“
“In irrigated

rice paddies, episodic release of nitrous oxide (N2O) from the soil to the atmosphere has been observed during the first flood irrigation, but the biogeochemical mechanisms underlying these emissions remain unclear. To elucidate both microbial pathways of N2O production, consumption and emission processes of N2O from soil surfaces, we analyzed isotopomer ratios (bulk nitrogen and oxygen isotope ratios, delta N-15(bulk) and delta O-18, and intramolecular N-15 site preference, SP) of surface-emitted N2O and N2O in soil gas from paddy fields in Japan at the beginning of irrigation. Results indicate that surface-emitted N2O is produced at shallow depths above the rising groundwater table, and that it is emitted by diffusive transport through Selleck Crenolanib air-filled soil pores. Immediately after soil surfaces are submerged, N2O accumulates in the soil because of the low diffusivity and high solubility of N2O in water. Isotopomer analysis revealed that high N2O emissions during the flooding process Dinaciclib in vitro resulted mainly from N2O production by bacterial denitrification (nitrate reduction). Moreover, as soil submergence progressed, declining soil NO concentration promoted the use of N2O as an electron

acceptor. Thereby, most of the N2O was reduced to N-2. N2O emissions were increased by nitrogen fertilizer application before irrigation. The applied nitrogen fertilizer might enhance N2O production. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.”
“The smallscale yellowfin, Plagiognathops microlepis is the only one species in the genus Plagiognathops. In this study, we sequenced the complete mitochondrial genome of the P. microlepis. The complete mitogenome was 16,623 bp in size, consisting of 13 protein-coding genes, 22 transfer RNA (tRNA) genes, 2 ribosomal RNA (rRNA) genes,

Pinometostat manufacturer and 1 control region. It has the typical circular molecule structure of vertebrate’s mitochondrial genome. The whole base composition was estimated to be 30.60% A, 25.19% T, 27.32% C and 16.89% G with AT bias of 55.79%. The complete mitogenome of P. microlepis provides the basis for preservation of genetic resources and genetic breeding studies on this species.”
“Previous microscopy-based studies in the eastern English Channel have revealed it to be a productive meso-eutrophic coastal ecosystem, characterized by strong repeating patterns in microplankton succession. The present study examines the seasonal structure of the entire protistan community from March 2011 to July 2013, using tag pyrosequencing of the V2-V3 hypervariable region of the 18S rRNA gene. A total of 1242 OTUs and 28 high-level taxonomic groups, which included previously undetected taxa in the area, were identified. The detected OTUs were considered according to taxon-specific traits, which included their trophic role, abundance and specialization level.

These results Suggest that both CR and chronic food-cue exposure can be stressful, and the implications of this research are discussed in the context Of humans’ ‘obesigenic’ environment. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.”
“Male infertility is a common

and complex PU-H71 in vivo pathology affecting0-about 7% of men of reproductive age. Given its complexity, the underlying etiology for male infertility is often unknown. A growing amount of evidence suggests genomic instability may be an important factor in some cases of male factor infertility. While some specific manifestations of genomic instability, such as increased sperm aneuploidy rates and increased somatic translocations and inversions in infertile men, are well established, other facets of genomic instability associated with male infertility have not been thoroughly investigated. A limited body of recent work has identified a potential association between microsatellite instability and spermatogenic failure. In addition, mutations

in mismatch repair and tumor suppressor check details genes, which could potentially lead to genomic instability, have been identified in some infertile men and animal models. In addition, results of two epidemiologic studies suggest spermatogenic defects might be just one aspect of a more systemic problem, possibly due to increased genomic instability. In this review we discuss well-established links between genomic instability and male infertility, as well as some of the emerging but less established data to support this relationship. We also propose some important areas of future research toward a more complete understanding of the underlying mechanisms for male infertility.”
“An accumulation of milk fat globule EGF-8 protein (MFG-E8) occurs within the context of arterial wall inflammatory remodeling during aging, ABT-737 nmr hypertension, diabetes mellitus, or atherosclerosis. MFG-E8 induces VSMC invasion, but whether it affects VSMC proliferation,

