Performance enhancement of the Surrey 400 keV ion implanter has been successfully implemented by upgrading the ion optics and installing a computerised telemetry system. Ion optics improvements include redesigning the mass analyser system and designing and installing a double electrostatic quadrupole lens. Telemetry enhancements entailed designing and installing an "intelligent" multiplexer system within the high voltage terminal and connecting this system to computers at earth potential using only two (Down- and Up-link) fibre optic lines. This new system solved the problem of frequent failures caused by current discharges. Other telemetry improvements included: upgrading all data acquisition and conversion head units especially those monitoring the critical parameters; standardising the design of voltage-to-frequency (V/F) head units and installing these as boxed modules; and, increasing the number of telemetry channels (from 15 to 22) to monitor the (original 15 plus the seven newly developed) sub-systems within the high voltage terminal. Upgrading of the machine optics and electronics not only remedied several of the shortcomings of the original machine, but also worked to produce an equipment with better operational characteristics. Currently, the implanter is capable of resolving ion species with masses up to 241 amu, which enables selected isotopes from across the periodic table to be ion implanted. Ray tracing simulations show that the machine now has a much-improved beam transport efficiency with a smaller and more symmetric beam spot at the target. Experiments using 100 keV Ar+ showed that the beam spot is 5mm x 3mm as against 35mm x 20mm in the old system. At the same time, the implanter has a reliable telemetry system which efficiently links together all of its sub-systems within the high voltage terminal. Performance measurements showed that there has been a significant improvement in channel accuracies (from 1% to at least 0.3%) as well as an increase in its measurement speed, being at least five times faster. The best indicator of implanter reliability, however, is that since the commissioning of both optics and electronics improvements in 1988, there has been no reported telemetry breakdown. This not only provides substantial savings in machine maintenance and repairs, but, also increased the productivity of the implanter. These improvements in hardware have made the machine more amenable to and worthy of computer control. To ensure tighter control and to enhance the reliability of the implanter, a distributed computer control system for the automatic control of the whole implanter has also been designed. Within this control configuration, three types of applications software have been developed, tested and subsequently implemented to control the Beam Generation and Analysis sub-systems. These Assembly code programmes provide the operator with real-time information which enable him to conduct fault diagnosis, parameter calibration, and, on a day to day basis, perform the setting up and control of the implanter. In the future, the software can be expanded and integrated into the final algorithm needed to implement the closed-loop computer control of the implanter. Full automation will further enhance the implanter's performance and reliability. In summary, major improvements have been made to the 400 kV high current implanter at the University of Surrey. This has greatly enhanced the purity of the beam at the target and the reliability of the machine. As a result, this project serves to enhance the quality of research in the field of ion implantation technology within the Department. It also contributes to ongoing research in the development of implanter telemetry and control systems.

Introduction: With increasing longevity the population of the world is becoming older and there are growing numbers of people over the age of 65 years. This has implications for services providing psychological treatment to older people as there is likely to be an increasing demand for evidenced-based treatments such as Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) in the coming years. There are, however, relatively few clinical psychologists specialising in working with older people and therefore additional ways of dealing with the growing demands are essential. Computerised Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CCBT) offers one potential option and NICE recommends Beating the Blues (BTB) as the most clinically and cost-effective package for treating depression. However, no study to date has explored the use of BTB with older people. Objective: The objective of the study was to address this gap in the literature and had the following aims: 1) to explore the uptake rate of BTB with older people; 2) to explore the characteristics of older people opting to receive BTB; 3) to explore the drop-out rate from BTB with older people; and 4) to determine if BTB was effective in reducing symptoms of depression and anxiety in older people experiencing these difficulties. The findings were compared to previous research on BTB with younger adults. Methodology: A between-groups, repeated measures design (with assessment time as the repeated measure) was used. Participants were given a free choice of receiving BTB plus treatment as usual (BTB+TAU) or treatment as usual alone (TAU). Treatment as usual was provided by clinicians from older people community mental health teams (e.g. psychiatric nurses) and the only constraint that was placed in this was that no face-to-face psychological therapy from an accredited therapist could be provided. The participants opting to receive BTB also completed eight sessions of BTB on a weekly basis. All participants completed a range of outcome measures prior to commencing treatment (pre), after eight weeks (post) and after a further 4 weeks (one month follow-up). Results & Discussion: The results indicated that 56.9 per cent of the participants opted to receive BTB and they reported having significantly more experience and confidence using a computer than those who declined BTB. It was also found that 72.7 per cent of older people completed all eight sessions of BTB (27.3 per cent discontinuation rate). This was comparable to what has been found in previous studies of BTB with younger adults. A two (treatment group) x three (time) repeated measures ANOVA revealed that, in comparison to the TAU group, the BTB+TAU group showed statistically significant greater improvements on measures of depression and anxiety by the end of treatment. This was maintained at one month follow-up. Furthermore, in comparison to the TAU group the BTB had a higher percentage of participants who met criteria for clinically significant improvement by the end of treatment and at one-month follow-up. The results suggest that BTB is an acceptable and effective treatment for older people experiencing depression and anxiety and the implications of these findings are discussed.

