Joule Effect Research Articles

The Influence of Impedance on the Efficacy of Radiofrequency Ablation for Benign Thyroid Nodules.

Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) uses the heat generated by a high-frequency alternating electric current, and according to Ohm's and Joule's law, the delivered current is inversely proportional to the circuit impedance. The primary objective of this study was to investigate whether tissue impedance during radiofrequency ablation (RFA) for benign thyroid nodules is related to the degree of volume reduction. This observational study included consecutive patients treated with RFA for benign thyroid nodules from February 2020 to August 2023. Technical effectiveness was defined as a volume reduction percentage (VRP) >75% at 6 months after the treatment. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to identify the potential role of clinical factors and changes in tissue impedance on technique effectiveness. Totally 72 patients were included with 73 benign thyroid nodules. Maximal impedance peaks reached <18 times, and mean procedural impedance ≤300 Ω were significantly associated with a volume decrease of >75% at bivariate analysis. These cutoff points were exploratory, as no existing literature suggests these variables are related to the degree of volume reduction. After adjusting for age, volume, and composition, significant associations were found for mean electrical impedance in the multivariate analysis (OR = 4.86 [confidence interval [CI] 1.29-18.26], p = 0.019). The energy adjusted by volume (delivered energy) was not associated with a VRP >75% (p = 0.7746). This study suggests that a mean procedural impedance </= 300 Ω is related to the effectiveness of RFA as measured by VRP. Additional prospective and randomized studies are needed to compare electrical parameters with VRP. 3 Laryngoscope, 134:5231-5238, 2024.

Stability Analysis of Hybrid Nanofluid with Inclined MHD and Joule Effects: Flow Reversal and Flow Separation

Stability Analysis of Hybrid Nanofluid with Inclined MHD and Joule Effects: Flow Reversal and Flow Separation

Comparative data analysis of radiative MHD Bingham and Newtonian fluid past a Non-Linear stretching sheet with thermoelectric and Joule effects

Comparative data analysis of radiative MHD Bingham and Newtonian fluid past a Non-Linear stretching sheet with thermoelectric and Joule effects

Entropy generation in radiative motion of tangent hyperbolic nanofluid in the presence of gyrotactic microorganisms and activation energy

In this work, entropy generation is optimized through the application of the second law of thermodynamics. The slip mechanisms, Brownian diffusions, and thermophoresis are elaborated using the tangent hyperbolic nanomaterial model. Magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) fluid is taken into consideration. To characterize the impact of activation energy, a unique model involving the binary chemical reaction is deployed. The effects of mixed convection that is nonlinear in nature, bioconvection, and Joule effect are all taken into consideration. The key partial differential equations (PDEs) are reduced into ordinary differential equations (ODEs) by utilizing appropriate similarity transformations and then solved numerically with the help of a built-in ‘bvp4c’ technique of MATLAB software. Varied flow parameters’ impacts on the nanoparticle volume concentration, entropy number, microorganism concentration, temperature, and velocity fields are analyzed using graphs. Various flow variables are taken into consideration to calculate the total rate of entropy generation. The obtained results show that concentration irreversibility, Joule effect irreversibility, viscous dissipation, and heat irreversibility all influence the entropy. The numerical outcomes were observed by fixing the physical parameters as 0.1&lt;α&lt;4.0, 0.1&lt;M&lt;1.2, 0.1&lt;Nr&lt;2.2, 0.1&lt;Le&lt;2.2, 0.1&lt;Nb&lt;0.4, 0.1&lt;Nt&lt;1.0, 2.0&lt;⁡Pr⁡&lt;5.0, and 0.1&lt;Lb&lt;2.0, as well as their impact on the momentum, thermal, concentration, and microorganism density profiles. From results, an increasing estimate of the variable representing chemical reaction indicates a decline in the concentration. The higher the chemical reaction variable, Hartmann number, and Weissenberg number, the higher the entropy number, while the Bejan number has a contrary behavior. Subsequently, all the outcomes are plotted in graphs and discussed in detail, when subjected to the involving physical quantities.

