The synoptic circulation over Saudi Arabia is complicated and frequently governed by the effect of large-scale pressure systems. In this work, we used NCEP–NCAR global data to illustrate the relationship between clim...The synoptic circulation over Saudi Arabia is complicated and frequently governed by the effect of large-scale pressure systems. In this work, we used NCEP–NCAR global data to illustrate the relationship between climatic variables and the main pressure systems that affect the weather and climate of Saudi Arabia, and also to investigate the influence of these pressure systems on surface air temperature（SAT） and rainfall over the region in the winter season. It was found that there are two primary patterns of pressure that influence the weather and climate of Saudi Arabia. The first occurs in cases of a strengthening Subtropical High（Sub H）, a weakening Siberian High（Sib H）, a deepening of the Icelandic Low（Ice L）, or a weakening of the Sudanese Low（Sud L）. During this pattern, the Sub H combines with the Sib H and an obvious increase of sea level pressure（SLP） occurs over southern European, the Mediterranean, North Africa, and the Middle East. This belt of high pressure prevents interaction between midlatitude and extratropical systems, which leads to a decrease in the SAT,relative humidity（RH） and rainfall over Saudi Arabia. The second pattern occurs in association with a weakening of the Sub H, a strengthening of the Sib H, a weakening of the Ice L, or a deepening of the Sud L. The pattern arising in this case leads to an interaction between two different air masses： the first（cold moist） air mass is associated with the Mediterranean depression travelling from west to east, while the second（warm moist） air mass is associated with the northward oscillation of the Sud L and its inverted V-shape trough. The interaction between these two air masses increases the SAT, RH and the probability of rainfall over Saudi Arabia, especially over the northwest and northeast regions.展开更多
Health related-physical fitness (HRPF) is critical for maintaining and enhancing health and quality of life. Purposes: To estimate the reference values and predictive equations for frequently used clinical field HRPF ...Health related-physical fitness (HRPF) is critical for maintaining and enhancing health and quality of life. Purposes: To estimate the reference values and predictive equations for frequently used clinical field HRPF measures in a sample of Saudi female college students aged 18 - 24 years. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, body fat percentage (BF %) was estimated. Curl-up test (CUT) and sit and reach test (SRT) were applied in 216 students. The Queen’s College Step Test (QCST) was used to predict maximal oxygen consumption (VO<sub>2</sub> max). Physical activity (PA) level was also measured using International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ). Results: The mean of BF %, SRT, CUT, and predicted VO<sub>2</sub> max were 23.98% ± 6.13%, 17.10 ± 7.50 cm, 28.17 ± 7.72 number/min, and 39.58 ± 4.01 ml/kg/min respectively. There was no significant effect of age on all HRPF measures except for BF % (F <sub>(6,215)</sub> = 3.25, p <sub>(6,215)</sub> = 4.01, p strated that BMI was the predictor for BF % and SRT and explained 65% and 4% of total variance respectively. IPAQ score, age, and height were the predictors of CUT counting 17% of total variance. While, BMI and IPAQ score were the predictors for VO<sub>2</sub> max and explained 13% of the total variance. Conclusion: Reference values can be used clinically in the evaluation of HRPF, in the rehabilitation process as well as in designing a program to improve the HRPF for female college students with consideration of age, height, BMI, and PA level for a particular population.展开更多
In international politics,the formulation and implementation of foreign policy guided by ideology often impede the normal development of bilateral relations between state actors.Since the founding of the People’s Rep...In international politics,the formulation and implementation of foreign policy guided by ideology often impede the normal development of bilateral relations between state actors.Since the founding of the People’s Republic of China,the relationships between China and Saudi Arabia have experienced twists and turns,which roughly reflect a relational evolution from the initial political opposition and lack of interaction to the current comprehensive strategic partnership.In this process,a prominent feature is that the ideological interference has decreased with the strengthening of China-Saudi relations.This article explores the underlying causes behind this phenomenon by starting from the basic historical facts of ideological interference that changed from strong to weak in bilateral relationships between China and Saudi Arabia.With regard to the reasons for the weakening of ideology,this article holds that the change of the international distribution of power from one of bipolarity to multipolarity is the starting point and the main external political factor;the consideration of national interests is the essential factor;the pluralistic value orientation is another vital factor that continuously extends the tolerances of both sides’foreign policies.These factors are superimposed on each other and jointly weaken ideological considerations in China-Saudi relations.It should be noted that ideological interference has not completely disappeared.At specific times and events,it may still become an obstacle to the development of China-Saudi Arabia relations.展开更多
