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Long-tenured CEOs and firm performance: too much of a good thing? Evidence from New Zealand
Get PDFPurpose: This study aims to investigate the association between chief executive officer (CEO) tenure and firm performance. Extended CEO tenure offers the potential for organizational stability, sustained operational coherence and heightened insights into business intricacies. However, longer tenure concurrently fosters complacency and impedes innovation by engendering resistance to change and a deficiency in novel perspectives. The authors’ inquiry seeks to discern the prevailing influence between these contrasting perspectives.
Design/methodology/approach: This study uses unbalanced panel data for a unique hand-collected dataset from listed firms in New Zealand (2000–2020) – a country that adopts the principles-based corporate governance regime. The authors perform ordinary least squares, two-stage least squares and propensity score matching tests to examine the relationship between CEO tenure and firm performance.
Findings: The authors document a significant positive impact of CEO tenure on firm performance, implying the benefits of long tenure. However, this study further reveals a significant inverted U-shaped relationship between CEO tenure and firm performance, suggesting that such a positive impact can hold up to a certain threshold; after that, long CEO tenure can hinder firm performance. The finding is robust to alternative measures and endogeneity tests and offers important implications for corporate governance policies and practices.
Practical implications: The findings highlight the importance of balancing the benefits of long CEO tenure. Practically, firms should prioritize regular evaluation of CEO performance and tenure, emphasize succession planning and foster a culture of innovation to sustain organizational success in the long term.
Originality/value: This research offers valuable insights by examining the intricate relationship between CEO tenure and firm performance within the distinct setting of New Zealand. By uncovering both the benefits and drawbacks of long CEO tenure, this study contributes to a nuanced understanding of corporate governance dynamics.fals
Professional insights into sexual violence restorative justice risk assessment, Recommendations for practice
Get PDFConventional criminal justice systems are often ill-placed to offer appropriate justice responses for victim-survivors of sexual violence. Restorative justice following sexual violence (SVRJ) is a trauma-informed victim-centered justice process showing significant benefits for victim-survivors (e.g. meeting justice needs, supporting recovery), perpetrators (e.g. improved insight, community reintegration, reduced reoffending), and their wider communities (e.g. encouraging accountability, addressing harmful beliefs). Careful risk assessment within SVRJ is vital to preventing secondary victimization, yet standardized SVRJ risk assessment guidelines are not currently available in Aotearoa New Zealand. SVRJ professionals (n = 16) engaged in semi-structured interviews exploring their perspectives and experiences of SVRJ risk assessment. Data were analyzed by reflexive thematic analysis resulting in four themes: perceived participant preparedness, safe support systems, culturally competent assessment, and participant alignment. These themes formed the basis for the developed SVRJ risk assessment guideline recommendations. Wider implications of the findings are also discussed. The research contributes to understandings of SVRJ risk assessment and professional practice.fals
An integrative approach to prioritize candidate causal genes for complex traits in cattle
Get PDFGenome-wide association studies (GWAS) have identified many quantitative trait loci (QTL) associated with complex traits, predominantly in non-coding regions, posing challenges in pinpointing the causal variants and their target genes. Three types of evidence can help identify the gene through which QTL acts: (1) proximity to the most significant GWAS variant, (2) correlation of gene expression with the trait, and (3) the gene’s physiological role in the trait. However, there is still uncertainty about the success of these methods in identifying the correct genes. Here, we test the ability of these methods in a comparatively simple series of traits associated with the concentration of polar lipids in milk. We conducted single-trait GWAS for ~14 million imputed variants and 56 individual milk polar lipid (PL) phenotypes in 336 cows. A multi-trait meta-analysis of GWAS identified 10,063 significant SNPs at FDR≤10% (P≤7.15E-5). Transcriptome data from blood (~12.5K genes, 143 cows) and mammary tissue (~12.2K genes, 169 cows) were analyzed using the genetic score omics regression (GSOR) method. This method links observed gene expression to genetically predicted phenotypes and was used to find associations between gene expression and 56 PL phenotypes. GSOR identified 2,186 genes in blood and 1,404 in mammary tissue associated with at least one PL phenotype (FDR≤1%). We partitioned the genome into non-overlapping windows of 100 Kb to test for overlap between GSOR-identified genes and GWAS signals. We found a significant overlap between these two datasets, indicating that GSOR-significant genes were more likely to be located within 100 Kb windows that include GWAS signals than those that