Blue Belt Research Articles

Coordination of movements: identification of age-related dynamics of its development in karate boys 7-11 years old

The purpose of the study is to identify the age-related dynamics of the manifestation of coordination among junior and pre-pubescent karate boys (7-11 years old) training in the karate section at the initial stage of preparation. Materials and methods. The study involved 65 children of younger and prepubertal age. They underwent testing of coordination abilities in order to determine the level of development and identify the features of their manifestation in accordance with age and skill level. The selected sample was divided into five ages 7, 8, 9, 10 11 years old, with 13 children in each group. The children and their parents were aware of all the features of the study and gave their consent to participate in the experiment. The technical level of the children corresponded to the students of the 10th, 9th, 8th grades of Kyu (orange, orange with a blue stripe and blue belt color). To solve the tasks, the following research methods were used: study and analysis of scientific and methodological literature, pedagogical observation, timing of educational tasks, testing of coordination abilities, pedagogical ascertaining experiment, methods of mathematical statistics. Results. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) showed a significant effect of the age factor on the level of indicators of coordination abilities for: differentiation of spatial-dynamic parameters of movements (F = 95.712; p = 0.000); reorganization of motor actions (F = 111.410; p = 0.000); differentiation of spatial-temporal parameters (F = 50.863; p = 0.000); coordination of hand movements (F = 96.764; p = 0.000); maintaining postural stability (F = 38.274; p = 0.000); maintaining vestibular stability (F = 61.291; p = 0.000). Conclusions. Based on the results of studies indicators of various manifestations of coordination, statistically significant age differences are observed between groups of boys aged 7 to 10 years (p < 0.05). At 10-11 years old, there are no significant statistically significant differences in all indicators (p > 0.05), except for dynamic balance (p < 0.05).

Adaptive, flexible and community-led: Management support for the largest fully protected marine area in the Atlantic

In 2020, the 250-person community of Tristan da Cunha announced the establishment of the fourth largest fully-protected MPA in the world: the Tristan da Cunha Marine Protection Zone (MPZ). The MPZ protects 91 % of the 750,000 km2 EEZ in the South Atlantic, which is home to numerous endemic and endangered species reliant on the healthy marine environment. After legal gazettement in 2021, the next challenge is to build strong foundations for the MPZ that will support it in perpetuity. The Tristan da Cunha community and its partners are rising to this challenge by developing and implementing a programme of work focused on three core areas for MPZ success: effective management, research and monitoring, and community stewardship. Alongside assistance in MPZ management from the UK Government Blue Belt Programme and the establishment of a conservation endowment fund, the RSPB, Blue Nature Alliance, and Tristan da Cunha Government are providing dedicated support for the community for the first years of the MPZ. The partnership is supporting the establishment of monitoring programmes and citizen science initiatives, providing mentorship opportunities, facilitating global knowledge exchanges, strengthening the community’s cultural connection to its marine environment and enhancing the global identity of the Tristan da Cunha community as ‘Atlantic Guardians’. Providing support for the MPZ that is adaptive, flexible and community led, beyond the moment of designation is essential for the longevity of the Tristan da Cunha Marine Protection Zone.

Stowarzyszenie Stanisławitów (1928-1955)

Diocesan Association of the Worshippers of the Virgin Mary, Queen of Peace, Helper of Spirits in Purgatory, under the Protection of this Mother of God and St. Stanislaus, Bishop and Martyr or "Stanisławie? was founded in 1928 in the Siedlce diocese. The first members of the association reverted to a monastic order called ‘Marianie’, annulled by Russian annexing authorities. They engaged in pastoral and charitable activity; they had their own farm. They popularised the worship of St. Stanislaus of Szczepanów and other Polish saints. In their lifestyle ‘Stanisławici’ resembled monks; they wore white frocks (cassocks) tied with a blue belt, assembled a few times a day to recite their breviary, meditate and for a service. They lived together and called their house a monastery. About 60 members of the association came to stay at some time oranother in the house at Janów Podlaski within 27 years of their activity. Despite considerable efforts and expenditures, new vocations and internal reforms, the Association did not manage to expand their activity and transplant the idea of a rebirth of the former Marian order. Finally, due to a decision of the Church authorities, the Association was dissolved in 1955.

