The internationalization of an Arab bank: The case of Ahli United Bank of Bahrain

Ahli United Bank of Bahrain (AUB) has “leapfrogged” over early stages of internationalization by means of multiple rapid acquisitions of competitors. Use of this high-cost, high-risk strategy is well known among companies with the resources to invest in international expansion, but its application has not yet been studied in depth among companies based in the Middle East. This theory-driven case study examines the growth record of AUB, its place in the regional banking industry in the Gulf, and its successful internationalization as an Arab bank. The article concludes with a detailed assessment of managerial and theoretical implications arising from the case study, and proposes further research to understand better the process of internationalization by companies expanding from a base in the Middle East

Performance of a diesel engine run with mustard-kerosene blends

Increasing oil prices and global warming activates the research and development of substitute energy resources to maintain economic development

Analysis of wind energy conversion system using Weibull distribution

In this study, the wind speed data has been statistically analyzed using Weibull distribution to find out wind energy conversion characteristics of Hatiya Island in Bangladesh. Two important parameters like Weibull shape factor “k” and Weibull scale factor “c” have been calculated by four methods. The probability density function f(x), cumulative distribution function or Weibull function F(x) have been used to describe the best wind distribution between observed and theoretically calculated data. There are six statistical tools used to analyze the goodness of curve fittings and precisely rank the methods. For a selected month the Weibull shape factor was found to be very close to the Raleigh function k=2 indicating the characteristics of wind wave are regular and uniform. For the other period ‘k’ varies between 1.99 to 3.31 and ‘c’ between 2.83 to 7.25 m/sec. The study found that more than 58% of the total hours in a year have wind speed above 6.0 m/s in Hatiya, therefore this site has enough available power to drive a small wind turbine for electricity generation. The proposed methodology can be used in any windy site to easily identify the potentiality of wind power

Carbon sink strength of nodules but not other organs modulates photosynthesis of faba bean (Vicia faba) grown under elevated [CO2 ] and different water supply

Photosynthetic stimulation by elevated [CO2 ] (e[CO2 ]) may be limited by the capacity of sink organs to use photosynthates. In many legumes, N2 -fixing symbionts in root nodules provide an additional sink, so that legumes may be better able to profit from e[CO2 ]. However, drought not only constrains photosynthesis but also size and activity of sinks, and little is known about the interaction of e[CO2 ] and drought on carbon sink strength of nodules and other organs. To compare carbon sink strength, faba bean was grown under ambient (400 ppm) or elevated (700 ppm) atmospheric [CO2 ] and subjected to well-watered or drought treatments, and then exposed to 13 C pulse-labelling using custom-built chambers to track the fate of new photosynthates. Drought decreased 13 C uptake and nodule sink strength, and this effect was even greater under e[CO2 ], and associated with an accumulation of amino acids in nodules. This resulted in decreased N2 fixation, increased accumulation of new photosynthates (13 C/sugars) in leaves, which in turn can feed back on photosynthesis. Our study suggests that nodule C sink activity is key to avoid sink limitation in legumes under e[CO2 ], and legumes may only be able to achieve greater C gain if nodule activity is maintained

Assessment of wind energy potential by Weibull distribution in isolated islands

In the study, the statistical fittings of wind speed distribution for isolated islands has been carried out. Ten years wind speed data has been collected from Bangladesh meteorological department. The data has been shorted in sequence of appropriate frequency like hourly, daily, monthly and annually mean wind speed. Two important parameters like Weibull shape factor “k” and Weibull scale factor “c” have been calculated by three methods such as Graphical method, Empirical method and Energy method. Accordingly, wind power density, availability factor and electrical energy output from the ideal turbine were assessed by using the Weibull parameters. From the analysis of the data the characteristics of wind pattern and potential of wind energy of the island has been carried out. Theoretical available power and practically extractable power by wind (watt/m2) have also been calculated. The proposed methodology can be used in any windy site to easily identify the potentiality of wind power

Free air CO2 enrichment (FACE) improves water use efficiency and moderates drought effect on N 2 fixation of Pisum sativum L.

