Albion College

About: Albion College is a education organization based out in Albion, Michigan, United States. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Higher education. The organization has 485 authors who have published 754 publications receiving 20907 citations.

“Because I Love You …” The Tactical Use of Attributional Expressions in Conversation

Abstract: While attributional processes are traditionally regarded as intrapersonal phenomena, attributional statements are a common feature of interpersonal communication. This study sought to explore the nature of attributions that are used tactically in conversation. Among other tasks, participants were asked to describe conversations in which causal statements had been posited for some “ulterior” purpose—perhaps to evoke an emotion, obtain a behavior, or receive some sort of compliment. Results revealed that the most commonly cited tactical attributions included excuses, justifications, and affiliation moves. Nontactical attributions, in contrast, rarely included affiliation moves. Attributions that were used tactically also tended to focus more frequently on positive events, behaviors, or qualities and tended to emphasize interpersonal, stable sources more often than nontactical attributions. The most frequently perceived goal for tactical attributions was to obtain an object or behavior. Implications for an extension of the literature on accounts are discussed.

Ransomware 2.0: to sell, or not to sell a game-theoretical model of data-selling Ransomware

Abstract: Cybercrime such as ransomware denies access to valuable data until a ransom is paid. Recent ransomware attacks on organizations such as hospitals, schools, government agencies and private businesses raise public awareness of the severe impact on the society. In this paper, we propose a hypothetical new revenue model for the ransomware, i.e., selling the stolen data. Through a game-theoretical analysis between attackers and victims, we contribute a novel model to understand the critical decision variables between the traditional ransomware (ransomware 1.0) - demanding ransom only and the new type of ransomware (ransomware 2.0) - selling the data as well as demanding ransom. Both theoretical modeling and simulation studies suggest that in general ransomware 2.0 is more profitable than ransomware 1.0. Common defensive measures that may work to eliminate the financial incentives of ransomware 1.0 may not work on ransomware 2.0, in particular the data backup practice and the never-pay-ransom strategy. Nevertheless, the uncertainties created by this new revenue model may affect attackers' reputation and users' willingness-to-pay. In turn, ransomware 2.0 may not always increase the profitability of attackers. Another finding of the study suggests that reputation maximization is critical in ransomware 1.0 but not in ransomware 2.0, where attackers should seek imperfect reputation for profit maximization.

The theory-practice nexus of care ethics and global development: a case study from India

Abstract: In this paper, I explore new perspectives that an ethics of care approach brings to our understanding of, and responses to, poverty and development. Building on the works of care-ethics scholars such as Virginia Held and Fiona Robinson, I argue that an ethics of care approach provides a unique theory-practice nexus that offers alternative concrete ways to tackle human poverty that lends itself to both local and cross-border applications. In addition to providing crucial insights into women’s struggles in varied contexts, such an approach also uses the lens of care to re-envision human securities and vulnerabilities, thereby deserving of greater attention by scholars, practitioners, and institutions in search of effective ethical models of global development. I provide a case-study of Karma Kutir, a women’s development organization based in the city of Kolkata, India, to shed light on context-specific care-centered development practices aimed at alleviating poverty. I show how such practices are hi...

Clean, Green Chiral Reactions—Just Add a Salt

Abstract: Chirality—literally handedness—refers to the mirror-image, or left-right asymmetry of objects like shoes and gloves. Like our hands, many chemical compounds (and most biomolecules) exist as enantiomers, which, relative to each other, have mirror-image arrangements of substituents around an atom (typically carbon or nitrogen). In many cases, pharmaceuticals must have a specific chirality in order to be active, but making pure chiral compounds is difficult and costly. Traditionally, chemists have relied on reagents for controlling chirality that contain heavy metals ( 1 ), the presence of which can lead to toxicity issues. A relatively new alternative is the use of nonmetal catalysts called organocatalysts. On page 1376 of this issue, Uyanik et al. ( 2 ) report a more “green” organocatalytic reaction that also uses an iodine reagent to closes rings in a molecule during an oxidation step.

Taxonomic studies in the Miconieae (Melastomataceae). IX. Calycogonium formonense , a new species from the Massif de la Hotte, Haiti

Abstract: Calycogonium formonense, a new species, is here described from the floristically diverse Massif de la Hotte of southern Haiti. It is compared to C. hispidulum, to which it is likely related. Although the genus Calycogonium is not monophyletic, C. formonense and C. hispidulum are probably related to other species, e.g., C. calycopteris, C. heterophyllum, and C. reticulatum, that exhibit reduced inflorescences and 4-merous flowers having hypanthia with four conspicuous lobes separated by longitudinal grooves and external calyx lobes that are flattened parallel to the floral radii. These distinctive species may form a clade. Calycogonium formonense is distinguished from C. hispidulum by its smaller leaves with the tertiary veins not raised on the abaxial surface, with entire margins (i.e., margin without elongate multicellular hairs), and usually solitary flowers.