Sherlock Holmes: An expert’s view of expertise

In recent years, there has been an intense research effort to understand the cognitive processes and structures underlying expert behaviour. Work in different fields, including scientific domains, sports, games, and mnemonics, has shown that there are vast differences in perceptual abilities between experts and novices, and that these differences may underpin other cognitive differences in learning, memory, and problem solving. In this article, we evaluate the progress made in the last years through the eyes of an outstanding, albeit fictional, expert: Sherlock Holmes. We first use the Sherlock Holmes character to illustrate expert processes as described by current research and theories. In particular, the role of perception, as well as the nature and influence of expert knowledge, are all present in the description of Conan Doyle’s hero. In the second part of the article, we discuss a number of issues that current research on expertise has barely addressed. These gaps include, for example, several forms of reasoning, the influence of emotions on cognition, and the effect of age on experts’ knowledge and cognitive processes. Thus, although nearly 120 years old, Conan Doyle’s books show remarkable illustrations of expert behaviour, including the coverage of themes that have mostly been overlooked by current research

L’expertise en conduite automobile peut-elle moduler le phénomène d’extension des limites ?

International audienc

Is boundary extension emotionally selective?

When they have to memorize a picture, people usually build a memory trace including more extensive boundaries than the original picture, a phenomenon known as boundary extension or BE. This article looks at whether the emotion category expressed (i.e., happiness, pleasure, irritation, or anger) by actors in short films could have an influence on the BE effect. The results showed that positively valenced emotions (happiness, pleasure) led to an extension effect, while the negatively valenced ones (anger, irritation) did not produce any significant memory distortion. The arousal dimension of emotions had no significant effect on BE. The current results were discussed in the light of previous studies on the links between BE and emotions. (English

Meson-exchange enhancement in first-forbidden β\beta -transitions: the case of 50^{50}K and 38^{38}Ca

The $\beta$- decay of $^{50}$K and $^{38}$Ca have been investigated with the main motive of determining more accurately the first-forbidden $\beta$- branches, in particular the rank-zero, $\Delta$J = 0, $\,\beta$ -transitions. $^{50}$K and $^{38}$Ca have been produced by fragmentation of U and Ti targets respectively, with a 1 GeV proton beam and subsequent on-line mass separation. For $^{50}$K, $\gamma$-ray spectroscopy, as well as delayed neutron spectroscopy by time of flight, were carried out to obtain a detailed decay scheme to 20 (bound and unbound) levels in $^{50}$Ca. The level structur e of $^{50}$Ca can be compared to recent calculations which incorporate 1p1h excitations from the f$_{7/2}$ shell. The first-forbidden $\beta^-$ transition $^{50}$ K(0$^-$)$\,\to{}^{50}$Ca(0$^+$) g.s. has been evaluated for the first time by a direct measurement of $\beta$- and $\gamma$- activities. Its importance (61.0 $\pm$ 7.4$\%$) is interpreted as an effect of the meson-exchange current (MEC) l eading to an enhancement factor of 62(5)$\%$ in comparison with the value predicted by shell-model calculations using the impulse approximation. For the $^{38}$ Ca$\,\to{}^{38}$K decay, chemical selec tive production was obtained through separation of the molecular ion CaF$^+$ without contamination by isobars. In these conditions, the measurement of very weak $\beta$-branches, at a level of 10$^{-3}\%$ decays, could be made and a limit, at the 2$\sigma$-confidence level, has been obtained for the 0$^+\to$ 0$^-$ branch to the level at E$_x$ = 2993 keV (I$_\beta$ < 0.0046$\%$). Imp lications of these results on the general trend of meson-exchange enhancements of first-forbidden transitions within the framework of the spherical shell model are discussed

Study of coupled heat and water transfer in proton exchange membrane fuel cells by the way of internal measurements

Abstract. Measurements of electrode temperatures within a proton exchange membrane fuel cell were performed using platinum wires. A temperature difference of 7°C between the electrodes and the bipolar plates was observed for a cell operating at a current density of 1.5 A.cm -2 . These measurements show a strong non-uniformity of the temperature profile through membrane electrode assembly (MEA) that future phenomenological models must take into account. In addition, the simultaneous measurements of heat and water flux through the MEA leads to the conclusion that produced water crosses the diffusion layer in vapor phase. A very simple heat transfer model is proposed

β\beta- decay of the proton-rich Tz=−1/2_{z} = -1/2 nucleus, 71^{71}Kr

$\beta$- decay of the T$_{z}$ = - 1/2 nuclide $^{71}$Kr has been studied at the ISOLDE PSB Facility at CERN. $^{71}$Kr ions were produced in spallation reactions in a Nb foil using the 1 GeV proton beam and studied by means of $\beta$-delayed proton, $\beta$- and $\gamma$-ray spectroscopy. The half-life and the $\beta$-decay energy of $^{71}$Kr were determined using the decay of protons and positrons. These results: T$_{1/2}$ = 100 ± 3 ms and $Q_\textrm{EC}$ = 10$^{14}$ ± 0.32 MeV and the first observation of the b-branch to the 207 keV level in $^{71}$Br makes the extension of the systematics of Gamow-Teller matrix elements of mirror nuclei up to A = 71 possible. Gamow-Teller strength of the same magnitude as that of the $fp$-shell mirror nuclei is observed for the ground state transition

Proton instability of 73^{73}Rb

The steps of territorial intelligence are based on the emergence of new fashions of exchange within the territory . It acts thus on the territorial visibility and hustles the places of strategic reflexion; by doing this, it takes part within the country, to make move the bond sociétal. This paper subjects a posture of collection and mutualisation of information within the territory

β\beta-decay half-life of 70^{70}Kr: a bridge nuclide for the rp-process beyond A = 70

The $\beta$-decay half-life of $^{70}$Kr has been measured for the first time at the ISOLDE PSB Facility at CERN. Mass separated $^{70}$Kr ions were produced by 1 GeV proton induced spallation reactions in a Nb foil. The measured half-life is 57(21) ms. This value is consistent with the half-life calculated assuming a pure Fermi decay, but is clearly lower than the value used in a recent rp-process reaction flow calculation. The result shows that the reaction flow via two-proton-capture of $^{68}$Se is 2.5 times faster than previously calculated assuming an astrophysical temperature of 1.5 GK and a density of 10$^{6}$g/cm$^{3}$