@phdthesis{Bragard2012, author = {Bragard, Michael}, title = {The integrated emitter turn-off thyristor : an innovative MOS-gated high-power device. - (Aachener Beitr{\"a}ge des ISEA ; 62)}, publisher = {Shaker}, address = {Aachen}, isbn = {978-3-8440-1152-4}, pages = {III, 164 S. : Ill., graph. Darst.}, year = {2012}, abstract = {This thesis introduces the Integrated Emitter Turn-Off (IETO) Thyristor as a new high-power device. Known state-of-the-art research activities like the Dual GCT, the ETO thyristor and the ICT were presented and critically reviewed. A comparison with commercialized solutions identifies the pros and cons of each type of device family. Based on this analysis, the IETO structure is proposed, covering most benefits of each device class. In particular the combination of a MOS-assisted turn-off with a thyristor-based device allows a voltage-controlled MOS switching and the low on-state voltage of the thyristors. The following synthesis of an IETO device stands on a three-dimensional field of optimization spanned by electric, mechanical and thermal aspects. From an electric point of view, the lowest possible parasitic inductance and resistance within the commutation path are optimization criteria. The mechanical construction has to withstand the required contact pressure of multiple kilo Newtons. Finally, thermal borders limit the maximum average current of the device. FEM simulations covering these three aspects are performed for several design proposals. An IETO prototype is constructed and measurements on various test benches attest thermal, mechanical and electric performance. A local decoupling of the external driver stage and the presspack housing is presented by a cable connection. This separation enables a thermal and mechanical independence, which is advantageous in terms of vibrations and thermal cycles including increased reliability. The electric pulse performance of the prototype device is a factor of 3.1 above today''s solutions. In single-pulse measurements, a current up to 1600 A was successfully turned off at 115°C with an active silicon area of 823 mm². One reason for this increased turn-off capability is the extremely low-inductive construction. Additional functionality of the IETO thyristor like over-current self-protection and defined short-circuit failure state are successfully verified.}, language = {en} } @misc{LindelGreiserWaxmanetal.2012, author = {Lindel, Tomasz Dawid and Greiser, Andreas and Waxman, Patrick and Dietterle, Martin and Seifert, Frank and Fontius, Ulrich and Renz, Wolfgang and Dieringer, Matthias A. and Frauenrath, Tobias and Schulz-Menger, Jeanette and Niendorf, Thoralf and Ittermann, Bernd}, title = {Cardiac CINE MRI at 7 T using a transmit array}, series = {2012 ISMRM Annual Meeting Proceedings}, journal = {2012 ISMRM Annual Meeting Proceedings}, issn = {1545-4428}, year = {2012}, abstract = {With its need for high SNR and short acquisition times, Cardiac MRI (CMR) is an intriguing target application for ultrahigh field MRI. Due to the sheer size of the upper torso, however, the known RF issues of 7T MRI are also most prominent in CMR. Recent years brought substantial progress but the full potential of the ultrahigh field for CMR is yet to be exploited. Parallel transmission (pTx) is a promising approach in this context and several groups have already reported B1 shimming for 7T CMR. In such a static pTx application amplitudes and phases of all Tx channels are adjusted individually but otherwise imaging techniques established in current clinical practice 1.5 T and 3 T are applied. More advanced forms of pTx as spatially selective excitation (SSE) using Transmit SENSE promise additional benefits like faster imaging with reduced fields of view or improved SAR control. SSE requires the full dynamic capabilities of pTx, however, and for the majority of today's implemented pTx hardware the internal synchronization of the Tx array does not easily permit external triggering as needed for CMR. Here we report a software solution to this problem and demonstrate the feasibility of CINE CMR at 7 T using a Tx array.