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
Few other policy zones are as complex as the issue of climate change.If the more pessimistic projections of climate change doom are correct,then the failure to address the issue is likely to be catastrophic and irreve...Few other policy zones are as complex as the issue of climate change.If the more pessimistic projections of climate change doom are correct,then the failure to address the issue is likely to be catastrophic and irreversible.The Inter-governmental Panel on Climate Change has predicted the potential extinction of many species and that the existence of small-island and other vulnerable countries will be threatened if business-as-usual greenhouse gas emissions continue.Climate change is a transboundary problem and requires unprecedented levels of cooperation between states and serious and sustained responses from major emitters.However,the growing demand and consumption of natural resources for continued energy security and cornucopian economic growth have undermined the outcomes of international climate change negotiations.It is argued here that there is a strong connection between the major emitters'positions at United Nations'climate talks,their possessions,dependence and consumption of natural resources,and the continued undermining of international climate change policy for unsustainable growth.This paper assesses the resource politics of the US,China,India,Canada,Russia,and Saudi Arabia and their positions at climate talks to show the link between lack of climate change policy progress and the positions of these main players.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
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
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
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.
文摘Few other policy zones are as complex as the issue of climate change.If the more pessimistic projections of climate change doom are correct,then the failure to address the issue is likely to be catastrophic and irreversible.The Inter-governmental Panel on Climate Change has predicted the potential extinction of many species and that the existence of small-island and other vulnerable countries will be threatened if business-as-usual greenhouse gas emissions continue.Climate change is a transboundary problem and requires unprecedented levels of cooperation between states and serious and sustained responses from major emitters.However,the growing demand and consumption of natural resources for continued energy security and cornucopian economic growth have undermined the outcomes of international climate change negotiations.It is argued here that there is a strong connection between the major emitters'positions at United Nations'climate talks,their possessions,dependence and consumption of natural resources,and the continued undermining of international climate change policy for unsustainable growth.This paper assesses the resource politics of the US,China,India,Canada,Russia,and Saudi Arabia and their positions at climate talks to show the link between lack of climate change policy progress and the positions of these main players.
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.
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.
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.