Comparison of Conventional and Microwave Heating

Carnot batteries (or Power-to-Heat-to-Power systems) are capable of increasing the use of electricity from photovoltaic or wind power plants to achieve decarbonisation of the electricity sector. To decouple electricity production from demand, these renewable power plants can be connected to the thermal energy storage system of a concentrated solar thermal power plant via electric heaters. As an alternative to electric heaters, microwaves are studied as a volumetric and selective heating method, avoiding the limitations of the Joule effect conventional heating when having solar salt (non-eutectic mixture of 60 wt % NaNO3 and 40 wt % KNO3), which is a storage medium with low thermal conductivity, working at a temperature very close to its affordable maximum temperature without degradation. In this work, the two heating methods are compared both experimentally and numerically. At experimental level, a microwave oven and a muffle furnace are used to record energy consumption and time for a common objective. Additionally, different crucible materials were used to test their suitability with microwaves. Only quartz glass was validated for microwave heating, while the porcelain and alumina based materials (Corundum and Alsint 99.7) failed while exposed to microwaves. Compared to conventional heating, heating solar salt with microwaves saved fifty minutes of time and ninety percent of consumption. These experiments were validated by numerical simulations, showing a different distribution in each experiment.

Upconverting thermal history paint for investigations of short thermal events

The main goal of the work was to develop phosphorescent coating for investigations of surface temperature distribution resulted from short duration and high energy thermal events such as small rocket engine testing. For that purpose, we developed thermal history paint with upconverting Gd2O3: Er3+, Yb3+, Mg2+ nanopowder. The developed paint was heated by Joule effect with precise control over temperature and heating time. Photoluminescence signal of cooled samples was excited with 980 nm laser and collected in automatic manner with use of an optical fibre probe connected to photospectrometer. The results show that irreversible changes of paint emission are temperature and heating time specific for calcination temperatures from 700 °C to 1150 °C. Calibration curves were prepared for heating times of 10, 60 and 180 seconds. Finally, 2D surface temperature samples were determined with use of upconverting thermal history paint and compared to IR camera and pyrometric measurements. The results indicate that uncertainty of temperature measurement below 10 °C was achieved for temperatures above 1000 °C. It has been demonstrated that developed thermal history paint allows for measurements of 2D surface temperature distribution with high spatial resolution and good agreement to standard measurements techniques like thermal camera and pyrometer.

Introduction of a novel longitudinal-flexural-torsional actuator using a magnetostrictive rod

Abstract This paper presents a novel bulk magnetostrictive actuator, utilizing a rod made of Permendur alloy. This actuator demonstrates versatility in accommodating longitudinal, torsional, and flexural deformations. Longitudinal deformation is induced by applying magnetic fields along the material’s axis, exploiting the Joule effect. The axial magnetic field is generated by a coaxial coil surrounding the material. Torsional deformation is achieved by passing current through the magnetostrictive material and applying circumferential magnetic field, following the Wiedeman effect. To induce flexural deformation, a magnetic field is applied at the material’s surface, facilitated by a magnetic coupler. Actuation is executed using DC magnetic fields, granting the actuator control over four degrees of freedom. Numerical analysis conducted utilizing COMSOL software, showed the combined modes and their mutual influences. The actuator’s displacement range reaches a maximum of 12 µms longitudinally, 7 µms flexurally, and 0.15 degrees torsionally. It also exhibits the capability of simultaneous excitation in two or three different modes. The experiments and studies conducted show the potential application of this innovative actuator in precise positioning systems such as microscopes and optical systems.

Thomson/Joule Power Compensation and the Measurement of the Thomson Coefficient.

The energy transported by the electric current that circulates a thermoelectric element (TE) varies with position due to the Joule and Thomson effects. The Thomson effect may enhance or compensate the Joule effect. A method for measuring the Thomson coefficient of a TE is presented. This method is based on the total compensation of the Joule and Thomson effects. The electric current then flows without delivering power to the TE or absorbing power from it. For a TE, the global Thomson/Joule compensation ratio Φ¯T/J is defined as the ratio of the power absorbed by the current due to the Thomson effect and the power delivered by the current to the TE due to the Joule effect. It can be expressed as Φ¯T/J=I0/I, where I is the electric current and I0 is the zero-power current, a quantity that is proportional to the average Thomson coefficient. When I=I0, the Thomson effect exactly compensates the Joule effect and the net power delivered by the current to the TE is zero. Since the power delivered by the current is related to the temperature distribution, temperature measurements for currents around I0 can be used as the basis for a measurement technique of the Thomson coefficient. With varying current, the difference between the temperature at the center of the TE and the mean temperature between its extremes reverses its sign at the zero-power current, I=I0. This observation suggests the possibility of measuring the Thomson coefficient, but a quantitative analysis is needed. With calculations using the constant transport coefficients model for Bi2Te0.94Se0.063 and Bi0.25Sb0.752Te3, it is theoretically shown that a null temperature detector with a sensitivity of the order of 1 mK allows for the accurate determination of the Thomson coefficient.

