China's “New Regionalism” as a Mechanism to Strengthen the Influence of China in the Global Integration Processes: An Example of Eurasian Economic Union

The article presents an analysis of the role of the Chinese factor in global integration processes carried out in the context of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU). It is proven that a key mechanism to strengthen the role of China in the EAEU, and other integration associations, is the strategy of the China's ‘New Regionalism', according to which the Chinese government is using economic, political, ideological and cultural development strategies provides a ‘soft' economic expansion. The essence of China's ‘New Regionalism' is its desire for a multipolar world based on the principles of non-interference policy, and the formation of supranational and transnational integration groupings to strengthen their economic potential. At the core of the China's interest towards EAEU initiated by Russia lie the factors such of geopolitical, economic and security nature, as well as the interest in the project ‘The economic times of the Silk Road'. The proximity of the goals of these initiatives highlights the issue of a possible competition between the two countries in the struggle for strategic resources of the Central Asian region. It is concluded that the projects of China and Russia being implemented do not have the rivalry potential, but rather complement and reinforce each other. Moreover, the deepening of the strategic partnership between the two countries based on the principles of co-development will contribute to the successful promotion of the process of regional integration, not only in Central Asia but also in the Asia Pacific region. It emphasizes that the underestimation of the specifics of the China's ‘New Regionalism' by the Russian counter side might lead to a lowering of its competitive advantages in the process of implementation of joint programs and projects. Keywords: China's New Regionalism, Central Asia region, Asia Pacific region, Eurasian Economic Union JEL Classifications: E6; F

Continuous and non-invasive thermography of mouse skin accurately describes core body temperature patterns, but not absolute core temperature

Body temperature is an important physiological parameter in many studies of laboratory mice. Continuous assessment of body temperature has traditionally required surgical implantation of a telemeter, but this invasive procedure adversely impacts animal welfare. Near-infrared thermography provides a non-invasive alternative by continuously measuring the highest temperature on the outside of the body (Tskin), but the reliability of these recordings as a proxy for continuous core body temperature (Tcore) measurements has not been assessed. Here, Tcore (30 s resolution) and Tskin (1 s resolution) were continuously measured for three days in mice exposed to ad libitum and restricted feeding conditions. We subsequently developed an algorithm that optimised the reliability of a Tskin-derived estimate of Tcore. This identified the average of the maximum Tskin per minute over a 30-min interval as the optimal way to estimate Tcore. Subsequent validation analyses did however demonstrate that this Tskin-derived proxy did not provide a reliable estimate of the absolute Tcore due to the high between-animal variability in the relationship between Tskin and Tcore. Conversely, validation showed that Tskin-derived estimates of Tcore reliably describe temporal patterns in physiologically-relevant Tcore changes and provide an excellent measure to perform within-animal comparisons of relative changes in Tcore

Regulatory function of the C-terminal segment of guanylate cyclase-activating protein 2

Neuronal responses to Ca(2+)-signals are provided by EF-hand-type neuronal Ca(2+)-sensor (NCS) proteins, which have similar core domains containing Ca(2+)-binding and target-recognizing sites. But NCS proteins vary in functional specificity probably depending on the structure and conformation of their non-conserved C-terminal segments. Here, we investigated the role of the C-terminal segment in guanylate cyclase activating protein-2, GCAP2, an NCS protein controlling the Ca(2+)-dependent regulation of photoreceptor guanylate cyclases. We obtained two chimeric proteins by exchanging C-terminal segments between GCAP2 and its photoreceptor homolog recoverin, a Ca(2+)-sensor controlling rhodopsin kinase (RK) activity. The exchange affected neither the structural integrity of GCAP2 and recoverin nor the Ca(2+)-sensitivity of GCAP2. Intrinsic fluorescence, circular dichroism, biochemical studies and hydrophobic dye probing revealed Ca(2+)-dependent conformational transition of the C-terminal segment of GCAP2 occurring in the molecular environment of both proteins. In Ca(2+)-GCAP2, the C-terminal segment was constrained and its replacement provided the protein with approximately two-fold inhibitory activity towards RK, suggesting that the segment contributes to specific target recognition by interfering with RK-binding. Upon Ca(2+)-release, it became less constrained and more available for phosphorylation by cyclic nucleotide-dependent protein kinase. The transition from the Ca(2+)-bound to the apo-state exposed hydrophobic sites in GCAP2, and was associated with its activating function without affecting its dimerization. The released C-terminal segment participated further in photoreceptor membrane binding making it sensitive to phosphorylation. Thus, the C-terminal segment in GCAP2 confers target selectivity, facilitates membrane binding and provides sensitivity of the membrane localization of the protein to phosphorylation by signaling kinases