The source of the sediment appears to vary both spatially and tem

The source of the sediment appears to vary both spatially and temporally. Between sites 1, 2, and 3 the radionuclide activity varies, indicating that the source also varies, possibly as a result of changes in land use as well as the local surficial geology. Additionally, the activity

varies down-core in Site 2, suggesting there are temporal variations in the sources of sediment. It is also possible that sediment is being stored along the fluvial system, although there are not broad floodplains there that indicate this is likely. Site 2, while only 1 km upstream of Site 3 (Fig. 1), had a markedly different radionuclide profile than Site SB431542 3 (Fig. 2). Site 2 is situated just upstream of the gorge that the Rockaway River has eroded through glacial till and so does not receive sediment from these sources. It is, however, just downstream of the largest area of urbanized land in the watershed (Fig. 1). Alternatively, Site 2 may contain three depositional periods, with INK128 different sediment sources. Sediment from the surface to 5 cm depth and from 7 cm to 13 cm, with its higher activity levels, could each represent

surficial sediment deposition. This was interrupted by the interval 5–7 cm, when sediment with low to no activity of 210Pb or 137Cs was deposited from deeper sources such as river channel banks or hillslopes. The sediment at Site 2 is transported toward and possibly temporarily stored at Site 3, potentially influencing the sediment signal there. However, the

actively eroding hillslope, producing deeper sediment with little to no radionuclide activity, probably overwhelms the signal from site 2. Distinguishing the sediment from site 2 and site 3, although desirable, may not be possible as they are not lithologically different. These variations in sediment sources are an important factor in mitigation efforts for this river. The entire length of the river should be analyzed and assessed for potential sediment sources. This is important because mitigation efforts would depend on the source of the sediment. In this study, there were spatial and temporal variations in the sources, making the water management efforts more complex. Further analysis and sediment RAS p21 protein activator 1 collection would also allow a sediment budget to be constructed for this river, an important step in terms of managing downstream resources such as reservoirs. The analyses and results described above provides tentative answers to the three research questions posed. First, two of the sites (1 and 3) had sediment originating from either deeper sediment sources or from sediment stored within the watershed. The other site (#2), contained sediment from surficial sources. Second, there was longitudinal variability in the radionuclide signals of the river sediment, as the sediment sources varied between the sites.

A total of 21 root canals with pulp necrosis and apical periodont

A total of 21 root canals with pulp necrosis and apical periodontitis were analyzed by the three different LAL methods. All three LAL methods were effective in the recovery of endotoxin from root canal infection. Regardless of the method

tested, endotoxin was detected in 100% of the root canals investigated (21/21). The KQCL assay yielded a median value of endotoxin of 7.49 EU/mL, which selleck inhibitor was close to and not significantly different from the turbidimetric test (9.19 EU/mL) (both kinetic methods) (p > 0.05). In contrast, the endpoint QCL showed a median value of 34.20 EU/mL (p < 0.05) ( Table 2). The percentage of PPC values revealed a good interaction between the root canal samples and LAL substrate regarding the turbidimetric method (% values ranging from 50 to 197) (Table 2). Product inhibition values were found in 2 of 21 root canal samples analyzed by the KQCL method (PPC value <50%). The endpoint QCL revealed product interference in 12 of 21 root canal samples (values lower than 0.4 EU/mL ± 25%)

(Table 2). The color interference assay performed for the endpoint-QCL method indicated color interference in 11 of 21 root canal samples, even after a dilution to the 10−4. The linearity of the standard curve was equally good for all methods (all r =1) ( Table 2). The coefficient of variance for endotoxin concentration was greater than 10% in 17 http://www.selleckchem.com/products/nlg919.html of 21 root canal samples analyzed by the endpoint-QCL assay, indicating its low reproducibility ( Table

