Seismic Fragility Evaluation of RC Frame Structures Retrofitted with Controlled Concrete Rocking Column and Damping Technique

Acceleration response of simple yielding structure is proportional to its own weight, but it is limited by yield strength. Thus, using rocking columns that reduces global yield strength, a limited acceleration is achieved. However, the displacement becomes large due to lower strength and higher inelasticity, but it can be controlled by adding damping. Performing fragility analyses, the seismic response of R/C frame structures with rocking columns and viscous dampers is investigated. Near field MCEER ground motions are considered. The analyses show that the story accelerations are reduced by using rocking columns, while the story displacements are controlled by using viscous dampers.     

Nearby,but Not Wanted? The Bypassing of Rural Hospitals and Policy Implications for Rural Health Care Systems

This study examines the underutilization of rural hospitals. The authors study hospital and patient characteristics to determine why and how rural patients bypass local rural hospitals despite the availability of comparable medical services. The general conditional logit analysis of data on patients and hospitals suggests that hospital characteristics (size, ownership, and distance) and patient characteristics (payment source, medical condition, age, and race) influence rural patients' decisions to bypass local rural hospitals. The study offers two suggestions (policy implications) to better utilize rural health care institutions: a market-centered approach, and more effective government intervention for horizontal and vertical hospital integration.