Hello Barbie: First They Will Monitor You, Then They Will Discriminate Against You. Perfectly.

This Article argues that the evolution of software—and the looming age of the “Internet of Things”—will allow manufacturers to make use of consumer monitoring technologies and restrictive software licenses to price discriminate more perfectly. First, the increasing communication between software and its producers gives more opportunities to monitor consumer behavior and characteristics. Second, attaching restrictive copyright licenses to software—and to goods containing software—enables producers to restrict use and resale of their products. By combining monitoring and restrictive licensing, producers will have increasingly better ability and opportunities to price discriminate among their consumers. This Article explains that increased monitoring and price discrimination will not always happen because, in some cases, it will be against the manufacturers’ financial interests. But in other cases, manufacturers will indeed restrict use of products to facilitate price discrimination. The Article argues that the low marginal cost of distribution of software makes it more likely that price discrimination of software-enabled goods will be welfare enhancing and will result in cross-subsidization from rich to poor so that poor consumers can get more products for lower prices. The Article also demonstrates that the traditional policy reasons to disallow restraints on personal property do not apply to software-enabled devices. We conclude that rather than discouraging the use of restrictive software licenses, the law should adapt to better facilitate such licenses and the more perfect price discrimination that goes with them

A Sustainable Music Industry for the 21st Century

This essay argues that the current system of music licensing must be completely overhauled. At this time, songwriters are paid a mere pittance when their work is played through Internet streaming services. The paper traces the evolution of compulsory licensing from the early 20th century, when Congress put this system in place due to concerns over the monopolization of the player piano industry, to today. This essay shows how the separation between copyrights for compositions as opposed to public performances contributed to blanket licensing through royalty-collecting organizations like ASCAP and BMI, which — together with government intervention into pricing based on antitrust concerns via consent decrees — has led to an inflexible and tightly controlled market in this context. Last, the essay demonstrates how the focus on classifying streaming services like Pandora based simply on whether they are interactive or not relies on a misunderstanding of the substitution effects and hence decline in music sales that Pandora creates. Eliminating compulsory licenses would allow individual songwriters to set their own prices and negotiate with streaming services, including in ways that would allow for price differentiation grounded in factors such as song popularity. Giving songwriters the same control that copyright owners outside the music context already possess will ensure songwriters\u27 ability to continue providing the public with the works it loves

Um elemento finito de barra tridimensional geometricamente exato incluindo empenamento

Neste trabalho desenvolve-se uma formulação geometricamente exata para barras esbeltas de eixo reto ou curvo, com movimento no espaço tridimensional. A designação “geometricamente exata” é utilizada em virtude de a teoria subjacente permanecer válida independentemente da magnitude dos deslocamentos envolvidos. Tendo em conta que se pretende modelar barras esbeltas, admite-se que a hipótese de Bernoulli é válida, pelo que a descrição cinemática de cada secção transversal é efetuada com apenas três parâmetros: (i) o vetor que referencia a posição do seu “centro”, (ii) o ângulo de torção e (iii) a amplitude da função de empenamento associada à torção. A rotação da secção é obtida a partir da tangente ao eixo e do ângulo de torção, o que resulta numa formulação significativamente complexa do ponto de vista algébrico. No entanto, obtêm-se todas as relações e equações relevantes. Desenvolve-se e implementa-se um elemento finito recorrendo à aproximação dos parâmetros cinemáticos. O elemento é intrinsecamente insensível à retenção de corte mas é afetado pela retenção de membrana, a qual é mitigada recorrendo a uma integração reduzida. Apresentam-se vários exemplos que ilustram as potencialidades do elemento finito no campo da modelação numérica de barras de eixo reto/curvo sujeitas a grandes deslocamentos

Rumo a uma modelação mais eficiente de estruturas de parede fina: combinando elementos finitos de barra com secção deformável e de casca

Nesta tese desenvolvem-se, implementam-se, validam-se e aplicam-se estratégias computacionalmente eficientes para modelar estruturas de parede fina, aliando as vantagens dos elementos finitos de barra com secção deformável — compreensão do comportamento mecânico, através da análise da decomposição da solução em “modos de deformação da secção transversal” com um claro significado estrutural — e elementos finitos de casca convencionais — versatilidade e reduzido esforço computacional em problemas não-lineares. Os modos de deformação da secção transversal são obtidos a partir da Teoria Generalizada de Vigas (ou GBT, da sua designação em língua inglesa, Generalised Beam Theory). Exploram-se duas abordagens: (i) combinação, num mesmo modelo, de elementos finitos de barra com secção deformável (utilizando os modos de deformação da GBT) e de casca (optou-se pelo elemento MITC-4) e (ii) recuperação da participação dos modos de deformação da GBT a partir do pósprocessamento de resultados de modelos de elementos finitos de casca. Em ambos os casos, consideram-se vários tipos de análises: geometricamente lineares (elásticas, elastoplásticas e dinâmicas) e geometricamente não-lineares (análises lineares de estabilidade, de vibração e elásticas/elastoplásticas com grandes deslocamentos e rotações finitas). Na primeira abordagem os elementos finitos de barra são utilizados nas zonas elásticas, prismáticas e requerendo a consideração de um número reduzido de modos de deformação, enquanto os elementos de casca são empregues nas restantes zonas. Mostra-se que esta abordagem conduz a uma eficiência computacional significativa (face a modelos com apenas elementos finitos de casca) em toda a gama de análises consideradas, mesmo que, em alguns casos, seja necessário efetuar um refinamento adaptativo da malha. A segunda abordagem é útil quando os elementos finitos de barra com secção deformável não podem ser utilizados ou a sua utilização não é vantajosa do ponto de vista do esforço computacional. É de assinalar que, em virtude de poder ser implementada com relativa facilidade em programas existentes de elementos finitos (nomeadamente programas comerciais), esta abordagem tem um grande potencial de aplicação em Projeto, possibilitando a reinterpretação, à luz da GBT, dos resultados obtidos.In this thesis, computationally efficient strategies to model thin-walled structures are developed, implemented, validated and applied, combining the advantages of beam finite elements that include cross-section deformation — understanding the mechanical behaviour, from the modal decomposition of the solution into “cross-section deformation modes”, which have a clear structural meaning — and conventional shell finite elements — versatility and reduced computational effort in non-linear problems. The cross-section deformation modes are obtained from the Generalised Beam Theory (GBT). Two approaches are explored: (i) the combination, in the same model, of beam finite elements including cross-section deformation (using the GBT deformation modes) and shell finite elements (the MITC-4 element was chosen) and (ii) the recovery of the GBT deformation mode participations through post-processing shell finite element model results. In both cases, several types of analyses are considered: geometrically linear (elastic, elastoplastic and dynamic) and geometrically non-linear (linear stability, vibration and elastic/elastoplastic with large displacements/finite rotations). In the first approach, the beam finite elements are used in the elastic and prismatic zones, as well as in zones requiring the consideration of a reduced number of deformation modes, while shell elements are employed in the remaining zones. It is shown that this approach leads to a significant computational efficiency (compared to models involving only shell finite elements) in the whole range of analyses considered, even if, in some cases, it is necessary to carry out an adaptive mesh refinement. The second approach is useful when beam finite elements including cross-section deformation cannot be used or its use is not advantageous in terms of computational effort. It should be noted that, since its implementation in existing finite element programs (namely in commercial programs) is relatively straightforward, this approach has a great potential of application in structural design, enabling the reinterpretation of the results obtained in the light of GBT

