Compensation Setting Research Articles

Effects of instructions on physical capacities outcome in a workers' compensation setting.

Physical Capacity Evaluations (PCE) are often used in Pain Management Programs (PMP) to help determine patients' return-to-work status, continued rehabilitation and compensation. Groups of patients participating in a 4-week PMP were given the PCE upon entry to the program and again near discharge. Change in performance between the first and second testing was examined. The study was designed to examine the effects of instructions on patients' performance on the PCE. An extensive literature suggests that, although commonly used, the PCE is of questionable validity in measuring actual physical capacity. Patients were assigned to one of 2 physical therapists and given a PCE (in this setting, a dynamic vs static strength test) on admission and near the time of discharge. The assessment by the 2 therapists differed in the instructions they gave their patients for the PCE. Both therapists told their groups, "Do the best you can," but only one therapist added, "This test will be used to determine your job classification." In the second half of the study both therapists gave identical instructions, "Do the best you can," and did not add the explanation. Patients who were informed that the test would be used to determine their job classifications performed considerably worse than those not so informed. When both therapists gave the same instructions, groups performed comparably, suggesting that therapist variables did not explain the differences between the groups. Instructions on the PCE have an effect on performance.

On the use of multiple quasi-static mode compensation sets for component mode synthesis of complex structures

We recently developed a new component mode synthesis method that combines the computational efficiency of the well-known constraint mode approach with the dynamic compensation accuracy obtained by higher-order expansion methods. A tuning parameter, designated as the centering frequency, controls the dynamic range of the quasi-static mode. In this paper, we present criteria for selecting the centering frequency as well as for determining the number of sets of quasi-static modes that should be included in low-frequency and banded, mid-frequency response calculations.

On the distributed stable full information H minimax problem

We study the distributed parameter suboptimal full information H∞ problem for a stable well-posed linear system with control u, disturbance w, state x, and output y. Here u, w, and y are L2-signals on (0,∞) with values in the Hilbert spaces U, W, and Y, and the state x is a continuous function of time with values in the Hilbert space H. The problem is to determine if there exists a (dynamic) γ-suboptimal feedforward compensator, i.e., a compensator 𝒰 such that the choice u = 𝒰w makes the norm of the input/output map from w to y less than a given constant γ. A sufficient condition for the existence of a γ-suboptimal compensator is that an appropriately extended input/output map of the system has a (J,S)-inner–outer factorization of a special type, and if the control and disturbance spaces are finite-dimensional and the system has an L1 impulse response, then this condition is also necessary. Moreover, in this case there exists a central state feedback/feedforward controller, which can be used to give a simple parameterization of the set of all γ-suboptimal compensators. Our proof use a game theory approach. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Software corrected hot wire thermal lag for the constant voltage anemometer featuring a constant bandwidth at the selected compensation setting

Software compensation correction for thermal lag of a hot wire in the application of a constant voltage anemometer (CVA) for turbulence measurements in the boundary layer of a supersonic wind tunnel has been demonstrated. The CVA was used with a fixed compensation setting while measuring the in situ thermal lag (time constant) of the hot wire. Using the measured time constant, corrections are applied to the fixed compensation output of the CVA in postprocessing of the data. To demonstrate the flexibility of the approach it was used for two compensation settings at a test point to obtain the same results from both settings. A unique advantage of this approach is shown to be that for a given compensation setting in the CVA the bandwidth of the measurements for the test remains constant for all of the different test conditions and yields higher productivity. The results of the turbulence levels measured with this method agree with earlier research using other anemometers. Spectral plots of the mass flux and temperature and the measured in situ time constant responses under different conditions of the hot wire have been presented.