}, language = {en} } @article{FerreinMeyer2012, author = {Ferrein, Alexander and Meyer, Thomas}, title = {A Brief Overview of Artificial Intelligence in South Africa}, series = {AI Magazine}, volume = {33}, journal = {AI Magazine}, number = {1}, publisher = {AAAI}, address = {Menlo Park}, issn = {0738-4602}, doi = {10.1609/aimag.v33i1.2357}, pages = {99 -- 101}, year = {2012}, abstract = {South Africa in recent years is the establishment of a number of research hubs involved in AI activities ranging from mobile robotics and computational intelligence, to knowledge representation and reasoning, and human language technologies. In this survey we take the reader through a quick tour of the research being conducted at these hubs, and touch on an initiative to maintain and extend the current level of interest in AI research in the country.}, language = {en} } @article{BragardvanHoekDeDoncker2012, author = {Bragard, Michael and van Hoek, H. and De Doncker, R. W.}, title = {A major design step in IETO concept realization that allows overcurrent protection and pushes limits of switching performance}, series = {IEEE transactions on power electronics}, volume = {27}, journal = {IEEE transactions on power electronics}, number = {9}, publisher = {IEEE}, address = {New York}, issn = {0885-8993}, doi = {10.1109/TPEL.2012.2189136}, pages = {4163 -- 4171}, year = {2012}, abstract = {This paper presents the latest prototype of the integrated emitter turn-off thyristor concept, which potentially ranks among thyristor high-power devices like the gate turn-off thyristor and the integrated gate-commutated thyristor (IGCT). Due to modifications of the external driver stage and mechanical press-pack design optimization, this prototype allows for full device characterization. The turn-off capability was increased to 1600 A with an active silicon area of 823mm2 . This leads to a transient peak power of 672.1kW/cm² . Within this paper, measurements and concept assessment are presented and a comparison to state-of-the-art IGCT devices is provided.}, language = {en} } @misc{TippkoetterUlber2012, author = {Tippk{\"o}tter, Nils and Ulber, Roland}, title = {Rezension zu: Encyclopedia of Industrial Biotechnology, Vol. 1-7. By MC Flickinger.}, series = {Chemie Ingenieur Technik}, volume = {6}, journal = {Chemie Ingenieur Technik}, number = {84}, publisher = {Wiley-VCH}, address = {Weinheim}, issn = {0009-286X}, doi = {10.1002/cite.201290052}, pages = {936}, year = {2012}, language = {en} } @misc{TkachenkovonKnobelsdorffBrenkenhoffKleindienstetal.2012, author = {Tkachenko, Valeriy and von Knobelsdorff-Brenkenhoff, Florian and Kleindienst, Denise and Winter, Lukas and Rieger, Jan and Frauenrath, Tobias and Dieringer, Matthias A. and Santoro, Davide and Niendorf, Thoralf and Schulz-Menger, Jeanette}, title = {Cardiovasular MR at 7Tesla: assessment of the right ventricle}, series = {2012 ISMRM Annual Meeting Proceedings}, journal = {2012 ISMRM Annual Meeting Proceedings}, issn = {1545-4428}, year = {2012}, abstract = {The assessment of the right ventricle (RV) is a challenge in today's cardiology, but of growing clinical impact regarding patient prognosis in different cardiac diseases. The detection and differentiation of small wall motion abnormalities may help to enhance the differentiation of cardiomyopathies including Arrhythmogenic Rightventricular Cardiomyopathy. Cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) at 1.5T is the accepted gold standard for RV quantification. The higher spatial resolution achievable at ultrahigh field strength (UHF) offers the potential to gain new insights into the structure and function of the RV. To approach this goal accurate RV chamber quantification at 7T has to be proven. Consequently this study examines the feasibility of assessment of RV dimensions and function at 7T using improved spatial resolution enabled by the intrinsic sensitivity gain of UHF CMR. For this purpose, a dedicated 16 channel TX/RX RF coil array is used together with 2D CINE fast gradient echo (FGRE) imaging. For comparison RV chamber quantification is conducted at 1.5T using a SSFP based state of the art clinical protocol.}, language = {en} } @article{ScheerBalimaneHaywardetal.2012, author = {Scheer, Nico and Balimane, Praveen and Hayward, Michael D. and Buechel, Sandra and Kauselmann, Gunther and Wolf, C. Roland}, title = {Generation and Characterization of a Novel Multidrug Resistance Protein 2 Humanized Mouse Line}, series = {Drug Metabolism and Disposition}, volume = {40}, journal = {Drug Metabolism and Disposition}, number = {11}, publisher = {ASPET}, address = {Bethesda, Md.