RBSP-ECT Combined Spin-Averaged Electron Flux Data Product.

We describe a new data product combining the spin-averaged electron flux measurements from the Radiation Belt Storm Probes (RBSP) Energetic Particle Composition and Thermal Plasma (ECT) suite on the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's Van Allen Probes. We describe the methodology used to combine each of the data sets and produce a consistent set of spectra for September 2013 to the present. Three-minute-averaged flux spectra are provided spanning energies from 15 eV up to 20 MeV.

Multiyear Measurements of Radiation Belt Electrons: Acceleration, Transport, and Loss.

In addition to clarifying morphological structures of the Earth's radiation belts, it has also been a major achievement of the Van Allen Probes mission to understand more thoroughly how highly relativistic and ultrarelativistic electrons are accelerated deep inside the radiation belts. Prior studies have demonstrated that electrons up to energies of 10 megaelectron volts (MeV) can be produced over broad regions of the outer Van Allen zone on timescales of minutes to a few hours. It often is seen that geomagnetic activity driven by strong solar storms (i.

Fast Diffusion of Ultrarelativistic Electrons in the Outer Radiation Belt: 17 March 2015 Storm Event.

Inward radial diffusion driven by ULF waves has long been known to be capable of accelerating radiation belt electrons to very high energies within the heart of the belts, but more recent work has shown that radial diffusion values can be highly event-specific, and mean values or empirical models may not capture the full significance of radial diffusion to acceleration events. Here we present an event of fast inward radial diffusion, occurring during a period following the geomagnetic storm of 17 March 2015. Ultrarelativistic electrons up to ∼8 MeV are accelerated in the absence of intense higher-frequency plasma waves, indicating an acceleration event in the core of the outer belt driven primarily or entirely by ULF wave-driven diffusion.

Highly relativistic radiation belt electron acceleration, transport, and loss: Large solar storm events of March and June 2015.

Two of the largest geomagnetic storms of the last decade were witnessed in 2015. On 17 March 2015, a coronal mass ejection-driven event occurred with a (storm time ring current index) value reaching -223 nT. On 22 June 2015 another strong storm ( reaching -204 nT) was recorded.

Upper limit on the inner radiation belt MeV electron intensity.

Unlabelled: No instruments in the inner radiation belt are immune from the unforgiving penetration of the highly energetic protons (tens of MeV to GeV). The inner belt proton flux level, however, is relatively stable; thus, for any given instrument, the proton contamination often leads to a certain background noise. Measurements from the Relativistic Electron and Proton Telescope integrated little experiment on board Colorado Student Space Weather Experiment CubeSat, in a low Earth orbit, clearly demonstrate that there exist sub-MeV electrons in the inner belt because their flux level is orders of magnitude higher than the background, while higher-energy electron (>1.

An impenetrable barrier to ultrarelativistic electrons in the Van Allen radiation belts.

Early observations indicated that the Earth's Van Allen radiation belts could be separated into an inner zone dominated by high-energy protons and an outer zone dominated by high-energy electrons. Subsequent studies showed that electrons of moderate energy (less than about one megaelectronvolt) often populate both zones, with a deep 'slot' region largely devoid of particles between them. There is a region of dense cold plasma around the Earth known as the plasmasphere, the outer boundary of which is called the plasmapause.

Rapid local acceleration of relativistic radiation-belt electrons by magnetospheric chorus.

Recent analysis of satellite data obtained during the 9 October 2012 geomagnetic storm identified the development of peaks in electron phase space density, which are compelling evidence for local electron acceleration in the heart of the outer radiation belt, but are inconsistent with acceleration by inward radial diffusive transport. However, the precise physical mechanism responsible for the acceleration on 9 October was not identified. Previous modelling has indicated that a magnetospheric electromagnetic emission known as chorus could be a potential candidate for local electron acceleration, but a definitive resolution of the importance of chorus for radiation-belt acceleration was not possible because of limitations in the energy range and resolution of previous electron observations and the lack of a dynamic global wave model.

Electron acceleration in the heart of the Van Allen radiation belts.