Transfer function analysis of the constant voltage anemometer

The transfer function for the constant voltage anemometer (CVA) circuit has been derived in terms of circuit and hot-wire parameters and the expressions for the natural frequency and damping ratio have been obtained. Bandwidth in each case was determined from the plot of the normalized transfer function. The theoretical bandwidth behavior calculated from the transfer function plots for the prototype agrees with independent tests of the prototype using laser radiation heating of the hot wire in an air jet. The near constant value of the bandwidth of the CVA with the variation in the hot-wire overheat and its Reynolds number that were observed with the laser tests have been substantiated with the theoretical values from the transfer function. Bandwidth testing with sine wave injection, in situ time constant measurement for proper compensation setting, method to optimize the design to have nearly a constant bandwidth even with different compensation time constants and the operational advantages of CVA are also discussed.

How Much Does the CEO Matter? The Role of Managerial Discretion in the Setting of CEO Compensation

The idea that managerial discretion—defined as latitude of action—may be an important determinant of CEO compensation has been recognized for some time. However, in spite of considerable work that ...

Executive Compensation in the Nonprofit Sector

AbstractAn examination of executive compensation in the nonprofit sector indicates that, as in the for‐profit sector, the salaries of nonprofit executive directors depend heavily upon the organization's size. Among nonprofits, both ideology and the composition of revenues substantially affect executive compensation levels. The results of this study indicate broad differences across segments of the nonprofit sector and a strong role for ideology in the setting of compensation.

Preserving Workers' Compensation Benefits in a Managed Health Care Environment

Managed care techniques are increasingly being applied in the workers' compensation setting. Many workers, labor representatives and public health advocates fear that the introduction of managed care into workers' compensation may reflect a broader employer-driven campaign to erode benefits, tighten eligibility criteria, and weaken employees' control over health care and compensation issues. The potential threats to workers can be mitigated by involving them in the design of the workers' compensation health plan and selection of provider organization, assuring access to appropriate specialists and diagnostic testing, minimizing delays, increasing accountability through contract provisions and government oversight, and enhancing communications through the use of ombudsmen and alternative dispute resolution approaches. Additional outcomes studies assessing the long-term impact of managed care in workers' compensation are needed.

Fibromyalgia Consensus Report

Some controversy has been generated by the consensus report on fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) published in 1996 (1). The current paper examines this report and offers some additional perspectives on several issues. The consensus report was based primarily on scientific data and provided useful information on various aspects of FMS. However, it is felt that some views, e.g., those on diagnosis in a work or compensation setting, causality, and management may be misinterpreted to the detriment of patient care. Our viewpoint in this paper states that both research data and clinical experience should be used to meaningfully address different aspects of FMS covered in the consensus report. Furthermore, be-cause of continued research in FMS, the finite time limitations of the original report compiled in June of 1994, should be recognized.

Advanced cooperative order in multiple compensators in passive redundancy

Multicompensator configurations where multiple compensators are simultaneously in operation for a given plant have been widely used for performance or reliability of the total control system. The idea of cooperation among compensators in such control has not as yet been clarified. This paper presents a conception along with its mathematical model. Passive redundancy is a theory for achieving reliability so that the total control system is still stable even if some compensators fail. Based on this theory, this paper introduces a new idea of advanced cooperative order in a compensator set from the viewpoint of sharing loads with each other, where all compensators must contribute to reduction of any other's load. That is, each compensator has a positive definition of membership in the compensator set. It is shown that this advanced cooperative order can be achieved. © 1997 Scripta Technica, Inc. Electron Comm Jpn Pt 3, 80(10): 9–18, 1997

Fuzzy Model Based Control of Steam Generation in Drum-Boiler Power Plant

Abstract A fuzzy model based control methodology is proposed for controlling the steam generation in a drum-boiler power plant. The control design is based on a fuzzy dynamic model which is a fuzzy aggregation of a set of linear models defined at various operating load conditions. The hierarchical control structure consists of three levels - compensator, scheduling and planning layers. The compensator layer includes a set of state feedback and feedforward compensators, and state estimators. The scheduling and planning layers are incorporated with the approximate reasoning feature of the fuzzy dynamic model to form a fuzzy coordinator.