The increasing demand for the chemical monitoring of water qualities emphasises the importance of an efficient and workable laboratory management system to remain profitable and competitive in a fast growing industry. The management of information is therefore becoming increasingly important as the effectiveness and profitability of the water laboratory is largely measured against its management systems and continual improvement programmes. Effective information management forms an important part of laboratory management to ensure that data are updated and remain current. One way of proving its effectiveness, the laboratory must provide proof of a controlled and procedurised documentation system and the availability of updated data and information. The effective control of data and information in the water laboratory by using some kind of information management system is therefore essential. Laboratory managers are becoming aware of the need for an effective, computerised laboratory data and information management system as the entry of data and results into a manual system has several disadvantages. The laboratory manager is increasingly seeking for ways to improve the efficiency of his laboratory and more time must therefore be spent on managing the laboratory, rather than to facilitate the distribution and control of information.

No description available.

The research study focused on assessing the usage of accounting systems by Small Medium Micro Enterprises (SMMEs). The location of the study was SMMEs in Maluti-a-Phofung Local Municipality (MAP LM) in the Eastern part of the Free State province. The objective of the study was to investigate the usage of accounting systems by SMMEs around MAP ML. The research approach that premised the study was a quantitative methodology, which involved distribution of questionnaires as part of field work to SMMEs in MAP LM area. The questionnaires were analysed through a statistical approach, and further linked back to the problem statement posed to the research study. The area of focus in the SMMEs was the usage of Computerised Accounting Systems which was selected because of its huge impact in the operation of most businesses. Computerised Accounting System forms the core of the business sustainability; it ensures that management is always abreast with information. Various literatures were reviewed regarding the usage of Accounting Systems and computerised accounting systems for SMMEs. The results provided an interesting outcome to conclude that the accounting systems being used by the SMEs around the MAP area poses less challenges to the operation of the businesses. It can also be concluded from the study that SMMEs around the MAP LM area are using accounting systems that collect and process data accurately and communicate information to the decision makers with no challenges. / MBA, North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

The research study focused on assessing the usage of accounting systems by Small Medium Micro Enterprises (SMMEs). The location of the study was SMMEs in Maluti-a-Phofung Local Municipality (MAP LM) in the Eastern part of the Free State province. The objective of the study was to investigate the usage of accounting systems by SMMEs around MAP ML. The research approach that premised the study was a quantitative methodology, which involved distribution of questionnaires as part of field work to SMMEs in MAP LM area. The questionnaires were analysed through a statistical approach, and further linked back to the problem statement posed to the research study. The area of focus in the SMMEs was the usage of Computerised Accounting Systems which was selected because of its huge impact in the operation of most businesses. Computerised Accounting System forms the core of the business sustainability; it ensures that management is always abreast with information. Various literatures were reviewed regarding the usage of Accounting Systems and computerised accounting systems for SMMEs. The results provided an interesting outcome to conclude that the accounting systems being used by the SMEs around the MAP area poses less challenges to the operation of the businesses. It can also be concluded from the study that SMMEs around the MAP LM area are using accounting systems that collect and process data accurately and communicate information to the decision makers with no challenges. / MBA, North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

No description available.

No description available.

This research is motivated by the interest in understanding the usage of the Generalised Audit Software (GAS) by external auditors within public accounting firms. GAS is a tool used by auditors to automate various audit tasks. It helps auditors to analyse accounting data electronically where it is quite impossible to do so manually. GAS is claimed to be the most influential Computer Assisted Audit Tools and Technique (CAATTs) that can facilitate the audit objective. However, research has found that there is little evidence that auditors have extensively adopted GAS. Even greater benefits have been promoted since the existence of GAS, but auditors do not really seem to be interested in this tool. Most previous studies have focused on either internal auditors, large accounting firms, other countries or merely adopters of GAS. However, there is little evidence that the study of GAS has been conducted on external auditors, especially in small and medium sized accounting firms in the United Kingdom (UK). This study helps to fill this gap by exploring the use of GAS among them, and covers both adopters and non-adopters of GAS. Through an online survey using both close and open-ended questions, this issue has been investigated among registered statutory auditors. The primary aim of this study is to explore the current usage of GAS and to understand the factors that influence the use of GAS as well as the perceptions and expectations of using GAS. The views are gathered from both auditors who are already implementing GAS and those who are not using GAS. A framework was developed to identify a range of relevant factors which are important when considering the application of GAS. Responses from 205 statutory auditors across the UK were then mapped against the framework. Of the 14 variables used to test the factors that influence the use of GAS, only six of them are found to be significant from logistic regression analysis. These are firm size, experience of auditors in computerised auditing, organisational influence, client factor, audit engagement allocation and perceived usefulness. The findings show that the utilisations of GAS is unusually low among audit firms in the UK. Almost 73% of external auditors make no use of GAS, due to the limited perceived benefit of using GAS for auditing small clients. While some respondents recognised the advantages of GAS, they were put off by what they believed to be high implementation costs; the significant learning curve and adoption process; and lack of ease of use. Some auditors expressed their awareness of GAS, but most of them showed a preference for using traditional auditing methods instead. A few problems have also been identified in causing the limitation of GAS usage. This study contributes to the literature on suggestions to improve the use of GAS that can be used by small and medium sized public accounting firm, which is lacking in existing research related to this group. In sum, this study has deepened current understanding of the GAS usage among small and medium sized audit firms in the UK, and has provided useful insights for audit professionals, software developers, vendors, standards setters, academicians and researchers. This study has also opened up the possibilities for further study on GAS or related areas either in the UK or other places in the world.

Andrius Jackūnas :Orbicular pendulum computerised modelling, magister of physics / supervisor doc. dr. M. Stakvilevičius; Šiauliai University, Physics cathedra. – Šiauliai, 2005. – 36p .