Recent Submissions
Digital gig workers vs. artificial intelligence – a battle of the wits
(Emerald Publishing, 2026-04-18) Kelly, S. N; Wisenthige, K; Perera, L
Purpose – This article investigates in depth Sri Lankan gig workers' varying attitudes towards AI amid a hyper-digital world and its role of reshaping work patterns in developing economies. By exploring platform work transformations, it provides critical insights to guide equitable social policy and labour protections. Design/methodology/approach – This article is a qualitative study which utilises a semi-structured interview series consisting of fourteen platform-based gig workers across diverse professions, employing purposive sampling method to collect data and NVivo to run the analysis. Institutional ethical approval was obtained and ensured participant informed consent, anonymity and voluntary withdrawal rights throughout the interviews. Findings – This study assesses divergent AI attitudes among Sri Lankan gig workers: optimism towards efficiency gains, ambivalence regarding ethical trade-offs and pessimism concerning skill erosion. Segmentation occurs primarily by occupational specialisation, revealing patterning: IT gig workers embracing pragmatic efficiency while creatives defend identity-based skillsets. Given AI's structural impacts, proactive social policies leveraging gig worker insights are suggested to promote multiple sustainable development goals in emerging digital economies. Originality/value – This exploratory study examines AI attitudes through the lenses of Sri Lanka gig workers, suggesting occupational divergence (IT pragmatism versus creative resistance) in the nation's digital gig economy. It offers contextual empirical insights from gig workers lived experiences in the Global South, extending global AI research beyond existing GenAI and algorithmic management studies, which predominantly focus on quantitative analysis or ride-hailing platforms.
Anthocyanin (ATH)-incorporating polyvinylpyrrolidone-ethyl cellulose-(2-hydroxypropyl)-β-cyclodextrin (PVP–EC–BCD) nanofiber-based pH sensor for ocular pH detection during accidental chemical spills
(Royal Society of Chemistry, 2026-02-03) Sandaruwan, B; Liyanage, R; Costha, P; Dassanayake, Rohan S; Wijesinghe, R, E; Herath H.M.L.P.B; Nalin de Silva K.M.; de Silva, Rohini M; Rajapaksha, Suranga M; Wijenayake, U; Manatunga, Danushika C
The existing ocular pH detection methods encounter numerous limitations, including low accuracy, poor sensitivity across a wide pH range, and patient discomfort, highlighting the need for innovative approaches. A novel biosensor for ocular pH detection has been developed to assess ocular health and chemical injuries in clinical settings. This study uses the pH-sensitive properties of anthocyanins (ATHs), natural pigments extracted from butterfly pea flowers, to develop a novel pH-responsive nanofiber mat. ATHs are integrated into a polymer blend containing polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), ethyl cellulose (EC), and (2-hydroxypropyl)-β-cyclodextrin (BCD) to fabricate electrospun nanofibers. The acquired characterization, employing scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), confirmed the successful fabrication of the ATH-infused nanofibers with a mean diameter ranging from 121 to 396 nm. Four formulations were tested: PVP:EC:BCD:ATH (18 ppm), PVP:EC:BCD:ATH (25 ppm), PVP:EC:BCD:ATH (35 ppm), and PVP:EC:BCD:ATH (50 ppm). Among them, the 50 ppm ATH-incorporating nanofiber mat exhibited the best performance in terms of color clarity, response time, and pH sensitivity. The fabricated 50 ppm ATH incorporating nanofiber mat demonstrated a rapid pH response time of less than 5 seconds (s) while exhibiting a color variation from pink to blue to green across the pH range of 1 to 12, providing a rapid and accurate method for visual pH detection. Based on the color performance of the 50 ppm ATH-incorporating system, a standardized color reference chart was developed to serve as a practical and visual guide for estimating pH levels in clinical applications. Zebrafish toxicity assays were conducted further to validate the safety and biocompatibility of the developed sensor, revealing no significant toxic effects across the range of ATH concentrations.
The Role of Virtual and Human Influencer Characteristics in Shaping Gen Z Purchases on TikTok: Hybrid SEM-ANN Approach
(Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI), 2026-05-09) Peemanee, J; Udomlarp, T; Weber, P; Weerarathna, R
This study examines how human (HI) and virtual influencers (VI) shape consumer responses among Thai Generation Z users (Gen Z) on TikTok. Drawing on Source Credibility Theory (SCT), Parasocial Interaction Theory (PSI), and the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), the study develops a comparative framework to explain how influencer characteristics affect attitude and purchase-related responses. Data were collected from 400 Generation Z TikTok users in Thailand and analyzed using Govariance-Based Structural Equation Modeling (CB-SEM). The results indicate that both human and virtual influencer characteristics positively influence influencer attitude (IA), which in turn significantly affects purchase decision (PD). However, the total effect of human influencer characteristics on purchase decision is substantially stronger than that of virtual influencers. These findings suggest that while virtual influencers contribute to favorable evaluations through innovation and visual consistency, human influencers remain more effective in translating attitudes into purchase-related outcomes. This study provides comparative evidence from a non-Western context and integrates credibility, relational, and technology-based perspectives into an integrated analytical framework.