Changes in Technical Attempts According to Round Progression in No-Gi Jiu-Jitsu Sparring Assuming a Tournament

The purpose of this study was to conduct 3 rounds of 5-minute high-intensity sparring assuming an actual game to find out the degree of use and the number of attempts of the five techniques used in tournament No-Gi Jiu-Jitsu competition. The subjects of the study were 8 male high school students (17.0±1.6 years) at the blue belt level who had more than 2 years of Jiu-Jitsu training experience and participated in competitions, and were randomly assigned to participate in the experiment. The research method is divided into 5 categories: Takedown(TA), Guard pass(GA), Sweep(SW), Mount(MO) and Submission(SU) according to the rule book of the International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation. The subjects were classified, and video was taken to identify the number of attempts of the five techniques used during three rounds of 5 minutes. If the intention of surrender (tap-out) came out during the round, both fighters were trained in advance to return to the original (standing) position and continue sparring until the end of the remaining time. After the experiment was finished, the number of attempts for each technique was manually measured through the video footage taken, and recorded by a measurer qualified to judge a jiu-jitsu competition to increase reliability. Based on the measured data, descriptive statistics (frequency analysis) were used, and the techniques used between each round and the number of attempts were examined. The techniques used and the number of attempts during the three 5-minute rounds are as follows. However, since the type of technique used between rounds, the irregularity of trials, and the number of trials are different, it is judged that comparing the significant difference between rounds by the number of times can cause statistical errors. Therefore, it is judged appropriate to present the contribution (%) by converting the use of techniques and the number of attempts according to the progress of the round into a percentage(%). The technique types and contributions(%) used between each round are as follows.
 First, In the contribution of technique type(%), guard pass showed the highest contribution(30%) in the 3 rounds total, and submission showed the second-highest contribution. Takedown was the third with 22%, Mount was the fourth with 15%, and Sweep was the lowest with 9%. Also, takedown in the 1st round, guard pass in the 2nd round, and contribution(%) in the submission technique in the 3rd round were the highest, and the change contribution(%) from the standing to the ground technique type was confirmed as the round progressed. Second, in the No-gi method, the takedown attempt of the stand technique type was dominant in the initial round. However, the attempts of ground technique type guard pass, submission, mount, and sweep gradually increased from 2nd to 3rd round. It would be unreasonable to infer the results of this study as the type and contribution of techniques used in the official No-gi Jiu-Jitsu tournament. However, based on the results of this study, it is judged that predicting the type and importance of techniques used in official tournament matches can be helpful in improving performance.

Editorial: Working Towards a Blue Future: Promoting Sustainability, Environmental Protection and Marine Management: Examples from the UK Government Blue Belt Programme and Current International Initiatives

Editorial: Working Towards a Blue Future: Promoting Sustainability, Environmental Protection and Marine Management: Examples from the UK Government Blue Belt Programme and Current International Initiatives

Integrated Marine Management in the United Kingdom Overseas Territories

Like many small island communities, the United Kingdom Overseas Territories (UKOTs) are directly dependent on their marine resources for a range of ecosystem services, such as income generation, subsistence, leisure, recreation and wellbeing. Healthy marine ecosystems also play a broader role in climate regulation, coastal resilience and habitat provision. With Blue Belt Programme assistance, the UKOTs are developing enhanced protection and sustainable management strategies for their marine environments, using an Integrated Marine Management (IMM) approach. This coordinates cross-sectoral planning and management to carefully balance marine conservation and sustainable use of resources in order to minimize socio-cultural and economic impacts to the local community. We describe the IMM approach taken in two UKOT case studies. In Ascension Island, a conservation planning and resource management process was initiated with an objective to protect at least 50% of Ascension’s waters from commercial fishing, resulting in the designation of one of the largest Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in the Southern Atlantic. In St Helena, a new licensing framework for marine developments was developed within an existing sustainable use MPA. From these two approaches, we highlight aspects of the process, lessons learned and recommendations that may be useful for other small islands planning to implement IMM, particularly regarding the importance of effective stakeholder engagement, coordination across different governance scales, and long-term financial resources.

