Liberal Arts University

This research article delves deep in analysis of emerging patterns of internet related offenses committed by minors along with multi-dimensional aspects of internet society which has created a cyber-world. Our global world is continuously transforming with the everyday use of internet technologies which are playing significant role in transforming the human society. This change is multifaceted, driven by the advent of ‘Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) that was widely being used since 20th century and have rapidly advanced in the present era. ICT involves the digital transmission of data between various devices worldwide. “Information technology is the "the science and activity of moving data digitally. (Gutmann, 2001)” Emerging society is an "information society." (Castells & Gustavo, 2005) Internet technology and social media are the most prominent and revolutionary innovations, bringing remarkable changes to modern society creating cyber-cultures. In context of Indian society which is facing numerous modern challenges and issues and is evolving into a "risk society," as it transitions "from etiquettes to netiquettes, from school bullying to cyberbullying, from theft to cyber-fraud, multiple new aspects of deviance and crimes are evolving" The internet and social media have created a cyber-world through social networking, forming a network society where data is sensitive and precious Internet and social media are now inalienable part of human lives, having both positive and negative impact on minors especially. Internet is the fastest and cheapest means through which data can be transmitted in real time at any place on globe but on the other hand, they also expose users especially minors to risks being a cyber-delinquent but also a victim of cyber-crimes. Since the evolution of human society crime has always been an integral part of human society, but with the expansion of the internet and social media, its patterns and methods are continuously evolving. Delinquency is now becoming cyber-delinquency with the involvement of internet technology. This study is based on qualitative analysis of Patterns and Predictors of Cyber Delinquencies committed by minors and how effects society it when committed by minors. This study relies on primary data being sourced from various stake-holders of judiciary, academia and member of civil society, students and victim of cyber-crimes while secondary data is sourced from NCRB and government records and official academic data from journals and books.

With the rapid rise of professional doctorates worldwide, universities are placing greater emphasis on developing these programs. The Doctor of Education (Ed.D) is a professional doctorate aimed at cultivating highly specialized professionals in education. The Ed.D degree offers educators the opportunity to conduct doctoral-level research on issues closely aligned with their professional concerns and institutional needs. Accordingly, understanding the factors influencing Ed.D students’ academic achievement is of particular importance. Drawing on Bandura’s social cognitive theory, this study investigates the predictive role of research self-efficacy and the mediating effect of learning engagement on Ed.D students’ academic achievement. Data were collected from 311 Chinese Ed.D students through validated questionnaires, complemented by interviews with 10 participants. Quantitative analyses using Pearson correlations and mediation models revealed significant positive associations among research self-efficacy, learning engagement and academic achievement. Specifically, research self-efficacy not only exerted a direct effect on academic achievement but also influenced it indirectly through the mediating role of learning engagement. Interview findings revealed that strong research self-efficacy enabled Ed.D students to persist, overcome challenges and engage deeply in research. Students reported higher self-efficacy in curriculum learning and teaching practice, and successful students shared traits such as high research self-efficacy, clear goals and strong commitment to research. By integrating statistical analysis and qualitative insights, this study contributes to a deeper understanding of the mechanisms linking research self-efficacy and achievement, offering both theoretical grounding and practical guidance for supporting Ed.D students’ academic success.

ABSTRACT The presence of transboundary rivers is a prominent feature of South Asia. Major rivers such as the Ganga, Indus, and Brahmaputra traverse multiple countries, creating complex interdependencies among the riparian nations. However, the transboundary river basin governance mechanisms such as bilateral treaties remain inadequate to manage these resources amid emerging issues such as climate change, glacial retreat, water pollution, groundwater depletion, and rising irrigation demand. At the same time, these treaties remain critical instruments of regional cooperation and cannot be dismissed as obsolete. Against this backdrop, the study examines the relevance and effectiveness of existing bilateral treaties on shared rivers in addressing emerging challenges. A comparative analysis of the major treaties in South Asia reveals that transboundary river management mechanisms often lack critical provisions required to mitigate contemporary issues. Expanding populations, accelerated water withdrawal for irrigation, glacial melt, water pollution, and the over‐extraction of water from shared aquifers are some of the pressing challenges that existing treaties do not sufficiently address. Finally, the study recommends incorporating provisions that consider these contemporary issues to enhance governance of transboundary rivers in South Asia effectively. By doing so, riparian countries can better manage shared water resources in South Asia.

Student motivations for using generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) in academic cheating represent a growing concern in Philippine higher education as AI tools become increasingly accessible and sophisticated. This qualitative study employed semi-structured interviews with undergraduate students from universities in Intramuros, Manila, guided by the Theory of Planned Behavior framework to explore underlying motivations for AI-assisted academic dishonesty. Results revealed five primary motivational themes: time constraints driven by overwhelming deadlines and workloads, efficiency seeking through AI's instantaneous responses, social normalization where peer usage reduces moral barriers, fear of academic inadequacy prompting compensatory AI use, and technological ease making dishonesty effortlessly accessible. Students said they turned emergency use of AI into smart, planned strategies. As more classmates joined in, it created a group safety net that made using AI to cheat feel normal. Results indicate that AI cheating behaviors emerge from complex interactions between academic pressures, social dynamics, and technological affordances rather than simple moral failures. The study suggests that educational institutions must address systemic issues including curriculum design, assessment methods, and institutional culture that inadvertently promote hyper-competitive environments. Educational reforms emphasizing inquiry-based learning and process-oriented teaching may better prepare students for ethical AI integration.

