Adsorption kinetics of surfactant mixtures from micellar solutions as studied by maximum bubble pressure technique.

The adsorption kinetics of micellar solutions of anionic/cationic SDS/DATB mixtures with mixing ratios of 10/1 and 10/2, respectively, are studied experimentally by means of the maximum bubble pressure method. For long adsorption times the adsorption of the highly surface-active anionic/cationic complex leads to a decrease of dynamic surface tension in comparison to the single SDS system. However, the situation is the reverse for short adsorption times where the dynamic surface tension is increased by addition of the cationic surfactant, although the overall concentration is increased. This unexpected behavior is explained by partial solubilization of free SDS molecules into micelles formed by SDS/DTAB complexes. With increasing overall concentration, when eventually the CMC of SDS is reached, the anionic/cationic complex itself is solubilized by SDS micelles. Finally, no complex micelles, which for their part can solubilize an excess of SDS molecules, are present. Hence, the dynamic properties of the solution are no longer influenced by the depletion of SDS molecules and the mixture tends to behave like a pure SDS solution.

A preschooler in a disaster.

A search of the literature of children in disasters showed no case of individual therapy with such a child. The absence may be related to a specific countertransference. In the case of the preschooler presented here, the child's particular situation and developmental stage were significant aspects of his reaction and therapy.

A clinical approach to childhood gender identity disorder.

A review of gender identity disorder is presented along with a case of a four-year-old boy. An overview of some of the theories of gender identity disorder directs our attention via the clinical material to conflict/defense as the most useful. The youngster's cross-gender behavior, possible contributions to it, treatment issues, parental input, boundaries, and transitional objects are considered. The necessity of close communication, cooperation, and guidance to parents, as well as involving them in individual and family therapy, is stressed.

Abuse and neglect in schools.

Maltreatment in the classroom by students of teachers, and teachers of students, is widespread with emotional, physical, sexual, and neglect aspects. Its frequency and long-term developmental effects are undocumented. We know of the consequences in some who become our patients; but for the others we can only speculate based on reports about parental abuse and neglect. This paper presents these issues about the four types of abuse with representative cases. Idealization and transference feelings seem to contribute to the lack of reporting of abuse by teachers. Perhaps teachers do not report being abused by students for fear of retaliation. Some approaches to management are considered. The seriousness of this problem is underlined even more by the paucity of research and reports despite the obvious need. Hopefully, documentation of incidence and developmental effects will be forthcoming.

Sexual abuse of children and adolescents.

Parents, relatives, and friends may inflict their passions on children of the same or opposite sex. This is often initiated by sleeping together. Sexual abuse contributes to and causes emotional trauma, although the child's turmoil, confusion, wish for acceptance, and anxiety may be overlooked by the parent and professional. Mutual silence aided by threats adds to the anxiety. Despite the notion that reports of parental sexual exploitation of their children are usually fantasies, there appear to be increasing data that incest and sexual abuse are frequent traumata. At present, there is increased risk of lowering the incest barrier because of increased rates of divorce and step- or surrogate parenthood, since they provide additional potential for being sexually and emotionally traumatized. Sexual abuse seems to be part of a constellation involving neglect and a pathological symbiosis. That sexual abuse is emotionally traumatic is apparent, but it needs emphasizing. Children's defensive reactions may cloud this, and it may be years before such incidents are connected to symptomatic behavior, even when the child is in intensive therapy. In the reported cases, there appears to be a pattern of reactions and defenses related to the traumata that are embedded in imprinting and identification with the aggressor. This leads to sexual abuse being a legacy passed on to the next generation of victims, as the victim becomes the molester through identification. Adolescent self-destructive behavior may stem from guilt about sexually abusing younger children. Therapists may be better able to understand and deal with some of their patients' symptoms if sexual abuse is considered as a possible factor in one or both directions.

They shall wear fringes.

The multiple functions of clothes include utility, protection, rivalry, disguise, camouflage, display for seduction purposes, aggression, totemism, and status. Here the focus is on a decorative and distinctive hierarchical aspect of ancient dress, the tsitsit or fringes, whose original function is long absent, but that has endured for 3,500 years in Judaism. The beginning of their use beyond the totemic appears related to issues of changing identity from slavery to liberty, endowing noble status, exhibitionism, a symbol of identity, identification with the aggressor, a talisman, and potency. It is conceptualized that they became a symbol, or a specifier, that helped promote group cohesion in ex-slaves who were frightened, dependent, anxious, and not hopeful about their future. The tsitsit aided the development of a new identity and made all Israelites equal and noble to the observer. The durability of this symbol to the present is evident in its daily wear, as an accompaniment to daily prayers, as well as in its use as a burial shroud for males. It appears that the tsitsit have additional multiple functions. These are the promise of oral and genital satisfaction, and the pleasure of the after-life, superego warnings and control of sexual impulses, protection, survival value, and affirmation. Since they offer sublimation with acceptable gratification of instincts, the tsitsit have become ritualized and endure.