Growth index of matter perturbations in the light of Dark Energy Survey

We study how the cosmological constraints from growth data are improved by including the measurements of bias from Dark Energy Survey (DES). In particular, we utilize the biasing properties of the DES Luminous Red Galaxies (LRGs) and the growth data provided by the various galaxy surveys in order to constrain the growth index ($\gamma$) of the linear matter perturbations. Considering a constant growth index we can put tight constraints, up to $\sim 10\%$ accuracy, on $\gamma$. Specifically, using the priors of the Dark Energy Survey and implementing a joint likelihood procedure between theoretical expectations and data we find that the best fit value is in between $\gamma=0.64\pm 0.075$ and $0.65\pm 0.063$. On the other hand utilizing the Planck priors we obtain $\gamma=0.680\pm 0.089$ and $0.690\pm 0.071$. This shows a small but non-zero deviation from General Relativity ($\gamma_{\rm GR}\approx 6/11$), nevertheless the confidence level is in the range $\sim 1.3-2\sigma$. Moreover, we find that the estimated mass of the dark-matter halo in which LRGs survive lies in the interval $\sim 6.2 \times 10^{12} h^{-1} M_{\odot}$ and $1.2 \times 10^{13} h^{-1} M_{\odot}$, for the different bias models. Finally, allowing $\gamma$ to evolve with redshift [Taylor expansion: $\gamma(z)=\gamma_{0}+\gamma_{1}z/(1+z)$] we find that the $(\gamma_{0},\gamma_{1})$ parameter solution space accommodates the GR prediction at $\sim 1.7-2.9\sigma$ levels.Comment: 8 pages, 3 figures, discussion added, to appear in European Physical Journal C (EPJC

Global meaning and emotional expressivity as possible protective and mediating factors to mental health status and psychological adjustment to breast cancer.

Based on theories of adjustment to chronic illness, cognitive and emotional processing of traumatic events, and meaning- making in the context of stress and coping, this study explored two factors believed to influence psychological adjustment to breast cancer. The main variables of interest was existential meaning (defined as the existence of purpose, and personal meaning in life) and emotional expressivity (characterized by the outwardly display of emotions). The aim was twofold: First, to test whether high levels of existential meaning or expressivity (moderators) could weaken the effect of adverse psychological responses to breast cancer (intrusive thoughts) on psychological adjustment to it. Second, to test whether the higher the intensity of the adverse psychological responses to cancer (e.g., intrusive thoughts, helplessness), the lower a patient’s existential meaning or emotional expressivity levels (mediators), which would, in turn, be associated with higher levels of psychological maladjustment. One hundred and fifty three women with breast cancer, five years on average after diagnosis of their disease, were recruited from the breast clinic of an Athenian public cancer hospital, during their follow- up. They completed interview and mail surveys that assessed their level of existential meaning, emotional expressivity, and approach to coping. Main results of the study show that (a) as unwanted, recurrent, and uncontrollable intrusive thoughts and memories about breast cancer become more disturbing, psychological adjustment becomes poorer, (b) as sense of existential meaning, coherence and purpose in life become stronger, psychological adjustment to breast cancer is enhanced, (c) existential meaning partially mediates the relationship between psychological responses to breast cancer and psychological adjustment to it. Implications of these findings for future research, theory development, and clinical practice are discussed

