El texto completo de este trabajo no está disponible en el Repositorio Académico UPC por restricciones de la casa editorial donde ha sido publicado. / The washing of Panca chili seeds requires innovative solutions that allow controlling this process. It is necessary to handle variables (conductivity, pH, colorimetry) in the face of the challenge of working with small seeds. At present, there are no machines that are dedicated to the washing of this type of seeds, since in many companies this work is done manually, which is not the one indicated because this technique cannot guarantee homogeneity in the seed washing. In addition, direct handling of this type of seeds can cause irritation to the eyes and skin of the person who maintains contact with the seeds. That is why, it is proposed to make a machine to scale by means of a motorized rotary agitator inside a tank, in order to guarantee the homogeneity of the mixture when washing seeds. The present work will allow to determine, among two different types of agitators (axial and radial), which type of agitator is the most efficient in the washing of seeds of Panca chili, to achieve this objective the measurement of pH and electrical conductivity to the water will be carried after the mixture, after stirring. Finally, the analysis of the tests performed on the mixture obtained and washed by each type of agitator allowed to identify the turbine-type radial agitator, like the one that obtained greater efficiency in the washing of seeds, with respect to the helical agitator and pallets, designed for development of this work, in turn, could also confirm that this type of palette with the conductivity control allows to guarantee the homogeneity of the mixture during washing. © 2021, The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG. / Revisión por pares

Content: Providing peculiar enhanced features to leather items is a factor of primary importance for the marketing of high-end articles; although the tanning production is oriented to satisfy a wide market range, it is mainly in the 'high end' and 'premium luxury' categories that the quality properties of the material are more expressed, indeed, and where the main current challenges have been focalized, in terms of technological innovation, sustainability and product quality. The light-coloured leathers belongs to the category of materials designed especially for the luxury market. For this type of articles, the uniformity of the colour and the agreeableness of the overall surface appearance are crucial requirements for the most of international fashion and luxury brands. One of the most common and undesirable defects of this type of article is the alteration of the color, with particular reference to the effects of yellowing of the surface of the material. There are several causes able to contribute to this type of defects, due to the complexity of the matrix and to the variability of traditional or innovative production processes used: from the fragility, photosensitivity and thermo-sensitivity of the finishing polymers, to the chemical instability of some finishing pigments, further than the presence of photosensitive additives, the migration of skin components or assembly components of the articles (fats, fillers, plasticizers, glues, etc.), up to the indirect contribution of environmental and thermo-climatic factors able to affect negatively the performance of the material. SSIP, which has always been involved in research and consulting activities for the leather industry with regards to defect monitoring, through this work, would offer an overview of all the main tools for advanced diagnostics (with particular reference to Scanning Electronic Microscopy and to chromatographic and spectroscopic methods) aimed to the identification of the causes of yellowing, beside to explore innovative solutions for the development of strategies for the resolution and / or minimization of the problem of yellowing. The technical solutions will include innovative tanning processes, innovative finishing methods, and leather surface treatments carried out in order to provide a sensible attenuation of surface absorption of IR (infrared) and UV (ultraviolet)-visible radiation. Take-Away: Advanced Diagnostics and innovative solutions for leather yellowing

Background Traditional banks monopolized financial services, but the 2008 crisis spurred Fintech's emergence as an alternative. Fintech challenges banks with innovative solutions, while Sweden thrives as a Fintech hub. Profitability is vital due to the recent shift in focus from growth. Modern Fintech research is lacking, thus creating gaps in both knowledge and studies among the Swedish Fintech-sphere.  Purpose  The study analyzes leverage, return on equity, and bank size ratios in Swedish Fintech companies. It examines their impact on profit margin and aims to identify correlations. The results aim to enhance understanding and provide guidance for optimizing key figures to increase profitability among Swedish Fintech-companies.  Methodology The study utilized a quantitative approach with a deductive method and cross-sectional design. Data consisted of secondary data and was collected through the database Retriever Business. A total of 1198 observations were analyzed using correlation matrix, bivariate, and multivariate regression analyses.  Results  The quantitative analysis revealed that both debt to equity ratio and return on equity has a significant relationship, while bank size has only a partially significant relationship with profit margin.  Conclusion  Swedish Fintech-companies reveals a positive relationship between return on equity (ROE) and profitability. Furthermore, the leverage ratio also positively affects profitability. Moreover, Bank size shows a slight negative impact.