The Case of the Basque Country Capital City´s Green Belt: An Effective Resilient Border

In this article, we analyze not only the evolution but the different effects Vitoria-Gasteiz´s green belt has showed on retaining urban sprawl and the simultaneous natural native environment enhancement. Assets that granted the city the European Green Capital award in 2012, and still render important environmental benefits. Applying the beneficial effects of green borders as a soft transition between the urban and the rural realm, amid the never properly solved problem of the city limits. It means a remarkable case study to learn from, that deals with the way of giving form to the already built city limits. Starting from the very first steps with a set of small peripheral parks that meant the beginning of a whole green infrastructure strategy, this text is a succinct critical view that depicts the origins, processes and challenges of this case study. It mainly focus its scope on the North and East part of the belt (some of the earliest and biggest), where water is the main character based on the recovery of existing wetlands, giving form to a kind of green and blue belt, performing multiple functions according to the quoted key concepts. And in the end, being a repeatable example of a resilient border for medium size cities.

Macrobenthic Assessment of the South Sandwich Islands Reveals a Biogeographically Distinct Polar Archipelago

The sub-Antarctic South Sandwich Islands forms part of one of the largest marine protected areas (MPAs) in the world. Whilst the neighbouring island of South Georgia is known to be a biodiversity hotspot, very little was known about the benthic biodiversity or biogeography of the South Sandwich Islands. Here we present findings from the first biophysical assessment of this polar archipelago. Using open-access datasets, alongside results from a recent UK Government-funder Blue Belt expedition to the region, we assess how the island’s biodiversity is structured spatially and taxonomically and how this is driven by environmental factors. The South Sandwich Islands are shown to be both biologically rich, and biogeographically distinct from their neighbouring provinces. A gradient forest approach was used to map the archipelago’s benthic habitats which, based on the functional composition of benthic fauna and environmental characterisation of the benthic environment, demonstrated a distinct biogeographical north-south divide. This faunal and environmental discontinuity between the South Sandwich Islands and the rest of the MPA and between the different islands of the archipelago itself, highlights the importance of the zoned protection across the South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands Marine Protected Area.

Pulling Back the Blue Curtain: A Pelagic Monitoring Program for the Blue Belt

Ocean health is fundamental to human prosperity. However, fisheries exploitation, industrialization and climate change imperil our oceans. Marine protected areas (MPAs) have been established in coastal habitats since the 1970s and the ongoing monitoring of these MPAs has shown their general ecological and economic value. Demonstrable benefits can include biodiversity conservation, fisheries enhancement and climate resilience. Since the 2000s, large scale MPAs (LSMPAs) are increasingly established, with new parks including extensive areas of pelagic habitat. Seminal was the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT) MPA created in 2010. In 2016, the United Kingdom Government established the Blue Belt Programme to provide long-term protection of the marine environment across the United Kingdom Overseas Territories and LSMPAs have now been established or designated in a number of these territories. However, empirical data for the Blue Belt LSMPAs are needed to test their effectiveness in conserving pelagic species and to allow managers to monitor and assess the LSMPAs based on the best available evidence. This Perspective presents current advances in video-based monitoring of pelagic wildlife and provides examples of key ecological insights gained from their use that are relevant to LSMPA planning and management. We present a case study from the BIOT MPA and finally generalize with respect to key learning’s that will support planning and monitoring of LSMPAs within the Blue Belt Programme.