do not (P=0.01; odds ratio=1.47). These windows included 70 significant genes expressed in mammary tissue and 95 in blood. Compared to all expressed genes in each tissue, these genes were enriched for lipid metabolism gene ontology (GO). That is, seven of the 70 significant mammary transcriptome genes (P<0.01; odds ratio=3.98) and five of the 95 significant blood genes (P<0.10; odds ratio=2.24) were involved in lipid metabolism GO. The candidate causal genes include DGAT1, ACSM5, SERINC5, ABHD3, CYP2U1, PIGL, ARV1, SMPD5, and NPC2, with some overlap between the two tissues. The overlap between GWAS, GSOR, and GO analyses suggests that together, these methods are more likely to identify genes mediating QTL, though their power remains limited, as reflected by modest odds ratios. Larger sample sizes would enhance the power of these analyses, but issues like linkage disequilibrium would remain.fals
Evaluating the Effects of Novel Enrichment Strategies on Dog Behaviour Using Collar-Based Accelerometers
Get PDFEnvironmental enrichment is crucial to improve welfare, reduce stress, and encourage natural behaviours in dogs housed in confined environments. This study aimed to use accelerometery and machine learning to evaluate the effect of different enrichment types on dog behaviour. Three enrichments (food, olfactory, and tactile) were provided to dogs for five consecutive days, with four days between each treatment. Acceleration data were collected using a collar mounted ActiGraph®. Nine behaviours were classified using a validated machine learning model. Behaviour and activity differed significantly among the dogs. Dogs interacted most with the food enrichment, followed by the olfactory and then tactile enrichments. The dogs were least active during the olfactory enrichment, whereas activity was relatively consistent during the food and tactile enrichments. For all enrichments, dogs exhibited the most exploratory/locomotive behaviour during the first hour of each enrichment period, but this declined over the treatment period indicating habituation. For exploratory and locomotive behaviour, food enrichment was the most stimulating for the dogs with longer daily engagement than for both olfactory and tactile enrichments. These results illustrate that accelerometery and machine learning can be used to evaluate enrichment strategies in dogs, but it is important to consider variation among dogs and habituation.fals
Nanodelivery systems of thymoquinone for improving its bioavailability and efficiency in the food and biomedical applications
No full textThymoquinone (TQ), a hydrophobic bioactive constituent of Nigella sativa seeds, has garnered attention for its potential in treating various ailments due to its antioxidative and anti-inflammatory properties. However, TQ's hydrophobicity, instability in varying pH environments, photosensitivity, rapid hepatic metabolism, and low bioavailability present major challenges for its application in pharmaceutical and nutraceutical formulations. Nanotechnology offers innovative nanocarriers that can overcome these limitations. Notable among these are lipid-based nanocarriers (e.g., nano-liposomes, nano-emulsions, niosomes, solid lipid nanoparticles, and nanostructured lipid carriers), biopolymeric systems (e.g., nano-hydrogels, nanofibers, nanotubes, and cyclodextrin inclusion complexes), and inorganic nanocarriers. These delivery systems are designed to enhance TQ's solubility, protect it from degradation, and improve its bioavailability and therapeutic performance. Despite numerous advances, the clinical and industrial translation of these nano-delivery systems remains limited, primarily due to scalability issues, regulatory constraints, and a lack of standardized evaluation protocols for food and biomedical use. This review provides a comprehensive analysis of these nanocarriers, emphasizing their mechanisms for TQ encapsulation, controlled release, and bioaccessibility enhancement. It also highlights current limitations and outlines future directions for their development. Unlike previous reviews, this work offers a comparative evaluation of nanocarrier systems for both food and biomedical applications, addressing their effectiveness, limitations, and readiness for real-world translation. The key takeaway is that among the various approaches, lipid-based and biopolymeric nanocarriers have demonstrated the greatest potential for enhancing TQ delivery, particularly in oral and functional food formulations, as well as targeted cancer therapy, due to their biocompatibility, scalability, and effective release profiles.fals
Functional Analysis of the Yeast Counterpart to the Human GCN2 p.Glu738_Asp739insArgArg Variant
No full textfals
Stitching stories, singing roots : Pashtun cultural revival in diaspora : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Design at Massey University, Wellington, New Zealand