Background and aims: Legume N 2 fixation is highly sensitive to drought. Elevated [CO 2 ] (e[CO 2 ]) decreases stomatal conductance (g s ) and improves water use efficiency (WUE), which may result in soil water conservation and allow N 2 fixation to continue longer under drought. Using a Free-Air CO 2 Enrichment (FACE) approach, this study aimed to elucidate whether e[CO 2 ] improves N 2 fixation of Pisum sativum L. under drought. Methods: In a FACE system, plants were grown in ambient [CO 2 ] (~400 ppm) or e[CO 2 ] (~550 ppm) and subjected to either terminal drought or well-watered treatments. Measurements were taken of photosynthesis, soil water dynamics, water soluble carbohydrates (WSC), amino acids (AA) and N 2 fixation. Results: Lower g s under e[CO 2 ] increased water use efficiency at leaf and plant level, and this translated to slower soil water depletion during drought. Elevated [CO 2 ] increased WSC and decreased total AA concentrations in nodules, and increased nodule activity under drought. N 2 fixation was stimulated (+51%) by e[CO 2 ] in proportion to biomass changes. Under e[CO 2 ] a greater proportion of plant total N was derived from fixed N 2 and a smaller proportion from soil N uptake compared to a[CO 2 ]. Conclusion: This study suggests that e[CO 2 ] increased WUE and this resulted in slower soil water depletion, allowing pea plants to maintain greater nodule activity under drought and resulting in appreciable increases in N 2 fixation. Our results suggest that growth under e[CO 2 ] can mitigate drought effects on N 2 fixation and reduce dependency on soil N resources especially in water-limited agro-ecosystems. © 2019, Springer Nature Switzerland AG

Grain mineral quality of dryland legumes as affected by elevated CO2 and drought: A FACE study on lentil (Lens culinaris) and faba bean (Vicia faba)

Stimulation of grain yield under elevated [CO] grown plants is often associated with the deterioration of grain quality. This effect may be further complicated by the frequent occurrence of drought, as predicted in most of the climate change scenarios. Lentil (Lens culinaris Medik.) and faba bean (Vicia faba L.) were grown in the Australian Grains Free Air CO Enrichment facility under either ambient CO concentration ([CO], ∼400 mol mol-1) or elevated [CO] (e[CO], ∼550 mol mol-1), and with two contrasting watering regimes (for faba bean) or over two consecutive seasons contrasting in rainfall (for lentil), to investigate the interactive effect of e[CO] and drought on concentrations of selected grain minerals (Fe, Zn, Ca, Mg, P, K, S, Cu, Mn, Na). Grain mineral concentration (Fe, Zn, Ca, K, S, Cu) increased and grain mineral yield (i.e. g mineral per plot surface area) decreased in dry growing environments, and vice versa in wet growing environments. Elevated [CO] decreased Fe, Zn, P and S concentrations in both crops however, the relative decrease was greater under dry (20-25) than wet (4-10) growing conditions. Principal component analysis showed that greater grain yield stimulation under e[CO] was associated with a reduction in Fe and Zn concentrations, indicating a yield dilution effect, but this was not consistently observed for other minerals. Even if energy intake is kept constant to adjust for lower yields, decreased legume micronutrients densities under e[CO] may have negative consequences for human nutrition, especially under drier conditions and in areas with less access to food. © 2019 CSIRO

Elevated CO2 improves yield and N2 fixation but not grain N concentration of faba bean (Vicia faba L.) subjected to terminal drought

Legumes grown in Mediterranean environments frequently experience terminal drought which reduces yield and N2 fixation processes. Decreased N2 fixation during reproductive phases may constrain seed nitrogen concentrations ([N]), reducing protein concentration of grain legumes. Plants grown under elevated atmospheric CO2 concentrations ([CO2]) have greater water use efficiency. This may result in reduced use of conserved/stored soil water, potentially helping to reduce soil water deficits later during grain filling. The extent that this process applies to drought sensitive grain legumes, which are extensively cultivated in Mediterranean environments is unclear. The objectives of this study were to investigate yield, N2 fixation and seed N response of faba bean (Vicia faba L. cv. ‘Fiesta’) grown in a dryland Mediterranean-type environment under elevated [CO2]. Plants were grown in soil columns under ambient [CO2] (˜400 ppm) or elevated [CO2] (e[CO2], ˜550 ppm) in a Free-Air CO2 Enrichment (FACE) facility in the field. One sub-group was continuously well-watered (80% field capacity, FC), whereas a second sub-group was exposed to a drought treatment (water was withheld until 30% FC was reached, which was then maintained during the reproductive phases). Biomass, gas exchange, 13C isotopic discrimination, N2 fixation by the natural abundance 15N method, nodulation and soil water content were assessed throughout the crop developmental stages. Initially, plants grown under elevated [CO2] depleted soil water more slowly in the drought treatment than those under ambient [CO2], but as plants grown under elevated [CO2] produced more biomass they used soil water more rapidly, especially towards the critical pod-filling phase. Water savings during the first phase of the drought treatment, through flowering up to the start of pod-filling, were associated with increased yield (+25%) and N2 fixation (+15%) under drought. Elevated [CO2]-induced stimulation of nodulation and nodule density helped maintain N2 fixation under drought, even though nodule activity decreased under the combined effect of e[CO2] and drought from pod-filling onwards. This later stage decrease was associated with decreased carbohydrate and increased amino acid concentrations in nodules, indicating a down-regulation of N2 fixation. Associated with the decrease of N2 fixation during pod-filling, seed N concentration was lower under the combination of e[CO2] and drought. We propose a conceptual model to explain the importance of N2 fixation during the grain filling stage to maintain seed N concentration under e[CO2]. These findings suggest that e[CO2]-induced savings in soil water may mitigate negative effects of drought on yield and N2 fixation of faba bean, without fully compensating the effect of prolonged drought on seed N concentration. © 2019 Elsevier B.V

