A determination of the average up-down, strange and charm quark masses from Nf=2+1+1N_f=2+1+1

We present a lattice QCD determination of the average up-down, strange and charm quark masses based on simulations performed by the European Twisted Mass Collaboration with $N_f = 2 + 1 + 1$ dynamical fermions. We simulated at three different values of the lattice spacing, the smallest being approximately $0.06fm$, and with pion masses as small as $210 \text{MeV}$. Our results are: $m_{ud}(2\text{GeV})=3.70(17)\text{MeV}$, $m_s(2\text{GeV})=99.2(3.9)\text{MeV}$, $m_c(m_c)=1.350(49)\text{GeV}$, $m_s/m_{ud}=26.64(30)$ and $m_c/m_s=11.65(12)$

Mass of the b-quark and B-decay constants from Nf=2+1+1 twisted-mass Lattice QCD

We present precise lattice computations for the b-quark mass, the quark mass ratios mb/mc and mb/ms as well as the leptonic B-decay constants. We employ gauge configurations with four dynamical quark flavors, up/down, strange and charm, at three values of the lattice spacing (a ~ 0.06 - 0.09 fm) and for pion masses as low as 210 MeV. Interpolation in the heavy quark mass to the bottom quark point is performed using ratios of physical quantities computed at nearby quark masses exploiting the fact that these ratios are exactly known in the static quark mass limit. Our results are also extrapolated to the physical pion mass and to the continuum limit and read: mb(MSbar, mb) = 4.26(10) GeV, mb/mc = 4.42(8), mb/ms = 51.4(1.4), fBs = 229(5) MeV, fB = 193(6) MeV, fBs/fB = 1.184(25) and (fBs/fB)/(fK/fpi) = 0.997(17).Comment: Version to appear in PRD. Added comments to simulation setup and error budget discussion. 1+20 pages, 9 figure

Leptonic decay constants fK, fD and fDs with Nf = 2+1+1 twisted-mass lattice QCD

We present a lattice QCD calculation of the pseudoscalar decay constants fK, fD and fDs performed using the gauge configurations produced by the European Twisted Mass Collaboration with Nf = 2 + 1 + 1 dynamical quarks, which include in the sea, besides two light mass degenerate quarks, also the strange and charm quarks with masses close to their values in the real world. The simulations are based on a unitary setup for the two light mass-degenerate quarks and on a mixed action approach for the strange and charm quarks. We use data simulated at three different values of the lattice spacing in the range 0.06 - 0.09 fm and at pion masses in the range 210 - 450 MeV. Our main results are: fK+ / fpi+ = 1.184 (16), fK+ = 154.4 (2.0) MeV, which incorporate the leading strong isospin breaking correction due to the up- and down-quark mass difference, and fK = 155.0 (1.9) MeV, fD = 207.4 (3.8) MeV, fDs = 247.2 (4.1) MeV, fDs / fD = 1.192 (22) and (fDs / fD) / (fK / fpi) = 1.003 (14) obtained in the isospin symmetric limit of QCD. Combined with the experimental measurements of the leptonic decay rates of kaon, pion, D- and Ds-mesons our results lead to the following determination of the CKM matrix elements: |Vus| = 0.2269 (29), |Vcd| = 0.2221 (67) and |Vcs| = 1.014 (24). Using the latest value of |Vud| from superallowed nuclear beta decays the unitarity of the first row of the CKM matrix is fulfilled at the permille level.Comment: 20 pp., 4 figures; revised version to appear in PRD; improved calculation of IB effects for fK+; minor changes in the final values. arXiv admin note: text overlap with arXiv:1403.450

B-physics computations from Nf=2 tmQCD

We present an accurate lattice QCD computation of the b-quark mass, the B and Bs decay constants, the B-mixing bag-parameters for the full four-fermion operator basis, as well as estimates for \xi and f_{Bq}\sqrt{B_q} extrapolated to the continuum limit and the physical pion mass. We have used Nf = 2 dynamical quark gauge configurations at four values of the lattice spacing generated by ETMC. Extrapolation in the heavy quark mass from the charm to the bottom quark region has been carried out using ratios of physical quantities computed at nearby quark masses, having an exactly known infinite mass limit.Comment: 7 pages, 4 figures, presented at the 31st International Symposium on Lattice Field Theory (Lattice 2013), 29 July - 3 August 2013, Mainz, German

Ag-based synergistic antimicrobial composites. A critical review

The emerging problem of the antibiotic resistance development and the consequences that the health, food and other sectors face stimulate researchers to find safe and effective alternative methods to fight antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and biofilm formation. One of the most promising and efficient groups of materials known for robust antimicrobial performance is noble metal nanoparticles. Notably, silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have been already widely investigated and applied as antimicrobial agents. However, it has been proposed to create synergistic composites, because pathogens can find their way to develop resistance against metal nanophases; therefore, it could be important to strengthen and secure their antipathogen potency. These complex materials are comprised of individual components with intrinsic antimicrobial action against a wide range of pathogens. One part consists of inorganic AgNPs, and the other, of active organic molecules with pronounced germicidal effects: both phases complement each other, and the effect might just be the sum of the individual effects, or it can be reinforced by the simultaneous application. Many organic molecules have been proposed as potential candidates and successfully united with inorganic counterparts: polysaccharides, with chitosan being the most used component; phenols and organic acids; and peptides and other agents of animal and synthetic origin. In this review, we overview the available literature and critically discuss the findings, including the mechanisms of action, efficacy and application of the silver-based synergistic antimicrobial composites. Hence, we provide a structured summary of the current state of the research direction and give an opinion on perspectives on the development of hybrid Ag-based nanoantimicrobials (NAMs)

Diet enrichment with a specific essential free amino acid mixture improves healing of undressed wounds in aged rats

Chronic wounds are a major, often underestimated, health problem for the elderly. Standard wound care products are not usuallymanufactured tomeet the increased demand of nutrients by skin cells in order to regenerate new tissue and accelerate healing. This work was therefore undertaken to establish whether wound healing could be accelerated by nutritional supplementation with a specific mixture tailored to human need of essential amino acids (EAAs) without topical medication. To this end, using a skin full-thickness excisional model in aged rats,we compared the closure dynamics of undressing wounds in animals fed an EAAs-enriched diet or standard diet. We assessed the degree of fibrosis and inflammation, as well as relevant signaling molecules such as COL1A1, iNOS and TGFβ1. The results showed wound healing was accelerated in EAAs-fed rats, which was accompanied by reduced inflammation and changes in TGFβ1 and COL1A1 expression. Collectively, our findings indicate that dietary supplementation with balanced EAAs diet could serve as a strategy to accelerate wound healing without inducing fibrosis and could therefore be a simple but pivotal therapeutic approach in human also