Copper-Based Nanoparticles as Precision Nanoantibiotics against Bacterial Blight in Anthurium andraeanum Lind.: Synthesis, Characterization, and Antibacterial Efficacy under In Vitro and In Vivo Conditions
(American Chemical Society, 2026-05-05) Wanaguru, S; Jayasinghe, S; Seneviratne, K; Kottegoda, N; Peiris, Sriyani E; Peiris, Colin N
The bacterial blight disease caused by Xanthomonas spp., a dilemma for farmers worldwide. The existing conventional methods have failed to effectively combat the disease. Therefore, it is crucial to focus on developing and implementing more affordable techniques to effectively manage bacterial blight effectively. Herein, we investigated the efficacy of copper-based nanoparticles (Cu NPs) synthesized via three different methods toward controlling bacterial blight disease in Anthurium andraeanum plants. For that, Cu NPs were engineered via chemical, semichemical, and green synthesis approaches. Cu NPs were characterized through scanning electron microscope (SEM), transmission electron microscope (TEM), Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR), and powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) analysis. Quantitative antibacterial assays revealed that the chemical and green-synthesized Cu NPs exhibited the highest potency, with a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 31.25 μg/mL and a minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of 62.50 μg/mL, whereas the semichemical formulation showed lower activity (MIC = 62.50 μg/mL; MBC = 125 μg/mL). In vitro well-diffusion assays further supported this trend: at 30 ppm, the inhibition zones measured 25 ± 0.81, 15 ± 0.81, and 20.6 ± 0.94 mm for the chemical, semichemical, and green synthesis methods, respectively, compared to 26.3 ± 0.47 mm for the positive control-antibiotic sulfamethoxazole. At in vivo, optimized concentration of 200 ppm, Cu NPs produced via all three methods controlled bacterial blight disease in 90% of treated anthurium plants within 4, 7, and 5 weeks, respectively, without causing phytotoxicity. Disease progression was monitored over 12 weeks by measuring lesion areas, and statistical significance of treatments was determined using two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). ©
Valorization of acid-hydrolyzed tea stem waste for sustainable biodiesel production using Chlorella vulgaris: a biorefinery approach
(Frontiers Media SA, 2026-05-18) Dodangodage, C. A; Rathnapriya R.H.N.S.; Gamage, G. N; Kasturiarachchi, Jagath C.; Perera, Thilini A.; Rajapakshe, S. D; Niyangoda, Sayuri S.; Halwatura, R.U
The prohibitive cost of synthetic cultivation media remains a fundamental bottleneck in the commercial deployment of microalgal biodiesel. This study investigates the valorization of recalcitrant tea stem waste, an abundant agro-industrial by-product, as a low-cost, nutrient-rich medium for Chlorella vulgaris within an integrated biorefinery framework. Following thermochemical acid hydrolysis, a two-stage optimization of hydrolysate concentration and incident irradiance was conducted to maximize biomass production. Undiluted (100%) hydrolysate under elevated irradiance (240 µmol photons m-2 s-1) compensated for optical attenuation in the dark medium and yielded a maximum biomass concentration of 1.65 ± 0.07 g L-1, representing an approximately 5-fold increase over the synthetic Bold’s Basal Medium (BBM) control. Concurrently, substantial nutrient recovery was achieved, with 83.23% nitrate and 95.60% phosphate assimilation by Day 10. The resulting nutrient limitation acted as a secondary abiotic stressor, triggering enhanced intracellular lipid accumulation and yielding a peak volumetric lipid concentration of 0.094 ± 0.005 g L-1, approximately 4.5-fold higher than the autotrophic control. Fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) profiling revealed a saturated-dominant composition (85.57% SFA), corresponding to favorable predicted biodiesel properties, including low iodine value and high cetane number, consistent with international fuel standards. Overall, this study establishes tea stem hydrolysate as an efficient integrated cultivation matrix for simultaneous mixotrophic growth and lipid biosynthesis, advancing a scalable circular waste-to-energy pathway for agro-industrial systems.
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