Linear and bifurcation analyses combining shell and GBT-based beam finite elements

This paper concerns a general and very efficient approach to model thin-walled members with complex geometries (including taper and/or connected through joints), which combines standard shell and GBT-based finite elements. This approach (i) allows a straightforward modelling of complex geometries and (ii) is very efficient from a computational point of view, as the shell model substructures can be condensed out of the global equilibrium equations. The capabilities of the proposed approach are demonstrated through several examples concerning the linear and bifurcation (linear stability) analyses of (i) members with tapered segments, (ii) members with holes and (iii) beam-column assemblies. The results obtained are compared with full shell finite element model solutions and an excellent match is obtained.The first author gratefully acknowledges the financial support of FCT (Fundac¸ ˜ao para a Ciˆencia e a Tecnologia, Portugal), through the doctoral scholarship SFRH/BD/130515/2017

On the Modeling of Thin-Walled Member Assemblies Combining Shell and GBT-Based Beam Finite Elements: the Linear and Bifurcation Case

In this paper, a general and efficient approach to model thin-walled members and frames with complex geometries (including tapered segments and holes). The approach combines shell and GBT-based (beam) finite elements, using each of them where it is most efficient: (i) shell elements in the plastic and geometrically complex zones, and (ii) GBT elements in the prismatic and elastic zones. To illustrate the capabilities and potential of the proposed approach, a set of numerical examples are presented, concerning linear, bifurcation (linear stability) and first-order plastic zone analyses. The examples analysed involve (i) members with tapered segments, (ii) members with holes and (iii) tapered beam-column assemblies. For validation and comparison purposes, full shell finite element solutions are provided and it is demonstrated that the proposed approach yields very accurate solutions in all cases, while involving much less DOFs

Planning for Sustainability in Small Municipalities: The Influence of Interest Groups, Growth Patterns, and Institutional Characteristics

How and why small municipalities promote sustainability through planning efforts is poorly understood. We analyzed ordinances in 451 Maine municipalities and tested theories of policy adoption using regression analysis.We found that smaller communities do adopt programs that contribute to sustainability relevant to their scale and context. In line with the political market theory, we found that municipalities with strong environmental interests, higher growth, and more formal governments were more likely to adopt these policies. Consideration of context and capacity in planning for sustainability will help planners better identify and benefit from collaboration, training, and outreach opportunities

Correction to: Eight years after an international workshop on myotonic dystrophy patient registries: Case study of a global collaboration for a rare disease (Orphanet Journal of Rare Diseases (2018) 13 (155) DOI: 10.1186/s13023-018-0889-0)

The original version of this article [1] unfortunately included an error to an author\u27s name. Author Jordi Díaz-Manera was erroneously presented as Jorge Alberto Diaz Manera. The correct author name has been included in the author list of this Correction article. For citation purposes the author\u27s given name is Jordi and family name Diaz-Manera. Therefore, the correct citation of the author\u27s details is: Diaz-Manera J

The importance of maternal insulin resistance throughout pregnancy on neonatal adiposity

Background: Although previous studies evaluated the association of maternal health parameters with neonatal adiposity, little is known regarding the complexity of the relationships among different maternal health parameters throughout pregnancy and its impact on neonatal adiposity. Objectives: To evaluate the direct and indirect associations between maternal insulin resistance during pregnancy, in women with obesity, and neonatal adiposity. In addition, associations between maternal fasting glucose, triglycerides (TG), non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA), and neonatal adiposity were also assessed. Methods: This is a longitudinal, secondary analysis of the DALI study, an international project conducted in nine European countries with pregnant women with obesity. Maternal insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), fasting glucose, TG, and NEFA were measured three times during pregnancy (<20, 24-28, and 35-37 weeks of gestation). Offspring neonatal adiposity was estimated by the sum of four skinfolds. Structural equation modelling was conducted to evaluate the direct and indirect relationships among the variables of interest. Results: Data on 657 mother-infant pairs (50.7% boys) were analysed. Neonatal boys exhibited lower m