This article examines Myanmar's hedging strategies in China's Myanmar Economic Corridor (CMEC), a key component of China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Myanmar has avoided being overly reliant on China by strategically hedging and diversifying its foreign relations with other countries in the region. However, Myanmar's ability to hedge is compromised by its domestic fragmentation, caused by the protracted civil war and rising civil–military tensions. We focus on the two advanced projects in CMEC, the Muse–Mandalay railway and Kyaukphyu deep seaport, and have conducted qualitative, semi-structured interviews with key actors involved in China–Myanmar relations (2016–2021) under the National League for Democracy (NLD). Through the fieldwork findings, we problematize the assumption in the hedging literature which takes for granted a country's competence to act strategically in their foreign policy. Our findings from the Myanmar case suggest that the state's level of fragmentation and capability to hedge are inversely proportional. The multiple actors in Myanmar's political space complicate its China policy and limit its ability to hedge effectively. This is augmented by the military coup in February 2021, which further fragmented the country, compromising Myanmar's China policy even further, making hedging a less viable framework to examine Myanmar's China strategy.
This study investigated the effects of two intermittent task parameters on muscle fatigue, namely cycle time and force level variation. Of particular interest was whether a constant low-level underlying force would contribute to fatigue. Twelve students participated in four experimental conditions, each lasting 8 minutes. Participants repeatedly performed intermittent isometric exertions of biceps brachii at two cycle times (5 or 10 seconds), and two force levels, varying either between 0% and 50%max isometric force or between 10% and 40%max force. These parameters and a duty cycle of 0.5 ensured a mean force exertion of 25%max for all conditions. Muscle fatigue was inferred from local Ratings of Perceived Exertion (RPE), maximum force and EMG(RMS). Significant (p<0.05) increases in RPE and EMG(RMS), and reductions in maximum force overtime indicate fatigue development during all conditions. Conditions with force levels varying between 10% and 40%max force showed significantly greater RPE and EMG(RMS) recordings, but only marginal reductions in maximum force (p=0.350), compared to conditions with force varying between 0% and 50%max force. Cycle time did not significantly influence fatigue development since no significant changes occurred for RPE, maximum force or EMG(RMS). These results show accelerated fatigue development under conditions with a constant underlying force, despite the lower maximum exertion level, and irrespective of cycle time. Work involving intermittent static force exertions should thus include periods of complete relaxation between exertions to prevent the early onset of muscle fatigue.
With advancements in technology driving faster and easier flows of information, it has never been more important for companies to understand how the law can assist them in protecting their valuable information and what their obligations are in dealing with the confidential information of others. This is of particular relevance in the petroleum industry, where the possession of data and information is usually crucial to a company’s decision about whether to proceed with a project, and where information can provide a significant commercial advantage. This paper will examine the legal framework regulating the use and protection of confidential information, from an Australian perspective. The paper will consider related issues such as: When should information should be treated as confidential? When is a confidentiality agreement required between parties? What needs to be considered when entering into a confidentiality agreement? What is the position at law in the event that there is no written confidentiality agreement between parties? What restrictions apply to the purposes for which confidential information can be used? Finally, the paper will consider the legal consequences of breach of confidentiality and suggest practical ways that companies can minimise their risk of being exposed to these consequences.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.