Water use dynamics of dryland canola (Brassica napus L.) grown on contrasting soils under elevated CO2

Background and aims: Increasing atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration ([CO 2 ]) stimulates the leaf-level (intrinsic) water use efficiency (iWUE), which may mitigate the adverse effects of drought by lowering water use in plants. This study investigated the interactive effect of [CO 2 ] and soil type on growth, yield and water use of canola (Brassica napus L.) in a dryland environment. Methods: Two canola cultivars (vigorous hybrid cv. ‘Hyola 50’ and non-hybrid cv. ‘Thumper’) were grown in large intact soil cores containing either a sandy Calcarosol or clay Vertosol under current ambient (a[CO 2 ]) and future elevated [CO 2 ] (e[CO 2 ]), ∼550 μmol mol −1 ). Net assimilation rates (A net ), stomatal conductance (g s ) and leaf area were measured throughout the growing season. Seed yield and yield components were recorded at final harvest. Water use was monitored by lysimeter balances. Results: Elevated [CO 2 ]-stimulation of iWUE was greater than the effect on leaf area, therefore, water use was lower under e[CO 2 ] than a[CO 2 ], but this was further modified by soil type and cultivar. The dynamics of water use throughout the growing season were different between the studied cultivars and in line with their leaf development. The effect of e[CO 2 ] on seed yield was dependent on cultivar; the non-hybrid cultivar benefitted more from increased [CO 2 ]. Although textural differences between soil types influenced the water use under e[CO 2 ], this did not affect the ‘CO 2 fertilisation effect’ on the studied canola cultivars. Conclusion: Elevated [CO 2 ]-induced water savings observed in the present study is a potential mechanism of ameliorating drought effects in high CO 2 environment. Better understanding of genotypic variability in response to water use dynamics with traits affecting assimilate supply and use can help breeders to improve crop germplasm for future climates. © 2019, Springer Nature Switzerland AG

Yield of canola (Brassica napus L.) benefits more from elevated CO2 when access to deeper soil water is improved

This study investigated the interactive effects of atmospheric CO2 concentration ([CO2]) and water availability on yield, root growth and water use of two canola cultivars with contrasting growth and vigour (vigorous hybrid cv. Hyola 50 and non-hybrid cv. Thumper). Plants were grown under ambient [CO2] (a[CO2], ∼400 μmol mol−1) or elevated [CO2] (e[CO2], ∼700 μmol mol−1) in a glasshouse. Two water treatments (well-watered and drought) were established in each [CO2] treatment. During the growing season leaf gas exchange parameters were measured. Leaf area was measured at 80 days after sowing. Aboveground biomass, seed yield, yield components and root biomass in four different soil layers (Layer 1: 0–20 cm, Layer 2: 21–40 cm, Layer 3: 41–60 cm and Layer 4: 61–80 cm depth) were measured at maturity. Weekly water use was determined gravimetrically. Elevated [CO2] stimulated seed yield (38%), aboveground biomass (34%), root biomass (42%), leaf area (42%) and leaf biomass (41%). Whilst e[CO2] stimulated root biomass in all soil layers, this stimulation was greater in the deeper than upper soil layers, and was associated with greater extraction of deeper soil water under e[CO2]. The cultivar with greater stimulation of deeper root biomass under e[CO2] showed greater yield benefit from the ‘CO2 fertilisation effect’. Under well-watered conditions, e[CO2]-induced reductions of stomatal conductance (gs) balanced the effect of increased leaf area on water use, resulting in similar water use compared to a[CO2]. In contrast, under drought conditions, water use was greater under e[CO2] than a[CO2]. The ‘CO2 fertilisation effect’ depended on cultivar and water treatment. Under well-watered conditions, aboveground biomass of the hybrid cultivar benefitted more from the ‘CO2 fertilisation effect’. However, under drought both aboveground biomass and seed yield of the non-hybrid cultivar benefitted more from the ‘CO2 fertilisation effect’. These findings show that interactions between environmental conditions (here experimental water treatments) and expression of genotypic traits (here differences between cultivars) play a decisive role in determining potential yield and growth benefits from rising [CO2]. © 2018 Elsevier B.V