Sidewalk autonomous delivery robots (SADRs) are a new last-mile delivery service. The present study aims to identify the factors impacting the adoption of SADRs among Iranian online shoppers. To this end, based on consumer coproduction theory and technology readiness (TR), this paper combined individual factors, socialized factor, and risk factors. A total of 287 respondents were surveyed using an online questionnaire, and the partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) was employed to model the data. The modelling results revealed that attitude, innovativeness, and optimism had positive impacts on the intention of consumers to use delivery robots. Furthermore, optimism and environmental concern had a positive impact on attitude, while the need for human interaction, performance risk, and delivery risk had negative impacts. However, no significant relationship was found between innovativeness and attitude. The results of the present study provide important theoretical and practical suggestions to marketers and delivery service provides.

This study is aimed at determining the factors influential in the acceptance of delivery drones as a new way for last-mile delivery in the future. In this regard, the study model was proposed using the UTAUT2 as the base model and adding the factors of psychological characteristics, perceived risk, and need for human interaction to it. The information about 357 Iranian buyers was collected for the PLS-SEM by designing an online questionnaire. The results indicated that all variables of UTAUT2, except for performance expectancy, had a positive and significant effect on the intention of buyers to use delivery drones. Moreover, the personal norm positively affected the users’ intention, while the need for human interaction and perceived risk had adverse effects on it. The research findings indicated that innovativeness had a significant positive effect on effort expectancy and compatibility while having an insignificant effect on performance expectancy.

Since fatigue cracking is caused in the middle-temperature conditions due to the stresses from heavy traffic and as the bitumen plays a very important role in controlling this failure, therefore, in recent years, the production of the modified bitumen that can give a good performance in the middle temperatures has always attracted the interest of researchers. One of these bitumen modifiers is the styrene butadiene styrene (SBS) polymer. Due to the phase separation of bitumen and polymer, aging and oxidation, this polymer may not exhibit expected field performance at middle temperatures. Therefore, in this research, it is attempted to analyze the middle-temperature performance using the combination of nano-SiO2 and SBS polymer in the bitumen modification. In this paper, the addition of SBS and nano-SiO2 to the base bitumen resulted in the reduction of the complex modulus, phase angle, storage modulus and loss modulus at middle temperatures, thereby improving the potential of fatigue failure resistance. In general, considering the requirement for the rotational viscosity value up to 3 Pa.s at 135 °C and also, regarding the economic issues in choosing a lower percentage, the combination of 4.5% SBS + 3% nano-SiO2 is selected as the optimal composite.

Development of science and technology and expansion of communication networks have overhauled many traditional aspects of human life. Shopping is a traditional urban practice that plays a central role not only in economics but also in urban development and transportation. Therefore, accurate determination of complex relationship between online shopping (e-shopping) and traditional in-store shopping can yield valuable data for transportation planners. The aim of this study is to assess this relationship for Tehran residents. To pursue this objective, 435 questionnaires were distributed and filled by Tehran residents and the obtained raw data were analysed by Spss23 software; the results were then processed by Amos23 software to develop a structural equation model. The results show that online searching has a positive impact on both e-shopping and in-store shopping. Moreover, a positive effect of e-shopping on shopping trip was found. These findings suggest that people who use Internet to purchase products are also committed to traditional methods of shopping.

Purpose: During the Covid-19 period, when human beings are socially isolated, telework is a viable solution to safeguard employees' health. Because many employees have never experienced such a working system and organizations have not planned for it before the pandemic, imposing employees to telework has adversely affected their productivity and efficiency. This study aims to identify factors affecting individuals' tendency toward teleworking during the pandemic, which can lead to practical solutions for the post-pandemic era.Design/methodology/approach: Through the use of technology acceptance models, a conceptual model was designed. Data used to assess the model were cross-sectional and derived from 229 questionnaires filled out by employees in Tehran. The AMOS24 software processed the corresponding structural equation model.Findings: The results from the cross-sectional data indicated that attitude toward telework and perceived behavioral control over the system were significantly correlated directly with the intention to telework, while perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use of telework were correlated indirectly. Therefore, the integrated model predicts behavioral intentions better than single models performed separately.Originality/value: Psychological and mental health research describing adoption intentions of telework, particularly those focusing on employees, is still lacking. To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first study in this regard that has used a conceptual model derived from two technology acceptance models during the Covid-19 outbreak. An era in which the extent of the pandemic has forced employees to experience such working systems and thus the importance and practicality of teleworking have been more evident to nearly every individual.