Economical Experimental Device for Evaluating Thermal Conductivity in Construction Materials under Limited Research Funding

African scientific research faces formidable challenges, particularly with limited access to state-of-the-art measurement instruments. The high cost associated with these devices presents a significant barrier for regional research laboratories, impeding their ability to conduct sophisticated experiments and gather precise data. This predicament not only hampers the individual laboratories but also has broader implications for the African scientific community and the advancement of knowledge in developing nations—the financial cost barrier considerably impacts the research quality of these laboratories. Reflection on technical and economical solutions needs to be quickly found to help these countries advance their research. In civil engineering, the thermal conductivity property is the most important measurement for characterizing heat transfer in construction materials. Existing devices (i.e., conductometers) in a laboratory are expensive (approximately EUR 30,000) and unavailable for some African laboratories. This study proposes a new and affordable device to evaluate thermal conductivity in construction materials. The method involves establishing a thermal flux between a heat source (from the Joule effect provided by steel wool where a current is circulating) and a cold source (generated by ice cubes) under steady-state conditions. The development of the cylindrical prototype is based on the comparative flux-meter method outlined in the measuring protocol of the ASTM E1225 standard document. Experiments were conducted on four distinct materials (polystyrene, wood, agglomerated wood, and rigid foam). The results indicate a correct correlation between the experimental values obtained from the newly developed prototype and the reference values found in the literature. For example, concerning the experimental polystyrene study, the detailed case analysis reveals a good correlation, with a deviation of only 4.88%. The percent error found falls within the acceptable range indicated by the standard recommendations of the ASTM E1225 standard, i.e., within 5% acceptable error.

Pulsed Electric Fields Effects on Proteins: Extraction, Structural Modification, and Enhancing Enzymatic Activity.

Pulsed electric field (PEF) is an innovative physical method for food processing characterized by low energy consumption and short processing time. This technology represents a sustainable procedure to extend food shelf-life, enhance mass transfer, or modify food structure. The main mechanism of action of PEF for food processing is the increment of the permeability of the cell membranes by electroporation. However, it has also been shown that PEF may modify the technological and functional properties of proteins. Generating a high-intensity electric field necessitates the flow of an electric current that may have side effects such as electrochemical reactions and temperature increments due to the Joule effect that may affect food components such as proteins. This article presents a critical review of the knowledge on the extraction of proteins assisted by PEF and the impact of these treatments on protein composition, structure, and functionality. The required research for understanding what happens to a protein when it is under the action of a high-intensity electric field and to know if the mechanism of action of PEF on proteins is different from thermal or electrochemical effects is underlying.

The effect of an auxiliary spring on the decrease of contact resistance and contact temperature for power automotive connector

Power automotive connectors used to connect two electrical systems in an electric vehicle should resist the rising of electric power or electric current. The latter can cause a rise in contact temperature by the Joule effect and can damage a connector improperly designed. The purpose of this work is to study experimentally and numerically the influence of the addition of a second spring on the ability of a power connector to transmit a high current. For this reason, an experimental test has been held on a connector without a second spring to measure contact resistance and contact temperature; then, a finite element model FEM of this connector was developed to compare and validate the numerical results with the experimental results. In addition, another FE model with a second spring was used to minimize contact resistance and contact temperature. Moreover, a theoretical model has shown its effectiveness in contact temperature and contact area calculations; it provides good agreement with experimental and numerical results. Numerical results show that the effect of the addition of a 2nd spring on the decrease of the contact temperature and contact resistance is significant. In addition, the thermo-electrical analysis by finite element shows that the current limit supported by a power connector with an auxiliary spring will equal twice the current supported by a power connector with one spring. FE mechanical analysis shows that the maximum mechanical stress in the connector with an auxiliary spring remains lower than the 2nd spring material yield stress. Finally, experimental and numerical results are in good agreement.

