TY - JOUR A1 - Nam, J. A1 - Arora, D. A1 - Behbahani, Mehdi A1 - Probst, M. A1 - Benkowski, R. A1 - Behr, M. A1 - Pasquali, M. T1 - New computational method in hemolysis analysis for artificial heart pump Y1 - 2010 N1 - Posterpresentation ; American Society of Artificial Organs (ASAIO), Baltimore, USA, May 27-29, 2010 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Mukherjee, Krishnendu A1 - Prahl, Ulrich A1 - Bleck, Wolfgang A1 - Reisgen, Uwe A1 - Schleser, Markus A1 - Abdurakhmanov, Aydemir T1 - Characterization and modelling techniques for gas metal arc welding of DP 600 sheet steels JF - Materialwissenschaft und Werkstofftechnik N2 - The objectives of the present work are to characterize the Gas Metal Arc Welding process of DP 600 sheet steel and to summarize the modelling techniques. The time-temperature evolution during the welding cycle was measured experimentally and modelled with the softwaretool SimWeld. To model the phase transformations during the welding cycle dilatometer tests were done to quantify the parameters for phase field modelling by MICRESS®. The important input parameters are interface mobility, nucleation density, etc. A contribution was made to include austenite to bainite transformation in MICRESS®. This is useful to predict the microstructure in the fast cooling segments. The phase transformation model is capable to predict the microstructure along the heating and cooling cycles of welding. Tensile tests have shown the evidence of failure at the heat affected zone, which has the ferrite-tempered martensite microstructure. Y1 - 2010 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1002/mawe.201000692 SN - 1521-4052 VL - 41 IS - 11 SP - 972 EP - 983 PB - Wiley-VCH CY - Weinheim ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Miyamoto, Ko-ichiro A1 - Sugawara, Yuri A1 - Kanoh, Shin´ichiro A1 - Yoshinobu, Tatsuo A1 - Wagner, Torsten A1 - Schöning, Michael Josef T1 - Image correction method for the chemical imaging sensor JF - Sensors and Actuators B: Chemical. 144 (2010), H. 2 Y1 - 2010 N1 - 22nd International Conference on Eurosensors - Dresden, Germany, 7-10 September 2008 ; Eurosensors ; (22, 2008, Dresden) SP - 344 EP - 348 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Miyamoto, Ko-ichiro A1 - Kaneko, Kazumi A1 - Matsuo, Akira A1 - Wagner, Torsten A1 - Kanoh, Shin`ichiro A1 - Schöning, Michael Josef A1 - Yoshinobu, Tatsuo T1 - Miniaturized chemical imaging sensor system using an OLED display panel JF - Procedia Engineering N2 - The chemical imaging sensor is a semiconductor-based chemical sensor that can visualize the two-dimensional distribution of specific ions or molecules in the solution. In this study, we developed a miniaturized chemical imaging sensor system with an OLED display panel as a light source that scans the sensor plate. In the proposed configuration, the display panel is placed directly below the sensor plate and illuminates the back surface. The measured area defined by illumination can be arbitrarily customized to fit the size and the shape of the sample to be measured. The waveform of the generated photocurrent, the currentvoltage characteristics and the pH sensitivity were investigated and pH imaging with this miniaturized system was demonstrated. Y1 - 2010 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.proeng.2010.09.160 SN - 1877-7058 N1 - Eurosensor XXIV Conference, 5-8 September 2010, Linz, Austria VL - 5 SP - 516 EP - 519 PB - Elsevier CY - Amsterdam ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Maiwald, Volker A1 - Dachwald, Bernd T1 - Mission design for a multiple-rendezvous mission to Jupiter's trojans N2 - In this paper, we will provide a feasible mission design for a multiple-rendezvous mission to Jupiter's Trojans. It is based on solar electric propulsion, as being currently used on the DAWN spacecraft, and other flight-proven technology. First, we have selected a set of mission objectives, the prime objective being the detection of water -especially subsurface water -to provide evidence for the Trojans' formation at large solar distances. Based on DAWN and other comparable missions, we have determined suitable payload instruments to achieve these objectives. Afterwards, we have designed a spacecraft that is able to carry the selected payload to the Trojan region and rendezvous successively with three target bodies within a maximum mission duration of 15 years. Accurate low-thrust trajectories have been obtained with a global low-thrust trajectory optimization program (InTrance). During the transfer from Earth to the first target, the spacecraft is propelled by two RIT-22 ion engines from EADS Astrium, whereas a single RIT-15 is used for transfers within the Trojan region to reduce the required power. For power generation, the spacecraft uses a multi-junction solar array that is supported by concentrators. To achieve moderate mission costs, we