Thesis (MSc (Physiology))--University of Stellenbosch, 2000. / 251 leaves single sided printed, preliminary pages and numbered pages 1-151. Includes bibliography, list of appendixes, abbreviations, variables, figures and tables. Digitized at 300 dpi (OCR), using a Bizhub 250 scanner. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The Whistle Watch™, an innovative and commercialised peak flow monitor, inspired this study, with its abnormal and complex measuring behaviour. The Whistle Watch™ latter is an audible peak flow monitor with a threshold-activated whistle as the essential component. The whistle is calibrated for a certain flow, and then encased in a body with a variable exhaust valve to atmosphere. Using the Whistle Watch™, with the exhaust valve pre-set, executing a forced expiratory effort, the audible notification of the whistle would indicate a stable asthmatic condition at that setting. No audible notification would result in the use of medication as a preventative measure. Due to the absence of existing theories and literature on the mechanics of whistles, the Whistle Watch™ was empirically developed. This study therefore, focuses on the characterisation and consequent improved understanding ofthe mechanics ofa whistle, with the objective to monitor pulmonary function in a novel way. During this study, a novel technique was developed to determine the reed activation point, or onset of oscillation, in terms of pressure. This technique was then implemented throughout the study. The initial observation and experimentation underlined the whistle's activation sensitivity towards any irregularities of the reed surface. A statistical spread of reed activation pressures defined the reed's inherent non-linear properties. A high dependence of reed activation towards upstream geometry was noted, and a clarification hypothesis was formulated. The effect of reed dimensions on activation pressure was exposed as a complex unexplored field. Existing mathematical reed theories only accommodate steady state oscillations, whereas the completed study indicated a high sensitivity of the reed activation pressure towards different input envelopes. This sensitivity was encapsulated in a mathematical model, with initial support and proofprovided by a previous independent study. All the observed effects and phenomena had far reaching practical application towards the production and quality control ofthe Whistle Watch™. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Whistle Watch™, 'n inoverende, kommersieel piekvloeimonitor, was die inspirasie vir die studie, deur sy abnorrnale en ingewikkelde meet-gedragskenrnerke. Laasgenoemde is 'n piekvloeimonitor met 'n fluit wat geaktiveer word by 'n vooraf vasgestelde drempel. Die fluit word gekalibreer vir 'n bepaalde vloei, waarna dit geenkapsuleer word in 'n hoofdeel met 'n veranderlike uitlaat na die atmosfeer. By die gebruik van die Whislte Watch™, met die uitlaatklep gestel op 'n voorafbepaalde vloeitempo, word 'n bepaalde ekspirasievlak verkry. Hierdie vlak het 'n hoorbare kennisgewing tot gevolg, wat 'n stabiele asmatiese toestand aandui. In die afwesigheid van 'n hoorbare respons, word medikasie as voorkornende rnaatreel vereis. Die Whislte Watch™ is empiries ontwikkel in die afwesigheid van bestaande teoriee en literatuur ten opsigte van die werking van fluite. Die fokus van hierdie studie word dus geplaas op die karakterisering van die werking van fluite, wat 'n beter begrip tot gevolg het. 'n Nuwe benadering tot die monitering van die pulrnonere funksie is dus haalbaar. Tydens die studie is 'n unieke tegniek ontwikkel om die aktiveringspunt van die riet, of die aanvang van ossilasie in terrne van druk, te bepaal. Hierdie tegniek is toe dwarsdeur die studie geiinplimenteer. Die fluit se aktiveringssensitiwiteit, in terrne van die oppervlak-onreelmatighede, van die riet was duidelik waarneembaar. Die inherente nie-liniere eienskappe van die riet is duidelik waarneembaar in rietaktiveringsdrukke. 'n Verklarende hipotese is as gevolg van 'n afhanklikheid van die rietaktiveringsdrukke relatief tot stroom-op geometrie, gestel. Die effek wat rietafinetings op aktiveringsdrukke het, was blootgel~ as 'n komplekse onontwikkelde gebied. Bestaande wiskundige rietteoriee maak slegs voosiening vir nie-fluktuerende ossilasies. Na voltooiing van hierdie studie is dit duidelik dat daar wei 'n hoe sensitiwiteit van die rietaktiveringsdrukke bestaan, met verwysing na verskillende ekspiratoriese profiele. Hierdie sensitiwiteit word vervat in 'n wiskundige model met toepaslilke ondersteuning en bewyse uit 'n vorige, onathanklike studie. Aile waarneembare phenomena het resulterende praktiese impakte ten opsigte van die produksie en gehalteversekering van die Whistle Watch™.

This study examines the effects of reputation threats and anonymous whistle-blowing channels on Chief Audit Executives’ (CAEs) decisions to investigate whistle-blowing allegations. Participants were 94 CAEs and Deputy CAEs from publicly traded companies in the eastern half of the United States. Participants received whistle-blowing reports from either an anonymous or a non-anonymous source. In the high reputation threat condition the whistle-blowing report alleged that the wrongdoing was perpetrated by the exploitation of substantial weaknesses in internal controls that had been previously evaluated by external auditors and the internal audit function. The report in the lower threat condition alleged that the wrongdoing was accomplished by the circumvention of internal controls. Findings show that CAEs found anonymous whistle-blowing reports to be significantly less credible than non-anonymous reports. Although CAEs assessed lower credibility ratings for the reports alleging wrongdoing by the exploitation of substantial weaknesses in internal controls, they perceived greater personal and departmental responsibility in this condition. CAEs did not, however, perceive a significant reputation threat in either the Exploitation or Circumvention condition. Regardless of report source credibility, perceived reputation threat, or felt responsibility, CAEs’ resource allocation decisions consistently demonstrated a determination to thoroughly investigate the allegations of wrongdoing and uncover the truth.