Distribution of Vulnerable Marine Ecosystems at the South Sandwich Islands: Results From the Blue Belt Discovery Expedition 99 Deep-Water Camera Surveys

The South Sandwich Islands (SSI) are a chain of volcanic islands located to the east of the Scotia Sea, approximately 700 km south-east of South Georgia. To date, knowledge of the SSI benthic environment remains limited. In this context, the Blue Belt Programme conducted a scientific survey in the SSI Marine Protected Area (MPA) during February/March 2019 to examine the biodiversity and distribution of benthic communities and their potential vulnerability to licensed longline research fisheries. Here we report results from analysis of multibeam echosounder (MBES) data and drop camera imagery data collected in selected locations around the SSI. A total of eight vulnerable marine ecosystem (VME) indicator morphotaxa were mapped along the slopes of the SSI, showing a substantial variation in taxon composition and frequency of occurrence, both along bathymetric and latitudinal gradients. Our results suggest that VME indicator taxa are mostly restricted to waters shallower than 700 m. As such, based on our present understanding of the region’s benthic environment the MPA, as currently established, offers effective protection for the majority of the VME indicator taxa.

Synthetic and Semi-Synthetic Microplastic Ingestion by Mesopelagic Fishes From Tristan da Cunha and St Helena, South Atlantic

Mesopelagic fishes were sampled around Tristan da Cunha and St Helena in the South Atlantic from the RRS Discovery at depths down to 1000 m. Sampling was part of the Blue Belt Programme, a marine survey of British Overseas Territories funded by the United Kingdom Government. Thirteen species of mesopelagic fishes identified from 30 specimens were compared with two species (two specimens) collected from rock pools or surface water near the shore. The digestive tracts of all fishes were examined for microplastics. Additionally, one specimen of Opostomias micripnus (Günther, 1878) was analyzed after recovery from the stomach of a commercially fished species, Hyperoglyphe antarctica (Carmichael, 1819). One specimen of Anoplogaster cornuta was found to have ingested a bearded sea devil (Linophryne sp.), a cock-eyed squid (Histioteuthis sp.), a bolitaenid octopus, Japetella diaphana, remains of unidentifiable fish, crustaceans, and possibly salps. These prey items were also examined for microfibres. Both Histioteuthis sp. and Linophryne sp. had ingested fibers and these were considered “ingested particles” for A. cornuta. Neither shallow water dwelling species had ingested microplastics, whilst 11 of the 13 studied mesopelagic species were found to be contaminated. Overall, 66.7% of mesopelagic fishes were found to contain microfibres. Anthropogenic fibers were common especially viscose, a semi-synthetic material which is associated with sanitary products as well as other items.

Life History and Ecology of Bluenose Warehou (Hyperoglyphe antarctica, Centrolophidae) in the Southern Atlantic

Bluenose warehou (Hyperoglyphe antarctica) is a popular commercial fish in Australia and New Zealand, but its biology and ecology are very poorly known in other regions where it is found. We present here the first life history data for this species from the south Atlantic, focusing upon the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of the United Kingdom Overseas Territory (UKOT) of Tristan da Cunha (TdC). Here, bluenose is known from several seamounts and island margins, typically occurring in waters between 200 and 1,000 m depth and is the target species of trawl and longline fishery operating since 1997. We use a suite of methods to describe important life history parameters, including length-weight and age-length relationships and size at recruitment, as well as examining commercial longline survey data to uncover habitat preferences of bluenose. This work has formed an important part of the United Kingdom government’s Blue Belt Program in TdC. It has underpinned the development of the first stock assessment for this species in the Atlantic, as well as a range of improved conservation measures for some of the more vulnerable species that occur in these areas, including seabirds and cold-water corals.