}, issn = {1521-0111}, doi = {10.1124/dmd.112.047605}, pages = {2212 -- 2218}, year = {2012}, abstract = {The multidrug resistance protein (MRP) 2 is predominantly expressed in liver, intestine, and kidney, where it plays an important role in the excretion of a range of drugs and their metabolites or endogenous compounds into bile, feces, and urine. Mrp knockout [Mrp2(-/-)] mice have been used recently to study the role of MRP2 in drug disposition. Here, we describe the first generation and initial characterization of a mouse line humanized for MRP2 (huMRP2), which is nulled for the mouse Mrp2 gene and expresses the human transporter in the organs and cell types where MRP2 is normally expressed. Analysis of the mRNA expression for selected cytochrome P450 and transporter genes revealed no major changes in huMRP2 mice compared with wild-type controls. We show that human MRP2 is able to compensate functionally for the loss of the mouse transporter as demonstrated by comparable bilirubin levels in the humanized mice and wild-type controls, in contrast to the hyperbilirubinemia phenotype that is observed in MRP2(-/-) mice. The huMRP2 mouse provides a model to study the role of the human transporter in drug disposition and in assessing the in vivo consequences of inhibiting this transporter by compounds interacting with human MRP2.}, language = {en} } @misc{GraesslRenzHezeletal.2012, author = {Gr{\"a}ßl, Andreas and Renz, Wolfgang and Hezel, Fabian and Frauenrath, Tobias and Pfeiffer, Harald and Hoffmann, Werner and Kellmann, Peter and Martin, Conrad and Niendorf, Thoralf}, title = {Design, evaluation and application of a modular 32 channel transmit/receive surface coil array for cardiac MRI at 7T}, series = {2012 ISMRM Annual Meeting Proceedings}, journal = {2012 ISMRM Annual Meeting Proceedings}, issn = {1545-4428}, year = {2012}, abstract = {Cardiac MR (CMR) at ultrahigh (≥7.0 T) fields is regarded as one of the most challenging MRI applications. At 7.0 T image quality is not always exclusively defined by signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR). Detrimental effects bear the potential to spoil the signal-to-noise (SNR) and contrast-to-noise (CNR) benefits of cardiac MR (CMR) at 7.0 T. B₁⁺-inhomogeneities and signal voids represent the main challenges. Various pioneering coil concepts have been proposed to tackle these issues, enabling cardiac MRI at 7.0 T. This includes a trend towards an ever larger number of transmit and receive channels. This approach affords multi-dimensional B₁⁺ modulations to improve B₁⁺ shimming performance and to enhance RF efficiency. Also, parallel imaging benefits from a high number of receive channels enabling two-dimensional acceleration. Realizing the limitations of existing coil designs tailored for UHF CMR and recognizing the opportunities of a many element TX/RX channel architecture this work proposes a modular, two dimensional 32-channel transmit and receive array using loop elements and examines its efficacy for enhanced B¹+ homogeneity and improved parallel imaging performance.}, language = {en} } @article{FrauenrathFuchsDieringeretal.2012, author = {Frauenrath, Tobias and Fuchs, Katharina and Dieringer, Matthias A. and {\"O}zerdem, Celal and Patel, Nishan and Renz, Wolfgang and Greiser, Andreas and Elgeti, Thomas and Niendorf, Thoralf}, title = {Detailing the use of magnetohydrodynamic effects for synchronization of MRI with the cardiac cycle: A feasibility study}, series = {Journal of Magnetic Resonance Imaging}, volume = {36}, journal = {Journal of Magnetic Resonance Imaging}, number = {2}, publisher = {Wiley-Liss}, address = {New York}, issn = {1522-2586}, doi = {10.1002/jmri.23634}, pages = {364 -- 372}, year = {2012}, abstract = {Purpose: To investigate the feasibility of using magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) effects for synchronization of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with the cardiac cycle. Materials and Methods: The MHD effect was scrutinized using a pulsatile flow phantom at B0 = 7.0 T. MHD effects were examined in vivo in healthy volunteers (n = 10) for B0 ranging