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The purpose of this research was to theoretically and empirically explore the success factors in cadastral parcel boundary settlements. Our focus was to study the role of landowners in boundary settlements and dispute management. The issue of landowners’ involvement is highly topical and complex, as the number of disputes stemming from indeterminate landowners’ roles in managing cadastral boundaries and indeterminate roles of the land surveyor as the mediator are considerable. These disputes can be a heavy burden for the country and society as a whole. Our basic research question was very widely set so that the model of success factors of boundary settlements following land cadastre data would go beyond the geodetic and legal framework and would also cover socio-psychological factors. In the literature, this topic is still not addressed, although there are several scientific questions related to it, the focus being on the integration of sociological and psychological factors into the field of spatial management. Based on the opinions of authorised land surveyors, we found for the case of Slovenia that the success of boundary settlement is, along with engineering and property aspects, also influenced by socio-psychological factors. The following factors were found to be essential: previously marked boundaries, preliminary analysis, clear explanation, surveyor’s expertise and communication skills, neighbourly relations between landowners, (psychological) attachment to land, and other personality traits of landowners. Generally, it was found that the surveying procedure and the land surveyor are the most important factors of success in boundary settlements, closely followed by the landowner, while the land data (cadastral data) is the least important factor. We also found that the land surveyor influences the landowner and how the factors related to the landowner will reflect upon the success of the boundary settlement this confirmed that the land surveyor and the landowner are the most important factors of success in cadastral parcel boundary settlements.

SEM and TEM investigations carried out on a model dental casting alloy containing 0.4% C, 30% Cr, 5% Mo and the rest Co, and a similar alloy also containing 1% Nb which is suitable for blending with ceramic material, have shown that the apparently two phase microstructure observed under the optical light microscope is in fact much more complex that at first thought. From the energy filtered TEM pictures it was able to show that in both alloys, in addition to a block shaped σ-phase, an extremely fine eutectic also exists which consists of a Co-rich solid solution together with M 23 C 6 and M 6 C carbides. In addition, also arranged within the eutectic, the niobium containing alloy also contains extremely fine niobium carbonitrides. As a result of discovery of this extremely fine ternary eutectic, it is now possible to explain the extremely good casting properties of these two alloys.

A novel, quite flexible strategy for the surface pre-treatment of graphite anodes for lithium ion cells has been developed. The treatment involves a high temperature cleaning step in inert Ar atmosphere before treatment with gaseous reactants such as CO2 or O2. The effects of surface modification on the formation of the solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) and the corresponding irreversible charge losses are discussed by way of several examples. Morphology changes due to burn-off of carbon are particularly highlighted.

Surface pre-treatment of graphitic electrode materials for lithium ion cells has recently been shown to significantly reduce the irreversible consumption of material and charge due to the formation of the so-called solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) during battery charging. In this paper, we compare graphite powders and carbon fibres as model materials for X-ray photoemission spectroscopy (XPS) studies of the effects of surface pre-treatments. For carbon fibres, the surface carbon percentage was found to vary from 70–95% depending on the surface treatment, with corresponding changes in the relative proportion of graphitic compared to CO bonds, as determined from C 1s curve fits. In contrast, results from the graphite powders show very little change in surface chemical composition and an essentially constant C 1s lineshape dominated by graphitic carbon. SEM data show the carbon fibre cross-section to be composed of a radial array of layered graphite, leaving a surface consisting largely of prismatic planes, while the graphite powder consists of graphite platelets with the surface area predominantly of basal planes. We conclude that the chemical modification occurs at the prismatic planes, and that the powders are unsuitable as models for XPS studies of electrode surface modification, while the fibres are very well suited.

Rechargeable lithium ion cells operate at voltages of ∼4.5 V, which is far beyond the thermodynamic stability window of the battery electrolyte. Strong electrolyte reduction and corrosion of the negative electrode has to be anticipated, which leads to irreversible loss of electroactive material and electrolyte, and thus strongly deteriorates cell performance. To minimize these reactions, negative electrode and electrolyte components have to be combined bringing about the electrolyte reduction products to form an effectively protecting film at the anode/electrolyte interface. This film hinders further electrolyte decomposition reactions and acts as membrane for the lithium cations, i.e., behaves as asolidelectrolytei2nt erphase (SEI). The present paper gives a review of our recent work in the field of negative electrodes in lithium ion batteries. The effects of the graphite anode surface and graphite anode surface modification on the formation of the SEI are discussed in detail by using the example: modification with carbon dioxide.