Degrowth and the Blue Belt: Rethinking marine conservation in the British Overseas Territories

The UK Government has developed a ‘Blue Belt’, a network of large Marine Protected Areas involving seven British Overseas Territories. The Blue Belt is now one of the world's largest enclosures of space for conservation, enclosing four million km2 of ocean in some of the most remote spaces on earth. To be economically feasible, the UK's bold conservation targets are integrated with wider tourism, fishing, and economic growth-motivated governance agendas. This commentary argues for a degrowth alternative to the Blue Belt's development. The goal of degrowth is not to prevent increases in Gross Domestic Product, nor is degrowth the equivalent to recession in a growth economy. Sustainable degrowth provides a conservation framework for ensuring a just transition from neoliberal forms of governance that places local well-being and welfare needs above the interests of state actors, private investors, and holiday makers. In the current context of the Blue Belt, the commentary considers three nascent degrowth concepts for improving things: 1) blue degrowth, 2) degrowth tourism, and 3) degrowth environmental governance. The paper argues that instead of separating the UK from other spaces where biodiversity targets are realised, these targets should be used as opportunities to reconcile the UK's colonial relationships with the territories, to build local capacity, and resilience.

A systematic review of robotic-assisted unicompartmental knee arthroplasty: prosthesis design and type should be reported.

Robotic-assisted unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA) promises accurate implant placement with the potential of improved survival and functional outcomes. The aim of this study was to present the current evidence for robotic-assisted UKA and describe the outcome in terms of implant positioning, range of movement (ROM), function and survival, and the types of robot and implants that are currently used. A search of PubMed and Medline was performed in October 2018 in line with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis statement. Search terms included "robotic", "knee", and "surgery". The criteria for inclusion was any study describing the use of robotic UKA and reporting implant positioning, ROM, function, and survival for clinical, cadaveric, or dry bone studies. A total of 528 articles were initially identified from the databases and reference lists. Following full text screening, 38 studies that satisfied the inclusion criteria were included. In all, 20 studies reported on implant positioning, 18 on functional outcomes, 16 on survivorship, and six on ROM. The Mako (Stryker, Mahwah, New Jersey) robot was used in 32 studies (84%), the BlueBelt Navio (Blue Belt Technologies, Plymouth, Minnesota) in three (8%), the Sculptor RGA (Stanmore Implants, Borehamwood United Kingdom) in two (5%), and the Acrobot (The Acrobot Co. Ltd., London, United Kingdom) in one study (3%). The most commonly used implant was the Restoris MCK (Stryker). Nine studies (24%) did not report the implant that was used. The pooled survivorship at six years follow-up was 96%. However, when assessing survival according to implant design, survivorship of an inlay (all-polyethylene) tibial implant was 89%, whereas that of an onlay (metal-backed) implant was 97% at six years (odds ratio 3.66, 95% confidence interval 20.7 to 6.46, p < 0.001). There is little description of the choice of implant when reporting robotic-assisted UKA, which is essential when assessing survivorship, in the literature. Implant positioning with robotic-assisted UKA is more accurate and more reproducible than that performed manually and may offer better functional outcomes, but whether this translates into improved implant survival in the mid- to longer-term remains to be seen. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2019;101-B:838-847.

Commonwealth SIDS and UK Overseas Territories sustainable fisheries programmes: An overview of projects and benefits of official development assistance funding

In recent years, Official Development Assistance (ODA) funding has decreased for sustainable fisheries projects worldwide. However, the UK Government has committed to ringfencing 0.7% GDP to international development assistance to support a large range of programmes worldwide including, where appropriate, sustainable fisheries and aquaculture capacity building in Overseas Territories and the Commonwealth. This is with the aim of reducing poverty, increasing resilience in the fisheries sector to climate change impacts and increasing food security.The primary objective of this paper is to demonstrate the significant support by UK Government to the Commonwealth Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and UK Overseas Territories (OT) and the impacts of such interventions. This support is illustrated through an introduction to the Commonwealth Marine Economies programme and the Blue Belt programme.In this paper the emerging trends for ODA support are set out, then the importance of fisheries to a selection of ODA-eligible states is highlighted. Finally, illustrative examples of projects from two key UK Government programmes in Commonwealth states and UK Overseas Territories that demonstrate a wide range of potential capacity building support activities and derived benefits to the states are summarised. We explain how activities to sustainably develop the fisheries sector in Commonwealth Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and UK Overseas Territories (OT) enhance biodiversity protection and create opportunities to support ‘Blue Growth’ (the long-term strategy to support sustainable growth in the marine sectors).