a salient feature of arterial inflammation, is unknown. Here, we show that in the rat arterial wall in vivo, PCNA and Ki67, markers of cell cycle activation, increase with age between 8 and 30 months. In fresh and early passage VSMC isolated from old aortae, an increase in CDK4 and PCNA, an increase in the acceleration of cell cycle S and G2 phases, decrease in the G1/G0 phase, and an increase in PDGF and its receptors confer elevated proliferative capacity, compared to young VSMC. Increased coexpression and physical interaction of MFG-E8 and integrin av beta 5 occur with aging in both the rat aortic wall in vivo and in VSMC in vitro. In young VSMC in vitro, MFG-E8 added exogenously, or overexpressed endogenously, triggers phosphorylation of ERK1/2, augmented levels of PCNA and CDK4, increased BrdU incorporation, and promotes proliferation, via av beta 5 integrins.

It was more effective in this regard than a 1:1 mixture of the constituent cation and anion receptors (4 and 5).”
“Background. NIMA-related kinase 2 (NEK2), an enzyme involved in the development and progression

of cancer, is abnormally expressed in a wide variety of human cancers, including colorectal cancer (CRC), and is known to have roles in cell division VS-6063 mw and mitotic regulation through centrosome splitting. We investigated the clinical significance of NEK2 in CRC. In particular, we examined miR-128 expression, which is thought to target NEK2.\n\nMethods. We measured NEK2 mRNA and miR-128 levels in clinical samples by quantitative reverse transcription real-time PCR and analyzed the associations between NEK2 levels, miR-128 levels, clinicopathological

factors, and learn more prognoses. Furthermore, we performed in vitro assays using a pre-miR-128 precursor and conducted miR-128 methylation analyses.\n\nResults. MiR-128 inhibited NEK2 expression and cancer cell proliferation via cell cycle arrest. Moreover, miR-128 was silenced by DNA methylation. Increased NEK2 expression was associated with serosal invasion, lymphatic invasion, and peritoneal dissemination. Patients with high NEK2 expression also had significantly poorer prognoses. Multivariate analysis indicated that high NEK2 expression was an independent prognostic factor for survival. Patients with high miR-128 expression had significantly lower NEK2 expression and lower NEK2

expression and lower recurrence rates than those with low miR-128 expression.\n\nConclusions. NEK2 may be an independent prognostic factor for CRC and was regulated by miR-128, a microRNA that was subjected to epigenetic regulation. Thus, this miR-128/NEK2 pathway may be a prospective therapeutic target for patients with CRC.”
“We identified 16 variable number tandem repeat (VNTR) loci for Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium. These VNTRs were evaluated with panels of 183 diverse isolates, 203 closely related isolates and 54 isolates from seven outbreaks. check details The evaluations revealed that five of the 16 VNTRs had diversity values greater than 0.5, and three (STIRS, STTR6 and STTR10) were hypervariable. The results obtained from the outbreak isolates suggested that the 16 VNTRs were considerably stable in isolates recovered during a normal outbreak time course. Multilocus VNTR analysis (MLVA) based on four most variable VNTRs (MLVA4), exhibited a better resolving power over pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) in discriminating among isolates, in particular among the closely-related isolates. An MLVA5, which is based on five VNTRs and has been widely used in many European laboratories, displayed a level of discrimination close to MLVA4. The phylogenetic tree established using the MLVA16 profiles presented four distinct clusters, which were associated with four different phage types.

0-5.0% (w/v) NaCl (optimum of 2.0% NaCl). Under aerobic conditions, the major isoprenoid quinones were ubiquinone-9 and menaquinone-9 and the minor quinones were ubiquinone-8 and menaquinone-8. The major cellular fatty acids were C-18:1 omega 7c, C-16:1 omega 7c and C-16:0 and the

hydroxy acids were C-10:0 3-OH and C-12:0 3-OH. The DNA G+C content was 48.3-48.7 mol%. Phylogenetic analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequences placed the isolates within the radiation of the genus Endozoicomonas in a broad clade of uncultured clones recovered from various marine invertebrates. The isolates exhibited 96.5-96.9 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity with Endozoicomonas elysicola MKT110(T) and Endozoicomonas buy LCL161 montiporae CL-33(T), with which the isolates formed a monophyletic cluster with 100 % bootstrap support. The phenotypic features (carbohydrate fermentation, quinone system and some major cellular fatty acids) differed from those of members of the genus Endozoicomonas, which are aerobic, produce little Quizartinib supplier or no menaquinone under aerobic conditions and possess different amounts of C-14:0 and C-18:1 omega 7c. Although some phenotypic differences were identified, the isolates should be assigned to the genus Endozoicomonas on the basis of congruity of phylogeny and should be classified as representatives of a novel species, for which the name Endozoicomonas numazuensis sp. nov. is proposed.

