Formation of Large-Scale Semi-Organized Structures in Turbulent Convection

A new mean-field theory of turbulent convection is developed. This theory predicts the convective wind instability in a shear-free turbulent convection which causes formation of large-scale semi-organized fluid motions in the form of cells or rolls. Spatial characteristics of these motions, such as the minimum size of the growing perturbations and the size of perturbations with the maximum growth rate, are determined. This study predicts also the existence of the convective shear instability in a sheared turbulent convection which results in generation of convective shear waves with a nonzero hydrodynamic helicity. Increase of shear promotes excitation of the convective shear instability. Applications of the obtained results to the atmospheric turbulent convection and the laboratory experiments on turbulent convection are discussed. This theory can be applied also for the describing a mesogranular turbulent convection in astrophysics.Comment: 16 pages, 10 figures, REVTEX4, PHYSICAL REVIEW E, v. 67, in press (2003

The Passive Shopping Stage: Keeping in Mind Brand Encounters

In marketing practice, brand managers have to split their budgets between brand advertising efforts and sales promotions. This is a tough decision and is based on several factors including the type of product and the preferences of the target consumer. In this study, the consumer purchase decision making process is conceptualized as a continuum from a passive shopping stage to an active one. Advertising messages work during the passive stage while promotion messages work during the active one. Utilizing panel data obtained from respondents in five European countries, multiple product categories were examined to identify whether pre-purchase brand attitudes determine consumer purchase decision reliance on either passive or active stage brand messages. The author investigated whether patterns hold across countries and product categories. The study also examined to what extent reliance on passive stage messages in a product category is affected by either the aggregate satisfaction or loyalty with the brands available on the market in that category

Disponibilidade de cádmio e chumbo para milho em solo adubado com fertilizantes fosfatados Cadmium and lead availability to corn in soil amended with phosphorus fertilizers

Fertilizantes fosfatados são utilizados intensamente na agricultura, pois a baixa disponibilidade de P frequentemente limita o rendimento das culturas nas condições brasileiras. Esses fertilizantes, entretanto, constituem uma via de entrada de metais pesados no solo. Este trabalho objetivou avaliar o potencial de contaminação do solo por Cd e Pb adicionados por diferentes fertilizantes fosfatados, bem como a absorção destes por plantas de milho. Foram aplicadas cinco doses de diferentes fontes de P: superfosfato simples, superfosfato triplo, fosfato de Araxá, termofosfato de Yoorin e fosfato natural de Gafsa. As doses de P equivaleram a 0, 100, 300, 500 e 800 kg ha-1 de P2O5. Dois cultivos sucessivos com milho foram conduzidos no solo. O fosfato natural de Gafsa apresentou os maiores teores de Cd e Pb. Entre os fertilizantes acidulados, o superfosfato simples apresentou maior teor de Cd e Pb, e o termofosfato, maior concentração de Pb do que os acidulados. A aplicação de fosfato de Gafsa proporcionou as maiores concentrações de Pb na parte aérea do milho no primeiro cultivo. Este fosfato também foi responsável pelo maior teor de Cd nas plantas no segundo cultivo. O ácido cítrico foi mais eficiente em prever os teores disponíveis de Cd, enquanto o DTPA estimou melhor os teores de Pb.<br>Phosphorus fertilizers are intensively used in Brazil, since the low availability of phosphorus often limits yields in tropical soils. However, these fertilizers can be a entranceway for soil contamination with heavy metals. This study was carried out to investigate heavy metal contamination caused by the application of five different phosphorus fertilizers as well as the metal uptake by corn (Zea mays) plants. The fertilizers simple superphosphate, triple superphosphate, Araxá rock phosphate, Yoorin thermophosphate, and Gafsa rock phosphate were applied at rates of 0, 100, 300, 500 and 800 kg ha-1 P2O5 in two successive corn cycles. The highest Cd and Pb concentrations were found in Gafsa rock phosphate. For the acidulated phosphates, simple superphosphate was the richest in Cd and Pb, while the Pb concentration was highest in Yoorin thermophosphate. Gafsa application induced the highest Pb concentration in corn shoots in the first crop cycle. This fertilizer was also responsible for the highest Cd concentration in plants in the second crop. Citric acid was the most efficient extractant for predicting the available soil Cd contents, whereas DTPA estimated Pb availability best

Adsorção e dessorção de cádmio, cobre e chumbo por amostras de Latossolos pré-tratadas com fósforo Cadmium, copper, and lead adsorption and desorption in Oxisol samples pre-treated with phophorus

O movimento de elementos-traço nos solos está intimamente associado aos fatores que contribuem para sua retenção na fase sólida; dentre esses fatores, destaca-se a presença de ânions adsorvidos. Neste trabalho, avaliou-se o efeito do pré-tratamento do solo com P sobre a adsorção e dessorção de Cd, Cu e Pb em amostras dos horizontes A e B de dois solos: Latossolo Vermelho-Amarelo ácrico típico (LVAw) e Latossolo Vermelho ácrico típico (LVw). O pré-tratamento com P consistiu na reação das amostras de solo, durante 72 h, com Ca(H2PO4)2.H2 O 10,75 mmol L-1 (relação solo:solução de 1:1,5). Para a adsorção dos metais, amostras de solo tratadas e não tratadas com P foram inicialmente pré-equilibradas com Ca(NO3)2 5 mmol L-1 (relação solo:solução 1:67, pH 5,5) e colocadas para reagir, individualmente, com Cu(NO3)2, Cd(NO3)2 ou Pb(NO3)2 na concentração de 0,45 mmol L-1 (relação solo:solução final 1:100). O pré-tratamento com P aumentou a adsorção de todos os metais, com maior incremento nas amostras dos horizontes B. O aumento da adsorção com o tratamento com P indica que a presença de P nesses solos contribui para reduzir a disponibilidade dos metais Cd, Cu e Pb. A quantidade adsorvida segue a seqüência Pb > Cu >> Cd. Com relação à fração de metal dessorvida (metal dessorvido/metal adsorvido ), esta foi menor nas amostras previamente tratadas com P para Pb, sendo a dessorção de Cu não influenciada pelo tratamento com P.<br>The movement of trace elements in soils is closely related to factors that contribute to their retention in the solid phase, for instance adsorbed anions. In the present work, it was evaluated the effect of phosphorus (P) pre-treatment on adsorption and desorption of Cd, Cu, and Pb in A and B horizon samples of two Latosol (Oxisols): a Yellow-Red Latosol and a Dark-Red Latosol. The P pre-treatment consisted of reacting soils samples for 72 h with 10.75 mmol L-1 Ca(H2PO4)2.H2 O (soil:solution ratio of 1:1.5). For adsorbing the metals, samples of pre-treated and non pre-treated soil material were pre-equilibrated with 5 mmol L-1 Ca(NO3)2 (soil:solution ratio of 1:67; pH 5.5), and then reacted, individually, with 0.450 mmol L-1 Cu(NO3)2, Cd(NO3)2, or Pb(NO3 )2, (final soil:solution ratio of 1:100). Phosphorus pre-treatment increased the adsorption of all metals, particularly in B-horizon samples. The increased adsorption indicates that the presence of P in these soils may contribute to reduce Cd, Cu and Pb availability. The amount of metal adsorbed followed the sequence Pb > Cu >> Cd. Regarding the fraction of desorbed metal (desorbed metal/adsorbed metal), it was smaller in the previously P treated samples, except for Cu, whose desorption was not influenced by the pre-treatment with P