The acute effect of different frequencies of whole-body vibration on range of motion and jump performance in preadolescent karate athletes

Whole-body vibration (WBV) treatments have acute effects on strength, power, and range of motion (ROM) by affecting the nerve-muscle function. However, there is little evidence about what could be the optimal practice for acute WBV. The purpose of this study is to reveal the acute effects of vibrations applied at different frequencies to preadolescent karate athletes on jump and ROM performance. Forty-six competing preadolescent karate athletes, who trained regularly ( 12.7 ± 1.7 years, 155.2 ± 3.1 cm, 50.9 ± 4.7 kg) and were blue belt and above , were included in the study. Each athlete followed a vibration protocol with four different frequencies (0, 25, 30, and 35 Hz) in random order on nonconsecutive days. After a 5 min light-paced warm-up jog before each protocol, three repetitions of 20 sec (20 sec rest between repetitions) vibration treatments were applied. Jump and ROM tests were carried out after each vibration treatment. Vibration protocols were compared in repeated measurements using the ANOVA and post-hoc methods. Based on the test results, a vibration frequency range of 30 to 35 Hz positively affected the countermovement jump, while the 30 Hz frequency range positively affected squat jumps. Furthermore, frequency ranges of 25, 30, and 35 Hz positively affected the ROM. This effect was most intensely revealed in the 35 Hz frequency range. Applying vibrations between the ranges of 30-35 Hz on preadolescent karate practitioners is believed to acutely improve both jump and ROM performance.

통신사 樂人의 服飾연구

The Joseon dynasty established Confucianism, a systemized form of the Ye-Ak ideology of Confucius, as the basic ideology of the country. In diplomatic encounters with neighboring countries, the ideology of the dynasty was signified through Ye(禮), which was then expressed through Ak(樂).<BR> The musicians(Ak-in) who accompanied the Korean envoys to Japan during the Joseon dynasty were Yang-in or Cheon-in, like the musicians at Jang-ak-won, meaning that they were of low social status. The Ch’wisu were dressed in black straw hat with peacock feather, red robe, blue belt, and black shoes, while the Ta-su were dressed in red felt hat with sang-mo, resembling a military uniform of the time, red robes, pale blue jeon-bok on blue dongdari, a belt, and black shoes.