The type strain is HC50(T) (=NBRC 108893(T) =DSM 25634(T)). An emended description of the genus Endozoicomonas is presented.”
“The

paper aims at developing a simple two-step homogenization scheme for prediction of elastic properties of a high performance concrete (HPC) in which microstructural heterogeneities are distinguished with the help of nanoindentation. The main components of the analyzed material include blended cement, www.selleckchem.com/products/epoxomicin-bu-4061t.html fly-ash and fine aggregate. The material heterogeneity appears on several length scales as well as porosity that is accounted for in the model. Grid nanoindentation is applied as a fundamental source of elastic properties of individual microstructural phases in which subsequent statistical evaluation and deconvolution of phase properties are employed. The multilevel porosity is evaluated from combined sources, namely mercury intrusion porosimetry and optical image analyses. Micromechanical data serve as input parameters for analytical (Mori-Tanaka) and numerical FFT-based elastic homogenizations at microscale. Both schemes give similar results and justify the isotropic character of the material. The elastic stiffness matrices are derived from individual phase properties and directly from the grid nanoindentation data with very good agreement. The second material level, which accounts for large air porosity and aggregate, is treated with analytical homogenization to predict the overall composite properties. The results are compared with macroscopic experimental measurements received from static and dynamic tests.

Conclusions: These findings suggest that aquaporin-1 is expressed and upregulated in temporomandibular joint with anterior disc displacement (both with and without reduction).”
“The asymmetric unit of the title compound, C(15)H(12)N(2)O(3), contains two almost identical molecules selleckchem forming an nearly C(2)-symmetric dimeric pattern. The dihedral angles between the pyrrole ring and the phthalimide unit are 82.95 (8) and 86.57 (8)degrees for the two molecules. Within such a dimer, the phthalimide units of the two molecules form a dihedral angle of 1.5 (5)degrees.”
“Several isotopologues of the water dimer have been studied in different matrices (Ne, Ar, Kr, and p-H(2)) at very low temperatures. A fine structure,

which is more or less matrix independent and very similar for different intramolecular fundamentals of the same isotopologic dimer, is present on the high wavenumber side of the main component. The bound OD (OH) stretches of the donor have temperature dependent components. The fine structure and temperature dependency is interpreted as evidence for acceptor switching and rotation of the water dimer around its O-O axis in the matrices studied here. The slow nuclear spin equilibration in H(2)O inhibits the thermal equilibration between the acceptor switching

states in H(2)O-DOH and H(2)O-DOD. The condensed environment slows down the acceptor switching rate compared LY294002 in vivo to the gas phase. The antisymmetric stretch of the proton acceptor is assigned by combining information from different matrices with the rotation-acceptor switching model.

(C) 2010 American Institute of Physics. [doi:10.1063/1.3460457]“
“Jatropha curcas Linnaeus (JCL) seed oil was utilized in the preparation of four sets of alkyd resin (35%, 50%, 60% and 75% oil formulations) using a two-stage alcoholysis-polyesterification method. The rates of polyesterification depended on the amount of oil used during synthesis. The properties of the alkyds were evaluated. The range of solidification times was between 278 and 442 s: also the range of film thickness was between 0.014 and 0.08 mm, and the alkyds were readily DMH1 mw soluble in turpentine, xylene and butanol. Inclusion of cobalt naphthenate as drier and outdoor temperature (37 degrees C +/- 2) improved the drying properties of all the alkyds. The colours of white gloss paints formulated from the alkyds, considering a pigment-volume concentration of 20.67% in the gloss paint formulation, compared well with that of a paint formulated using a commercial alkyd sample. (1)H NMR analysis confirms the expected structure of the alkyds. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.”
“This paper presents an experimental device developed to detect and estimate dissipated energy during very high cycle fatigue tests (VHCF) at high loading frequency (20 kHz) and low stress (i.e. far below the yield stress).