Ο ρυθμός διαστολής του Σύμπαντος σε κοσμολογικά μοντέλα σκοτεινής ενέργειας

H καθιερωμένη κοσμοεικόνα έχει να κάνει με ένα διαστελλόμενο Σύμπαν, στο οποίο κυριαρχεί ενεργειακά η σκοτείνή ενέργεια και η οποία αποτελεί το αίτιο της επιταχυνόμενης διαστολής. Λόγω του ότι η φύση της σκοτεινής ενέργειας είναι άγνωστη, αναπτύχθηκαν πληθώρα κοσμολογικών μοντέλων, πολύ διαφορετικά ως προς τη φυσική τους, έχοντας ωστόσο εκφυλισμό ως προς τις προβλέψεις τους. Η άρση του παραπάνω εκφυλισμού αποτελεί σημαντικό πρόβλημα της σύγχρονης κοσμολογίας. Ταυτόχρονα, είναι αναγκαίο να περιοριστούν επαρκώς οι ελεύθερες παράμετροι του κάθε μοντέλου. Σε αυτή τη κατεύθυνση χρησιμοποιούνται εξωγαλαξιακά αστροφυσικά φαινόμενα ως κοσμικοί ιχνηλάτες. Το βασικό μειονέκτημα των περισσότερων κοσμικών ιχνηλατών είναι το γεγονός ότι τα αποτελέσματα της αναλυσης τους εξαρτώνται απο την μορφή της διαστολής Hubble, ήτοι το κοσμολογικό μοντέλο. Παρουσιάζουμε την χρήση απευθείας μετρήσεων της διαστολής Hubble, ανεξάρτητων απο υποθέσεις για το κοσμολογικό μοντέλο με τελικό σκοπό τον περιορισμό των κοσμολογικών παραμέτρων. Επίσης, γίνεται συζευγμένη ανάλυση των προηγούμενων δεδομένων με δεδομένα απο SN Ia. Η εργασία μας διαφοροποιείται απο αντίστοιχες της βιβλιογραφίας στο οτι η ανάλυση που πραγματοποιήθηκε είναι ανεξάρτητη της τιμής της σταθεράς του Hubble. Τα αποτελέσματα μας είναι σε καλη συμφωνία με τα αντίστοιχα απο το PLANCK.In the standard scenario the currently accelerating cosmological expansion is a consequence of dark energy dominating the current cosmological energy budget. Due to the unknown nature of the dark energy, a significant number of cosmological models has been developed. The predictions of the latter are highly degenerate, which is a major problem in modern Cosmology. It is also important to constrain the cosmological parameters of each model. For that purpose, extragalactic luminous sources are utilized, e. g SN Ia as cosmological probes. The main disadvantage of the most of currently available cosmological probes is that we have to assume a cosmological model a priori. In this work we used direct measurements of the Hubble function, independent of the implied cosmological model, to constrain the cosmological parameters. The basic difference of this work from others in the literature is that our formalism is totally independent of the Hubble constant. We also used data from SN Ia to perform a joint analysis with the latter. Our results are in a good agreement with the latest results of PLANCK

Emotional intelligence, emotional labor, and job satisfaction among physicians in Greece

BACKGROUND: There is increasing evidence that psychological constructs, such as emotional intelligence and emotional labor, play an important role in various organizational outcomes in service sector. Recently, in the “emotionally charged” healthcare field, emotional intelligence and emotional labor have both emerged as research tools, rather than just as theoretical concepts, influencing various organizational parameters including job satisfaction. The present study aimed at investigating the relationships, direct and/or indirect, between emotional intelligence, the surface acting component of emotional labor, and job satisfaction in medical staff working in tertiary healthcare. METHODS: Data were collected from 130 physicians in Greece, who completed a series of self-report questionnaires including: a) the Wong Law Emotional Intelligence Scale, which assessed the four dimensions of emotional intelligence, i.e. Self-Emotion Appraisal, Others’ Emotion Appraisal, Use of Emotion, and Regulation of Emotion, b) the General Index of Job Satisfaction, and c) the Dutch Questionnaire on Emotional Labor (surface acting component). RESULTS: Emotional intelligence (Use of Emotion dimension) was significantly and positively correlated with job satisfaction (r=.42, p<.001), whereas a significant negative correlation between surface acting and job satisfaction was observed (r=−.39, p<.001). Furthermore, Self-Emotion Appraisal was negatively correlated with surface acting (r=−.20, p<.01). Self-Emotion Appraisal was found to influence job satisfaction both directly and indirectly through surface acting, while this indirect effect was moderated by gender. Apart from its mediating role, surface acting was also a moderator of the emotional intelligence-job satisfaction relationship. Hierarchical multiple regression analysis revealed that surface acting could predict job satisfaction over and above emotional intelligence dimensions. CONCLUSIONS: The results of the present study may contribute to the better understanding of emotion-related parameters that affect the work process with a view to increasing the quality of service in the health sector