Determination of 18 Trace Elements in 10 Batches of the Tibetan Medicine Qishiwei Zhenzhu Pills by Direct Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry

Qishiwei Zhenzhu pills (QSW) was first recorded in the Tibetan medicine classic Si Bu Yi Dian and has been used to treat “Baimai” disease, stroke, paralysis, hemiplegia, cerebral hemorrhage, and other diseases till today. This prescription contains more than 70 medicines including myrobalan, pearl, agate, opal, bezoar, coral, musk, gold, silver, and a mineral mixture Zuotai. As a result, QSW contains a large amount of mercury, copper, lead, and other trace elements. The aim of this study was to determine the 18 trace elements (lithium, beryllium, scandium, vanadium, chromium, manganese, cobalt, nickel, copper, arsenic, strontium, argentum, cadmium, cesium, barium, lead, aurum, and mercury) in 10 batches of QSW produced by 5 pharmaceutical companies (Ganlu Tibetan Medicine Co., Ltd. has 6 different batches) by direct inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). ICP-MS is a rapid, sensitive, accurate methodology allowing the determination of 18 elements simultaneously. The results showed that each element had an excellent linear relationship in the corresponding mass concentration range. The results showed that the rank order of the elements in QSW was copper > mercury > lead from high to low, with the mass fraction higher than 6000 μg/kg; the mass fractions of argentum, arsenic, manganese, aurum, strontium, barium, chromium, and nickel were in the range of 33–1034 μg/kg; and the mass fractions of vanadium, cobalt, lithium, beryllium, cadmium, scandium, and cesium were lower than 10 μg/kg. The reproducibility from the same manufacturer (Tibet Ganlu Tibetan Medicine Co., Ltd.) was relatively high; however, the element amounts among 5 manufacturers were different, which could affect the efficacy and toxicity of QSW. All in all, ICP-MS can be used as an effective tool for the analysis of trace elements in QSW and standard quality control needs to be enforced across different manufactures.

Advances in the Development of Phage-Based Probes for Detection of Bio-Species

Bacteriophages, abbreviated as “phages”, have been developed as emerging nanoprobes for the detection of a wide variety of biological species, such as biomarker molecules and pathogens. Nanosized phages can display a certain length of exogenous peptides of arbitrary sequence or single-chain variable fragments (scFv) of antibodies that specifically bind to the targets of interest, such as animal cells, bacteria, viruses, and protein molecules. Metal nanoparticles generally have unique plasmon resonance effects. Metal nanoparticles such as gold, silver, and magnetism are widely used in the field of visual detection. A phage can be assembled with metal nanoparticles to form an organic–inorganic hybrid probe due to its nanometer-scale size and excellent modifiability. Due to the unique plasmon resonance effect of this composite probe, this technology can be used to visually detect objects of interest under a dark-field microscope. In summary, this review summarizes the recent advances in the development of phage-based probes for ultra-sensitive detection of various bio-species, outlining the advantages and limitations of detection technology of phage-based assays, and highlighting the commonly used editing technologies of phage genomes such as homologous recombination and clustered regularly interspaced palindromic repeats/CRISPR-associated proteins system (CRISPR-Cas). Finally, we discuss the possible scenarios for clinical application of phage-probe-based detection methods.

Phyto-Nanofabrication

Green synthesis of metallic nanoparticles through natural entities (i.e., bacteria, actinomycetes, yeast, fungus, microalgae, seaweed, plants, and plant-derived materials) has become an advantageous and ecofriendly approach. However, phytocompounds of plant extract have achieved huge attention since by utilizing them high yield NPs with desirable size and shape, which can be produced through single-step synthesis scheme. Plants retain diverse biochemicals that exhibit strong hyper-accumulating potential, crucial for metallic ion reduction to metallic NPs, like platinum, gold, silver, titanium oxide, iron oxide, copper oxide, zinc oxide, palladium, etc. Here, previously published studies were reviewed for providing the latest scientific evidence on biosynthesis of metal and metal oxide NPs using different plant materials, especially medicinal plants and food and agro-wastes.