The Van Allen radiation belts contain ultrarelativistic electrons trapped in Earth's magnetic field. Since their discovery in 1958, a fundamental unanswered question has been how electrons can be accelerated to such high energies. Two classes of processes have been proposed: transport and acceleration of electrons from a source population located outside the radiation belts (radial acceleration) or acceleration of lower-energy electrons to relativistic energies in situ in the heart of the radiation belts (local acceleration).

A long-lived relativistic electron storage ring embedded in Earth's outer Van Allen belt.

Since their discovery more than 50 years ago, Earth's Van Allen radiation belts have been considered to consist of two distinct zones of trapped, highly energetic charged particles. The outer zone is composed predominantly of megaelectron volt (MeV) electrons that wax and wane in intensity on time scales ranging from hours to days, depending primarily on external forcing by the solar wind. The spatially separated inner zone is composed of commingled high-energy electrons and very energetic positive ions (mostly protons), the latter being stable in intensity levels over years to decades.

S110, a novel decitabine dinucleotide, increases fetal hemoglobin levels in baboons (P. anubis).

Background: S110 is a novel dinucleoside analog that could have advantages over existing DNA methyltransferase (DNMT) inhibitors such as decitabine. A potential therapeutic role for S110 is to increase fetal hemoglobin (HbF) levels to treat β-hemoglobinopathies. In these experiments the effect of S110 on HbF levels in baboons and its ability to reduce DNA methylation of the γ-globin gene promoter in vivo were evaluated.

Pharmacologic inhibition of Pim kinases alters prostate cancer cell growth and resensitizes chemoresistant cells to taxanes.

The serine/threonine family of Pim kinases function as oncogenes and have been implicated in prostate cancer progression, particularly in hormone-refractory prostate disease, as a result of their antiapoptotic function. In this study, we used a pharmacologic inhibitor targeting the Pim family members, SGI-1776, to determine whether modulation of Pim kinase activity could alter prostate cancer cell survival and modulate chemotherapy resistance. Extensive biochemical characterization of SGI-1776 confirmed its specificity for the three isoforms of the Pim family.

Retention of intratumor injections of cisplatinum in murine tumors and the impact on laser thermal therapy for cancer treatment.

Recent studies using murine models of human squamous cell carcinoma (SCCA) have revealed a significant improvement in survival and cure rate of animals transplanted with human SCCA when treated with a combination of intratumor injections of chemotherapy and laser induced thermal therapy (LITT). These preliminary results suggest that this novel combination therapy may lead to improved clinical response compared to either treatment modality alone. Using a murine model of human SCCA we investigated two different modes of intratumor injection of cisplatin: a sustained-release cisplatin gel implant (CDDP/gel) versus cisplatin in solution (CDDP) at varying doses (range 1-3 mg/ml).

In vivo and in vitro cytotoxicity of R-etodolac with dexamethasone in glucocorticoid-resistant multiple myeloma cells.

Glucocorticoids have been widely used in the treatment of multiple myeloma (MM) both as single agents and in combination with other drugs. However, primary or acquired glucocorticoid resistance occurs in most cases. It was recently reported that R-etodolac induced in vitro cytotoxicity in MM cell lines and in primary MM cells, as well as synergistically enhanced dexamethasone (Dex)-induced apoptosis in Dex-sensitive MM.

Circadian pharmacology of L-alanosine (SDX-102) in mice.

L-alanosine (SDX-102) exerts its cytotoxicity through inhibition of de novo purine biosynthesis, an effect potentiated by methylthioadenosine phosphorylase (MTAP) deficiency. The relevance of circadian dosing time was investigated for chronotherapeutic optimization of SDX-102. Toxicity was assessed in healthy mice following single (1,150, 1,650, or 1,850 mg/kg/d) or multiple doses (250 or 270 mg/kg/d).

Wave acceleration of electrons in the Van Allen radiation belts.

The Van Allen radiation belts are two regions encircling the Earth in which energetic charged particles are trapped inside the Earth's magnetic field. Their properties vary according to solar activity and they represent a hazard to satellites and humans in space. An important challenge has been to explain how the charged particles within these belts are accelerated to very high energies of several million electron volts.