526 IU/g), FPase (3.268 IU/g), and B-glucosidase (50.696 IU/g). Among the nitrogen sources, urea caused maximum production of CMCase (81.832 IU/g), where as casein and soyabean meal gave the highest FPase (4.682 IU/g) and beta-glucosidase (69.083 IU/g) production, respectively. LY3039478 Among amino acids tested glutamic acid gave the highest production for CMCase (84.127 IU/g); however 4-hydroxy-L-proline stimulated maximum FPase production (6.762 IU/g). Saccharification of pretreated rice straw and wheat straw by crude enzyme extract from Fomitopsis sp. RCK2010 resulted in release of 157.160

and 214.044 mg/g of reducing sugar, respectively. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.”
“Microencapsulation with beta-cyclodextrin (beta-CD) as a delivery platform offers a promising application for natural antimicrobial delivery for food safety. Hence, this study aimed to characterize inclusion complexes of thymol and thyme essential oil with beta-CD and their resulting antimicrobial activities. Inclusion complexes were prepared by kneading (KN) and freeze-drying (FD) methods. The entrapment efficiencies ranged from 71 to 83 g/100 g with higher (P smaller than 0.05) values for thymol and FD particles. All particles showed irregular shapes and sharp edges with significant differences in size distribution

and strong tendency to agglomerate. FD produced higher (P smaller than 0.05) particle sizes than KN method. Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) analysis confirmed inclusion complexes formation between beta-CD and both compounds. Phase solubility tests indicated B-s-type complexes formation between thymol QNZ and beta-CD. All compounds effectively inhibited bacterial growth within the concentration range tested. Free thyme oil showed higher (P smaller than

Selleckchem ABT-263 0.05) antimicrobial activity than thymol, and FD beta-CD inclusion complexes were able to inhibit Escherichia coli K12 at lower (P smaller than 0.05) active compound concentrations than corresponding free oils. Antimicrobial activities of beta-CD inclusion complexes against total viable counts in pork meat system throughout storage were observed. The FD method showed to be the best encapsulation method with enhanced antimicrobial activity for both compounds. Published by Elsevier Ltd.”
“This study investigates whether the diagnosis-related group (DRG)-based payment method motivates hospitals to adjust output mix in order to maximise profits. The hypothesis is that when there is an increase in profitability of a DRG, hospitals will increase the proportion of that DRG (own-price effects) and decrease those of other DRGs (cross-price effects), except in cases where there are scope economies in producing two different DRGs. This conjecture is tested in the context of the case payment scheme (CPS) under Taiwan’s National Health Insurance programme over the period of July 1999 to December 2004.

“
“We describe 12 new microsatellite loci for the Korimako (New Zealand Bellbird), Anthornis melanura. The loci include 9 tetranucleotide loci, 2 pentanucleotide loci and one hexanucleotide locus. We characterized these loci in a sample from Tiritiri Matangi Island and found 2-8 alleles per locus,

observed and expected heterozygosities ranged from 0.21-0.74 to 0.25-0.72 respectively. One locus was out of Hardy-Weinburg equilibrium and no evidence of linkage disequilibrium among loci was found.”
“Purpose: Mycoplasma pneumoniae (M. pneumoniae) is one of the most common causes of community-acquired pneumonia in children. The clinical course is typically selleck kinase inhibitor self-limited and benign; however, rare cases of severe pneumonia can develop despite appropriate antibiotic therapy. We studied the effects of methylprednisolone pulse therapy on severe refractory M. pneumoniae pneumonia in children. Methods: The clinical effects of methylprednisolone therapy were evaluated retrospectively in 12 children with severe refractory M. pneumoniae pneumonia, which was diagnosed serologically. All patients developed respiratory distress,

high fever, and initial lobar pneumonic consolidation based on radiological findings. All clinical symptoms deteriorated despite appropriate antibiotic therapy. Thus, children were treated with intravenous methylprednisolone pulse therapy in addition to antibiotics. Results: The average febrile period before admission was 4.9 +/- 1.7 days, and fever persisted in all children until steroid administration. Methylprednisolone pulse see more therapy (30 mg/kg) was given 5.4 +/- 2.5 days after admission. After methylprednisolone pulse therapy, clinical symptoms improved in all patients without adverse events. The fever subsided 0-2 hours after initiation of corticosteroid therapy. The abnormal radiological