2). In contrast, the KQCL and turbidimetric kinetic assays revealed as high as 5.50% and 4.46% values of the coefficient of variance, respectively (both being precise and with best reproducibility) ( Table 2). The LAL tests use a serine protease catalytic coagulation cascade that is activated Phosphoprotein phosphatase by endotoxin (18). Factor C, the first component in the cascade, is a protease zymogen activated by endotoxin binding. Downstream, this pathway activates a proclotting enzyme into a clotting enzyme (coagulogen into coagulin) (18). The chromogenic LAL assay (QCL or KQCL) uses the synthetic peptide-pNA substrate, which is cleaved by the clotting enzyme, imparting a yellow color to the solution. The turbidimetric kinetic assay uses coagulogen by monitoring its conversion into coagulin, which begins to form a gel clot, increasing the turbidity. The strength of the yellow color (determined at an optical density [OD] = 405 nm) resulting from the chromogenic LAL substrate and the turbidity (determined at an OD = 340 nm) resulting from the coagulogen conversion are correlated with the endotoxin concentration. The progress of the LAL reaction leading to coagulogen conversion (as measured by OD) was monitored in two ways in the current study: using the endpoint and kinetic methods. In the first (QCL test), OD is recorded at single time (≈16 minutes), which compromises its sensitivity (0.1-1 EU/mL) (18).

These dopaminergic changes are closely related to EW-induced anxi

These dopaminergic changes are closely related to EW-induced anxiety and ethanol intake. The pharmacological reversal of reduced DA levels in the CeA ameliorates EW-induced anxiety in rats [6] and [7], DA D2 receptors (D2R) exhibit low sensitivity in the CeA of type 1 alcoholics [8], and chronic mild stress increases ethanol intake in genetically modified low D2R mice [9]. Based on such evidence, the rectification of dysregulation in the mesoamygdaloid DA system during EW appears to be a promising target for the treatment of EW-induced anxiety and alcoholism.

Korean Red Ginseng (KRG) is a steamed form of Panax ginseng Meyer with enhanced pharmacological activities that have beneficial effects for those with physical and mental exhaustion, including fatigue and anxiety [10] and [11]. KRG is also frequently prescribed to treat alcoholism, but the underlying pharmacological mechanisms have yet to be fully elucidated Selleck Metformin [12]. Experimental evidence suggests that improved neurotransmission in the brain is an important neuropharmacological mechanism supporting the effects of KRG. For example, Panax ginseng attenuates repeated cocaine-induced behavioral sensitization via the inhibition MEK inhibitor of elevated DA release in the nucleus accumbens [13] and ameliorates morphine withdrawal-induced anxiety and depression through the restoration of the balance

between corticotrophin releasing factor and neuropeptide Y in the brain [14]. Considering the critical role that mesolimbic DA plays in ethanol dependence and the similarities between ethanol and opiate addictions, the present study evaluated the possible anxiolytic effects of KRG during EW and the involvement

of the mesoamygdaloid DA system in this process. Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats (250–270 g) were obtained from Hyochang Science (Daegu, Korea) and acclimatized for 1 wk prior to the experimental manipulations. All rats were provided with ad libitum access to food and water and maintained at a temperature of 21–23°C, a relative humidity of 50%, and with a 12 h light/dark cycle CHIR 99021 throughout the course of the study. All procedures were conducted in accordance with the National Institutes of Health guidelines concerning the care and use of laboratory animals and were approved by the Animal Care and Use Committee of Daegu Haany University, Daegu, South Korea. This study used standardized KRG extract (KRGE) that was manufactured from the roots of 6-yr-old fresh ginseng (P. ginseng Meyer) provided by the Central Research Institute, Korea Ginseng Corporation (Daejeon, Korea). A high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) fingerprint of the KRGE was developed ( Fig. 1A), and the KRGE contains 2.9 mg/g Rb1, 1.3 mg/g Rg1, 1.1 mg/g Rg3, and other ginsenosides. EW was induced in the experimental group via intraperitoneal (i.p.

It is possible that the ability to perform adequately in VRT is l

It is possible that the ability to perform adequately in VRT is limited by the capacity to cope with the amount of visual information. In our experiment, fractals of ‘complexity GW786034 clinical trial 5’ contained a higher number of elements (for instance, squares) than stimuli of ‘complexity 3’ ( Fig. 5), and greater amount of visual information may be harder to process. To analyze this effect we compared the performance between trials displaying different amounts of visual complexity using a GEE with ‘grade’ as a between-subjects factor, and ‘visual complexity’ as a within-subjects factor. We found that visual complexity had a significant main effect on VRT performance

(Wald χ2 = 6.5, p = 0.039). Specifically, the proportion of correct answers in the category ‘complexity4’ was higher than in the category ‘complexity5’ (estimated marginal mean (EMM) difference = 0.06, p = 0.026). All p-values were corrected buy TSA HDAC using sequential Bonferroni correction. Detailed grade * visual complexity interaction analyses and figures are presented in Appendix D. Overall, higher levels of visual complexity yielded worse results, especially within second graders.

