Generation of SST anomalies in the midlatitudes

Analyses of monthly mean sea surface temperatures (SST) from a hierarchy of global cou- pled ocean-atmosphere models have been carried out with the focus on the midlatitudes (20N-45N). The spectra of the simulated SSTs have been tested against the null hypothe- sis of Hasselmann's stochastic climate model, which assumes an AR(1)-process for the SST variability. It has been found that the spectra of the SST variability in CGCl\/ls with fully dynamical ocean models are significantly different from the AR(1)-process, while the SST variability in an AGCM coupled to a slab ocean is consistent with an AR(1)-process. The deviation of the SST variability in CGCl\/ls with fully dynamical ocean models from the AR(1)-process are not characterized by spectral peaks but are due to a different shape of the spectra. This can be attributed to local air-sea interactions which can be simulated with an AGCM coupled to a slab ocean with dynamical varying mixed layer depth

A new theory for tropical instability waves

Large-scale westward propagating waves, so-called "Legeckis" or "Tropical Instabil- ity Waves", are a prominent feature of sea surface temperature images of the equatorial Pacific. Our analyses of satellite altimetry data and long-term moorings reveals that the Legeckis waves can be interpreted as a superposition of two distinct wave modes, a first equatorial Rossby wave and a Rossby-gravity wave. We present evidence that the energy sources for both waves are the mean currents. Our results imply that Legeckis waves can be explained within the framework of linear equatorial waves

Assessing inflow rates in atomic cooling halos: implications for direct collapse black holes

Supermassive black holes are not only common in the present-day galaxies, but billion solar masses black holes also powered $z\geq 6$ quasars. One efficient way to form such black holes is the collapse of a massive primordial gas cloud into a so-called direct collapse black hole. The main requirement for this scenario is the presence of large accretion rates of $\rm \geq 0.1~M_{\odot}/yr$ to form a supermassive star. It is not yet clear how and under what conditions such accretion rates can be obtained. The prime aim of this work is to determine the mass accretion rates under non-isothermal collapse conditions. We perform high resolution cosmological simulations for three primordial halos of a few times $\rm 10^7~M_{\odot}$ illuminated by an external UV flux, $\rm J_{21}=100-1000$. We find that a rotationally supported structure of about parsec size is assembled, with an aspect ratio between $\rm 0.25 - 1$ depending upon the thermodynamical properties. Rotational support, however, does not halt collapse, and mass inflow rates of $\rm \sim 0.1~M_{\odot}/yr$ can be obtained in the presence of even a moderate UV background flux of strength $\rm J_{21} \geq 100$. To assess whether such large accretion rates can be maintained over longer time scales, we employed sink particles, confirming the persistence of accretion rates of $\rm \sim 0.1~M_{\odot}/yr$. We propose that complete isothermal collapse and molecular hydrogen suppression may not always be necessary to form supermassive stars, precursors of black hole seeds. Sufficiently high inflow rates can be obtained for UV flux $\rm J_{21}=500-1000$, at least for some cases. This value brings the estimate of the abundance of direct collapse black hole seeds closer to that high redshift quasars.Comment: Accepted for publication in MNRAS, comments are still welcom

Cigarette Smoking Habits Among University Students: Prevalence and Associated Factors

Smoking is the main cause of morbidity and mortality in the world and is estimated to kill 5 million people each year worldwide. If current patterns of tobacco consumption continue, smoking will kill more than 8 million people each year globally by the year 2030, with 80% of these deaths in the developing countries. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and associated factors of cigarette smoking among male university students in Muzaffarabad, Pakistan. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 542 male students at University of Azad Jammu & Kashmir in Muzaffarabad from July to December 2015. The socio-demographic characteristics and cigarette smoking behavior of the students were measured by using a standardized pre-tested self-administrated validated questionnaire in English. The overall prevalence of cigarette smoking among students was found to be 49.4%. The mean age of starting cigarette smoking was 19.2 2.73 years. Age, marital status and education were found significantly associted with cigarette smoking behavior (p-value<0.05). The most common reason for cigarette smoking was stress alleviation (35.0%) followed by peer pressure (24.5%). As cigarette smoking is considerably higher among students. There is a need to develop effective tobacco control measures among university students in Muzaffarabad

