درخت حوزه‌های تخصصی

Background: The rapid development of technology and computing has significantly impacted modern societies, leading to increased opportunities for wealth creation and, inversely, transactional offending. Cybercrimes are increasing and have become a major threat to nations, governments, businesses, and individuals, resulting in financial losses, reputational damage, and personal information data breaches. Aims: This study explores how the South African Police Service (SAPS) responds to and combats cybercrimes. Methodology: This research was conducted in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal. The study adopted the qualitative research approach and the phenomenological research design, according to which interpretive and constructivist qualitative research paradigms were deemed appropriate. Data was collected through in-depth interviews using semi-structured interviews, with a sample of 17 participants purposively drawn from the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI) and the Commercial Crimes Unit (CCI) of the South African Police Service (SAPS). The theoretical orientation that guided the study is the Structural Functionalism Theory. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis. Findings: The study revealed that South Africa has been experiencing an increase in cybercrimes. However, has introduced laws and security strategies, such as the Cybercrime and Cybersecurity Bill of 2017, to respond to cybercrimes. However, these are argued to be not adapting fast enough to the constantly changing technological environment. Conclusion: Although limited, there are Police forensic experts in the field who can respond to cybercrimes. The study emphasizes the need for collaboration among all stakeholders, including prosecutors, the judiciary, private security agencies, CSPs, and ISPs, to effectively tackle cybercrimes.

This study aims to analyze the discourse of children's identity representation on their parents’ Instagram pages. Focusing on the concept of virtual child labor and using Norman Fairclough’s critical discourse analysis approach, the research qualitatively examines six Persian-language Instagram accounts that prominently feature children, have a high follower count, include promotional content, and display performative narratives. The findings indicate that children are portrayed as instruments for attracting attention, advertising products, and reinforcing their parents’ social status. The linguistic and visual structures of these representations are shaped by discourses such as visual consumerism, apparent agency, performative parenting, and the commodification of childhood. As a result, children’s presence in these digital spaces is less a reflection of their lived experiences and agency, and more a reproduction of dominant discourses within the digital economy. These representations highlight a new form of child labor in virtual environments, calling for serious reconsideration in media policy and legal protection of children.

Background: Understanding how humans perceive and estimate distances in built environments is critical not only for advancing perceptual psychology but also for informing the design of computational models in computer vision, robotics, and architectural design. Aims: This study investigates the mechanisms and limitations of human distance estimation within a controlled architectural environment. Methodology: While some previous experiments focused on estimating distances in virtual settings, the current study examines real-world estimation accuracy across a series of predefined points within an unobstructed corridor. Participants were asked to visually estimate the distance between their position and seven distinct target locations, ranging from near to far without the aid of physical reference cues. The core objective was not simply to measure accuracy, but to identify the perceptual threshold beyond which estimation errors significantly increase. A one-way ANOVA model was employed to assess the influence of variables such as actual distance and participant age on perceptual accuracy. Results: Results revealed a consistent estimation performance up to approximately 2 m, beyond which the margin of error grew increasingly pronounced. Notably, a critical threshold was identified at 7.476 m, where estimation errors sharply escalated. The maximum observed discrepancy occurred at a distance of 10.186 m, suggesting a cognitive boundary in spatial awareness. Conclusion: These findings contribute to the understanding of visual-spatial perception mechanisms and offer theoretical insights relevant to applications in robotics, image processing, virtual reality, and navigation system design.

The integration of artificial intelligence into Master of Business Administration (MBA) education is reshaping the foundations of management learning worldwide. This study conducts a qualitative meta-synthesis of 17 peer-reviewed sources published between 2001 and 2021 to examine how AI technologies—ranging from generative models and adaptive learning systems to predictive analytics and federated learning—are influencing MBA curricula, pedagogy, student engagement, and institutional strategies. Findings reveal that AI holds transformative potential for enhancing personalization, academic performance, and curriculum relevance, while also addressing enrollment challenges and labor market misalignments. However, integration remains uneven and fraught with ethical, infrastructural, and pedagogical challenges, including concerns over academic integrity, faculty preparedness, and digital equity. Conceptual frameworks such as the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), paradox theory, and interpretive structural modeling elucidate the enabling and constraining factors surrounding AI adoption. The study highlights the urgent need for business schools to pursue a holistic and ethically grounded AI strategy that balances technological innovation with humanistic leadership development. Ultimately, AI is not only redefining how MBAs are delivered, but also reorienting their purpose toward preparing future-ready leaders for complex, data-driven environments. The paper concludes with a call for adaptive, inclusive, and ethically sound educational reforms in MBA programs worldwide.