No full textPashto, the second most spoken language in Pakistan and the national language of Afghanistan, is an essential marker of Pashtun identity. However, in the Pashtun diaspora, particularly in Aotearoa New Zealand, cultural and linguistic disconnection is increasingly evident among the second generation. This research responds to the concerns of cultural erosion by integrating Pashto calligraphy and tappay (folk poetry) on embroidered velvet fabric by fusing traditional embroidery techniques with digital fabrication methods such as laser engraving. In doing so, this study seeks to create a contemporary platform for Pashtun cultural expression. Central to this research is Pukhtunwali, the informal Pashtun code of conduct that governs social and moral values. Pukhtunwali encompasses principles such as bravery, love, spirituality, nationalism, hospitality, resilience, and women’s empowerment, making it a significant framework for cultural identity. During two workshops conducted as part of this project, 43 tappay and 9 Pukhtunwali codes were shared with eight participants. From these, 23 tappay were identified as most reflective of the code of Pukhtunwali. The workshops were designed to create an immersive cultural experience, featuring Pashto music in the background and the serving of traditional food, fostering a sense of community and cultural nostalgia. Through two interactive Pashtun community workshops in Palmerston North, this project engages the Pashtun diaspora in cultural dialogue, gathering insights into their perceptions of identity, language, and heritage. The workshops explored stylized Pashto calligraphy and embroidery techniques as a means of cultural preservation. These community workshops were inspired by the concept of relational aesthetics suggested by Bourriaud and also by the work of Māori designer Dr. Johnson Witehira, a New Zealand artist, whose work is considered as pioneering in preserving Māori language. Thus, based on the concept of relational aesthetics and the work of Dr. Witehira, this research positions design as an active tool for cultural reclamation. This study updates traditional artistic practices using modern design methods. It helps explore how diaspora identity, cultural traditions, and indigenous art can stay relevant in the contemporary world. This thesis not only highlights the significance of Pashto calligraphy and tappay but also demonstrates how art and design can bridge generational and cultural divides, fostering a renewed sense of belonging within the Pashtun community in New Zealand
A Scoping Review of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Assessment and Diagnosis: Tools, Practices, and Sex Bias
No full textObjectives: Accurately diagnosing attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is challenging due to the overlap of symptoms with other mental health conditions. This scoping review evaluated the dependability and accuracy of prevalent diagnostic scales and investigates potential obstacles to ADHD assessment diagnosis including potential sex bias.
Method: Following the PRISMA-ScR guidelines, 11 widely used diagnostic scales were identified and included. All scales were evaluated based on their psychometric quality and alignment with DSM-5 diagnostic criteria for ADHD.
Results: The Attention Deficit Disorders Evaluation Scale emerged as the most reliable among the 11 scales, with the Symptom Checklist-4 ranking as the least reliable. No single assessment tool was adequate for ADHD diagnosis; additional testing was required for accurate conclusions. The literature revealed sex and age biases in some of the assessments. It was discovered that girls were diagnosed with ADHD less often than boys, yet their likelihood of misdiagnosis was notably lower.
Conclusions: This review emphasizes the necessity of comprehensive, multi-method assessment approaches for accurate ADHD diagnosis, as no single tool demonstrated sufficient diagnostic precision. Effective clinical assessment design must incorporate strong psychometric measures, address sex-based diagnostic disparities, and emphasize the importance of evaluating behavioural changes over time and their functional impact across settings.fals
Does cooling affect skeletal muscle glycogen replenishment after an acute bout of fear-induced exertional hyperthermia in blesbok (Damaliscus pygargus phillipsi)?
No full textRhabdomyolyses is a clinical sign of capture myopathy in wild animals and may be linked to glycogen metabolism. To study potential mechanisms, 26 wild blesbok were chased for 15 min and immobilised, whereafter 12 of these blesbok were doused with ice-water (n = 14 chased only group; n = 12 chased + cooled group). An additional 12 blesbok served as resting (not chased) uncooled controls. Vastus lateralis biopsies were obtained after immobilisation for biochemical analyses. Biopsies obtained at initial capture, 3- and 16-days post exercise were analysed for glycogen content. Blesbok muscles contained predominantly myosin heavy chain (MHC) IIA (∼50 ± 9 %), followed by IIX (32 ± 10 %) and MHC I (18 ± 5 %), with no difference between groups. Citrate synthase (mean: 87 ± 48), 3-hydroxyacetyl co A dehydrogenase (47 ± 17), lactate dehydrogenase (1567 ± 654), phosphorylase (162 ± 94), phosphofructokinase (250 ± 123) and creatine kinase (12,455 ± 6372) activities (in μmol/min/g prot) were not different between groups. Similarly, superoxide dismutase (7.9 ± 7 U/mg prot), catalase (8.8 ± 5.8 mmol/min/g prot), and overall antioxidant capacity (ORAC: 23055 ± 18,460 μmol/g prot) were not different between groups. Glycogen content was reduced in both chased groups and not replenished by day 3. Glycogen supercompensation was observed on day 16 in both chased groups (∼33 % higher than resting control group). The results confirm that blesbok have high muscle metabolic capacities, and that glycogen resynthesis is slow, which could lead to metabolite deficiency during prolonged chase events (>15 min).fals