Unreliable Physical Places and Memories as Posthuman Narration in Ishiguro’s Never Let Me Go

In this paper, I argue that Ishiguro’s Never Let Me Go is best understood through analysis of its unstable places and the narrator’s unstable memory.  Through these devices, Ishiguro constructs a panoptic state of surveillance, transforming an otherwise non-urban space into a pseudo-cityscape.  It is through the narrator’s interactions and memories of her interactions with these urbanized and controlled spaces that the reader can truly understand and engage with this posthuman narrative. Without fully understanding the ways in which rural places function as cityscapes for the clone characters of this novel, the reader is unable to meaningfully understand the experiences of the clones. This paper employs theories of Edward W. Soja in order to advance discussion of this novel beyond its application of the panoptic mechanism. It also looks closely at the ways the memories of the displaced are used to manipulate the concept of place and its function throughout the novel

Semi-partitioned scheduling and task migration in dataflow networks

  This thesis proposes design methodologies and techniques in the context of embedded computing systems. In particular, it focuses on embedded streaming systems, i.e., systems that process a continuous, possibly infinite stream of data from the environment. Typical examples of such systems are audio and video encoders and decoders. In order to achieve higher performance, nowadays embedded streaming systems are often implemented on execution platforms that contain multiple processors on a single chip. These execution platforms are called Multi-Processor Systems-on-Chip (MPSoCs). To exploit the parallelism available in MPSoCs, applications have to be decomposed in portions (also called tasks) that are inter-dependent, but can be executed in parallel. Each of these tasks is assigned to a certain processor of the system. This assignment of tasks to processors is called spatial scheduling of tasks, or task mapping. This thesis proposes techniques to optimize and adapt at run-time the mapping of tasks to processors, in order to achieve higher processor utilization, or energy efficiency, or to make the system fault tolerant.  Computer Systems, Imagery and Medi

On the bullwhip avoidance phase: the synchronized supply chain

The aim of this paper is to analyse the operational response of a Synchronised Supply Chain (SSC). To do so, first a new mathematical model of a SSC is presented. An exhaustive Latin Square design of experi- ments is adopted in order to perform a boundary variation analysis of the main three parameters of the periodic review smoothing (S,R) order-up-to policy: i.e., lead time, demand smoothing forecasting factor, and proportional controller of the replenishment rule. The model is then evaluated under a variety of performance measures based on internal process benefits and customer benefits. The main results of the analysis are: (I) SSC responds to violent changes in demand by resolving bullwhip effect and by creating stability in inventories under different parameter settings and (II) in a SSC, long production\u2013 distribution lead times could significantly affect customer service level. Both results have important consequences for the design and operation of supply chains

Energy Efficient Semi-Partitioned Scheduling for Embedded Multiprocessor Streaming Systems

Computer Systems, Imagery and Medi

The Neoplastic Side of the Abdominal Wall: A Comprehensive Pictorial Essay of Benign and Malignant Neoplasms

Abdominal wall neoplasms are usually benign and, in the majority of these cases, no further work-up or treatment is indicated. The percentage of malignant abdominal neoplasms, however, is not negligible. Radiologists play a pivotal role in identifying imaging features that should favor malignancy, including larger lesion size, edema, neurovascular involvement, and peripheral or inhomogeneous dynamic enhancement, thus indicating to the clinician the need for further work-up. Histopathology is the reference standard for the characterization of abdominal wall neoplasms. In patients undergoing surgery, radiological assessment is needed to guide the surgeon by providing a comprehensive anatomic guide of the tumor extension. We present a pictorial review of benign and malignant abdominal wall neoplasms that can be encountered on radiological examinations, with a main focus on CT and MRI features that help in narrowing the differential diagnosis