have restricted the launch mass to a maximum of 1600 kg, the maximum interplanetary injection capability of a Soyuz/Fregat launcher. Our final layout has a mass of 1400 kg, yielding a margin of about 14%. Nestor (a member of the L4-population) was determined as the first mission target. It can be reached within 4.6 years from launch. The fuel mass ratio for this transfer is about 35%. The stay time at Nestor is 1.2 years. Eurymedon was selected as the second target (transfer time 3.5 years, stay time 3.0 years) and Irus as the third target (transfer time 2.2 years). The transfers within the Trojan L4-population can be accomplished with fuel mass ratios of about 3% for each trajectory leg. Including the stay times in orbit around the targets, the mission can be accomplished within a total duration of about 14.5 years. According to our mission analysis, it is also feasible to fly to the L5-population with similar flight times. It has to be noted that -for a first analysis -we have taken only the named targets into account. Allowing also rendezvous with unnamed objects will very likely decrease the mission duration. Based on a scaling of DAWN's mission costs (due to comparable scientific instruments and mission objectives), and taking into account the longer mission duration and the potential re-use of already developed technology, we have estimated that these three rendezvous can be accomplished with a budget of about 250 Million Euros, i.e. about 25% of ROSETTA's budget. Y1 - 2010 N1 - 38th COSPAR Scientific Assembly. Held 18-15 July 2010,Bremen, Germany SP - 3 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Lettini, Antonio A1 - Havermann, Marc A1 - Guidetti, Marco A1 - Fornaciari, Andrea T1 - Improved functionalities and energy saving potential on mobile machines combining electronics with flow sharing valve and variable displacement pump JF - IFK 7, 7th International Fluid Power Conference, Efficiency through Fluid Power, 7. Internationales Fluidtechnisches Kolloquium, Workshop Proceedings, Vol. 3, Aachen, DE, 22.-24. Mar, 2010 Y1 - 2010 SN - 978-3-940565-92-1 N1 - IFK, 7, Internationales Fluidtechnisches Kolloquium, 7., Aachen, DE, 2010-03-22 - 2010-03-24 SP - 103 EP - 114 PB - - ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Leimena, W. A1 - Artmann, Gerhard A1 - Dachwald, Bernd A1 - Temiz Artmann, Aysegül A1 - Gossmann, Matthias A1 - Digel, Ilya T1 - Feasibility of an in-situ microbial decontamination of an ice-melting probe JF - Eurasian Chemico-Technological Journal N2 - Autonomous robotic systems for penetrating thick ice shells with simultaneous collecting of scientific data are very promising devices in both terrestrial (glacier, climate research) and extra-terrestrial applications. Technical challenges in development of such systems are numerous and include 3D-navigation, an appropriate energy source, motion control, etc. Not less important is the problem of forward contamination of the pristine glacial environments with microorganisms and biomolecules from the surface of the probe. This study was devoted to establishing a laboratory model for microbial contamination of a newly constructed ice-melting probe called IceMole and to analyse the viability and amount of the contaminating microorganisms as a function of distance. The used bacterial strains were Bacillus subtilis (ATCC 6051) and Escherichia coli (ATCC 11775). The main objective was development of an efficient and reliable in-situ decontamination method of the melting probe. Therefore, several chemical substances were tested in respect of their efficacy to eliminate bacteria on the surface of the melting probe at low temperature (0 - 5 °C) and at continuous dilution by melted water. Our study has shown that at least 99.9% decontamination of the IceMole can be successfully achieved by the injection of 30% (v/v) hydrogen peroxide and 3% (v/v) sodium hypochlorite into the drilling site. We were able to reproduce this result in both time-dependent and depth-dependent experiments. The sufficient amount of 30% (v/v) H₂O₂ or 3% (v/v) NaClO has been found to be approximately 18 L per cm² of the probe’s surface. Y1 - 2010 SN - 1562-3920 U6 - https://doi.org/10.18321/ectj37 VL - 12 IS - 2 SP - 145 EP - 150 PB - Institute of Combustion Problems CY - Almaty ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Kurz, R. A1 - Linder, Peter A1 - Trzewik, Jürgen A1 - Rüffer, M. A1 - Artmann, Gerhard A1 - Digel, Ilya A1 - Rothermel, A. A1 - Robitzki, A. A1 - Temiz Artmann, Aysegül T1 - Contractile tension and beating rates of self-exciting monolayers and 3D-tissue constructs of neonatal rat cardiomyocytes JF - Medical and Biological Engineering and Computing N2 - The CellDrum technology (The term 'CellDrum technology' includes a couple of slightly different technological setups for measuring lateral mechanical tension in various types of cell monolayers or 3D-tissue