Superspace formulation and correlation functions of 3d superconformal field theories

We study $3d$ SCFTs in the superspace formalism and discuss superfields and on-shell higher spin current multiplets in free $3d$ SCFTs with $\mathcal{N}= 1,2,3,4$ and $6$ superconformal symmetry. For $\mathcal{N}=1$ 3d SCFTs we determine the superconformal invariants in superspace needed for constructing 3-point functions of higher spin operators, find the non-linear relations between the invariants and consequently write down all the independent invariant structures, both parity even and odd, for various 3-point functions of higher spin operators.Comment: typos corrected, references added. Accepted for publication in JHE

On exact solutions of a class of interval boundary value problems

summary:In this article, we deal with the Boundary Value Problem (BVP) for linear ordinary differential equations, the coefficients and the boundary values of which are constant intervals. To solve this kind of interval BVP, we implement an approach that differs from commonly used ones. With this approach, the interval BVP is interpreted as a family of classical (real) BVPs. The set (bunch) of solutions of all these real BVPs we define to be the solution of the interval BVP. Therefore, the novelty of the proposed approach is that the solution is treated as a set of real functions, not as an interval-valued function, as usual. It is well-known that the existence and uniqueness of the solution is a critical issue, especially in studying BVPs. We provide an existence and uniqueness result for interval BVPs under consideration. We also present a numerical method to compute the lower and upper bounds of the solution bunch. Moreover, we express the solution by an analytical formula under certain conditions. We provide numerical examples to illustrate the effectiveness of the introduced approach and the proposed method. We also demonstrate that the approach is applicable to non-linear interval BVPs

ϵ\epsilon-Expansion in the Gross-Neveu Model from Conformal Field Theory

We compute the anomalous dimensions of a class of operators of the form $(\bar\psi\psi)^p$ and $(\bar\psi\psi)^p\psi$ to leading order in $\epsilon$ in the Gross-Neveu model in $2+\epsilon$ dimensions. We use the techniques developed in arXiv: 1505.00963.Comment: 16 pages, some explanations in section 2 improved, references added and typos correcte

Thermal out-of-time-order correlators, KMS relations, and spectral functions

We describe general features of thermal correlation functions in quantum systems, with specific focus on the fluctuation-dissipation type relations implied by the KMS condition. These end up relating correlation functions with different time ordering and thus should naturally be viewed in the larger context of out-of-time-ordered (OTO) observables. In particular, eschewing the standard formulation of KMS relations where thermal periodicity is combined with time-reversal to stay within the purview of Schwinger-Keldysh functional integrals, we show that there is a natural way to phrase them directly in terms of OTO correlators. We use these observations to construct a natural causal basis for thermal n-point functions in terms of fully nested commutators. We provide several general results which can be inferred from cyclic orbits of permutations, and exemplify the abstract results using a quantum oscillator as an explicit example.Comment: 36 pages + appendices. v2: minor changes + refs added. v3: minor changes, published versio

A case study of human hepatic hydatidosis and the biochemical Profile of cyst wall and fluid

The non specific haematological changes and negative Casoni's test suggest that ultrasonography is more reliable for the diagnosis and epidemiological stud­ies of human hydatidosis. The majo.r biochemical compo­nents like glycogen, proteins, nucleic acids, total lipids, triglycerides, cholesterol, free fatty acids and phospho­lipid fractions were analysed and compared with the other host's cysts. The differences were discussed in the light of strain variations in Echinococcus granulosus

Self-reported feeding advice by physicians for common childhood illnesses

Background: A nutritious diet is important for recovery during illnesses. Dietary advice by physicians and consumption of food by the patients are often based upon their hot and cold concepts and beliefs about various foods rather than on scientific basis.Objectives: To look at the food-advising behaviour of physicians during illnesses and to know the maternal concepts about various foods being hot or cold.Methods: A questionnaire was served to the physicians participating in a continuous medical education session held at the Aga Khan University and Hospital, asking them to write the foods they advise or restrict during different illnesses such as fever, jaundice etc. Mothers of sick children suffering from diarrhea and other illnesses were also interviewed to know their concepts about various foods.Results: Six (10%) out of sixty physicians believed in hot and cold concepts of the food. A variety of common foods were either restricted or strongly recommended by 10% to 50% of these physicians without any scientific basis, 23% physicians restricted fatty foods in jaundice, 17% physicians restricted in cough and cold. Although the interviewed mothers believed in hot-cold concepts of food but 55-63% of them were not sure what is meant by hot or cold food. In spite of that 70-80% of these mothers classified chicken, meat, egg, brinjal, masoor and mangoes are hot foods and rice, yogurt, moong, banana and orange as cold foods.Conclusion: Hot-Cold concept of food exists not only in mothers but also in physicians. Proper education regarding food intake is mandatory for both mothers and physicians to ascertain adequate intake of calories during sickness

Paediatric prescribing in Karachi

To assess amount of drug overuse we studied drug prescribing for common childhood problems by 65 general practitioners (GPs) and 29 paediatricians. A total of 2433 encounters between GPs or paediatricians and children under five years of age were observed. The presenting complaints were fever in 18%, cough in 9%, both fever and cough in 21%, vomiting in 20% and diarrhoea in 41% of encounters. Antibacterials were prescribed in 49% of encounters, analgesics and antipyretics in 29%, antiemetics in 8% and injectables in 15%. Antidiarrhoeals were prescribed in 41% encounters with children reported to have diarrhoea. Ampicillin and cotrimoxazole were the two common antibacterials prescribed by both GPs and paediatricians. Antibacterials were prescribed in significantly larger number of encounters with GPs than in those with paediatricians. Mean encounter time of patients with GPs was 3.4+/-2.7 minutes and with paediatricians 9.7+/-4.1 minutes

Lactose intolerance in persistent diarrhoea during childhood: The role of a traditional rice-lentil (Khitchri) and yogurt diet in nutritional management

Lactose intolerance is frequently encountered in children with persistent diarrhoea (PD). Selection of an appropriate milk-based formulation is a major management problem in the developing world. In a consecutive series of studies, we evaluated the role of feeding a traditional rice-lentil (khitchri) diet alone (KY) or in combination with either soy formula (KY-Soy) a dilute buffalo milk (KY-B), in children (age 6 months-3 years) with PD. Serial observations of stool output, caloric intake and weight gain of these children over a 14 day period indicated satisfactory tolerance of the KY diet with adequate weight gain. The weight gain and stool output was however higher in lactose intolerant children, with the worst results seen with K-Y and buffalo milk combination. While lactose intolerant children with PD do have higher. rates of therapeutic failure, our data indicates that a traditional diet and yogurt combination can be used satisfactorily for nutritional rehabilitation in over 80% of such children