On 5 June 2017,Saudi Arabia announced the severance of diplomatic relations with Qatar.Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed had hoped that the blockade against Qatar would make Qatar no longer hold an independent and autonomou...On 5 June 2017,Saudi Arabia announced the severance of diplomatic relations with Qatar.Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed had hoped that the blockade against Qatar would make Qatar no longer hold an independent and autonomous foreign policy and away from the influence of Iran and Turkey.However,the Saudi blockade against Qatar has not only failed to bring the latter to its knees but has allowed it to stand on its own feet and gradually reduced its dependence on imports.At the same time,Qatar has strengthened its ties with Iran and Turkey,bringing the two powers directly into the Gulf region and challenging Saudi Arabia’s hegemony in the Gulf.However,on 5 January 2021,Saudi Arabia announced the restoration of diplomatic relations with Qatar.Based on neoclassical realism,this paper presents a comprehensive analysis of the reasons for the resumption of diplomatic relations between Saudi Arabia and Qatar through both the international system and domestic factors,ultimately concluding that the reasons for the resumption of diplomatic relations between the two countries are related to Turkish and Iranian forces,the attitude of the United States,as well as GCC unity,the change in the Crown Prince’s diplomatic philosophy,the preservation of Sunnis and the promotion of economic cooperation.展开更多
Have Saudi relations with China changed amid the COVID-19 pandemic?Commentary focussed on the international relations of the Persian Gulf has speculated that China’s successful containment of the virus at home,combin...Have Saudi relations with China changed amid the COVID-19 pandemic?Commentary focussed on the international relations of the Persian Gulf has speculated that China’s successful containment of the virus at home,combined with new diplomatic overtures,might lead to closer relations between China and the region.This article offers a framework for scholars to partially address this and other foreign-policy questions regarding the Kingdom,through close readings of Saudi media outlets that shed light on mass attitudes and elite sentiment.Analysis of a range of Saudi op-eds and feature stories suggests that criticism of China within the Kingdom has diminished in recent years,but also indicates that this shift long predated the present pandemic.At the same time,while key commentators appear to harbour genuine respect and admiration for China’s economic development,Saudi Arabia’s close security partnership with the United States has served to temper pro-Chinese narratives within Saudi media.展开更多
The fall in international oil prices,which began in the second half of 2014,had a severe impact on the economy of Saudi Arabia,and the country began to adjust its economic development policy.The main contents include:...The fall in international oil prices,which began in the second half of 2014,had a severe impact on the economy of Saudi Arabia,and the country began to adjust its economic development policy.The main contents include:changes in the allocation of resources from reliance on government intervention to reliance on the dominance of market;government revenue shifts from dependence on oil revenues to expansion of non-oil revenues;industrial structural changes from excessive dependence on oil economy to diversification in the field of new energy and mining;enterprise ownership structure changes from nationalization to privatization;source of investment funds shifting from basically relying on domestic investment to paying attention to foreign investment;labor and employment change from relying on foreign workers to a trend of localization in Saudi Arabia.Combining priorities in the economic development if Saudi Arabia with the key areas of the“One Belt and One Road”Initiative,energy security,cooperation capacity,infrastructure and finance are the most promising fields in bilateral economic cooperation.展开更多
基金funded by the Deanship of Scientific Research (DSR), King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah (Grant No. 155-003-D1433)the DSR for their technical and financial support
文摘The synoptic circulation over Saudi Arabia is complicated and frequently governed by the effect of large-scale pressure systems. In this work, we used NCEP–NCAR global data to illustrate the relationship between climatic variables and the main pressure systems that affect the weather and climate of Saudi Arabia, and also to investigate the influence of these pressure systems on surface air temperature（SAT） and rainfall over the region in the winter season. It was found that there are two primary patterns of pressure that influence the weather and climate of Saudi Arabia. The first occurs in cases of a strengthening Subtropical High（Sub H）, a weakening Siberian High（Sib H）, a deepening of the Icelandic Low（Ice L）, or a weakening of the Sudanese Low（Sud L）. During this pattern, the Sub H combines with the Sib H and an obvious increase of sea level pressure（SLP） occurs over southern European, the Mediterranean, North Africa, and the Middle East. This belt of high pressure prevents interaction between midlatitude and extratropical systems, which leads to a decrease in the SAT,relative humidity（RH） and rainfall over Saudi Arabia. The second pattern occurs in association with a weakening of the Sub H, a strengthening of the Sib H, a weakening of the Ice L, or a deepening of the Sud L. The pattern arising in this case leads to an interaction between two different air masses： the first（cold moist） air mass is associated with the Mediterranean depression travelling from west to east, while the second（warm moist） air mass is associated with the northward oscillation of the Sud L and its inverted V-shape trough. The interaction between these two air masses increases the SAT, RH and the probability of rainfall over Saudi Arabia, especially over the northwest and northeast regions.