constructs) was designed to quantify the contraction rate and mechanical tension of self-exciting cardiac myocytes. Cells were grown either within flexible, circular collagen gels or as monolayer on top of respective 1-mum thin silicone membranes. Membrane and cells were bulged outwards by air pressure. This biaxial strain distribution is rather similar the beating, blood-filled heart. The setup allowed presetting the mechanical residual stress level externally by adjusting the centre deflection, thus, mimicking hypertension in vitro. Tension was measured as oscillating differential pressure change between chamber and environment. A 0.5-mm thick collagen-cardiac myocyte tissue construct induced after 2 days of culturing (initial cell density 2 x 10(4) cells/ml), a mechanical tension of 1.62 +/- 0.17 microN/mm(2). Mechanical load is an important growth regulator in the developing heart, and the orientation and alignment of cardiomyocytes is stress sensitive. Therefore, it was necessary to develop the CellDrum technology with its biaxial stress-strain distribution and defined mechanical boundary conditions. Cells were exposed to strain in two directions, radially and circumferentially, which is similar to biaxial loading in real heart tissues. Thus, from a biomechanical point of view, the system is preferable to previous setups based on uniaxial stretching. Y1 - 2010 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1007/s11517-009-0552-y SN - 1741-0444 VL - 48 IS - 1 SP - 59 EP - 65 PB - Springer Nature CY - Cham ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Kraff, Oliver A1 - Bitz, Andreas A1 - Dammann, Philipp A1 - Ladd, Susanne C. A1 - Ladd, Mark E. A1 - Quick, Harald H. T1 - An eight-channel transmit/receive multipurpose coil for musculoskeletal MR imaging at 7 T JF - Medical Physics N2 - Purpose: MRI plays a leading diagnostic role in assessing the musculoskeletal (MSK) system and is well established for most questions at clinically used field strengths (up to 3 T). However, there are still limitations in imaging early stages of cartilage degeneration, very fine tendons and ligaments, or in locating nerve lesions, for example. 7 T MRI of the knee has already received increasing attention in the current published literature, but there is a strong need to develop new radiofrequency (RF) coils to assess more regions of the MSK system. In this work, an eight-channel transmit/receive RF array was built as a multipurpose coil for imaging some of the thus far neglected regions. An extensive coil characterization protocol and first in vivo results of the human wrist, shoulder, elbow, knee, and ankle imaged at 7 T will be presented. Methods: Eight surface loop coils with a dimension ofurn:x-wiley:00942405:media:mp7176:mp7176-math-0001 were machined from FR4 circuit board material. To facilitate easy positioning, two coil clusters, each with four loop elements, were combined to one RF transmit/receive array. An overlapped and shifted arrangement of the coil elements was chosen to reduce the mutual inductance between neighboring coils. A phantom made of body-simulating liquid was used for tuning and matching on the bench. Afterward, the S-parameters were verified on a human wrist, elbow, and shoulder. For safety validation, a detailed compliance test was performed including full wave simulations of the RF field distribution and the corresponding specific absorption rate (SAR) for all joints. In vivo images of four volunteers were assessed with gradient echo and spin echo sequences modified to obtain optimal image contrast, full anatomic coverage, and the highest spatial resolution within a reasonable acquisition time. The performance of the RF coil was additionally evaluated by in vivo B1 mapping. Results: A comparison of B1 per unit power, flip angle distribution, and anatomic images showed a fairly homogeneous excitation for the smaller joints (elbow, wrist, and ankle), while for the larger joints, the shoulder and especially the knee, B1 inhomogeneities and limited penetration depth were more pronounced. However, the greater part of the shoulder joint could be imaged.In vivo images rendered very fine anatomic details such as fascicles of the median nerve and the branching of the nerve bundles. High-resolution images of cartilage, labrum, and tendons could be acquired. Additionally, turbo spin echo (TSE) and inversion recovery sequences performed very well. Conclusions: This study demonstrates that the concept of two four-channel transmit/receive RF arrays can be used as a multipurpose coil for high-resolutionin vivo MR imaging of the musculoskeletal system at 7 T. Not only gradient echo but also typical clinical and SAR-intensive sequences such as STIR and TSE performed well. Imaging of small structures and peripheral nerves could in particular benefit from this technique. Y1 - 2010 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1118/1.3517176 