Character rigging explorations: Basic skeleton to full simulated muscle

This thesis project focuses on furthering my knowledge in creating rigs for an organic 3D model with realistic skin deformations. Rigs are the controls used to animate a model. A 3D model\u27s skin deformation is how it squashes and stretches when moved. The project focuses on learning to use simulated muscles, which add the ability to imbue subtle secondary motion to the skin and deliver more realistic deformation as well as the creation of a smooth bind, a standard primary rigging technique. The aim is to compare and contrast their quality based on perceived realism. Subjectively, the muscle simulation was better and more realistic. Objectively, the smooth bind was best when time was accounted for, as it had fewer steps and involved fewer variables. I learned that subtlety in deformation can be worth it if you are willing and able to put in the time for it, but it is not necessary for all projects. Discovery and exploration of the implementation of the muscle tools for this project allowed me to become more skilled with higher level techniques and workflows that I can use to further my career in the animation industry

Loan debt burden, student experiences, and livelihood: A study examining relationships between students’ education costs, financial viability, and life impact

This dissertation investigates the complex connections among loan debt burden, student experiences, and post-bachelor’s outcomes, situated within the framework of systemic disparities in educational funding and opportunities. It identifies declines in state funding across educational levels as a systemic and politicized issue, disproportionately affecting students in underserved and underresourced school districts. The study emphasizes the impact of systemic racism and policymaking in perpetuating poverty through higher education, emphasizing the need for equitable policy establishment. Economic downturns and reduced higher education funding necessitate the exploration of alternative revenue streams, such as endowed funds and fundraising efforts, to prevent increased tuition costs that may limit accessibility. Navigating higher education poses challenges for students accumulating significant loan debt, impacting their life trajectories. Underserved students face unique barriers to education, including increased family responsibilities and the need to work, often multiple jobs. The critical quantitative study, utilizing a structural equation model, reveals associations between gender, race, dependents, and various life outcomes, emphasizing the influence of these factors on loan debt stress, federal loan debt, stop-outs, working hours, and loan borrowing. Notably, higher cumulative loan debt is linked to post-bachelor’s stress, employment impacts, and delays in major life events. The research emphasizes the pressing need for policy interventions to address systemic disparities, ensuring equitable access to education and promoting positive post-bachelor’s outcomes including financial viability, livelihoods, and well-being for all students

Financial autonomy and happiness in college students: Can they coexist?

Prior research and theory suggests that happiness is often associated with charitable expenses and associated with feelings of autonomy. The present research examined how autonomy influences the happiness experiences participants have when spending money either charitably or on themselves. Participants completed the research online in an hour setting. Participants were asked to imagine situations where they have the ability to spend money freely, or where they first must seek advice or consult before making spending decisions. For half of each of these participants, they were directed to consider spending money on themselves, whereas the other participants were directed to consider spending money on others or on charities. Then all participants completed a series of scales that measured outcomes consistent with happiness, autonomy, and feelings of financial restraint. It was hypothesized that spending money on others freely will result in higher happiness and autonomy ratings, as compared to people asked to spend money on themselves, as well as people asked to spend money on others when they first need to consult with others (e.g., non-autonomous). It was also hypothesized that feelings of financial restraint may moderate these effects, such that less happiness is experienced when individuals sense they do not have autonomy to spend freely. Although the results of the study did not support these hypotheses, it was found that the method used tended to increase happiness for college students who spent on themselves freely compared to spending money on themselves after consulting how to spend. The results also demonstrated that the methods used seemed to make students feel more guilty about how they spend their money, particularly after thinking about spending money charitably. These results are interpreted in light of justification theories rather than studies that have induced happiness via charitable behaviors

Financial regulation in the age of AI

Artificial intelligence has been playing an increasingly important role in the function of financial markets since the 1980s and the inception of program trading. The technology has evolved and has reached a more adolescent phase of development. As the technology has evolved, the risks introduced by massive algorithms keeping the markets humming have become more evident. The relationship between market volatility and trading volume adds risk as the speed and size of the trading activity has increased. High-frequency trading algorithms, while developed and refined by highly sophisticated institutions, still are at risk of succumbing to human error. Overall, algorithmic trading has benefitted the financial markets in several ways, specifically efficiency. However, the role of market regulators is to protect investors from undue harm. Therefore, there are steps that the government and regulatory agencies could take to help guard the markets from risks posed by algorithmic trading. While regulators can help lower risk, the technology quickly evolves, and not all risks can be contained. It is not the role of regulators to eliminate risk but it is their role to mitigate it in any feasible way

A financial economic analysis of Amazon

This analysis values Amazon (AMZN) as it relates to prospective investors through a financial and economic lens. It provides an investment recommendation using various methodical analyses: Porter 5 Forces Framework, financial statement analysis, economic analysis, and a review of the company. The Porter 5 Forces Framework identifies key forces within Amazon’s industry that could result in negative or positive impact. The financial statement analysis measures the financial health and capability of the company. The economic analysis analyzes the current state of the economy and its effect to Amazon. The review of the company reveals significant risks that create undesirable performance of Amazon’s stock price. Major findings were that Amazon holds promising ability to generate future cash flows from operations and minimize the impact of losses from unsuccessful operations. The United States economy is found to be in a current state of recession. The investment recommendation highlights important suggestions for the investor

African American adolescent suicidality and prevention from an urban school counselor perspective

African American adolescent suicidality has become more prevalent, and urban school counselors are positioned uniquely to intervene. This research studied the overarching societal factors in the sociocultural, economic, and political spheres that influence increased suicidality behaviors in African American adolescents from the perspective of urban school counselors. The focus of this research was to hear the lived experiences of urban school counselors regarding the impact of racial discrimination on African American adolescent suicidality. The two theoretical frameworks that were used to support this study are the world-systems analysis theory and critical race theory. This study took a qualitative phenomenological approach that virtually interviewed seven school counselors that serve students in urban school settings. The interviews obtained information from the urban school counselor’s perspective on how race influenced suicidality in the real-life stories of adolescents they counseled. The research findings confirmed that racial discrimination may in fact influence African American suicidality but that further research is needed. Common themes that emerged were manifestation of African American adolescent suicidality, the Black experience, parental involvement, racial experiences in school, school procedure, and school prevention. Future topics of study were provided as well as implications for practical implementation for urban school counselors

Sense of belonging and accommodations in students with disabilities in higher education

The purpose of this study was to look at how students with disabilities\u27 sense of belonging can be affected by the support they receive in higher education. The study included a survey sent out via email to Eastern Michigan\u27s DRC in the fall of 2022. The support students receive can be from faculty, staff or peers at the institution. A student\u27s sense of belonging can affect many different aspects of their life and having people to support them can help them to feel more included and valued. This study also investigated the effects students felt Covid-19 had on their academic performance. Recent research articles about similar ideas were compared in this study