Construction of robust superhydrophobic surfaces with electrothermal, photothermal properties using simple spraying method

In this study, robust superhydrophobic surfaces with electrothermal, photothermal properties were fabricated by simple spraying method. In more detail, multiwall carbon nanotube (MWCNT) and silica were deliberately sprayed onto the wet poly(amide imide) (PAI) surface to construct intensive conductive network with hierarchical porous structure. The composite coating showed superhydrophobic with a water contact angle (CA) of greater than 155o and sliding angle (SA) of lower than 5o, conductivity of approaching to 1 kΩ sq-1. As expected, the composite coating possessed passive anti-icing property owing to its high CA, and the freezing time at -20 °C was obviously delayed from 150 to 600 s. On the other hand, the surface temperature respectively increased by 40 °C and 35 °C under the assistance of electric (voltage of 36 V) or light (0.23 W cm-2 irradiation) power, and the active anti-icing function can still work even under a such low temperature of -15 °C. It is worth noting that the heat generated by Joule effect was fixed on the conductive surfaces, and thus the composite coating showed good thermal insulation due to the low thermal conductivity of PAI substrate (0.298 W/mK) and hierarchical porous structure of composite coating. In addition, the surfaces showed high mechanical robust and durability, and the superhydrophobic and conductive properties were nearly unaffected even they suffered from lots of tests such as sandpaper abrasion, ultrasonic treatment, strong acid or strong alkali immerse, UV irradiation, and hot water jet impacting. Therefore, this study offered a simple way to fabricate electrothermal and photothermal surfaces for practical anti-icing/de-icing applications.

Highly Transmittance, Mechanical, Thermally Stable Silver Nanowires Network Using ZnO Nanoparticles.

This research addresses challenges with silver nanowires (Ag NWs) as transparent conductive electrodes (TCEs) and heaters in commercial devices. Here, zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) are first reported as a protective layer for Ag NWs. Multi-physics simulations confirm enhanced thermal stability due to improved heat dissipation, temperature distribution, and thermal conductivity from ZnO. When Ag NWs are surrounded by air, heat transfers mainly through convection and radiation because of air's low conduction coefficient. Encasing Ag NWs in ZnO enhances heat transfer to the ZnO surface, accelerating cooling and dissipating more heat into the atmosphere via convection. The results show composite's efficiency in the Joule effect, maintaining a consistent temperature of 78°C for 700s after 500 bending cycles, a significant improvement over Ag NWs operating for only 5s at 80°C. Additionally, the composite film exhibited exceptional performance, including a sheet resistance of 9.8Ωsq-1 and an optical transmittance of 96.96 %, outperforming Ag NWs, which have a sheet resistance of 12Ωsq-1 and a transmittance of 94.11%. The combination of enhanced electrical, thermal, and mechanical stability, along with impressive optical properties, makes Ag NWs/ZnO NPs a promising candidate for transparent conductive electrode materials in various applications.

Sustainable Electrically Conductive Bio-Based Composites via Radical-Induced Cationic Frontal Photopolymerization.

Diglycidylether of vanillyl alcohol (DGEVA), in combination with mechanically recycled carbon fibers (RCFs), was used to make, via Radical-Induced Cationic Frontal Photopolymerization (RICFP), fully sustainable and bio-based conductive composites with good electrical conductivity and consequent Joule effect proprieties. Three different fiber lengths, using three different sieve sizes during the mechanical recycling process (0.2, 0.5, and 2.0 mm), were used in five different amounts (ranging from 1 to 25 phr). The samples were first characterized by dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA), followed byelectrical conductivity and Joule heating tests. More specifically, the mechanical properties of the composites increased when increasing fiber content. Furthermore, the composites obtained with the longest fibers showed the highest electrical conductivity, reaching a maximum of 11 S/m, due to their higher aspect ratio. In this context, the temperature reached by Joule effect was directly related to the electrical conductivity, and was able to reach an average and maximum temperatures of 80 °C and 120 °C, respectively, just by applying 6 V.