from 0.05-7.0 T. Noncontrast-enhanced MR angiography (MRA) of the carotids was performed using a gated steady-state free-precession (SSFP) imaging technique in conjunction with electrocardiogram (ECG) and MHD synchronization. Results: The MHD potential correlates with flow velocities derived from phase contrast MRI. MHD voltages depend on the orientation between B0 and the flow of a conductive fluid. An increase in the interelectrode spacing along the flow increases the MHD potential. In vivo measurement of the MHD effect provides peak voltages of 1.5 mV for surface areas close to the common carotid artery at B0 = 7.0 T. Synchronization of MRI with the cardiac cycle using MHD triggering is feasible. MHD triggered MRA of the carotids at 3.0 T showed an overall image quality and richness of anatomic detail, which is comparable to ECG-triggered MRAs. Conclusion: This feasibility study demonstrates the use of MHD effects for synchronization of MR acquisitions with the cardiac cycle. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2012;36:364-372. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.}, language = {en} } @article{EilmannRigling2012, author = {Eilmann, Britta and Rigling, Andreas}, title = {Tree-growth analyses to estimate tree species' drought tolerance}, series = {Tree Physiology}, volume = {32}, journal = {Tree Physiology}, number = {2}, editor = {Abrams, Marc}, publisher = {Oxford University Press}, address = {Oxford}, issn = {0829-318X (Print)}, doi = {10.1093/treephys/tps004}, pages = {178 -- 187}, year = {2012}, abstract = {Climate change is challenging forestry management and practices. Among other things, tree species with the ability to cope with more extreme climate conditions have to be identified. However, while environmental factors may severely limit tree growth or even cause tree death, assessing a tree species' potential for surviving future aggravated environmental conditions is rather demanding. The aim of this study was to find a tree-ring-based method suitable for identifying very drought-tolerant species, particularly potential substitute species for Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) in Valais. In this inner-Alpine valley, Scots pine used to be the dominating species for dry forests, but today it suffers from high drought-induced mortality. We investigate the growth response of two native tree species, Scots pine and European larch (Larix decidua Mill.), and two non-native species, black pine (Pinus nigra Arnold) and Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii Mirb. var. menziesii), to drought. This involved analysing how the radial increment of these species responded to increasing water shortage (abandonment of irrigation) and to increasingly frequent drought years. Black pine and Douglas fir are able to cope with drought better than Scots pine and larch, as they show relatively high radial growth even after irrigation has been stopped and a plastic growth response to drought years. European larch does not seem to be able to cope with these dry conditions as it lacks the ability to recover from drought years. The analysis of trees' short-term response to extreme climate events seems to be the most promising and suitable method for detecting how tolerant a tree species is towards drought. However, combining all the methods used in this study provides a complete picture of how water shortage could limit species.}, language = {en} } @article{RiglingBiglerEilmannetal.2012, author = {Rigling, Andreas and Bigler, Christof and Eilmann, Britta and Feldmeyer-Christe, Elisabeth and Gimmi, Urs and Ginzler, Christian and Graf, Ulrich and Mayer, Phillip and Vacchiano, Giorgio and Weber, Pascal and Wohlgemuth, Thomas and zweifel, Roman and Dobbertin, Matthias}, title = {Driving factors of a vegetation shift from Scots pine to pubescent oak in dry Alpine forests}, series = {Global Change Biology}, volume = {19}, journal = {Global Change Biology}, number = {1}, publisher = {Wiley-Blackwell}, address = {Oxford}, issn = {1354-1013 (Print)}, doi = {10.1111/gcb.12038}, pages = {229 -- 240}, year = {2012}, abstract = {An increasing number of studies have reported on forest declines and vegetation shifts triggered by drought. In the Swiss Rhone valley (Valais), one of the driest inner-Alpine