Effect of natural heat convection on fractional MHD second-grade fluid in an infinite vertically oscillating cylinder with Hankel transform.

In this paper, we studied the effect of a magnetic field on the non-isothermal second-grade fluid confined in a vertically oscillating cylinder. The flow solution is magnetized using the perpendicular magnetic field. The resultant fluid flow is due to the oscillating boundary motion and buoyancy force. Here, the MHD flow is modeled using the Caputo-Fabrizio non-integer derivative approach. The exact solution of the governing continuity, momentum and energy equations is obtained by means of Laplace and finite Hankel transforms. The commercial simulation software, Mathematica is used for calculating the roots of the Bessel function. The effects of dimensionless parameters such as Grashof and Prandtl numbers, magnetic field and fractional parameters on the second-grade fluid flow are analyzed. Heat transfer is high at a small Prandtl number. Velocity correlates positively with Grashof number and magnetic field, and negatively with Prandtl number. The heat and mass transfer results obtained from both conventional and fractional models are compared as well.

Establishing mercury-free medical facilities: a Malaysian case study.

PURPOSE: Mercury is widely used in medical and healthcare facilities as dental amalgam, mercury-added medical devices, thiomersal-containing vaccines, laboratory analysis and for other general applications despite the hazards. Various agencies consistently promote mercury-free medical facilities through mercury-free alternatives and better management practices, which are in line with the Minamata Convention on Mercury that aims to protect human health and environment from anthropogenic mercury release. The paper aims to discuss these issues. DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH: The authors conducted a gap analysis on recommended practices gathered from the literature and current practices gathered through semi-structured interviews with Malaysian medical personnel. A life cycle approach was adopted covering mercury use: input, storage, handling, accident, waste disposal and governance phases. FINDINGS: The authors found that there are significant gaps between recommended and current mercury management practices. Analysis indicates improper mercury management as the main contributor to these gaps. The authors found from recommended practices that core components needing improvement include: mercury management action plan, mercury use identification team, purchasing policy, proper guidelines and monitoring systems. PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: This study helps us to understand mercury management practices and suggests essential steps to establish a mercury-free medical facility. ORIGINALITY/VALUE: This study explored the gaps between recommended and current mercury management practices in a medical facility and contributes to the Minamata Convention on Mercury aspirations.

Mercury-Added Products Management: Challenges In Developing Countries And Lessons Learned From Medical Facility

The risks of mercury use have prompted the establishment of Minamata Convention on Mercury which placed strong emphasis on management of mercury-added products. This convention aims to reduce and phase out the use, manufacturing and trade of mercury-added products including batteries, switches and non-electronic measuring devices. This commitment will cause significant impacts especially in the developing countries in designing the right approach to achieve it. This is also true for medical industry which is well known for the utilization of mercury-added devices and dental amalgam in its services but had embarked on efforts in eliminating mercury for many years. The experiences learned within a medical facility can be useful in efforts to meet this global ambition of mercury phase out. This paper aims to provide conceptual discussion on the challenges faced by developing countries and lessons learned from medical facility that can helps the formulation of appropriate approaches to manage mercury-added products. The paper adopted medical industry as a case study and used document analysis to discuss the issue. The main challenges identified for developing countries include lacks of capacity, funding, data and newer technologies. Based on analysis of previous studies, this study proposed a mercury management framework in medical facility and identified the recommended practices, namely technological application, policy instrument, capacity building and guidelines development. These identified approaches are found to have specific relationships between cost and potential impacts, hence giving flexibility for adoption based on the available resources in promoting better mercury management system