Thermal convection of a liquid metal under an alternating magnetic field

The objective of this work is to measure the heat transfer of a liquid metal in a cylindrical cell under the conjugate effects of a temperature difference and a Lorentz force generated by an alternating current in a coil. The experimental results are compared to recent direct numerical simulations (DNS) (Guillou et al., 2022). 25 experiments are performed for a large range of frequency f, ac intensity amplitude I0 and temperature difference between the top and bottom walls ΔT0: 15≤f≤1000Hz, 2≤I0≤67 A and 6≤ΔT0≤11 K. In these experiments, the Hartmann number Ha, the shielding parameter Sω and Rayleigh number Ra vary in the following range: 6≤Ha≤200, 1≤Sω≤70, 2.3×106≤Ra≤4.1×106. The experiments with an ac magnetic field are compared with the Rayleigh–Bénard convection (RBC) experiments under the same thermal conditions. Three rings of thermocouples allow characterizing the fluid temperature distribution during the convection. The heat flux at the bottom and top walls are also measured. We observe a very good agreement between the experimental results and the DNS results. As previously shown by numerical simulations, a master curve of Nu/Peω vs. QJ/Qc allows predicting the evolution of the heat transfer under different conditions of temperature difference and Lorentz force. Here Nu and Peω are the Nusselt number and a Péclet number based on the Lorentz force, and QJ and Qc are the total power deposited by the Joule effect and the total conduction heat flux without motion, respectively. The experiments show that Nu/Peω∼(QJ/Qc)−2/5.

Thermo-Mechanical and Thermo-Electric Properties of a Carbon-Based Epoxy Resin: An Experimental, Statistical, and Numerical Investigation.

Due to their remarkable intrinsic physical properties, carbon nanotubes (CNTs) can enhance mechanical properties and confer electrical and thermal conductivity to polymers currently being investigated for use in advanced applications based on thermal management. An epoxy resin filled with varying concentrations of CNTs (up to 3 wt%) was produced and experimentally characterized. The electrical percolation curve identified the following two critical filler concentrations: 0.5 wt%, which is near the electrical percolation threshold (EPT) and suitable for exploring mechanical and piezoresistive properties, and 3 wt% for investigating thermo-electric properties due to the Joule effect with applied voltages ranging from 70 V to 200 V. Near the electrical percolation threshold (EPT), the CNT concentration in epoxy composites forms a sparse, sensitive network ideal for deformation sensing due to significant changes in electrical resistance under strain. Above the EPT, a denser CNT network enhances electrical and thermal conductivity, making it suitable for Joule heating applications. Numerical models were developed using multiphysics simulation software. Once the models have been validated with experimental data, as a perfect agreement is found between numerical and experimental results, a simulation study is performed to investigate additional physical properties of the composites. Furthermore, a statistical approach based on the design of experiments (DoE) was employed to examine the influence of certain thermal parameters on the final performance of the materials. The purpose of this research is to promote the use of contemporary statistical and computational techniques alongside experimental methods to enhance understanding of materials science. New materials can be identified through these integrated approaches, or existing ones can be more thoroughly examined.

Smart electroactive self-repairable coating involving end-of-life aircraft prepregs by mechanical recycling

The environmental impact of the Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymers (CFRPs) industry, particularly due to waste generation during manufacturing and end-of-life phases, is compelling major industrial entities to reconsider a circular economy approach for their materials and to comply with emerging regulations. This study explores the potential of recycled carbon fibers (rCFs) derived from the mechanical recycling of prepreg waste. Mechanical recycling was selected for its cost-effectiveness and moderate environmental impact, recovering short rCFs with lengths below 200 μm. These rCFs, which retain excellent electrical properties, are incorporated into an epoxy matrix with Polycaprolactone (PCL) to create a multifunctional coating with self-healing capabilities. The resulting composite material exhibited significant improvements in electrical conductivity, achieving up to 16.50 S/m, and demonstrated effective Joule effect heating, exceeding 200 °C with 20 V applied for a composite containing 15 wt% rCF. The self-healing efficiency for surface cracks, activated by the Joule effect, reached 80–90 %, resulting in a 99 % reduction in energy consumption compared to conventional oven heating. Notably, the self-healing mechanism was characterized in real-time within a scanning electron microscope for the first time, providing a comprehensive evaluation of the process. This innovative coating offers promising applications in aviation for anti-icing, deicing, and maintenance reduction, as well as in residential settings as an energy-efficient floor heating solution. This research underscores the potential of mechanically recycled CFRPs to produce high-value, sustainable materials, promoting a circular economy and reducing the environmental footprint of the aeronautical sector.