regions, the species composition in low elevation forests is changing: The sub-boreal Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) dominating the dry forests is showing high mortality rates. Concurrently the sub-Mediterranean pubescent oak (Quercus pubescens Willd.) has locally increased in abundance. However, it remains unclear whether this local change in species composition is part of a larger-scale vegetation shift. To study variability in mortality and regeneration in these dry forests we analysed data from the Swiss national forest inventory (NFI) on a regular grid between 1983 and 2003, and combined it with annual mortality data from a monitoring site. Pine mortality was found to be highest at low elevation (below 1000 m a.s.l.). Annual variation in pine mortality was correlated with a drought index computed for the summer months prior to observed tree death. A generalized linear mixed-effects model indicated for the NFI data increased pine mortality on dryer sites with high stand competition, particularly for small-diameter trees. Pine regeneration was low in comparison to its occurrence in the overstorey, whereas oak regeneration was comparably abundant. Although both species regenerated well at dry sites, pine regeneration was favoured at cooler sites at higher altitude and oak regeneration was more frequent at warmer sites, indicating a higher adaptation potential of oaks under future warming. Our results thus suggest that an extended shift in species composition is actually occurring in the pine forests in the Valais. The main driving factors are found to be climatic variability, particularly drought, and variability in stand structure and topography. Thus, pine forests at low elevations are developing into oak forests with unknown consequences for these ecosystems and their goods and services.}, language = {en} } @inproceedings{KoetterDeckerDetzleretal.2012, author = {K{\"o}tter, Jens and Decker, Stefan and Detzler, Raphael and Sch{\"a}fer, Jochen and Schmitz, Mark and Herrmann, Ulf}, title = {Cost Reduction of Solar Fields with HelioTrough Collector}, publisher = {FLAGSOL}, address = {K{\"o}ln}, pages = {9 S. : Ill., graph. Darst.}, year = {2012}, language = {en} } @incollection{NiendorfWinterFrauenrath2012, author = {Niendorf, Thoralf and Winter, Lukas and Frauenrath, Tobias}, title = {Electrocardiogram in an MRI environment: Clinical needs, practical considerations, safety implications, technical solutions and fFuture directions}, series = {Advances in Electrocardiograms - Methods and Analysis}, booktitle = {Advances in Electrocardiograms - Methods and Analysis}, editor = {Millis, Richard}, publisher = {IntechOpen}, address = {London}, isbn = {978-953-307-923-3 (print)}, doi = {10.5772/24340}, pages = {309 -- 324}, year = {2012}, language = {en} } @article{AbouzarPoghossianCherstvyetal.2012, author = {Abouzar, Maryam H. and Poghossian, Arshak and Cherstvy, Andrey G. and Pedraza, Angela M. and Ingebrandt, Sven and Sch{\"o}ning, Michael Josef}, title = {Label-free electrical detection of DNA by means of field-effect nanoplate capacitors: Experiments and modeling}, series = {Physica Status Solidi (a)}, volume = {209}, journal = {Physica Status Solidi (a)}, publisher = {Wiley-VCH}, address = {Weinheim}, issn = {1862-6319}, doi = {10.1002/pssa.201100710}, pages = {925 -- 934}, year = {2012}, abstract = {Label-free electrical detection of consecutive deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) hybridization/denaturation by means of an array of individually addressable field-effect-based nanoplate silicon-on-insulator (SOI) capacitors modified with gold nanoparticles (Au-NP) is investigated. The proposed device detects charge changes on Au-NP/DNA hybrids induced by the hybridization or denaturation event. DNA hybridization was performed in a high ionic-strength solution to provide a high hybridization efficiency. On the other hand, to reduce the screening of the DNA charge by counter ions and to achieve a high sensitivity, the sensor signal induced by the hybridization and denaturation events was measured in a low ionic-strength solution. High sensor signals of about 120, 90, and 80 mV were registered after the DNA hybridization, denaturation, and re-hybridization events, respectively. Fluorescence microscopy has been applied as reference method to verify the DNA immobilization, hybridization, and denaturation processes. An electrostatic charge-plane model for potential changes at the gate surface of a nanoplate field-effect sensor induced by the DNA hybridization has been developed taking into account both the Debye length and the distance of the DNA charge from the gate surface.