文摘Health related-physical fitness (HRPF) is critical for maintaining and enhancing health and quality of life. Purposes: To estimate the reference values and predictive equations for frequently used clinical field HRPF measures in a sample of Saudi female college students aged 18 - 24 years. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, body fat percentage (BF %) was estimated. Curl-up test (CUT) and sit and reach test (SRT) were applied in 216 students. The Queen’s College Step Test (QCST) was used to predict maximal oxygen consumption (VO<sub>2</sub> max). Physical activity (PA) level was also measured using International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ). Results: The mean of BF %, SRT, CUT, and predicted VO<sub>2</sub> max were 23.98% ± 6.13%, 17.10 ± 7.50 cm, 28.17 ± 7.72 number/min, and 39.58 ± 4.01 ml/kg/min respectively. There was no significant effect of age on all HRPF measures except for BF % (F <sub>(6,215)</sub> = 3.25, p <sub>(6,215)</sub> = 4.01, p strated that BMI was the predictor for BF % and SRT and explained 65% and 4% of total variance respectively. IPAQ score, age, and height were the predictors of CUT counting 17% of total variance. While, BMI and IPAQ score were the predictors for VO<sub>2</sub> max and explained 13% of the total variance. Conclusion: Reference values can be used clinically in the evaluation of HRPF, in the rehabilitation process as well as in designing a program to improve the HRPF for female college students with consideration of age, height, BMI, and PA level for a particular population.
基金special issue of Sino-Saudi Relations is a joint project of Asian Journal of Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies and King Faisal Center for Research and Islamic Studies,Saudi Arabia.
文摘In international politics,the formulation and implementation of foreign policy guided by ideology often impede the normal development of bilateral relations between state actors.Since the founding of the People’s Republic of China,the relationships between China and Saudi Arabia have experienced twists and turns,which roughly reflect a relational evolution from the initial political opposition and lack of interaction to the current comprehensive strategic partnership.In this process,a prominent feature is that the ideological interference has decreased with the strengthening of China-Saudi relations.This article explores the underlying causes behind this phenomenon by starting from the basic historical facts of ideological interference that changed from strong to weak in bilateral relationships between China and Saudi Arabia.With regard to the reasons for the weakening of ideology,this article holds that the change of the international distribution of power from one of bipolarity to multipolarity is the starting point and the main external political factor;the consideration of national interests is the essential factor;the pluralistic value orientation is another vital factor that continuously extends the tolerances of both sides’foreign policies.These factors are superimposed on each other and jointly weaken ideological considerations in China-Saudi relations.It should be noted that ideological interference has not completely disappeared.At specific times and events,it may still become an obstacle to the development of China-Saudi Arabia relations.
文摘On 5 June 2017,Saudi Arabia announced the severance of diplomatic relations with Qatar.Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed had hoped that the blockade against Qatar would make Qatar no longer hold an independent and autonomous foreign policy and away from the influence of Iran and Turkey.However,the Saudi blockade against Qatar has not only failed to bring the latter to its knees but has allowed it to stand on its own feet and gradually reduced its dependence on imports.At the same time,Qatar has strengthened its ties with Iran and Turkey,bringing the two powers directly into the Gulf region and challenging Saudi Arabia’s hegemony in the Gulf.However,on 5 January 2021,Saudi Arabia announced the restoration of diplomatic relations with Qatar.Based on neoclassical realism,this paper presents a comprehensive analysis of the reasons for the resumption of diplomatic relations between Saudi Arabia and Qatar through both the international system and domestic factors,ultimately concluding that the reasons for the resumption of diplomatic relations between the two countries are related to Turkish and Iranian forces,the attitude of the United States,as well as GCC unity,the change in the Crown Prince’s diplomatic philosophy,the preservation of Sunnis and the promotion of economic cooperation.
基金special issue of Sino-Saudi Relations is a joint project of Asian Journal of Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies and King Faisal Center for Research and Islamic Studies,Saudi Arabia.
文摘Have Saudi relations with China changed amid the COVID-19 pandemic?Commentary focussed on the international relations of the Persian Gulf has speculated that China’s successful containment of the virus at home,combined with new diplomatic overtures,might lead to closer relations between China and the region.This article offers a framework for scholars to partially address this and other foreign-policy questions regarding the Kingdom,through close readings of Saudi media outlets that shed light on mass attitudes and elite sentiment.Analysis of a range of Saudi op-eds and feature stories suggests that criticism of China within the Kingdom has diminished in recent years,but also indicates that this shift long predated the present pandemic.At the same time,while key commentators appear to harbour genuine respect and admiration for China’s economic development,Saudi Arabia’s close security partnership with the United States has served to temper pro-Chinese narratives within Saudi media.
文摘The fall in international oil prices,which began in the second half of 2014,had a severe impact on the economy of Saudi Arabia,and the country began to adjust its economic development policy.The main contents include:changes in the allocation of resources from reliance on government intervention to reliance on the dominance of market;government revenue shifts from dependence on oil revenues to expansion of non-oil revenues;industrial structural changes from excessive dependence on oil economy to diversification in the field of new energy and mining;enterprise ownership structure changes from nationalization to privatization;source of investment funds shifting from basically relying on domestic investment to paying attention to foreign investment;labor and employment change from relying on foreign workers to a trend of localization in Saudi Arabia.Combining priorities in the economic development if Saudi Arabia with the key areas of the“One Belt and One Road”Initiative,energy security,cooperation capacity,infrastructure and finance are the most promising fields in bilateral economic cooperation.