Metal Content and Structure of Textiles in Textile Metal Threads in Croatia from 17th to 20th Century

Textile metal threads were used to decorate historical Croatian textiles. There are three basic types of metal threads usually used on historical textiles in Croatia. These are narrow stripes, wires, and combined metal textile yarn called “srma”, made of metal thread spirally wrapped around the nonmetal textile yarn. Textile yarns were made of silk, linen, wool, or cotton. Metal threads were primarily made of gold, silver, and copper, and different alloys of these metals or threads are layered in the structure. Analysis of metal threads with three different methods was made and the most adequate method for the analysis of metal threads from historical textiles was established. Metal thread analysis was performed with scanning electron microscopy with an energy-dispersive X-ray detector (SEM-EDX), which was determined to be the most suitable for the analysis of historical textiles if cross-section analysis of metal threads is also performed. Textile threads from combined metal textile threads were analysed with a light microscope. This information of the metal threads’ content and structure as well as the composition of textile thread can lead to an understanding of the technology of production threads and also temporal and spatial dating of textile objects which is helpful to conservators and restorers of valuable historical textiles.

IMPLEMENTASI ZAKAT ASN DI KUALA BARU ACEH

Zakat is one of the pillars of Islam that must be fulfilled for Muslims who have reached their haul and nisab. The types of assets that must be paid for zakat continue to grow from only five types, namely zakat, gold, silver, agriculture, trade, livestock, and rikaz, while nowadays there are more professions that generate a lot of money, including income from State Civil Apparatus (ASN). Given the large amount of income of an ASN, it is necessary to study the implementation and nisab of ASN zakat. Therefore, this study will discuss how the implementation of ASN Zakat and what the nisab is so that someone pays zakat and what percentage must be issued in Kuala Baru District, Aceh Singkil Regency. This study uses a descriptive qualitative method. The results of the discussion found that the people of Gunung Meriah District issued their zakat at the time of class IIIc and deducted it when they received their salary.

Nanomaterials for Sustainability: A Review on Green Synthesis of Nanoparticles Using Microorganisms

Nanotechnology has permeated all areas of sciences as one of the most propitious technology with the deployment of nanoparticles in environmental remediation and biomedical fields; their synthesis under greener conditions has been bourgeoned using microorganisms, plants, etc. to decrease the use of toxic chemicals. Synthesis of nanoparticles by exploiting microorganisms has opened up a new prospect at the interface of nanotechnology, chemistry, and biology enabling access via a biocompatible, safe, sustainable, eco-friendly, and reliable route; microorganisms offer crystal growth, stabilization, and prevention of aggregation thus performing a dual role of reducing and capping agent because of the presence of biomolecules such as enzymes, peptides, poly (amino acids), polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA), and polysaccharides. Herein, the microorganisms-based synthesis of various nanoparticles comprising gold, silver, platinum, palladium, copper, titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, iron oxide, and selenium along with their appliances in waste treatment, biomedicine namely cancer treatment, antibacterial, antimicrobial, antifungal, and antioxidants, are deliberated.

Real-Time Electrical Conductivity Monitoring and Correlation with Sulfate Release and Acid Mine Drainage Potential from a Gold/Silver Paste Tailing Storage

Safe disposal of tailings as high-density thickened tailings or paste tailings can reduce the environmental risks of conventional tailings deposits, reduce water use, minimize tailings storage facility footprints, reduce the potential for acid mine drainage (AMD), and minimize risks of failure, among other advantages. In the dewatering process, the addition of flocculants is key to improving the sedimentation of the tailings and the formation of a compact paste. Despite the environmental and operational advantages of using paste tailings, it is not clear how the chemical nature of coagulants and flocculants could influence the discharge of toxic elements (salts and metals) from tailings after storage. In this study, we show the results of the real-time evaluation of the release of polluting runoffs from a paste tailings deposit. To do this, we analyzed paste tailing samples for AMD potential through static and kinetic tests and monitored the electrical conductivity and real-time pH, evaluating the correlation with the sulfate in the thickener and downstream from the tailings deposit. Tailing samples have low sulfur content (<2%) and low acid-generating potential. Moreover, there is no evidence of a significant positive correlation (Pearson’s coefficient r < 0.8) between the sulfate concentrations with the pH or EC. Thus, the chemical nature of the paste tailings prior to discharge has no direct impact on the release of sulfate-rich runoffs from the tailings after its storage. This indicates that the tailings paste at the evaluated site is chemically stable in the short term.