Recent Submissions
Unlocking Gen Z engagement in phygital retailing: Evidence from a multi-mediated customer experience model
(PloS one, 2026-08-06) Selvendran, M; Salman, S; Lakvidu, D; Dahanayaka, U; Wisenthige, K; Dayapathirana, N
This study investigates how phygital experience influences Gen Z customer loyalty in Sri Lanka's consumer electronics retail sector, addressing the limited evidence from emerging markets on hybrid retail approaches. The research emphasizes the growing relevance of integrating physical and digital touchpoints to create immersive consumer journeys and explores how such experiences foster loyalty among younger consumers. A quantitative research design was adopted using a structured 5-point Likert scale survey questionnaire was completed by 480 Gen Z customers of consumer electronics retailers in Sri Lanka. Data were analyzed through Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) to examine direct and indirect relationships between phygital experiences and loyalty. The study also evaluated a serial mediation mechanism to explain how immersive, technology-enabled environments and seamless physical-digital integration contributes to loyalty formation. Results demonstrate that phygital experiences significantly and positively influence customer loyalty. Gen Z consumers place high value on interactive, technology-driven retail environments that enhance satisfaction and strengthen their commitment to brands. The findings highlight the importance of co-creation, engagement, and perceived value in shaping loyalty, while underscoring the role of digital literacy in navigating hybrid retail contexts. The study provides actionable insights for retailers seeking to design effective phygital strategies that resonate with Gen Z consumers. It offers guidance for innovation and market expansion in emerging economies. However, the reliance on self-reported, cross-sectional data from a single sector and demographic limits generalizability. Future research should extend across industries, age cohorts, and cultural contexts, incorporating variables such as trust, emotions, and digital fatigue. This research contributes to the growing body of knowledge on phygital experiences by contextualizing the phenomenon in an emerging market setting. It advances theoretical understanding by empirically validating a mechanism linking phygital experience to loyalty and provides practical recommendations for retailers aiming to enhance customer journeys through hybrid strategies.
Economic Uncertainty as a Sustainability Risk: Cross-Income Directional Evidence From 135 Countries
(John Wiley and Sons Ltd, 2026-06-15) Navamohan, P; Gamage, D; Hansika, S; Madurawala, R; Jayathilaka, R; Weerathunga, W
This paper examines the direction of causality and the relationship between economic uncertainty, suicide rates, unemployment, economic growth, and trade openness across different income levels. By situating these relationships within a sustainability framework, the study conceptualises economic uncertainty as a systemic risk affecting social stability, labour markets, and long-term development trajectories. The analysis investigates 135 countries from 2000 to 2022, employing Granger causality and Multiple Linear Regression, with robustness tests using varying lag lengths to assess the reliability of the results. The findings reveal that economic uncertainty acts as a cross-dimensional sustainability stressor influencing socioeconomic systems across income strata, confirming prior evidence while extending it through Granger-causal analysis. Our findings show that in low-income countries economic uncertainty and unemployment rates have a bidirectional relationship. In lower-middle-income countries, suicide rates and trade openness affect economic uncertainty, while in upper-middle-income countries, suicide rates, economic growth, and trade openness affect economic uncertainty. Our findings suggest that economic uncertainty can be mitigated through improvements in mental healthcare services, the promotion of free trade agreements, advancements in education and technology, and fostering economic diversification. Recommendations for policymakers tailored to the 17 Sustainable Development Goals are provided in this study to mitigate uncertainty risks on sustainability. These findings contribute to sustainability science by demonstrating how uncertainty functions as a structural constraint on inclusive and resilient development pathways.
Management and safe disposal of unwanted medicines in community pharmacies in Sri Lanka
(Frontiers Media SA, 2026-07-10) Perera, C; Herath, R
Introduction – Pharmaceutical pollutants, such as antibiotics and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), have been detected in Sri Lankan waterways. These contaminants may arise from multiple sources, including community pharmacy disposal practices. This raises concerns that improper disposal of unwanted medicines poses an increasing risk to the environment and public health. Community pharmacies—both chain and independent pharmacies—serve as the final point in the pharmaceutical supply chain at the community level and play a crucial role in managing the disposal of unwanted medicines. This study aimed to explore the current practices, factors influencing these practices, and strategies for improving the management and safe disposal of unwanted medicines in community pharmacies in Sri Lanka. Methods – A qualitative research design was adopted. Semi-structured interviews using the validated interview guide were conducted with the participants. The participants primarily comprised the community pharmacists representing both chain and independent pharmacies operating in the Western Province of Sri Lanka. Participants were selected through purposive sampling. Interviews were conducted until data saturation was achieved. Using the thematic analysis, emerging reporting patterns within the data were identified. Results – The study identified four main themes: current disposal and waste management practices; factors influencing and limiting disposal practices; perceptions and attitudes toward disposal responsibility; and recommendations for improvement. Community pharmacies use various methods for medicine disposal and pharmaceutical waste management. Their practices are primarily influenced by the absence of proper medicine collection mechanisms, weak regulation, limited awareness, and inadequate disposal facilities. Pharmacists suggested implementing a well-structured medicine collection system, strengthening laws, and conducting awareness programs to minimize pharmaceutical waste. Discussion – Although a regulatory framework exists for pharmaceutical waste management, implementation and monitoring within community pharmacies, particularly independent pharmacies, remain limited. Furthermore, these pharmacies have fewer facilities to carry out safe drug disposal practices. Research revealed the need for improved infrastructure, tighter regulatory supervision, and increased awareness programs to address these challenges. Implementing a well-coordinated national medicine collection program and improving awareness of safe medicine disposal are important measures for protecting the environment and public health.