1829년 자경전 진찬에 참여한 차비(差備)의 역할과 복식 유형

The following shows the results of comparing and analyzing the “Jagyeongjeon jinchan-do” found in 1829 Gichukjinchan-dobyeong and “Jinchan-uigwe, including the findings of the position and role of Chabi who attended to the royal banquet and its styllistic structure. First, Mostly Yeogwans were responsible for serving King Sunjo, the wife of crown prince and Naebins(honored women guests) who had seat within Jagyeongjeon. Both Yeogwans and Yeoryeongs were responsible for serving the crown prince as he had seat in the garden. Yeoryeongs were responsible for serving Oebins(honored men guests) who had seat outside of the Jagyeongjeon. Second, there were many kinds of Chabi, but a Chabi would often take on multiple roles. As such, the actual number of Chabi who took part was low. King Sunjo had the most numerous Chabi, and Naebins had the second most numerous Chabi. Third, Chabi wearing black Wonsam were all Yeogwan who would either oversee the banquet within Jagyeongjeon or stone steps, or directly attend to the king. They would decorate a artificial Samjihwa in their Eoyeomeori, put a blue belt with black Wonsam, and wear red Onhye. They would wear two different skirts: blue skirt inside and a long blue unlined skirt on the outside. Fourth, Chabi wearing green Wonsam were all Yeogwan serving the king, crown prince, the wife of crown prince and Naebin within the court, stone steps and bamboo blinds. They would decorate a artificial Samjihwa in their Eoyeomeori, put a blue belt with green Wonsam, and wear red Onhye. They would wear a blue skirt inside and a long red unlined skirt on the outside. Fifth, the Chabi wearing green Dangui were Yeoryeong, categorized into three kinds by their outer skirt. The Yeoryeong holding ceremonial weaponry outside of the Jagyeongjeon would wear Garima, a artificial red peach blossom, green Dangui, blue skirt, Heukhye, and white sleeve attachments. The Yeoryeong placed in the garden of Jagyeongjeon would wear Garima, a artificial peony blossom, green Dangui, blue skirt, short red skirt, Heukhye and white sleeve attachments. The Jibsa and Holgi Yeoryeong would wear Garima, a artificial peony blossom, green Dangui, blue skirt, short red skirt, Heukhye, and white sleeve attachments. Sixth, Hyang-kkoji Chabi would wear green shirt with short and narrow sleeves and short red skirt and put on a belt. They would also decorate with hair ribbons, Binyeo and flowers on their hair.

Dominion Travel and Corporate Services: Air Ticket Procurement Practices

This case is designed to be used in service operations and process improvement courses. Wasted costs associated with nonrefundable ticket exchanges is the next continuous improvement target at Dominion Resources. The director of the travel and corporate services unit asks her staff to recommend data requirements and analyses to consider for a follow-up project focused on the cost-effectiveness of the advance booking of air travel. Students' preparation and discussions will address the design of the measurement and analysis phases of DMAIC. Excerpt UVA-OM-1417 August 20, 2010 Dominion Resources, Inc., Travel and Corporate Services: Air Ticket Procurement Practices Donna Kelliher, director of Travel and Corporate Services (TC five had reached advanced Blue Belt certification, and her team had worked on 14 projects. Six Sigma had become a way of life for Dominion's business units, and now the wasted costs associated with nonrefundable ticket exchange activity was another continuous improvement target. This latest project had arisen from Kelliher's skepticism about the cost-effectiveness of the advance booking of air travel, considering the preference of corporate travelers for nonrefundable, highly restricted fares. She questioned whether this practice always saved money for Dominion travelers. The cost of Dominion's annual airline ticket expenditure exceeded $ 6 million. Since extensive data covering all ticket life-cycle details were readily available, Kelliher thought Six Sigma methodology was the best way to test her hypothesis that nonrefundable airfares with their associated ticket-exchange expenses could be costing Dominion more than refundable fares for the same tickets. Her unit's initial analysis had found that 20% of ticket exchanges occurred multiple times, and 40% of exchanges involved tickets exchanged after the advance purchase guideline of 7 to 14 days. . . .

Strategi Pertahanan Semesta: Memahami Green and Blue Belt Security dalam Konsep Ekonomi Konstitusi di Kawasan Perbatasan

The concept of green and blue belt security in the framework of the concept of constitutional economy is derived from solving the root of the nation's problems with transdisciplinary methods. That is, this concept is understood as an integral part of the awareness efforts for the state organizers to consistently adhere to the ideological base of Pancasila in the nation and state. On that understanding, the understanding of the framework of the concept of constitutional economy must be put forward than the concept of green and blue belt security itself. Concretely, it must follow a comprehensive flow of understanding in accordance with the structure of the problem. The earliest is the understanding of root-breaking problems related to consistency with the ideological base of Pancasila (this has already been discussed); The next understanding of the "problem stem" is "state / government policy" which can be interpreted as the basis of work with the term "constitutional economy". While the understanding associated with kosep green and blue belt security is an understanding of "state defense strategy" in the border region.