Optimal harmonic power flow

A new optimal harmonic power flow (OHPF) method is proposed in this paper. This new OHPF is designed to minimize the MW losses and the total harmonic voltage distortion while satisfying the power flow equations, harmonic power flow equations, security constraints and harmonic standard, etc. A two-level algorithm is used to solve the problem: the master level determines the settings of compensators and taps; and the slave level includes subproblems which involve cases of fundamental and harmonic frequencies separately. The test results for two power systems show the applicability of the proposed method.

Compensation behaviour recognized in literature reports of selected heterogeneous catalytic reactions: aspects of the comparative analyses and significance of published kinetic data

A comparative analysis of selected examples of compensation behaviour, reported in the literature or identified here in published rate studies for heterogeneous catalytic reactions, showed that the isokinetic temperature often occurs within the interval of the kinetic measurements. (At the isokinetic temperature the rate constants for all reactions of the set are equal). Detailed comparisons of data for a diverse group of nickel metal catalyzed cracking-type processes showed significant variations of the magnitudes of the activation energies reported for ethane hydrogenolysis, though levels of reactivity were similar to other chemical changes in the set. It is also concluded that the factors determining the magnitude of Arrhenius parameters for many surface processes are insufficiently well understood to warrant the formulation of detailed mechanisms of the contributory surface reactions. It is also concluded here that the similarity of reactivities over a range of reaction temperatures, for a set of rate processes, is demonstrated by the existence of compensation behaviour. This observation may be useful in providing insights into the identity of common factors controlling reactivities within each group of isokinetically related reactions. A similar level of reactivity characterizes the compensation set. A theoretical explanation of the magnitudes of Arrhenius parameters for many surface processes is not at present practicable because we have insufficient knowledge of the conditions and controls prevailing. Mechanistic proposals are often based on presumed extensions of the theory accepted for homogeneous rate processes.

A complete set of automatic compensation equipment of a capacitive charging current in the application of a medium-voltage power system

The complete set of automatic compensation of a capacitive charging current is composed of a grounding-transformer-type arc-extinguishing coil, an automatic tuning controller and a fail-safe ground fault protective device. This paper introduces the overall scheme of the set, the design, the operation principle and the characteristics of its various parts.

Comparison of disability behavior after different sites and types of injury in a workers' compensation population.

In this study, an extensive data set from a regional workers' compensation system was analyzed to determine whether particular sites or types of injury were associated with prolonged disability. This data shows a similar pattern of vocational disability for almost all sites and types of injury. A workers' compensation carrier collects data for financial purposes related to insurance, and such data therefore has several serious potential deficiencies when used for clinical research. However, published data on disablement after nonoccupational trauma shows similar patterns of vocational and nonvocational disability, and also shows dependence on severity of injury. In both settings, head injury is associated with greater occupational disability. Because treatment, policy, and medicolegal decisions are based on the impression of "typical disability" for particular sites and types of injury, there is a need for better documentation of post-traumatic disablement in compensation settings and in noncompensation settings. This should include better classification of the cause, type, and severity of the injury, and of the functional outcome in terms of both the resumption of occupational and nonoccupational roles, and of persistence in these roles.

Three-phase optimal harmonic power flow

A new three-phase optimal-harmonic-power-flow (TOHPF) method is proposed. It is designed to minimise the three-phase power losses and the total three-phase harmonic voltage distortion while satisfying the three-phase-power-flow equations, three-phase harmonic-power-flow equations, three-phase security constraints, and the three-phase harmonic standard etc. A two-level algorithm is used to solve the problem: the master level determines the settings of three-phase compensators and taps; the slave level includes subproblems which involve cases of fundamental and harmonic frequencies separately. The test results for two power systems show the applicability of the proposed method.

