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While there is a strong assumption of a direct link between family climate and school bullying victimization, studies on such a direct link have shown inconsistent results. Furthermore, family climate and children's social relationships with teachers and peers at school have been considered potential protective factors against school bullying victimization among adolescents. However, not much is known about how these factors function as protectors against school bullying victimization among children early in middle childhood. Studies examining how these protective factors work together to reduce school bullying victimization are also lacking. This paper attempts to fill the gap by studying how children's social relationships with peers and teachers at school mediate the association of family climate with school bullying victimization among children in the early period of their middle childhood in Taiwan. It also examines how sex influences the mediating effects and interrelationships among family climate, children's school social relationships at school, and school bullying victimization. Data were obtained from a nationally representative sample of 1230 third graders (about 8 years old) in Taiwan. The results showed that family climate had a nonsignificant direct link with school bullying victimization, but a significant indirect link with school bullying victimization mediated through relationships with peers and teachers. These findings are relevant for both sexes. Findings provide empirical support that family climate has an indirect link with school bullying victimization through relationships with teachers and peers. The study indicated that to reduce school bullying victimization among those who are early in middle childhood, potential intervention programs may consider promoting students' relationships with teachers and peers.

Guided respiration mindfulness therapy (GRMT) is a clinical model of breathwork that has shown promise as a treatment for depression, anxiety, and stress. This study examined the effectiveness of GRMT as a holistically oriented intervention for reducing psychological distress in nurses. Sixty-two nurses were assigned to either five sessions of GRMT or 5 sessions of a mindfulness-based intervention (MBI) comparison condition which were conducted over 5 weeks. A no-treatment control was also included. Session-by-session change in depression, anxiety, and stress, along with change in mindfulness and self-compassion were assessed. Multilevel analysis showed GRMT resulted in statistically significant reductions in overall psychological distress, anxiety, and stress levels, as well as significant increases in mindfulness and self-compassion with large to very large effect sizes. On all measures, GRMT performed better than the comparison MBI intervention which showed no significant effect on stress levels. Results suggest that GRMT can provide nurses with an effective group intervention for reducing stress, and increasing mindfulness and self-compassion which are foundational elements of self-care for the holistic nurse. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a new compact CMOS Li-Ion battery charger for portable applications that uses a charge-pump technique. The proposed charger features a small chip size and a simple circuit structure. Additionally, it provides basic functions with voltage/current detection, end-of-charge detection, and charging speed control. The charger operates in dual-mode and is supported in the trickle/large constant-current mode to constant-voltage mode with different charging rates. This charger is implemented using a TSMC 0.35-[micro]m CMOS process with a 5-V power supply. The output voltage is almost 4.2 V, and the maximum charging current reaches 700 mA. It has 67.89% power efficiency, 837-mW chip power dissipation, and only 1.455 x 1.348 [mm.sup.2] in chip area including pads. Index Terms--Charge pump, charger circuit, Li-Ion battery. Digital Object Identifier 10.1109/TCSI.20.890605

Objectives: The study aimed to evaluate the effects of an advance care planning (ACP) program on knowledge and attitudes concerning palliative care, and decisions regarding DNR orders in the older residents in a long-term care institution. Methods: A quasi-experimental design was used. Participants were cognitively unimpaired older residents in a long-term care institution in Taiwan. The experimental group (n = 29) received the intervention including an individual interview using an ACP handbook and a group patient education; whereas the control group (n = 28) received the group patient education only. Results: There were significant positive effects of the ACP program on understanding of DNR and palliative care, willingness to sign a DNR order, and knowledge of and attitude towards palliative care; however, there was no significant effect on willingness to receive palliative care. Six participants signed the DNR order after the intervention compared to none in the control group. Conclusions: The ACP program can improve knowledge and attitudes towards palliative care in older residents in long-term care institutions. Clinical Implications: The ACP program could incorporate multiple components, including individual interview using ACP handbook and group patient education, and address knowledge and attitudes towards palliative care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]