Synergistic Bioactive Ointment: ZnO Nanoparticles Combined with Carica papaya Latex and Aloe Vera Gel for Broad-Spectrum Biomedical Applications
(PloS one, 2026-07-21) Ekanayake, G; Mendis, A; Wijayawardana, S; Thambiliyagodage, C; Jayanetti, M
The development of multifunctional topical formulations that combine natural bioactives with therapeutic nanomaterials offers a promising route to improved wound healing and management. Carica papaya fruit latex powder and Aloe barbadensis Miller gel were incorporated as active ingredients into an ointment base consisting of ZnO nanoparticles, cassava starch, and white petroleum jelly to formulate a novel topical medication with enhanced biological properties. According to the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl antioxidant assay, IC50 values of Carica papaya latex, Aloe gel, and ZnO nanoparticles were 454.54, 312.50, and 490.82 μg/mL, respectively. Carica papaya latex powder showed a protease activity of 58.40 units/mg of the solid. The ointment base exhibited the lowest blood clotting index (3.57 ± 6.09%), suggesting strong coagulation potential, whereas ZnO showed the highest (22.26 ± 1.09%), indicating minimal clotting ability under the current experimental setup. Erythrocyte adsorption was also highest in the ointment base (84.10 ± 1.09%), reinforcing its strong interaction with blood components. Cassava starch and petroleum jelly displayed moderate Red Blood Cell (RBC) attachment percentages. Platelet adhesion with the ointment base (61.55 ± 1.09%) and cassava starch (53.97 ± 2.40%) showed better platelet interaction than ZnO (29.1 ± 4.08%). Hemolysis data indicated that petroleum jelly caused the highest RBC lysis at all concentrations, while the ointment base showed the lowest activity, indicating better hemocompatibility. Clotting time analysis further highlighted the ointment base and petroleum jelly as effective pro-coagulants (13.30 s and 13.34 s, respectively), whereas ZnO (18.34 min) and cassava starch (48.34 s) exhibited delayed clotting. The ointment in which the base: active ingredient ratio is 7:3, and within, Carica papaya latex: Aloe gel ratio 1:4, shows the maximum antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. The MBC/MIC ratios of the above ointment for the two organisms were lower than 4, suggesting a bactericidal effect. The time-kill curves show a gradual reduction in bacterial survival over time, with the most significant reduction observed in the ointment with the highest proportion of Aloe vera.
Socio-Economic and Environmental Drivers of Food Security in Low-Income Countries: A 32-Year Cross-National Analysis for Sustainable Development
(John Wiley and Sons Ltd, 2026-04-06) Pulle, N; Sampath, P; Wijayaweera, D; Perera, S; Jayathilaka, R; Dabare, U
Ensuring countries meet their basic food security needs has been a long-standing challenge. Despite numerous attempts to tackle this issue, it remains unresolved. Hence, considering the broad reach of this concern, our study aims to collectively analyse how urbanisation, greenhouse gas emissions, renewable energy consumption, population growth, agricultural land, and gross domestic product per capita impact food security across countries. This study tests a stepwise panel-ordered probit model, utilising data from 17 low-income countries from 1992 to 2023. The research categorises the food production index into three categories: low, moderate, and high food security, allowing for the analysis of the likelihood of falling into a category of the food production index. The outcomes reveal that in low-income countries, urbanisation, greenhouse gas emissions, population growth, and agricultural land have a positive impact on the food production index, whereas renewable energy consumption has an insignificant negative impact. This analysis contributes distinctively to the existing body of knowledge by comparatively analysing the probabilities over the given period, together with the financial crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic, thus providing insights into both events. Furthermore, this report highlights the effectiveness of policies implemented, focusing on the efficient use of agricultural land through technological advancements, promoting modern farming techniques, encouraging youth engagement in agriculture, managing population growth, and innovating climate-resilient strategies, which are directly aligned with the research findings. These recommendations address specific challenges identified in the highlighted countries, helping improve their food security and promote sustainable development.
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