A Comprehensive Initiative to Manage the Incidence and Cost of Occupational Injury and Illness

A comprehensive initiative utilizing an in-house preferred provider organization, medical case management, and application of ergonomic techniques was implemented in an effort to control the incidence and cost of workplace injuries. The program was evaluated utilizing OSHA 200 Logs to compare the incidence and lost time due to compensable injury and illnesses before and after beginning the program. After the introduction, there was a significant decrease in injuries and illnesses (53/1000 vs 27/1000, P<.01) and average days lost per event (10.4 vs 6.6 days, P<.01). A significant increase in restricted-duty days (.2 vs 1.5 days, P<.01) and an 18% reduction in medical and indemnity costs of the institution's workers' compensation expenditures were observed. This study demonstrates the initial effectiveness of an aggressive ergonomic and managed care approach to reducing the incidence, severity, and cost of occupationally related injury and illness. It also highlights the effectiveness of an outcomes analysis approach, using lost time as an end point, to measure the effectiveness of preventive and management strategies in the workers' compensation setting.

RESULTS OF LUMBAR DISK SURGERY IN A CITY COMPENSATION POPULATION

This is a retrospective analysis of 118 patients who underwent 132 operations in a city compensation setting for the treatment of lumbar disk disease from January 1976 to December 1987. Each of these patients had a work-related injury. There was a minimum 2-year follow up with an average follow up of 6.9 years. No patients were lost to follow up. The purpose was to determine what percentage of patients treated in a work-related setting could be expected to return to a sustained, pre-injury employment state following a carefully executed lumbar spine surgical procedure. Satisfactory surgical results were considered achieved only by those patients who returned to full-duty work status. Only 31 of the 118 patients (26%) returned to full duty and were considered satisfactory. Regarding the number of surgical procedures, 31 of 132 operations (23%) were successful. Sixteen reoperations in 13 patients all resulted in failure. Only 16 of the 64 patients (25%) treated with laminectomy and diskectomy alone had a satisfactory result. When a two-level, posterior lateral spinal fusion was added the success rate was increased to 44%, with 12 of 27 patients returning to work. Six patients with spinal stenosis underwent decompression laminectomy and entry level foraminotomies, and all had unsatisfactory results. Five patients with isthmic spondylisthesis underwent a Gill procedure and fusion. Only one of these patients (25%) returned to work. For a 2-year period chymopapain injection was given to 14 patients. Only two returned to work, with a 14% success rate.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

On the design of feedback controllers to achieve prescribed initial value constraints

The problem of designing a stabilizing compensator for a control system to achieve prescribed initial value constraintsυ(i)(0+)=yi is considered. Indeed, modulo certain technical conditions, such a compensator exists if and only if yi=0;i= 0,1,...,r〈p〉 +r〈t〉 −2; wherer〈p〉 is the relative degree of the plant andr〈t〉 is the relative degree of the system input. This theorem is derived and a complete parameterization of the set of compensators that achieve the prescribed design constraints is formulated.

Musculoskeletal Injuries in the Workplace: Defining Quality Care

Quality health care for a specific medical condition may be defined as adherence to an algorithm in which decision points are based on established medical practice as supported in the literature. The decision points can be considered either a "stan-dard of care" if there is definitive scientific evidence for their validity or a "guide-line for care" if there is only a consensus of medical opinion available. Algorithms for musculoskeletal injuries can be and have been successfully applied to patients in the workers' compensation setting. They can function as a concurrent surveil-lance system and are well accepted by physicians, patients, and industry if imple-mented by unbiased medical experts. A high level of quality care is attained by following such algorithms. Other goals achieved are early functional restoration as measured by return to work, a more efficient use of diagnostic studies, and avoidance of unnecessary therapeutic interventions, with the result that treatment is more cost-effective. Such a program that strives for high-quality care and emphasizes appropriate utilization will realize cost savings that may be far greater and longer lasting than the financial saving seen with arbitrary spending caps and fee controls.