Preschoolers can attribute second-order beliefs.

The ability to attribute 2nd-order mental states was investigated in 87 children drawn from preschool, kindergarten, 1st-grade, and 2nd-grade classes. Ss received 4 stories, 2 standard and 2 new, designed to test their understanding of 2nd-order mental states. The standard stories were modified versions of J. Perner and H. Wimmer's (see record 1985-25133-001) 2nd-order task. The new stories were made significantly simpler by reducing the number of characters, episodes, and scenes and by including a deception context. The main findings were that performance on the new stories was significantly better than on the standard stories and that nearly half of the preschoolers and almost all of the kindergartners were able to attribute 2nd-order beliefs. These findings contrast with those of earlier research (e.g., G. J. Hogrefe et al; see PA, Vol 73:26831 and Perner and Wimmer). (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Orientation‐Dependence of Thermal Depolarization and Phase Development in Bi1/2Na1/2TiO3‐BaTiO3 Single Crystals

The direction‐dependence of pyroelectric properties of (1 ? x)Bi_1/2Na_1/2TiO₃ ? xBaTiO₃ (BNT ? 100xBT) is investigated, using single crystal samples with well‐defined orientations for x = 0.036 and x = 0.063. The results are compared with those of temperature‐dependent measurements of the ferroelectric and dielectric hysteresis. The depolarization temperature T_d of each crystal composition is found to depend on crystal orientation, a fact that is explained by differences in the stability of respective domain configurations. A rationalization is offered for the observation that T_d differs from the ferroelectric‐relaxor transition temperature, depending on orientation. The hysteresis curves of BNT ? 3.6BT are typical for a rhombohedral system with a ferroelectric‐relaxor transition, with polarization reversal close to T_d occurring in a multistep process that includes decay of ferroelectric domains into polar nanoregions and re‐formation of domains. BNT ? 6.3BT, a composition in the region of the morphotropic phase boundary, shows the same feature, but additionally is characterized by a field‐induced transition between rhombohedral and tetragonal symmetry. This combination results in an effective piezoelectric coefficient of pm/V.     

The Politics of Revitalization in Gentrifying Neighborhoods The Case of Boston's South End

Federal and local officials have in recent years enacted programs to escalate the middle-class resettlement of city neighborhoods. Enamoured with the physical and economic benefits promised by the back-to-the-city movement, they have underestimated the shortcomings of this neighborhood revitalization strategy. The experience of Boston's South End with publicly supported middle-class resettlement illustrates the severe social and political strains that can develop between incumbents and more affluent “pioneers”—strains which can ultimately inflict damage on the neighborhood's poor. Officials must direct current resources to aid the cities' poorer residents and avoid stimulating gentrification until its adverse side effects can be controlled.