SN - 2473-4209 VL - 37 IS - 12 SP - 6368 EP - 6376 PB - Wiley CY - Hoboken, NJ ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Kozhalakova, A. A. A1 - Zhubanova, Azhar A. A1 - Mansurov, Z. A. A1 - Digel, Ilya A1 - Tazhibayeva, S. M. A1 - Artmann, Gerhard A1 - Temiz Artmann, Aysegül T1 - Adsorption of bacterial lipopolysaccharides on carbonized rice shell JF - Science of Central Asia Y1 - 2010 SP - 50 EP - 54 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Kotliar, Konstantin A1 - Nagel, Edgar A1 - Vilser, Walthard A1 - Seidova, Seid-Fatima A1 - Lanzl, Ines T1 - Microstructural alterations of retinal arterial blood column along the vessel axis in systemic hypertension JF - Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science, IOVS N2 - Purpose: Image analysis by the retinal vessel analyzer (RVA) observes retinal vessels in their dynamic state online noninvasively along a chosen vessel segment. It has been found that high-frequency diameter changes in the retinal artery blood column along the vessel increase significantly in anamnestically healthy volunteers with increasing age and in patients with glaucoma during vascular dilation. This study was undertaken to investigate whether longitudinal sections of the retinal artery blood column are altered in systemic hypertension. Methods: Retinal arteries of 15 untreated patients with essential arterial hypertension (age, 50.9 ± 11.9 years) and of 15 age-matched anamnestically healthy volunteers were examined by RVA. After baseline assessment, a monochromatic luminance flicker (530–600 nm; 12.5 Hz; 20 s) was applied to evoke retinal vasodilation. Differences in amplitude and frequency of spatial artery blood column diameter change along segments (longitudinal arterial profiles) of 1 mm in length were measured and analyzed using Fourier transformation. Results: In the control group, average reduced power spectra (ARPS) of longitudinal arterial profiles did not differ when arteries changed from constriction to dilation. In the systemic hypertension group, ARPS during constriction, baseline, and restoration were identical and differed from ARPS during dilation (P < 0.05). Longitudinal arterial profiles in both groups showed significant dissimilitude at baseline and restoration (P < 0.05). Conclusions: The retinal artery blood column demonstrates microstructural alterations in systemic hypertension and is less irregular along the vessel axis during vessel dilation. These microstructural changes may be an indication of alterations in vessel wall rigidity, vascular endothelial function, and smooth muscle cells in this disease, leading to impaired perfusion and regulation. Y1 - 2010 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1167/iovs.09-3649 SN - 0146-0404 VL - 51 IS - 4 SP - 2165 EP - 2172 PB - ARVO CY - Rockville, Md. ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Kirsch, Ansgar T1 - Experimental investigation of the face stability of shallow tunnels in sand JF - Acta Geotechnica N2 - Various models have been proposed for the prediction of the necessary support pressure at the face of a shallow tunnel. To assess their quality, the collapse of a tunnel face was modelled with small-scale model tests at single gravity. The development of the failure mechanism and the support force at the face in dry sand were investigated. The observed displacement patterns show a negligible influence of overburden on the extent and evolution of the failure zone. The latter is significantly influenced, though, by the initial density of the sand: in dense sand a chimney-wedge-type collapse mechanism developed, which propagated towards the soil surface. Initially, loose sand did not show any discrete collapse mechanism. The necessary support force was neither influenced by the overburden nor the initial density. A comparison with quantitative predictions by several theoretical models showed that the measured necessary support pressure is overestimated by most of the models. Those by Vermeer/Ruse and Léca/Dormieux showed the best agreement to the measurements. Y1 - 2010 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1007/s11440-010-0110-7 SN - 1861-1125 VL - 5 IS - 1 SP - 43 EP - 62 PB - Springer CY - Berlin ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Kirchner, Patrick A1 - Oberländer, Jan A1 - Friedrich, Peter A1 - Rysstad, Gunnar A1 - Berger, Jörg A1 - Keusgen, Michael A1 - Schöning, Michael Josef T1 - Realization of a calorimetric gas sensor on polyimide foil for applications in aseptic food industry JF - Procedia Engineering N2 - A calorimetric gas sensor is presented for the monitoring of gas-phase H2O2 at elevated temperature during sterilization processes in aseptic food industry. The sensor consists of two temperature-sensitive thin-film resistances built up on a polyimide foil with a thickness of 25 μm, which are passivated with a layer of SU-8 