Fintech: A Literature Review

This article analyzes the Fintech evolution. After describing the process of this phenomenon, some of the main definitions are provided both nationally and internationally. Finally, six main models of Fintech are analyzed. Through a systematic literature, 14 articles have been selected that deal with the phenomenon of Fintech. Six Fintech business models implemented by the ever growing number of Fintech startups have been identified, payment, wealth management, crowdfunding, loan, capital market and insurance services. Internationally, Fintech has already been defined by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the World Bank Group (WBG), the Financial Stability Board (FSB), the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), the International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO), the Bank for International Settlements (BIS). On a national level, on the other hand, Fintech has been analyzed by various countries, USA, United Kingdom, Singapore, China, Switzerland, China, Australia and the European Union. Fintech refers to a broad set of innovations - observable in the financial field in a broad sense - which are made possible by the use of new technologies both in the offer of services to end users and in the internal production processes of financial operators as well as in the design of market enterprises, without thereby compromising new possible configurations of intersectoral activities. Fintech appears to be representative of innovative methods - based on technology - of carrying out activities directly or indirectly connected to financial services rather than being a pre-defined industrial sector. Following the logic of the digital economy, Fintech contributes to designing an open and continuous network of modular services for businesses, individuals and banking, financial and insurance intermediaries, becoming a powerful acceleration force for the integration policies of the financial services markets in the EU.

Development of Tire-Wear Particle Emission Measurements for Passenger Vehicles

In this study, we aimed to develop a new method for measuring tire-wear particles of less than 2.5 μm generated from vehicle use. We also aimed to devise a method for evaluating the emission factor of tire-wear particles. To develop an evaluation method for tire-wear particles, we examined several factors, such as how tire components in airborne particles collected on a sampling filter were measured, the comparison of tire-wear particles obtained in a laboratory study and an on-road study, a method for measuring tire-wear particles using a test vehicle, and a method for evaluating tire-wear mass using a weighting balance. Measurements of tire-wear particles were carried out using the measurement method proposed herein. The amount of tire wear that the particles generated was almost constant in a vehicle speed range of 20–40 km/h but was influenced by a change in lateral acceleration in the range of 0–0.4G. Furthermore, the relationship between the emission of tire-wear particles and the lateral acceleration force can be shown by a quadratic polynomial. We estimated the emission factor of tire-wear particles by applying the relational equation to the speed profile of the JC08 used in Japanese exhaust gas tests. The emission factor of the test tire used in this study was 3.7 mg/km-vehicle. The ratio of the tire-wear particles to tread wear mass was about 3.3% at PM2.5 and 3.7% at PM10.

Classical Mechanics According to Newton and Hamilton

This chapter introduces classical mechanics, starting with the familiar definitions of position, momentum, velocity, acceleration force, kinetic, potential, and total energy. It is shown how the Newton equation of motion is solved for the one-dimensional harmonic oscillator, which is a point mass oscillating around the position x = 0 driven by a force that is proportional to x (Hooke’s law). Next, the minimal action principle, the Lagrange equation of motion, and the classical Hamilton function (Hamiltonian) and conjugated variables are introduced. The chapter also discusses angular momentum and rotational motion.

Gender-Related Differences in Mechanics of the Sprint Start and Sprint Acceleration of Top National-Level Sprinters

(1) Background: Within the current study we aimed at exploring gender-related differences and the relationship between sprint start block kinematics and kinetics and sprint acceleration force–velocity (F-v) relationship parameters (maximal force [F0], maximal velocity [v0], maximal power [Pmax] and slope) in top national-level sprinters. (2) Methods: Twenty-eight sprinters (6 females) performed 10 maximal 30-m sprints. Start block and acceleration kinematics and kinetics were collected with an instrumented sprint start block and a laser distance sensor (KiSprint system). Displacement-time data were used to determine the F-v relationship through Samozino’s method. (3) Results: Start block rear foot maximal force (effect size [ES] = 1.08), rate of force development (ES = 0.90–1.33), F0 (ES = 1.38), v0 (ES = 1.83) and Pmax (ES = 1.95) were higher in males than in females (p ≤ 0.05). There were no differences in the slope, and ratio of horizontal-to-resultant force. F0, v0, and Pmax generally presented higher correlations with the start block kinetics (median r [range] = 0.49 [0.28, 0.78]) than with the kinematics (median r [range] = −0.27 [−0.52, 0.28]). (4) Conclusions: We confirmed that sprint block phase and sprint acceleration mechanics should be mutually assessed when analyzing sprinting performance. KiSprint system could provide more accurate information regarding mechanical pattern and technique during sprint initiation and acceleration, and potentially help create a more personalized and effective training program.

Linear electromagnetic accelerator

Over time, the weapons have been based on mechanical energy (bows, catapults) and chemical energy (guns, missiles), however, at the moment, more and more weapons are designed using electromagnetic energy (railgun, coilgun). The focus of this paper is to obtain the desired muzzle velocities of a projectile according to the existent current. In the first part of the paper, the railgun and coilgun design are presented along with their most important advantages. Based on these observations, a new design of an electromagnetic launch system is presented. Next, Maxwell interactive software package was used that applies the finite element method (FEM) to analyze and solve 3D electromagnetic field problems in order to analyze the variation of acceleration force, speed in time. All simulation data shows that this design has a great potential, because of the adaptability to different applications.