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PurposeThe purpose of this study is to investigate the underlying psychological mechanism and boundary conditions which drive materialists' purchase intention (PI) of sustainable over generic luxury products.Design/methodology/approachFour empirical studies (one survey and three experiments) were conducted to test the hypotheses.FindingsMaterialism has a positive effect on consumers' purchase intention of sustainable over generic luxury products because materialists tend to have higher perceived functional value of sustainable (i.e., green) luxury products. Product conspicuousness (i.e., publicly consumed versus privately consumed luxury) moderates the effect of materialism on PI of sustainable over generic luxury products. Materialism increases the perceived functional value and thus enhances the PI of sustainable luxury products over generic luxury products only when the product is privately consumed (as opposed to publicly consumed).Originality/valueThis article contributes to the literature that explores how materialism affects environmentalism. This study is among the first empirical works in the context of luxury that studies the relationship between materialism and purchase intention of green products over generic products. This study is also among the first in the context of materialists to empirically establish the importance of perceived functional value associated with sustainable over generic products in affecting PI. Moreover, this article investigates the moderating role of product conspicuousness, which enhances the generalizability of the findings.

Coal mine methane (CMM) with the worldwide reserves of 2.6 × 1014 m3 is one of the important unconventional natural gases. However, most of the low-concentration coal mine methane (LC-CMM, cCH4 < 30 vol %) is not utilized and directly emitted to the atmosphere, producing up to about 28 billion m3 CH4 emissions annually and causing a serious greenhouse effect and energy loss. Evidently, resource utilization of LC-CMM is of vital significance to achieve energy transition and carbon neutrality. Herein, we review the recent advances of LC-CMM utilization technologies in terms of low-concentration drainage gas (1 vol % < cCH4 < 30 vol %) and ventilation air methane (VAM, cCH4 < 0.75 vol %). Especially, the great progresses of LC-CMM utilization in China are extensively introduced. A large amount of the low-concentration drainage gas with cCH4 > 6 vol % has been utilized in China due to the wide application of specially designed internal combustion engines (ICEs) and safe pipeline transport technologies. To avoid the shortages of low efficiency and high pollution of ICEs, solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) fueled by LC-CMM were recently proposed and modified for improving safety, efficiency, and stability. Also, methane enrichment such as pressure swing adsorption (PSA) and direct burning are key technologies to improve the utilization ratio of the drainage gas with cCH4 < 6 vol %. The modifications to improve the safety and efficiency of the PSA process and the new metal fiber combustion have been developed and applied in China. Furthermore, the recent advances of VAM utilization technologies are introduced. A thermal flow reverse reactor (TFRR) for VAM utilization has been applied in some coal mines. VAM enrichment and a catalytic flow reverse reactor (CFRR) create opportunities to efficiently use VAM with much lower CH4 concentration. Finally, the technical and economic challenges as well as the coping strategies of LC-CMM utilization are described. It is believed that LC-CMM with all various CH4 concentrations can be effectively and cleanly utilized in the near future, contributing to the new energy structure establishment and environment protection.

During a public health crisis, the provision and dissemination of health-related information are important for the relevant authorities to keep the public informed. By using different types of message framing, the authorities can effectively guide and persuade people to adopt health-related behaviors (such as vaccination). In this study, a web-based experiment using a 2 × 2 (message framing: gain framing versus loss framing) × (message presentation: narrative versus non-narrative) design was conducted to investigate the effects of different message frames on vaccination promotion. In total, 298 college students were recruited to participate in this study. The results suggest that, for message framing, loss-framed (vs. gain-framed) messages lead to higher intentions to get vaccinated. Furthermore, compared with non-narrative messages, narrative messages are more persuasive in promoting vaccination behavior. However, the interaction effect between gain–loss message framing and narrative framing is not significant. Additionally, perceived severity, perceived benefits, and perceived costs mediate the effect of narrative framing on behavioral intentions. In other words, compared with non-narrative messages, narrative messages lead to higher levels of perceived severity and perceived benefits, and a lower level of perceived costs, which in turn increase intentions to get vaccinated. This paper provides insightful implications for both researchers and practitioners.