Exploring torque characteristics of an integrated ultra conducting magnetic coupling incorporating axial magnetic field through magnetic equivalent circuit modelling

Ultra-conductors are a recent class of materials that display superconducting attributes at room temperature and even at higher temperatures. In this paper, we introduce a novel hybrid ultra-conducting coupling (NHUC) where the secondary component includes copper and an ultra-conductor (considered as a room temperature superconductor in much research). We suggest a model based on magnetic equivalent circuit (MEC) to evaluate the distribution of magnetic fields and characteristics related to torque. The 3D model accounts for boundary impacts during mating, and formulation for magnetic flux and torque are derived using Kirchhoff’s and Ampere’s loop laws, respectively. A 3D finite element (FEM) model is constructed, and simulations are performed using iodine-doped double-walled carbon nanotube (IDWCT) as the ultra-conductor for a wider operating range. At a high slip speed of 1200 rpm, a maximum torque of 309 Nm and stable torque of 113 Nm are observed. Adjusting air gap thickness or permanent magnet dimensions results in torque variations. Additionally, due to carbon nanotube (CNT) characteristics, a reduction in losses from the Joule effect is noted. The maximum error between torque results from simulation and the suggested model is 7.68%, confirming accordance. Comparison alongside the slotted eddy current coupling (SEC) reveals that the torque of the NHUC exceeds that of the SEC, diminishing as the air gap widens.

Optimization Design and Performance Study of Wearable Thermoelectric Device Using Phase Change Material as Heat Sink.

Wearable thermoelectric generators have great potential to provide power for smart electronic wearable devices and miniature sensors by harnessing the temperature difference between the human body and the environment. However, the Thomson effect, the Joule effect, and heat conduction can cause a decrease in the temperature difference across the thermoelectric generator during operation. In this paper, phase change materials (PCMs) were employed as the heat sink for the thermoelectric generator, and the COMSOL software 6.1 was utilized to simulate and optimize the power generation processes within the heat sink. The results indicated that with a PCM height of 40 mm, phase transition temperature of 293 K, latent heat of 200 kJ/kg, phase transition temperature interval of 5 K, thermal conductivity of 50 W/(m·K), isobaric heat capacity of 2000 J/(Kg·K), density of 1000 kg/m3, and convective heat transfer coefficient of 10 W/(m·K), the device can maintain a temperature difference of 18-10 K for 1930 s when the thermoelectric leg height is 1.6 mm, and 3760 s when the thermoelectric leg height is 2.7 mm. These results demonstrate the correlation between the device's output performance and the dimensions and performance parameters of the PCM heat sink, thereby validating the feasibility of employing the PCM heat sink and the necessity for systematic investigations.

Thermal effect of the stack in a bipolar membrane electrodialysis: Mechanism, risk, size effect and salt effect

Thermal effect inevitably occurred in a bipolar membrane electrodialysis (BMED) stack impacts its energy efficiency and potentially damages non-metallic components. Up to now, thermal mechanism and impacts within a BMED stack remain incompletely understood. Thus, thermal mechanism and impacts within the stack were investigated using the validated equivalent circuit model of a BMED system. Its results revealed that currents/Joule effect in the main circuit were dominant compared to those in the external circuit. The proportion of Joule heat in the main circuit exceeds 99.00 %, while that in the external circuit was less than 1.00 %. Joule heat generated in the outermost slot of the maximum conductivity compartment was obvious, while that in any position of the main circuit within the minimum conductivity compartment was also significant. Thermal impacts of non-metallic components were affected by the heat transfer of solution thermal effect. Besides, these effects which included current distribution, Joule effect, and thermal risk, were mainly affected by the size of the element at spacer, and the conductance provided by the salt and its products. Larger size of slots/ducts at spacer reduced the heat transfer efficiency at their location, while that of main channel enhanced the heat transfer efficiency between membranes and solution. Low conductivity salts and corresponding products pose a greater thermal risk for BMED stack. Meanwhile, these effects would be aggravated from the lab- to large-scale BMED stack. These findings can enhance the comprehension of the involved processes for optimizing BMED technique, thereby accelerating its development.