}, language = {en} } @inproceedings{NixFrotscherStaat2012, author = {Nix, Yvonne and Frotscher, Ralf and Staat, Manfred}, title = {Implementation of the edge-based smoothed extended finite element method}, series = {Proceedings 6th European Congress on Computational Methods in Applied Sciences and Engineering (ECCOMAS 2012) Vienna, Austria, September 10-14, 2012}, booktitle = {Proceedings 6th European Congress on Computational Methods in Applied Sciences and Engineering (ECCOMAS 2012) Vienna, Austria, September 10-14, 2012}, editor = {Eberhardsteiner, J.}, year = {2012}, language = {en} } @inproceedings{SchoppNachtrodtHeuermannetal.2012, author = {Schopp, Christoph and Nachtrodt, Frederik and Heuermann, Holger and Scherer, Ulrich W. and Mostacci, Domiziano and Finger, Torsten and Tietsch, Wolfgang}, title = {A novel 2.45 GHz/200 W Microwave Plasma Jet for High Temperature Applications above 3600 K}, series = {Journal of Physics : Conference Series}, volume = {406}, booktitle = {Journal of Physics : Conference Series}, number = {012029}, issn = {1742-6596}, pages = {5}, year = {2012}, language = {en} } @inproceedings{PhamNguyenStaat2012, author = {Pham, Phu Tinh and Nguyen, Thanh Ngoc and Staat, Manfred}, title = {FEM based shakedown analysis of hardening structures}, series = {Proceedings International Conference on Advances in Computational Mechanics (ACOME)}, booktitle = {Proceedings International Conference on Advances in Computational Mechanics (ACOME)}, pages = {870 -- 882}, year = {2012}, language = {en} } @article{Staat2012, author = {Staat, Manfred}, title = {Limit and shakedown analysis under uncertainty}, series = {Tap chi Khoa hoc \& ung dung - Dai hoc Ton Duc Thang}, volume = {19}, journal = {Tap chi Khoa hoc \& ung dung - Dai hoc Ton Duc Thang}, pages = {45 -- 47}, year = {2012}, language = {en} } @article{HuckPoghossianWagneretal.2012, author = {Huck, Christina and Poghossian, Arshak and Wagner, Patrick and Sch{\"o}ning, Michael Josef}, title = {Combined amperometric/field-effect sensor for the detection of dissolved hydrogen}, series = {Sensors and actuators B: Chemical}, volume = {187}, journal = {Sensors and actuators B: Chemical}, publisher = {Elsevier}, address = {Amsterdam}, issn = {0925-4005}, doi = {10.1016/j.snb.2012.10.050}, pages = {168 -- 173}, year = {2012}, abstract = {Real-time and reliable monitoring of the biogas process is crucial for a stable and efficient operation of biogas production in order to avoid digester breakdowns. The concentration of dissolved hydrogen (H₂) represents one of the key parameters for biogas process control. In this work, a one-chip integrated combined amperometric/field-effect sensor for monitoring the dissolved H₂ concentration has been developed for biogas applications. The combination of two different transducer principles might allow a more accurate and reliable measurement of dissolved H₂ as an early warning indicator of digester failures. The feasibility of the approach has been demonstrated by simultaneous amperometric/field-effect measurements of dissolved H₂ concentrations in electrolyte solutions. Both, the amperometric and the field-effect transducer show a linear response behaviour in the H₂ concentration range from 0.1 to 3\% (v/v) with a slope of 198.4 ± 13.7 nA/\% (v/v) and 14.9 ± 0.5 mV/\% (v/v), respectively.}, language = {en} } @inproceedings{PoghossianAbouzarSchoening2012, author = {Poghossian, Arshak and Abouzar, Maryam H. and Sch{\"o}ning, Michael Josef}, title = {(Bio-­)chemical sensor array based on nanoplate SOI capacitors}, series = {Nanoscale Science and Technology (NS\&T´12) : Proceedings Book Humboldt Kolleg ; Tunisia, 17-19 March, 2012}, booktitle = {Nanoscale Science and Technology (NS\&T´12) : Proceedings Book Humboldt Kolleg ; Tunisia, 17-19 March, 2012}, editor = {Abdelghani, Adnane and Sch{\"o}ning, Michael Josef}, pages = {31 -- 31}, year = {2012}, language = {en} }