findings resolved within 2.6 +/- 1.3 days, and the high C-reactive protein levels (6.7 +/- 5.9 mg/dL) on admission decreased to 1.3 1.7 mg/dL within 3.0 +/- 1.1 days after starting corticosteroid therapy. Conclusions: Three-day methylprednisolone Kinase Inhibitor Library pulse therapy could be applied to treatment of refractory M. pneumoniae pneumonia despite appropriate antibiotic therapy and appeared to be efficacious and well-tolerated.”
“The regulation of gene expression in response to stress is an essential cellular protection mechanism. Recent advances in tRNA modification analysis and genome-based codon bias analytics have facilitated studies that lead to a novel model for translational control, with translation elongation dynamically regulated during stress responses. Stress-induced increases in specific anticodon wobble bases are required for the optimal translation of stress response transcripts that are significantly biased in the use of degenerate codons keyed to these modified tRNA bases.

Our objectives were to 1) investigate the association between selenium and colon cancer, 2) evaluate

possible effect measure modifiers, and 3) evaluate potential biases associated with the use of postdiagnostic serum selenium measures. The North Carolina Colon Cancer Study is a large population-based, case-control study of colon cancer in North Carolina between 1996 and 2000 (n = 1,691). Nurses interviewed patients about diet and lifestyle and drew blood specimens, which were used to measure serum selenium. Individuals who had both high serum selenium ( 140 mcg/l) and high reported folate ( 354 mcg/day) had a reduced relative MK-0518 solubility dmso risk of colon cancer [odds ratio (OR) = 0.5, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.4-0.8). The risk of colon cancer for those with high selenium and low folate was approximately equal to the risk among those with low selenium and low folate (OR = 1.1, 95% CI = 0.7-1.5) HM781-36B mouse as was the risk for those with low selenium and high folate (OR = 0.9, 95% CI = 0.7-1.2). We did not find evidence of bias due to weight loss, stage at diagnosis, or time from diagnosis to selenium measurement. High levels of serum selenium and reported folate jointly were associated with a substantially reduced risk of colon cancer. Folate status should be taken into account when evaluating the relation between selenium and

colon cancer in future studies. Importantly, weight loss, stage at diagnosis, or time from diagnosis to blood draw did not appear to produce strong bias in our study.”
“This

study aimed to identify safety measures practiced by Dutch surgeons during laparoscopic cholecystectomy.\n\nAn electronic questionnaire was sent to all members of the Dutch Society of Surgery with a registered e-mail address.\n\nThe response rate was 40.4% and 453 responses were analyzed. The distribution of the respondents with regard to type of hospital was similar to that in the general population of Dutch surgeons. The critical view of safety (CVS) technique is used by 97.6% of the surgeons. It is documented by 92.6%, mostly in the operation report (80.0%), but often augmented by photography (42.7%) or video (30.2%). If the CVS is not obtained, 50.9% of surgeons convert to the open approach, 39.1% continue laparoscopically, and 10.0% perform additional imaging this website studies. Of Dutch surgeons, 53.2% never perform intraoperative cholangiography (IOC), 41.3% perform it incidentally, and only 2.6% perform it routinely. A total of 105 bile duct injuries (BDIs) were reported in 14,387 cholecystectomies (0.73%). The self-reported major BDI rate (involving the common bile duct) was 0.13%, but these figures need to be confirmed in other studies.\n\nThe CVS approach in laparoscopic cholecystectomy is embraced by virtually all Dutch surgeons. The course of action when CVS is not obtained varies.

We compare the clinical phenotypes of these patients with those of 56 patients with isolated LCH and 53 patients with isolated ECD. The average age at diagnosis was 43 years. ECD followed (n=12) or was diagnosed simultaneously this website with (n=11) but never preceded LCH. Although heterogeneous, the phenotype of patients with mixed histiocytosis was closer to that of isolated ECD than to that of isolated LCH (principal component analysis). LCH and ECD improved in response to interferon alpha-2a treatment in only 50% of patients (8 of 16). We found the BRAF(V600E)