Low amplitude high frequency waves (LHW) were investigated in normal and patient cervical somatosensory evoked potentials after median nerve stimulation (CSEP) in parallel to normal and patient conducted somatosensory evoked potentials (SEP) after tibial nerve stimulation. Normal recordings were obtained in five subjects undergoing dorsal root entry zone (DREZ) coagulation for pain relief. Patient recordings were obtained in 11 subjects suffering from either syringomyelia, spinal cord tumour, or both. All recordings were made intraoperatively from the dorsal spinal cord surface using the subpial recording technique. Normal CSEP showed typical triphasic potential starting with an initial P9, followed by N13 and a final positivity, P1. Numerous LHW were superimposed on slow triphasic potential. To improve the visibility of LHW, slow triphasic potential was removed from the original CSEP. Potentials thus obtained contained only high frequency components of CSEP, i.e. LHW. They were compared with conducted SEP after tibial nerve stimulation. Comparison revealed similarities in high frequency, low amplitude and general wave form, LHW thus showing characteristics of conducted potential. Duration was found to be significantly shorter than normal duration in both patient LHW (Student's t-test, P < 0.0005) and patient conducted SEP (Student's t-test, P = 0.064). A shorter duration was associated with worsening of configuration in patient LHW and patient conducted SEP. These changes of LHW could not be connected with distortion of N13 seen in patient CSEP. A shorter duration and worsening of configuration in patient LHW were most prominent in cases with a loss of vibration and posture senses, but were also observed in cases where only pain and temperature senses were affected. We therefore concluded that cuneate fascicle is the most likely generator of LHW, although the participation of other cervical long sensory tracts, e.g. spinothalamic tract, cannot be ruled out.

There is considerable evidence that cereal market liberalization in Tanzania has been a success in spite of poor roads, shortage of capital and vehicles, and lack of market infrastructure and standardized measures. The legal status of the private sector is unclear, however, and public sector policies still favour a heavy official involvement in the marketing system. Farm-gate prices for maize fall off rapidly as one moves away from the primary marketing centres, but on-farm storage of maize poses farmers no insuperable difficulties. Successful implementation of liberalization calls for clarity and consistency in government policy, the reform of financial services, the sale of unused storage capacity to the private sector, the more active involvement of farmers in the liberalized system, the strengthening of extension services, and a policy for regulating interannual price variations.

The quantification of electron energy-loss spectra requires the knowledge of partial scattering cross-sections. For M 45 edges these data are not well known. Therefore, we have determined a set of cross-section ratios ( k -factors) of M 45 and oxygen K energy-loss edges for a number of elements between the atomic numbers 38 through 74 using thin film standards (oxide compounds). These cross-section ratios permit the quantification of EELS containing K,L 23 and M 45 edges, as demonstrated by some examples.

The electron energy loss near-edge structures of the K and L edges of elements occurring in sulfides and oxides of copper and zinc have been investigated. Furthermore, the K edge of carbon in some carbonates and the L edges of sulfur and phosphorus in sulfates and phosphates have been measured and the near-edge fine structures of these edges have been found to be characteristic for the complex ions CO 2- 3 , SO 2- 4 . Thus, near-edge fine structures of EELS edges can be very useful as a fingerprint for rapid identification of chemical compounds such as carbonates, sulfates, phosphates and some oxides in the TEM.

Quantitative EELS microanalysis in the analytical electron microscope involves the use of partial scattering cross-sections to relate measured edge intensities of the elements to their composition. To test the accuracy of the presently available quantification procedures for K and L edges, we have quantified a wide range of oxidic compounds by using cross-sections which have been calculated by the efficiency factor method and the hydrogenic approximation. An accuracy for element ratios of the order 10–30% can be obtained with these calculated cross-sections for small collection angles (e.g. 5.9 mrad), whereas quantification of spectra recorded with very large collection angles can result in higher errors. Furthermore, partial scattering cross-sections for L edges have been determined by the use of stoichiometric oxide standards and these cross-sections have been found to provide more accurate quantification results when compared to the calculated cross-section.