Decarbonization has thus emerged as one of the most pressing challenges of the twenty-first century, demanding immediate global action supported by adaptive and dynamic policy frameworks. Nanostructured materials such as nanocomposites, functionalized nanomaterials, metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), and nanocatalysts offer significant potential for enhancing energy efficiency and facilitating the transition to low-carbon systems. The global transition toward a decarbonised economy is imperative for mitigating climate change and achieving sustainable development goals. This review critically evaluates the transformative role of nanotechnology in decarbonization, with emphasis on its applications in carbon capture, renewable energy generation, and advanced energy storage systems. By leveraging the unique properties of nanomaterials, these technologies can significantly enhance energy efficiency, lower operational costs, and facilitate decentralised energy solutions. Such advancements not only accelerate the deployment of low-carbon technologies but also create opportunities for green industrialisation, investment, and inclusive economic growth in emerging economies. Beyond technical innovation, the review assesses the broader economic implications of nanotechnology, including job creation, market competitiveness, and expansion of energy access in underserved regions. It further identifies persistent challenges such as financial and regulatory barriers, technology transfer limitations, and institutional capacity constraints that may hinder large-scale adoption. The analysis concludes by underscoring the strategic importance of nanotechnology in advancing low-carbon development pathways and highlights the need for coordinated global efforts to unlock its potential, particularly in emerging economies. With coordinated global action, nanotechnology can play a pivotal role in shaping energy transitions that are not only low-carbon but also sustainable, equitable, and resilient for all nations.

Programmatic interventions that expose students from underrepresented backgrounds to biomedical research increases enrollment and persistence in STEM college degrees and have the potential to strengthen the research workforce. Here, we report pre- and post-participation survey data from 706 students (92% in high school) identifying from underrepresented groups in science. Most (76%) did not have prior research exposure or direct connection to biomedical research. They participated at one of eight US internship sites that collaborated to provide a common training curriculum (hands-on research, supportive mentoring, enrichment activities, and student stipends), with unique research experiences. Students reported a high satisfaction with programming (95%) and gains in each of the 14 scientific skills assessed. The most significant gains occurred in students’ attitudes towards their ability to analyze data and understand the research process. Importantly, 78% of the students reported the program positively influenced their interest in future research. These findings provide further support that engagement of underrepresented students in research during formative high school years is an effective intervention. The collaborative research training model allowed participating sites to leverage their own local expertise while engaging in adaptive programming that suited both the institution and the needs of its area high school students.

ABSTRACT Despite the popular use of the term “toxic” while addressing the high prevalence of abuse in Indian romantic relationships, the scientific literature on “toxic” relationships remains scarce and prompts a fundamental inquiry into the precise criteria by which a relationship qualifies as “toxic.” Using an exploratory approach, the present study aimed to conceptualize “toxic romantic relationships” based on semi‐structured interviews of 48 young adults from India, recruited using purposive sampling. Thematic analysis of the interview transcripts offered a comprehensive view of toxic relationships across three facets, that is, healthy characteristics of a romantic relationship, unhealthy characteristics of a romantic relationship, and the subsequent negative impact on the individuals. It could be inferred that a romantic relationship can be regarded as “toxic” only when there is at least one unhealthy relationship characteristic present, the severity of which should be such that it has at least one negative impact on the individual(s) involved, regardless of whether there are healthy relationship characteristics present or not. The study offers insights that can inform educational programs, mental health interventions, and social policies to support individuals navigating such relationships, both within the Indian cultural context and beyond.

We investigate how homophily in adherence to anti-epidemic measures affects the final size of epidemics in social networks. Using a modified SIR model, we divide agents into two behavioral groups-compliant and non-compliant-and introduce transmission probabilities that depend asymmetrically on the behavior of both the infected and susceptible individuals. We simulate epidemic dynamics on two types of synthetic networks with tunable inter-group connection probability: stochastic block models (SBM) and networks with triadic closure (TC) that better capture local clustering. Our main result reveals a counterintuitive effect: under conditions where compliant infected agents significantly reduce transmission, increasing the separation between groups may lead to a higher fraction of infections in the compliant population. This paradoxical outcome emerges only in networks with clustering (TC), not in SBM, suggesting that local network structure plays a crucial role. These findings highlight that increasing group separation does not always confer protection, especially when behavioral traits amplify within-group transmission.

Online hate speech has become increasingly prevalent on social media, causing harm to individuals and society. While automated content moderation has received considerable attention, user-driven counterspeech remains a less explored yet promising approach. However, many people face difficulties in crafting effective responses. We introduce CounterQuill, a human-AI collaborative system that helps everyday users with writing empathetic counterspeech-not by generating automatic replies, but by educating them through reflection and response. CounterQuill follows a three-stage workflow grounded in computational thinking: (1) a learning session to build understanding of hate speech and counterspeech, (2) a brainstorming session to identify harmful patterns and ideate counterspeech ideas, and (3) a co-writing session that helps users refine their counter responses while preserving personal voice. Through a user study ($\mathbf{N} \boldsymbol{=} \mathbf{2 0}$), we found that CounterQuill helped participants develop the skills to brainstorm and draft counterspeech with confidence and control throughout the process. Our findings highlight how AI systems can scaffold complex communication tasks through structured, human-centered workflows that educate users on how to recognize, reflect on, and respond to online hate speech.

We study how firms allocate resources across their constituent establishments in response to local economic shocks in the context of the Great Depression. Using establishment-level data from the Census of Manufactures, we find that establishments in multi-plant firms are affected by local shocks in the regions in which the other establishments comprising the firm are located. In particular, establishment employment is positively affected by positive shocks to the local supply of credit to other establishments that make up the firm. Our results show the important role of firms in the geographic propagation of local economic shocks.