mutation in 11 (69%) of 16 LCH lesions and in 9 (82%) of 11 ECD lesions. Eight patients had mutations in both ECD and LCH biopsies. Our findings indicate that the association of LCH and ECD is not fortuitous and suggest a link between these diseases involving the BRAF(V600E) mutation.”
“The purpose is to develop a new image toggle tool with automatic density normalization (ADN) and automatic alignment (AA) for comparing serial digital mammograms (DMGs). We developed an ADN and AA process to compare the images of serial DMGs. In image density normalization, a linear interpolation was applied by taking two points of high- and low-brightness areas. The alignment was calculated by determining

the point of the greatest correlation while shifting the alignment between the current and prior images. These processes were performed on a PC with a 3.20-GHz Rapamycin cell line Xeon processor and 8 GB of main memory. We selected 12 suspected breast cancer patients who had undergone screening DMGs in the past. Automatic processing was retrospectively performed on these images. Two radiologists subjectively Copanlisib evaluated them. The process of the developed algorithm took approximately 1 s per image. In our preliminary experience, two images could not be aligned approximately. When they were aligned, image toggling allowed detection of differences between examinations easily. We developed a new tool to facilitate comparative reading of DMGs on a mammography viewing

system. Using this tool for toggling comparisons might improve the interpretation efficiency of serial DMGs.”
“The aim of this study was to develop new hydrophilic polyesters for tissue engineering applications. In our approach, poly(benzyloxymethyl glycolide-co-epsilon-caprolactone)s (pBHMG-CLs) were synthesized through melt copolymerization of E-caprolactone (CL) and benzyl-protected hydroxymethyl glycolide (BHMG). Deprotection of the polymers yielded copolymers with pendant hydroxyl groups, poly(hydroxymethylglycolide-co-epsilon-caprolactone) (pHMG-CL). The synthesized polymers were characterized by GPC, NMR, and DSC techniques. The resulting copolymers consisting of up to 10% of HMG monomer were semicrystalline with a melting temperature above body temperature.

Blood loss, measured by Pictorial Blood Loss Assessment Chart (PBAC), and hemoglobin levels were also assessed. Statistical analysis was performed using the Pearson coefficient correlation test.\n\nThe age of the patients ranged from 35 to

52 years (42.8 +/- A 0.2 years). Increase in monthly expenses, negative implications in conjugal life, work impairment and health-care utilization due to HMB were seen in 96.5, 94.7, 66.7 and 59.6% of the patients, respectively. Hemoglobin levels correlated to SF-36 physical and mental composites scores (p = 0.020 and p = 0.027, respectively). PBAC score was not correlated with the QoL (physical composite score: p = 0.222 and mental composite score: p = 0.642) or with Buparlisib concentration hemoglobin levels (r = -0.065; p = 0.278). Hemoglobin and QoL showed significant improvement after treatment (p < 0.001). Hemoglobin level was the only independent predictor of the QoL measured by SF-36 physical (p = 0.03) and mental (p = 0.04) composites scores.\n\nHMB had significant repercussions in the social, medical and economic aspects of women. The impact on the QoL was associated with the hematimetric parameters.”
“How frequently genes pass through a hybrid zone may be influenced by the environment. Accordingly, in long hybrid zones EPZ5676 ic50 that span more

than one environmental setting, different patterns may emerge. The varied conditions allow testing of hypotheses on dispersal as a function of

the environment. We reconstruct buy CH5424802 the amount and direction of gene flow across a heterogeneous hybrid zone of two species of marbled newts (Triturus marmoratus and Triturus pygmaeus), in four widely separated areas of the Iberian Peninsula from one mitochondrial and three nuclear genes. The main variables associated with the position of the contact zone are precipitation, rivers, altitude and relief. In some sections of the contact zone, however, its position is not correlated with any environmental factor and is instead determined by the shortest geographical distance between fixed positions at either side (mountains in the East and river in the West). In areas where the position of the zone is stable, gene flow was bidirectional. External data show that T.pygmaeus has superseded T.marmoratus over a large area and here gene flow was unidirectional. The prediction that a major river would reduce gene flow was not confirmed.”
“The acoustic properties of two clinical (Definity, Lantheus Medical Imaging, North Billerica, MA, USA; SonoVue, Bracco S. P. A., Milan, Italy) and one pre-clinical (MicroMarker, untargeted, Bracco, Geneva, Switzerland; VisualSonics, Toronto, ON, Canada) ultrasound contrast agent were characterized using a broadband substitution technique over the ultrasound frequency range 12-43 MHz at 20 +/- 1 degrees C.