Impact of dust cooling on direct collapse black hole formation

Observations of quasars at $z > 6$ suggest the presence of black holes with a few times $\rm 10^9 ~M_{\odot}$. Numerous models have been proposed to explain their existence including the direct collapse which provides massive seeds of $\rm 10^5~M_{\odot}$. The isothermal direct collapse requires a strong Lyman-Werner flux to quench $\rm H_2$ formation in massive primordial halos. In this study, we explore the impact of trace amounts of metals and dust enrichment. We perform three dimensional cosmological simulations for two halos of $\rm > 10^7~M_{\odot}$ with $\rm Z/Z_{\odot}= 10^{-4}-10^{-6}$ illuminated by an intense Lyman Werner flux of $\rm J_{21}=10^5$. Our results show that initially the collapse proceeds isothermally with $\rm T \sim 8000$ K but dust cooling becomes effective at densities of $\rm 10^{8}-10^{12} ~cm^{-3}$ and brings the gas temperature down to a few 100-1000 K for $\rm Z/Z_{\odot} \geq 10^{-6}$. No gravitationally bound clumps are found in $\rm Z/Z_{\odot} \leq 10^{-5}$ cases by the end of our simulations in contrast to the case with $\rm Z/Z_{\odot} = 10^{-4}$. Large inflow rates of $\rm \geq 0.1~M_{\odot}/yr$ are observed for $\rm Z/Z_{\odot} \leq 10^{-5}$ similar to a zero-metallicity case while for $\rm Z/Z_{\odot} = 10^{-4}$ the inflow rate starts to decline earlier due to the dust cooling and fragmentation. For given large inflow rates a central star of $\rm \sim 10^4~M_{\odot}$ may form for $\rm Z/Z_{\odot} \leq 10^{-5}$.Comment: Accepted for publication in ApJ, comments are still welcom

Membumikan Teologi Islam Dalam Kehidupan Modern (Berkaca Dari Mohammed Arkoun)

; Titik kelemahan pemikiran teologi Islam klasik akan tampak dalam ranah realitas jika alur pemikiran tersebut dihadapkan pada Kenyataan atau realitas sosial empiric kehidupan manusia yang selalu tumbuh dan berkembang sejalan dengan pertumbuhan ilmu pengetahuan dan teknologi. Mohammed Arkoun adalah intelektual Aljazair yang mencoba membaca ulang bangunan pemikiran Islam secara konfrehensif baik yang menyangkut pemikiran kalam (teologi), tasawuf, fiqih, etika maupun tafsir. Dalam konteks Indonesia, pemikiran Arkoun pertama kali dikenal pada tahun 1987 dalam sebuah diskusi di Yayasan Empati. Adalah Muhammad Nasir Tamara yang memperkenalkannya pertama kali dengan menulis artikel yang berjudul Mohammed Arkoun dan Islamologi Terapan. Dalam beberapa tulisannya tentang modernitas, Arkoun tidak secara tegas merumuskan batasan modernitas, apalagi tantangan yang dibawah olehnya. Menurut Arkoun, modernitas dapat dibagi dua kelompok, yaitu, modernitas “material“ dan modernitas “ intelektual “ atau “ kultural “. Yang pertama berarti berbagai kemajuan yang terjadi pada bingkai luar dari wujud manusia, sedangkan yang kedua mencakup metode, alat analisis, dan siakp intelektual yang memberi kemampuan untuk lebih memahami realitas. Salah satu kegelisahan Arkoun terhadap pemikiran teologi Islam adalah terjadinya pemisahan antara Islam konseptual dengan Islam actual atau pemisahan antara teori dan praktek yang menurutnya adalah warisan Descartes. Membumikan teologi Islam dalam konteks kehidupan modern memang memerlukan strategi dan metodologi yang akurat. Usaha Arkoun dalam konteks rekonstruksi bangunan pemikiran teologi Islam adalah salah satu strateginya. Kata Kunci: Membumikan, Hidup Point inertia classical Islamic theology thought would appear in the realm of reality if the thought process faced with the reality or the reality of empirical social human life is always growing and developing in line with the growth of science and technology. Mohammed Arkoun is Algerian intellectuals who tried to reread the building of Islamic thought in comprehensive both involving thought kalam (theology), Sufism, jurisprudence, ethics and interpretation. In the Indonesian context, Arkoun thought first recognized in 1987 in a discussion on Empathy Foundation. Muhammad Nasir Tamara, who introduced first by writing an article entitled Mohammed Arkoun and Applied Islamology. In some writings about modernity, Arkoun does not explicitly formulate the constraints of modernity, let alone challenge under him. According to Arkoun, modernity can be divided into two groups, namely, modernity "material" and modernity "intellectual" or "cultural". The former means that much progress has occurred in the outer frame of the human form, while the latter includes the methods, analysis tools, and intellectual siakp which gives the ability to better understand the reality. One anxiety Arkoun against Islamic theological thought is the separation between Islam and Islam actual or conceptual separation between theory and practice which he said is the legacy of Descartes. Grounding Islamic theology in the context of modern life does require accurate strategies and methodologies. Arkoun effort in the context of building reconstruction of Islamic theological thought is one of the strategies Keywords: Grounding, Lif