Neuropsychological Correlates of Performance Based Functional Status in Elder Adult Protective Services Referrals for Capacity Assessments

We have previously described high rates of executive function impairment in clients referred by Adult Protective Services (APS) to geriatric psychiatry for decision-making capacity assessments. The purpose of this study was to determine the independent relationship between neuropsychological screening instruments, particularly instruments sensitive to executive function, and performance-based functional tasks in elder referrals. Our retrospective medical review (n = 75/157 referrals completed all neuropsychological and functional assessments) revealed that only the Executive Interview (EXIT25) contributed independent variance to money management performance (R² = 0.29, p < 0.001), telephone use ability (R² = 0.39, p < 0.001), and summed performance (R² = 0.45, p < 0.001). Executive instruments may specifically inform decision-making capacity assessments.     

The Lichtenberg Financial Decision Screening Scale (LFDSS): A new tool for assessing financial decision making and preventing financial exploitation

ABSTRACT

One of the challenges in preventing the financial exploitation of older adults is that neither criminal justice nor noncriminal justice professionals are equipped to detect capacity deficits. Because decision-making capacity is a cornerstone assessment in cases of financial exploitation, effective instruments for measuring this capacity are essential. We introduce a new screening scale for financial decision making that can be administered to older adults. To explore the scale’s implementation and assess construct validity, we conducted a pilot study of 29 older adults seen by APS (Adult Protective Services) workers and 79 seen by other professionals. Case examples are included.     

What the 2008 Stock Market Crash Means for Retirement Security

The 2008 stock market crash raises concerns about retirement security, especially since the increased prevalence of 401(k) and similar retirement saving plans means that more Americans are now stakeholders in the equity market than in the past. Using a dynamic microsimulation model, this paper explores the ability of alternate future stock market scenarios to restore retirement assets. The authors find that those near retirement could fare the worst because they have no time to recoup their losses. Mid-career workers could fare better because they have more time to rebuild their wealth. They may even gain income if they buy stocks at low prices and get above-average rates of return. High-income groups will be the most affected because they are most likely to have financial assets and to be invested in the stock market.     

中国大学校训伦理思想探析

大学校训随近现代意义上大学的创建而产生,集中体现了大学作为一个社会组织特有的文化个性、精神理念和伦理内涵。在市场经济和全球化的背景下,我们应该使大学校训在继承中国传统伦理思想的同时,为中国传统伦理思想赋予新的内涵,不断对中国传统文化进行“扬弃”与“超越”,促使其更好地发挥作用。     

三阶卡尔曼滤波数字锁频环设计及性能分析

提出了一种基于三维卡尔曼滤波的三阶数字锁频环设计方法,并将该锁频环用于高动态GPS信号的载波跟踪。推导了卡尔曼滤波与数字锁频环之间的等效关系,给出了基于该方法设计的锁频环的等效噪声带宽闭式解,分析了环路的暂态性能和稳态性能。以暂态带宽和均方根频率跟踪误差为性能指标,对基于该方法设计的锁频环和固定增益的数字锁频环进行了仿真对比。结果表明,在具有相同稳态带宽的情况下,两种环路具有可比拟的动态和静态跟踪误差,但基于该方法设计的环路具有较高的初始捕获带宽,环路收敛时间大大降低。