Influence of Altitude on the Petrological Features of a Soil Climosequence in the Humid Tropical Zone of Cameroon
Although lateritic soils are well documented in the humid tropical zone, work on adiabatic effect, which imposes local climatic variations with increasing altitude, has received very little attention in this zone. The aim of this work was to study and specify a soil climosequence in the humid tropical zone of Cameroon and to show the influence of altitude on the geochemical functioning of tropical soils. The work was done in the field and completed by a battery of laboratory analyses. The results enabled the definition of a soil climosequence for the humid tropical zone in Cameroon. This climosequence is marked by soils whose evolution is conditioned by the geochemistry of iron, silicon and aluminium. In the plateau ecosystems (500-800 m altitude), iron is expressed either as hardened materials (e.g. ferruginous nodules or duricrust) or light patches on the soils, while silicon and aluminium are combined as kaolinite. In the high plateaus (800-2000 m altitude), soil evolution is dominated by aluminium geochemistry, where aluminium forms gibbsite (either indurated or loose) often associated with small amounts of goethite and hematite. Finally, in the mountainous massifs (> 2000 m altitude), soil evolution is controlled by silica geochemistry, where silica is combined with amorphous aluminium to form allophane. In this soil, the presence of a dark and thick humiferous andosolic horizon in the upper part of the profile is very remarkable. Overall, this soil climosequence reflects geochemical functioning processes which grade with altitude in the humid tropical zone of Cameroon, similar to that commonly observed under the temperate climate. This general scheme could be extrapolated to other humid tropical regions with similar climatic and relief conditions as those observed in Cameroon. However, this general tendency often includes site-specific modifications caused by human activity and local variations of environmental conditions.
Correlation of California Bearing Ratio (CBR) Value with Soil Properties of Road Subgrade Soil
The California Bearing Ratio (CBR) is the most utilised parameter for dimensioning flexible pavements in tropical countries. Often this test is expensive, laborious and time consuming, and to overcome this, some regression analysis (single and multiple) was considered between the soil’s index properties (liquid limit-LL, Plastic limit-PL and Plasticity index-PI), compaction characteristics (maximum dry density-MDD and optimum moisture content-OMC), percentage of particle sizes (gravel, sand and clay/silt) and CBR. The study was carried out along an ongoing roadway construction project where thirty-three soil samples were collected and transported to the laboratory for analysis. Routine geotechnical tests were carried out and thereafter correlation and regression analysis were run on the obtained results to assess the relationship between these index properties, compaction characteristics and the experimental CBR obtained. The results of this analysis showed relatively fair coefficients of determination of R2 = 0.772 between CBR and MDD using single linear regression analysis and R2 = 0.841 between CBR and all the parameters using multiple linear regression analysis (MLRA). Though the MLRA improved the R2 from 0.772 to 0.841, the inclusion of additional properties results in a marginal increase of R2 indicative of weak correlators of CBR hence practically not cost effective for pavement design .
Judicial Review, Socio-Economic Rights and the Human Rights Act
INTRODUCTION 1 THE ROLE OF COURTS IN THE PROTECTION OF SOCIO-ECONOMIC RIGHTS: INTERNATIONAL AND DOMESTIC PERSPECTIVES I. The Indivisibility of Human Rights II. The Protection of Socio-economic Rights in Domestic Courts III. Conclusion 2 THE REGIONAL PROTECTION OF SOCIO-ECONOMIC RIGHTS: EUROPE I. Introduction II. The European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) 1950 III. The Protection of Socio-economic Rights in the ECHR IV. The Protection of Socio-economic Rights in EC/EU Law V. Conclusion 3 COURTS, THE UK CONSTITUTION AND THE HUMAN RIGHTS ACT 1998 I. Introduction II. Reading and Giving Effect to ECHR Rights in UK Courts III. Conclusion 4 JUDICIAL REVIEW: DEFERENCE, RESOURCES AND THE HUMAN RIGHTS ACT I. Introduction II. The Constitutional Foundations of Judicial Review III. Public Law, Deference and the Human Rights Act IV. Conclusion 5 FROM NEED TO 'CHOICE' IN PUBLIC SERVICES: THE BOUNDARIES OF JUDICIAL INTERVENTION IN PRIORITISATION DISPUTES I. Introduction II. NHS Rationing: The Role of Courts in Disputes over Access to Medical Services III. Local Authority Resource Allocation Disputes IV. Interpreting Local Authority Statutory Duties Post-HRA V. Conclusion 6 ARTICLES 3 AND 8 ECHR: FAILURE TO PROVIDE AND POSITIVE OBLIGATIONS IN THE SOCIO-ECONOMIC SPHERE I. Introduction II. Anufrijeva, Article 8 ECHR and Maladministration in the Provision of Welfare III. Article 3 ECHR: Respect for Dignity IV. Conclusion 7 ARTICLE 14 ECHR AND THE UNEQUAL DISTRIBUTION OF PUBLIC GOODS AND SERVICES IN THE UNITED KINGDOM I. Introduction II. Socio-economic Entitlements and the Limits of Substantive Fairness in Article 14 ECHR III. Carson's Case: Refusal of Up-rated Payments to Pensioners Abroad 283 IV. Reynolds' Case: The Intensity of Scrutiny in Other 'Status Disputes' V. Equality and Human Rights VI. Conclusion 8 ARTICLE 6 ECHR: JUDICIAL REVIEW, DUE PROCESS AND THE PROTECTION OF SOCIO-ECONOMIC RIGHTS I. Introduction II. What is a Civil Right for the Purposes of Article 6 ECHR? III. The Quality of Administrative Justice: The Scope of Article IV. Conclusion