General overview: correct responses by grade. On average, children attending the fourth grade (M = 0.78, SD = 0.18) had a higher proportion of correct responses in EIT than children attending the second grade (M = 0.62, SD = 0.17). This was a significant difference (Mann–Whitney U: z = −3.70, p < 0.001; Fig. 7). While buy Depsipeptide 77% of fourth graders had a proportion of correct answers above chance, only 35% of the second graders had so. This difference was also significant (χ2 = 5.2, p = 0.023). Visual strategies. We repeated the analysis described for VRT, now with the proportion of correct answers in EIT as the dependent variable. Our results suggest that, at the group level, second graders

performed randomly in the foil category ‘odd constituent’ (Proportion = 0.52, Binomial test, p = 0.556). For all other foil categories and for both grade groups, performance was significantly above chance (Binomial test, p < 0.005). Detailed comparisons across categories are presented in Appendix C. Visual complexity. We repeated the complexity analysis described for VRT, with the proportion of correct answers in EIT as the dependent variable. We again found that visual complexity had a significant main effect on performance (Wald χ2 = 12.6, p = 0.002): The proportion of correct answers in the category ‘complexity3’ was higher than in the categories ‘complexity4’ (EMM difference = 0.06, p = 0.012) and ‘complexity5’ (EMM difference = 0.07, p = 0.06). All p-values were corrected using sequential Bonferroni correction. Detailed figures, interaction analyses, and subsequent pair-wise comparisons are presented in Appendix D.

matl ) By 1804 (Rennell, 1804; see suppl matl ), the Nasirpur c

matl.). By 1804 (Rennell, 1804; see suppl. matl.), the Nasirpur course (called the Dimtadee River on the map) flowed immediately to the north of the town of Nasirpur. The map of Arrowsmith (1804; see suppl. matl.) notes that the Indus flood season over the delta was in April, May and June, two months earlier than today, possibly indicating a greater contribution from the Himalaya. Pinkerton (1811; see suppl. matl.)

states that the Indus River is navigable for 900 km upstream. Steamships continued this website to ply the river as a cargo transport to Attock until replaced by railways in 1862 (Aitkin, 1907). The Baghar channel (Fig. 1) began to silt up in circa 1819. The Indus River then forged its main channel down its former Sattah Branch, but turned west, reaching the sea via the Ochito Branch (Fig. 1; Holmes, 1968). Through the period 1830–1865 (SDUK, 1833 and Johnston, 1861; see suppl.

matl.) the main Indus Delta channel was located along the modern Indus course, and numerous distributary channels were maintained both to the west and to the southeast (Fig. 7). On an 1833 map (SDUK, 1833; see suppl. matl.) the tide is stated as reaching inland 111 km. By 1870–1910 (Letts, 1883; see suppl. matl.), the main Indus had shifted further south and east while still maintaining flow to the western distributary channels (Fig. 7; also see Johnston and Johnston, 1897 in the suppl. matl.). By check details 1922 (Bartholomew, 1922; suppl. matl. and Fig. 7), the Ochito River channel was the main branch,

but this had largely been abandoned by 1944 (Fig. 7). The Indus channel is reduced to a single thread in its deltaplain, and the number of delta distributary channels has decreased during the 19th century, from ∼16 to 1 (Table 1 and Fig. 6). The modern delta does not receive much fluvial water or sediment. There were zero no-flow days prior to the Kotri Barrage construction in 1955. After construction (c. 1975), up to 250 no-flow days per year occur. The average annual water and sediment discharges during 1931–1954 were 107 km3 and 193 Mt, respectively. During the 1993–2003 period these rates dropped an order-of-magnitude to 10 km3 and 13 Mt (Inam et al., 2007). The Indus discharge downstream of the Kotri Barrage is usually limited to only not 2 months: August–September, with the sea now intruding the delta up to 225 km (Inam et al., 2007). Abandoned Indus Delta channels have been tidally reworked all along the coast (Fig. 8 and Fig. 9). We mapped this evolution of delta channels using high-resolution imagery: (1) the 1944 topographic maps (USACE, 1944; RMS location error ±196 m), (2) the 2000 SRTM/SWDB database (see suppl. matl.; RMS error ±55 m), and (3) LANDSAT imagery from 1978, 1989, 1990, 1991, 2000 (RMS location error between ±32 m and 196 m). Imagery was selected to be representative of being part of the same astronomic tidal stage.

