Ethical leadership and TMT decision-making of corporate social responsibility - a perspective of self-determination theory.

This study examines the impact of ethical leadership on top management team (TMT) decision-making regarding corporate social responsibility (CSR), considering the mediating role of TMT passion and the moderating role of performance stress. The study distinguishes between TMT harmonious and obsessive work passion and categorizes CSR as proactive and reactive. The findings reveal the following: (1) Ethical leadership positively influences proactive CSR, with TMT harmonious work passion acting as a positive mediator and TMT obsessive work passion playing a negative mediating role; (2) ethical leadership positively affects reactive CSR, with both TMT harmonious and obsessive work passion serving as positive mediators; (3) performance stress diminishes the impact of ethical leadership on TMT harmonious work passion; however, it amplifies the effect on TMT obsessive work passion. Consequently, the mediating effect of TMT harmonious work passion weakens, while the mediating effect of TMT obsessive work passion strengthens. This study emphasizes the significant role of TMT in CSR strategic decision-making and proposes a novel mediating mechanism through which ethical leadership drives CSR decision-making by considering TMT work passion. These findings reconcile the theoretical-practical conflict and have important theoretical and practical implications for enterprises in fulfilling their social responsibility.

[Effects of partial root excision on the growth, photosynthesis, and antioxidant enzyme activities of maize under salt stress].

A pot experiment was conducted to study the effects of partial root excision on the growth of two maize cultivars (Zhengdan 958 and Denghai 9) throughout their growth period and the photosynthesis and leaf antioxidant enzyme activities at grain-filling stage under salt stress. Four treatments were installed, i. e., control (no salt), low salt (0.2% NaCl), moderate salt (0.4% NaCl), and high salt (0.6% NaCl). Under low salt stress, the grain yield of Zhengdan 958 and Denghai 9 with partial root excision was increased by 13.1% and 31.4%, respectively, as compared with that of the cultivars with no root excision. At jointing stage, the growth of the cultivars with partial root excision was restrained, the root- and shoot dry masses under the same salt stresses being lesser than those of the cultivars with no root excision, but the growth under the conditions of no salt and low salt recovered quickly. At milk-ripe stage and under no salt and low salt conditions, the root- and shoot dry masses, leaf area, total root length, total root surface area, root activity, leaf chlorophyll content, and ear leaf net photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, transpiration rate, and CAT and POD activities of the cultivars with partial root excision were significantly larger than those of the cultivars with no root excision, while the shoot diameter and ear leaf MDA content were in adverse. Moderate and high salt stresses had greater effects on the cultivars with partial root excision. The root- and shoot dry masses, root morphology, and photosynthesis indices of the cultivars with partial root excision were smaller than those of the cultivars with no root excision, so did the grain yields. Throughout the growth period of the cultivars, the growth of the cultivars with partial root excision depended on the salt concentration, i. e., was promoted under no and low salt, and inhibited under moderate and high salt conditions.