Nation residents obtain that right.

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