Strong archeological evidence suggests that the islands within th

Strong archeological evidence suggests that the islands within the northern

Lagoon have been inhabited since Roman times and up to the Medieval Age. Examples of wooden waterside structures were found dating back between the first century BC and the second century AD (Canal, 1998, Canal, 2013 and Fozzati, 2013). As explained in Housley et al. (2004), due to the need for dry land suitable for building, salt marshes were enclosed and infilled to support small islands on which early settlements were built. Sites that go back to Roman imperial times are now well documented in the northern part of the lagoon. In the city of Venice itself, however, the first archeological evidence found www.selleckchem.com/screening/mapk-library.html so far dates back to the 5th century AD. Only later, in the 8th to 9th century AD, did Venice start to take the character of a city (Ammerman, 2003). By the end of the 13th century, Venice was a prosperous city with a population of about 100,000 inhabitants (Housley et al., 2004). At the beginning of the 12th century, sediment delivered by the system of rivers threatened to fill the lagoon (Gatto and Carbognin, 1981). In the short term, the infilling of sediment affected the navigation and harbor activity of Venice, while in the long term,

it opened up the city to military attack by land. This situation motivated the Venetians to divert the rivers away from the lagoon, so that the sediment load of the rivers would discharge directly into the Clomifene Adriatic Sea. This human intervention was carried out over the next few centuries so that all the main rivers see more flowing into the lagoon were diverted by the 19th century (Favero, 1985 and Bondesan and Furlanetto, 2012). If the Venetians had not

intervened, the fate of the Venice Lagoon could have been the same as that of a lagoon in the central part of the Gulf of Lions in the south of France. This lagoon was completely filled between the 12th and 13th century (Sabatier et al., 2010). In the 19th century, significant modifications included a reduction of the number of inlets from eight to three. The depth of the remaining inlets also increased from ∼5 m to ∼15 m, with a consequent increase in tidal flow and erosive processes (Gatto and Carbognin, 1981). In the last century, dredging of major navigation channels took place in the central part of the lagoon to enhance the harbor activity. The exploitation of underground water for the industrial area of Marghera (Fig. 1) contributed to a sinking of the bottom of the basin (Carbognin, 1992 and Brambati et al., 2003). Also, the lagoon surface decreased by more than 30 percent due to activities associated with land reclamation and fish-breeding. The morphological and ecological properties of the lagoon changed dramatically: salt marsh areas decreased by more than 50 percent (from 68 km2 in 1927 to 32 km2 in 2002) and some parts of the lagoon deepened (Carniello et al., 2009, Molinaroli et al., 2009 and Sarretta et al.

, 1994, Douglas et al , 1996, Gallart et al , 1994, Dunjó et al ,

, 1994, Douglas et al., 1996, Gallart et al., 1994, Dunjó et al., 2003 and Trischitta, 2005), and they symbolize an important European cultural heritage (Varotto, 2008 and Arnaez MK-1775 mw et al., 2011). During the past centuries, the need for cultivable and well-exposed areas determined the extensive anthropogenic terracing of large parts of hillslopes. Several publications have reported the presence, construction, and soil relationship of ancient terraces in the Americas (e.g., Spencer and Hale, 1961, Donkin,

1979, Healy et al., 1983, Beach and Dunning, 1995, Dunning et al., 1998 and Beach et al., 2002). In the arid landscape of south Peru, terrace construction and irrigation techniques used by the Incas continue to be utilized today (Londoño, 2008). In these arid landscapes, selleck chemical pre-Columbian and modern indigenous population developed terraces

and irrigation systems to better manage the adverse environment (Williams, 2002). In the Middle East, thousands of dry-stone terrace walls were constructed in the dry valleys by past societies to capture runoff and floodwaters from local rainfall to enable agriculture in the desert (Ore and Bruins, 2012). In Asia, terracing is a widespread agricultural practice. Since ancient times, one can find terraces in different topographic conditions (e.g., hilly, steep slope mountain landscapes) and used for different crops (e.g., rice, maize, millet, wheat). Examples of these are the new terraces now under construction in the high altitude farmland of Nantou County, Taiwan (Fig. 2). Terracing has supported intensive agriculture in steep Rebamipide hillslopes (Landi, 1989). However, it has introduced relevant geomorphic processes, such as soil erosion and slope failures (Borselli et al., 2006 and Dotterweich, 2013). Most of the historical terraces are of the bench type with stone walls (Fig. 3) and require maintenance because they were built

