Demand-Driven Scheduling of Movies in a Multiplex

This paper describes a model that generates weekly movie schedules in a multiplex movie theater. A movie schedule specifies within each day of the week, on which screen(s) different movies will be played, and at which time(s). The model consists of two parts: (i) conditional forecasts of the number of visitors per show for any possible starting time; and (ii) an optimization procedure that quickly finds an almost optimal schedule (which can be demonstrated to be close to the optimal schedule). To generate this schedule we formulate the so-called movie scheduling problem as a generalized set partitioning problem. The latter is solved with an algorithm based on column generation techniques. We have applied this combined demand forecasting /schedule optimization procedure to a multiplex in Amsterdam where we supported the scheduling of fourteen movie weeks. The proposed model not 2 only makes movie scheduling easier and less time consuming, but also generates schedules that would attract more visitors than the current ‘intuition-based’ schedules.Integer programming;Column generation;Demand forecasting;Optimization of movie schedules

Demand-driven scheduling of movies in a multiplex

This paper describes a model that generates weekly movie schedules in a multiplex movie theater. A movie schedule specifies within each day of the week, on which screen(s) different movies will be played, and at which time(s). The model consists of two parts: (i) conditional forecasts of the number of visitors per show for any possible starting time; and (ii) an optimization procedure that quickly finds an almost optimal schedule (which can be demonstrated to be close to the optimal schedule). To generate this schedule we formulate the so-called movie scheduling problem as a generalized set partitioning problem. The latter is solved with an algorithm based on column generation techniques. We have applied this combined demand forecasting /schedule optimization procedure to a multiplex in Amsterdam where we supported the scheduling of fourteen movie weeks. The proposed model not only makes movie scheduling easier and less time consuming, but also generates schedules that would attract more visitors than the current ‘intuition-based’ schedules.column generation;integer programming;demand forecasting;optimization of movie schedules

Effect of organic farming practices on soil and performance of soybean (Glycine max) under semi-arid tropical conditions in Central India

A field experiment was conducted to evaluate the influence of organic farming practices on soil health and crop performance of Soybean (Glycine max).The crop cultivar JS-335 of soybean was grown with 30:26.2:16.6 kg ha-1 (NPK) recommended dose of fertilizers under three management practices viz., organic, chemical and integrated (50:50) in randomized block design, replicated three times. Soil organic carbon, available N, P and K, microbial enzymatic activities, total biomass, seed yield and harvest index (HI) were analysed during the study. It was observed that soil organic carbon (11.3 g kg-1), available N (125 mg kg-1), P (49.7 mg kg-1) and soil enzyme activities viz., dehydrogenase (DHA) (98.20 µ grams TPF/g soil/24 h) and alkaline phosphatase (178.2 µ grams p-nitro phenol/g soil/h) were found significantly higher in the plot managed organically while available K (320.1 mg kg-1) was not significant with respect to chemical and integrated practices. The total biomass (1927 kg ha-1) and seed yield (601 kg ha-1) of soybean was found highest in organic farming practices followed by integrated and chemical practices. Very poor microbial activities were observed in chemically managed plots. Thus, the study demonstrated that the organic farming practice improved soil health and performance of soybean crop

Geotechnical Investigations for Foundation Design for Multi-storeyed Building

Oil and Natural Gas Commission of India plans to construct a multi-storeyed building in Dehradun city at the foothills of Himalayas. The geotechnical investigations were carried out at site to determine soil parameters for foundation design. It was found that it was not possible to provide a raft foundation for the building and hence alternatively the pile foundation was suggested. The pile load capacity was predicted on the basis of soil parameters determined and a comparison was then made with the results obtained by carrying out load tests on constructed piles

Globally Distributed R&D Work in a Marketing Management Support Systems (MMSS) Environment

Globalisation, liberalization and rapid technological developments have been changing business environments drastically in the recent decades. These trends are increasingly exposing businesses to market competition and thus intensifying competition. In such an environment, the role of marketing management support systems (MMSS) becomes exceedingly important for the long-term growth of an organisations marketing expertise and success. In this paper, we discuss the evolution of a globally distributed R&D project spanning three continents in developing an MMSS for the motion picture industry. We first provide the conceptual background of the MMSS and knowledge management systems relevant for our work. We then provide a detailed case study of our MMSS implementation. We specifically focus on the following elements of our work: globally distributed R&D efforts, knowledge elements, and fit between demand and supply sides of MMSS. We conclude with a discussion of implications for future research in this area