<p>This study aims to investigate, from an institutional perspective, the implications of the</p><p>new anti-corruption law in Viet Nam with a particular focus on its impact on civil society</p><p>and individual rights to report on corruption. The overarching research question is: How do</p><p>formal and informal institutions affect whistle-blowers possibilities to engage in combat of</p><p>corruption in Viet Nam? To blow the whistle in Viet Nam can be problematic, with</p><p>consequences such as loosing his/hers job and social exclusion. Whistle-blowers in Viet</p><p>Nam today seem to have an insufficient confidence to official authorities. Moreover, a</p><p>problem of significance is that whistle-blowers have to state their name and contact details</p><p>when reporting on corrupt acts to competent agencies. Another problem is that civil society</p><p>is strongly connected to the CPV (Communist Party of Viet Nam).</p>

No abstract available / Thesis (LL.M.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2009.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Hawaii at Manoa, 2004. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 71-80). / Also available by subscription via World Wide Web / xii, 80 leaves, bound 29 cm

The entire thesis text is included in the research.pdf file; the official abstract appears in the short.pdf file; a non-technical public abstract appears in the public.pdf file. Title from PDF of title page (University of Missouri--Columbia, viewed on October 14, 2009). Thesis advisor: Dr. Clarence Lo. Includes bibliographical references.

The focus of this research was on the Management of Whistle-Blowing at the University of South Africa (UNISA). This study investigated the perception of UNISA staff on the issue of whistle-blowing. Using a quantitative approach, a questionnaire was used to obtain relevant information from permanent employees of UNISA, at all campuses and regions, regarding the issue of whistle-blowing. This study highlights the attitudes and opinions of permanent employees of UNISA regarding the issue of whistle-blowing, and whether or not these attitude and opinions can influence the effectiveness of whistle-blowing, as a crime and unethical conduct deterrent and detection mechanism. Several issues were investigated in this study, as whistle-blowing if implemented and managed correctly, can be a valuable source of intelligence on crime and unethical conduct in the workplace. / CRIMINOLOGY / MA (POLICE SCIENCE)

No description available.

The following essays explore ways in which the environment affects and is affected by organizations. The first essay, “Trust and the Division of Labor” considers that the trust environment of a firm helps determine its structure. Jointly with Stephan Meier and Patryk Perkowski, I show that exogenously imposed culture leads to variation in organizational form. An experiment primes trust using past performance from a pilot study and demonstrate that the level of trust within an organization affects division of labor and consequently organizational productivity. This evidence is consistent with a cross-country link between trust and the division of labor that we observe in data from the European Social Survey. A simple evolutionary game theoretic model is provided to illustrate the results. The second essay, Nobody Likes a Rat”, considers the impact of norms against certain types of behavior (in this case dishonesty) on behavior and organizational composition. Jointly with Ernesto Reuben, I investigate the intrinsic motivation of individuals to report, and thereby sanction, fellow group members who lie for personal gain. We find that when groups can select their members, individuals who report lies are generally shunned, even by groups where lying is absent. This facilitates the formation of dishonest groups where lying is prevalent and reporting is nonexistent. Finally, "NFTs, Volume, and Social Influence" observes how organizations and individuals use environmental cues like rankings and volume for sensemaking in a market with high quality uncertainty. Using observational data scraped from the top 1000 NFT collections I find a significant positive relationship between volume and price. Then, using plausibly exogneous variation in blockchain-level transaction fees, I fit an instrumental variable model which helps validate the causal interpretation that changes in volume lead to changes in price. I further add an experiment on NFTs to tease out two plausible channels through which volume could affect prices: user attention and normative social influence. The experiment finds strong evidence that being told an NFT is higher volume leads subjects to pay more attention to that NFT, whereas this has no significant effect on a subject's reported preference for the NFT. A second experimental treatment, in which subjects were told the NFTs were ordered by volume transaction costs, does observe a significant positive affect on reported preferences (as well as attention).

Food fraud can be traced back to the beginning of second century, but it was not until 2013 that the phenomenon of food fraud received the definition “intentional violation of the rules motivated by economical or financial gain” by the EU. In Sweden, the Swedish Food Agency (Livsmedelsverket) together with the municipal food inspectors work against food fraud. It is essential to detect food fraud in order to protect the Swedish consumers safety and health. The aim of this study is to assess consumers experience about food fraud and their mistrust to any food groups as well as consumers awareness about whistle blowing functions. In addition, differences between consumers and municipal food inspector’s estimation of the extent of food fraud in Sweden will be investigated. The study revealed that 51 % of the consumers have experienced food fraud and 48 % have experienced fear of being exposed to food fraud. Approximately 16 % also have a lack of trust to some food groups. The municipal food inspectors usually only control fraud when receiving tips but only a relatively small group of consumers are aware of the whistle blowing functions. An interesting pattern throughout the report is that meat and meat products scores significant high, both regarding consumers experience of fraud, avoidance of food groups and in ranking of most exposed food group. The study showed no significant difference between the consumers and the municipal food inspector’s estimation of the existent of food fraud in Sweden.