and maintained by hand (Cots-Folch et al., 2006). According to Sidle et al. (2006) and Bazzoffi and Gardin (2011), poorly designed and maintained terraces represent significant sediment sources. García-Ruiz and Lana-Renault (2011) proposed an interesting review about the hydrological and erosive consequences of farmland and terrace abandonment in Europe, with special reference to the Mediterranean region. These authors highlighted the fact that several bench terraced fields were abandoned during the 20th century, particularly the narrowest terraces that were impossible to work with machinery and those that could only be cultivated with cereals or left as a meadow. Farmland abandonment occurred in many parts of Europe, especially in mountainous areas, as widely reported in the literature (Walther, 1986, García-Ruiz and Lasanta-Martinez, 1990, Harden, 1996, Cerdà, 1997a, Cerdà, 1997b, Kamada and Nakagoshi, 1997, Lasanta et al., 2001 and Romero-Clacerrada and Perry, 2004).

The fertile soils become extremely vulnerable as soon as rural la

The fertile soils become extremely vulnerable as soon as rural land abandonment Trichostatin A takes place (see Fig. 8 and Fig. 9). Other factors contributing to the degradation of the terraces are the lack of effective rules against land degradation, the reduced competitiveness of terrace cultivation, and the dating of the traditional techniques only seldom replaced by new technologies ( Violante et al., 2009). The degradation of the terraces is now dramatically

under way in some mountain zones of the Amalfi Coast, historically cultivated with chestnut and olive trees and also with the presence of small dairy farms. In the lower zones of the hill sides, the terraces cultivated with lemons and grapes remain, but with difficulty. In most mountainous parts of the Amalfi Coast, the landscape is shaped as selleckchem continuous bench terraces planted with chestnut or olive trees and with the risers protected by grass. Whereas terraces along steep hillsides mainly serve to provide

levelled areas for crop planting, to limit the downward movement of the soil particles dragged by overland flow, and to enhance land stabilization, carelessness in their maintenance and land abandonment enhance the onset of soil erosion by water with different levels of intensity. This situation is clearly illustrated in Fig. 9, taken in a chestnut grove located at a summit of a hillside near the village of Scala. The circular Methamphetamine lunette surrounding the chestnut tree disappeared completely because of an increase in runoff as a result of more soil crusting and the loss of control on water moving as

overland flow between the trees. The erosion process here is exacerbated by the fact that the soil profile is made up of an uppermost layer of volcanic materials (Andisols) deposited on a layer of pumices, both lying over fractured limestone rocks. This type of fertile volcanic soil developed on steep slopes is extremely vulnerable and prone to erosion. Fig. 9 shows that soil erosion was so intense that the pumices are now exposed and transported by unchannelled overland flow. A form of economic degradation is added to this physical degradation because it is not cost-effective to restore terraces that were exploited with nearly unprofitable crops, such as chestnut or olive plantations. Fig. 10 shows two examples of terrace failure documented during surveys carried out recently in some lowlands of the Amalfi Coast. The picture in Fig. 10a was taken near the head of Positano and depicts a slump in a dry-stone wall.

Londoño (2008) highlighted the effect of abandonment on the Inca

Londoño (2008) highlighted the effect of abandonment on the Inca agricultural terraces since ∼1532 A.D., represented by the development of rills and channels on terraces where the vegetation is absent. Lesschen et al. (2008) underlined the fact that that terracing, although intended as a conservation practice, enhances erosion (gully erosion through the terrace walls), especially after abandonment. These authors carried out a study in the Carcavo basin, a semi-arid area in southeastern Spain. More

than half of the abandoned fields in the catchment area are subject to moderate and severe erosion. According to these studies, the land abandonment, the steeper terrace slope, the loam texture of the soils, the valley bottom position, and the presence of shrubs on the terrace walls are all factors that increase the risk of terrace failure. Construction of new terraces should therefore be carefully planned AZD5363 research buy and be built according to sustainable design criteria (Lesschen et al., 2008). Lesschen et al. (2008) provided guidelines to avoid the land erosion due to abandonment. They suggested the maintenance of terrace walls in combination with an increase in vegetation cover on the terrace, and the re-vegetation of indigenous grass species on zones with concentrated flow to prevent gully erosion. Lesschen et al. (2009) simulated the runoff