SDX-101, the R-enantiomer of etodolac, induces cytotoxicity, overcomes drug resistance, and enhances the activity of dexamethasone in multiple myeloma.

In this study we report that R-etodolac (SDX-101), at clinically relevant concentrations, induces potent cytotoxicity in drug-sensitive multiple myeloma (MM) cell lines, as well as in dexamethasone (MM.1R)-, doxorubicin (Dox40/RPMI8226)-, and bortezomib (DHL4)-resistant cell lines. Immunoblot analysis demonstrates that R-etodolac induces apoptosis characterized by caspase-8, -9, and -3 and PARP (poly-ADP [adenosine diphosphate]-ribose polymerase) cleavage and down-regulation of cyclin D1 expression.

An extreme distortion of the Van Allen belt arising from the 'Hallowe'en' solar storm in 2003.

The Earth's radiation belts--also known as the Van Allen belts--contain high-energy electrons trapped on magnetic field lines. The centre of the outer belt is usually 20,000-25,000 km from Earth. The region between the belts is normally devoid of particles, and is accordingly favoured as a location for spacecraft operation because of the benign environment.

Pharmacokinetic study of intralesional cisplatin for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background: In the current study the authors examined the pharmacokinetics of direct intralesional injection of cisplatin/epinephrine/bovine collagen gel in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma and cirrhosis.

Methods: Six patients with cirrhosis and unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma received a direct intralesional injection (range, 6.7-26.

Drug retention and distribution after intratumoral chemotherapy with fluorouracil/epinephrine injectable gel in human pancreatic cancer xenografts.

Purpose: Pancreatic cancer is widespread, associated with high mortality, and rapidly fatal. Most cases are diagnosed too late for surgical treatment, and the disease responds poorly to systemic chemotherapy. Nevertheless, pancreatic cancer cells are sensitive to fluorouracil (5-FU) in a time- and dose-dependent manner, suggesting that improved retention of drug in the tumor may improve patient prognosis.

Radiosensitization by intratumoral administration of cisplatin in a sustained-release drug delivery system.

Purpose: Effects of combining local irradiation and intratumoral (i.t.) administration of cisplatin (CDDP) in a sustained-release drug delivery system (epi gel) were studied in a murine SCCVII squamous cell carcinoma model in mice.

Intratumoral radioimmunotherapy of a human colon cancer xenograft using a sustained-release gel.

Low tumor uptake and normal tissue toxicity limit the efficacy of RIT for the treatment of solid tumors. In this study, an intratumoral injectable gel drug delivery system for local administration of RIT was evaluated using the LS174T human colon cancer xenograft model in SCID mice. The injectable gel is a collagen-based drug delivery system designed for intratumoral (i.

Intratumoral chemotherapy with a sustained-release drug delivery system inhibits growth of human pancreatic cancer xenografts.

This study provides the first evidence that treatment of human pancreatic adenocarcinoma is markedly improved by the intratumoral administration of chemotherapeutic agents in a novel drug delivery system. The effect of chemotherapeutic agents delivered in a sustained-release, protein-based, injectable gel was evaluated on the growth of human pancreatic adenocarcinoma cell line, BxPC-3. In vitro chemosensitivity of BxPC-3 cells exposed for 24 or 72 h to fluorouracil (0.

Charged-particle telescope experiment on Clementine.

The charged-particle telescope (CPT) onboard the Clementine spacecraft measured the fluxes of energetic protons emitted in solar energetic particle events. Protons in the energy range from 10 to 80 MeV were of greatest interest for radiation effects such as total dose and single event upsets. Energetic electrons were also of interest for spacecraft charging and their contribution to total dose.

Storage-phosphor autoradiography: a rapid and highly sensitive method for spatial imaging and quantitation of radioisotopes.

This study evaluates a storage-phosphor imaging system for rapid autoradiography and quantitation of beta- and gamma-ray emitters in mice. Known quantities of authentic 3H, 14C, and 195mPt (0.06 to 31,714 DPM/mm2) were exposed to imaging plates of the storage-phosphor system for 0.