Men’s oppressive beliefs predict their breast size preferences in women

Previous studies of men’s breast size preferences have yielded equivocal findings, with studies variously indicating a preference for small, medium, or large breasts. Here, we examined the impact of men’s oppressive beliefs in shaping their female breast size ideals. British White men from the community in London, England (N = 361) viewed figures of women that rotated in 360° and varied in breast size along five levels. They then rated the figure that they found most physically attractive and also completed measures assessing their sexist attitudes and tendency to objectify women. Results showed that medium breasts were rated most frequent as attractive (32.7 %), followed by large (24.4 %) and very large (19.1 %) breasts. Further analyses showed that men’s preferences for larger female breasts were significantly associated with a greater tendency to be benevolently sexist, to objectify women, and to be hostile towards women. These results were discussed in relation to feminist theories, which postulate that beauty ideals and practices in contemporary societies serve to maintain the domination of one sex over the other

Resource security impacts men’s female breast size preferences

It has been suggested human female breast size may act as signal of fat reserves, which in turn indicates access to resources. Based on this perspective, two studies were conducted to test the hypothesis that men experiencing relative resource insecurity should perceive larger breast size as more physically attractive than men experiencing resource security. In Study 1, 266 men from three sites in Malaysia varying in relative socioeconomic status (high to low) rated a series of animated figures varying in breast size for physical attractiveness. Results showed that men from the low socioeconomic context rated larger breasts as more attractive than did men from the medium socioeconomic context, who in turn perceived larger breasts as attractive than men from a high socioeconomic context. Study 2 compared the breast size judgements of 66 hungry versus 58 satiated men within the same environmental context in Britain. Results showed that hungry men rated larger breasts as significantly more attractive than satiated men. Taken together, these studies provide evidence that resource security impacts upon men’s attractiveness ratings based on women’s breast size

Bioactivity of Locally Available Plants on Cotton Whitefly, Bemisia tabaci and the fungus isolated from cotton

Aqueous, diethyl ether, chloroform, petroleum ether, N-hexane and benzene extracts of locally available plant species were tested for phytochemical and insecticidal bioactivity against cotton whitefly, Bemisia tabaci, under controlled conditions. This study is within bioprospection context, for utilizing local plant species as alternative in sustainable agriculture development. The leaf and stem extract was used. The whole plant extract of T.procumbens followed by N.oleander and V.rosea showed repellent and toxic effect against adult and second nymphal instars. Leaf extract of all three plants showed high inhibition activity against nymphal instars. In case of flower extract less inhibition activity was shown respectively. Fungi which grow on the cotton plant was screened, characterized and checked for antifungal activity against the extracts of the plant material. Phytochemical analysis was also carried out by standard protocols

The spin dependence of an weak interaction in the decay of hypernuclei

From an analysis of 468 hypernuclei (HFs) with ranges > 120 μ m, the non-mesic to π--mesic ratio (Q-) for ΛHe and ΛHe5 HFs was found to be 1.37 ± 0.17 and 1.58± 0.20 respectively. This data, together with results on ΛHe4 and heavy hypernuclei, has been used to deduce spin dependences for Λn and ΛP weak interactions in decay of hypernuclei. It is found that the rates for triplet and singlet interactions between Λ and neutron are 22 ΓΛ and 11 ΓΛ and for Λ and proton are 8.2 ΓΛ and 5.5 ΓΛ respectively, where ΓΛ is the decay rate of Λ. The total decay rates for ΛHe4 and ΛHe5 are 1.28 ΓΛ and 0.99 ΓΛ and the non-mesic decay rates are 0.17 ΓΛ and 0.51 ΓΛ respectively

Evaluation of nutrient management for better growth, yield and economics of fenugreek

A field experiment was conducted to study the effect of nutrient management combinations in fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum). Growth as well as seed and straw yields of fenugreek were significantly influenced by different treatments. Application of recommended dose through inorganic form (50%) + neem cake @ 638 kg ha-1 + Rhizobium melilotii + phosphate solubilising bacteria (PSB) recorded the highest plant height of 34.98 cm, leaves of 82.35 and branches of 5.5 at the final harvest stage. This treatment also recorded significantly highest straw yields. The maximum seed yield, net returns and benefit cost ratio were obtained in the combination of 50% recommended dose of fertilizer (RDF) + poultry manure (PM) @1000 kg ha-1 + Rhizobium melilotii + phosphate solubilising bacteria (PSB). &nbsp