and sediment yield of a landscape scenario without agricultural terraces. They found values higher by Cell press factors of four and nine, respectively, when compared to areas with terraces. Meerkerk et al. (2009) examined find more the effect of terrace removal and failure on hydrological connectivity and peak discharge in a study area of 475 ha in southeastern Spain. They considered three scenarios: 1956 (with terraces), 2006 (with abandoned terraces), and S2 (without terraces). The analysis

was carried out with a storm return interval of 8.2 years. The results show that the decrease in intact terraces is related to a significant increase in connectivity and discharge. Conversely, catchments with terraces have a lower connectivity, contributing area of concentrated flow, and peak discharge. Bellin et al. (2009) presented a case study from southeastern Spain on the abandonment of soil and water conservation structures in Mediterranean ecosystems. Extensive and increasing mechanization of rainfed agriculture in marginal areas has led to a change in cropping systems. They observed that step terraces have decreased significantly during the last 40 years. Many terraces have not been maintained, and flow traces indicate that they no longer retain water. Furthermore, the distance between the step terraces has increased over time, making them vulnerable to erosion. Petanidou et al. (2008) presented a case study of the abandonment of cultivation terraces on Nisyros Island (Greece).

H3PO4 For the same reason, the pectin solution was cross-linked

H3PO4. For the same reason, the pectin solution was cross-linked by adding 0.8% w/v solution of Ca(OH)2 drop wise in

acidic condition (pH∼4). In this study the composition of pectin and Ca2+ ions at pH 4 was kept 0.4% and 0.8% w/v, respectively, as optimized by us earlier [38]. The total volume of the reaction mixture (15.25 mL) comprising pectin, Ca(OH)2 solution, freshly prepared MNPs and aqueous solution GSK1349572 of oxaliplatin was stirred for 6 h at room temperature to allow the formation of calcium pectinate nanocarriers with MNPs and OHP encapsulated. This batch of sample will be referred here as MP-OHP nanocarriers, which were magnetically separated from the nanostructures of calcium pectinate without MNP encapsulation. The MP-OHP nanocarriers were purified by washing several RG7204 in vivo times in phosphate buffer solution for removing loosely adhered drug and MNPs on the surface of the nanostructures. It may be remarked that negligible amount of MNPs might remain on the surface of calcium pectinate nanostructures as demonstrated by us earlier by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy [38]. The MP-OHP nanocarriers were lyophilized for further studies. Similarly, a batch of calcium pectinate nanostructures were synthesized where MNPs were encapsulated along with oxaliplatin, and this batch of sample will be referred to as MP. The as-fabricated MP-OHP

dispersion comprised of free dissolved drug (y) and drug loaded in MP-OHP nanocarriers (x). If the initial amount of the drug taken is w, then the drug Selleckchem ZD1839 loaded in MP-OHP nanocarriers is calculated as x=w−y. The concentration of free dissolved drug in the dispersion was determined by the bulk equilibrium reverse dialysis method [27]. The concentration of the drug was measured by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICPMS). The drug loading content, i.e., the amount of loaded drug per weight of the MP-OHP nanocarrier (in wt%) was calculated as (x/t)×100, where t=weight of the fabricated MP-OHP. The % encapsulation efficiency of the drug in the nanocarrier is given as (x/w)×100. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) measurements of the fabricated MP-OHP and

MNPs were performed with a powder diffractometer (Bruker AXS D8 Advance) using graphite monochromatized CuKα radiation source. The morphology of the fabricated MP-OHP batch was studied by the transmission electron microscopy (TEM) operated at 200 kV FEI Technai-G2 microscope and by the field emission scanning electron microscopy (beam resolution of 2 nm) with energy dispersive x-ray analyzer (FESEM-EDAX, FEI-Quanta 200 F) operated at 20 kV. The sample for TEM studies was prepared by dropping a diluted dispersion of MP-OHP nanocarriers on a carbon coated 150 mesh copper grid and dried at room temperature. Similarly for SEM studies, the diluted dispersion of MP-OHP was sprayed on a clean glass plate, dried in air and then coated with ultra-thin layer of Au.