photo resist and catalytically activated with manganese(IV) oxide. Instead of an active heating structure, the calorimetric sensor utilizes the elevated temperature of an evaporated H2O2 aerosol. In an experimental set-up, the sensor has shown a sensitivity of 4.78 °C/(%v/v) in a H2O2 concentration range of 0 to 10% v/v at an evaporation temperature of 240 ∘C. Furthermore, the sensor possesses the same, unchanged sensor signal even at varied evaporation temperatures of the gas stream. The sensor characterization demonstrates the suitability of the calorimetric gas sensor for monitoring the efficiency of sterilization processes. Y1 - 2010 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.proeng.2010.09.098 SN - 1877-7058 N1 - Eurosensor XXIV Conference, 5-8 September 2010, Linz, Austria VL - 5 SP - 264 EP - 267 PB - Elsevier CY - Amsterdam ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Kern, Alexander A1 - Schelthoff, Christof A1 - Mathieu, Moritz T1 - Probability of lightning strikes to air-terminations of structures using the electro-geometrical model theory and the statistics of lightning current parameters N2 - Planning the air-terminations for a structure to be protected the use of the rolling-sphere method (electro-geometrical model) is the best way from the physics of lightning point-of-view. Therefore, international standards prefer this method. However, using the rolling-sphere method only results in possible point-of-strikes on a structure without giving information about the probability of strikes at the individual points compared to others. KW - atmospheric modeling KW - probability distribution KW - lightning protection KW - standards KW - planning Y1 - 2010 SN - 978-88-905519-0-1 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1109/ICLP.2010.7845757 N1 - 2010 30th International Conference on Lightning Protection (ICLP), 13-17 Sept. 2010, Cagliari, Italy SP - 750-1 EP - 750-8 PB - IEEE CY - New York ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Kern, Alexander A1 - Klöters, Georg A1 - Pferdemenges, Jörg T1 - Optimised protection against lightning for the signalling and safety systems of level crossings on non-electrified railway lines JF - RTR : European Rail Technology Review Y1 - 2010 SN - 0079-9548 VL - 50 IS - 2 PB - DVV Media Group CY - Hamburg ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Kern, Alexander A1 - Frentzel, Ralf A1 - Behrens, Jörg T1 - Simulation of the transient voltages in the auxiliary power network of a large power plant in case of a direct lightning strike to the high-voltage overhead transmission line N2 - Large power plants can be endangered by lightning strikes with possible consequences regarding their safety and availability. A special scenario is a lightning strike to the HV overhead transmission line close to the power plant's connection to the power grid. If then additionally a so-called shielding failure of the overhead ground wire on top of the overhead transmission line is assumed, i.e. the lightning strikes directly into a phase conductor, this is an extreme electromagnetic disturbance. The paper deals with the numerical simulation of such a lightning strike and the consequences on the components of the power plant's auxiliary power network connected to different voltage levels. KW - power generation KW - surges KW - conductors KW - arresters KW - power transmission lines KW - lightning Y1 - 2010 SN - 978-88-905519-0-1 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1109/ICLP.2010.7845756 N1 - 2010 30th International Conference on Lightning Protection (ICLP), 13-17 Sept. 2010, Cagliari, Italy SP - 749-1 EP - 749-7 PB - IEEE CY - New York ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Jansen, Sebastian A1 - Behbahani, Mehdi A1 - Laumen, Marco A1 - Kaufmann, Tim A1 - Hormes, Marcus A1 - Schmitz-Rode, Thomas A1 - Behr, Marek A1 - Steinseifer, Ulrich T1 - 3D Stereo-PIV Validation for CFD-Simulation of Steady Flow through the Human Aorta using Rapid-Prototyping techniques Y1 - 2010 N1 - abstract ; IV International Symposium on Modelling of Physiological Flows, Sardinia, Italy, June 02-05, 2010 ; MPF2010 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Jansen, S. V. A1 - Behbahani, Mehdi A1 - Laumen, M. A1 - Kaufmann, T. A1 - Hormes, M. A1 - Behr, M. A1 - Schmitz-Rode, T. A1 - Steinseifer, U. T1 - Investigation of Steady Flow Through a Realistic Model of the Thoracic Human Aorta Using 3D Stereo PIV and CFD-Simulation JF - ASAIO Journal Y1 - 2010 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1097/01.mat.0000369377.65122.a3 N1 - American Society of Artificial Organs (ASAIO), Baltimore, USA, May 27-29, 2010 VL - 56 IS - 2 SP - 98 PB - Lippincott Williams & Wilkins CY - Philadelphia ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Horstmann, Marie-Therese A1 - Bialonski, Stephan A1 - Noenning, Nina A1 - Mai, Heinke A1 - Prusseit, Jens A1 - Wellmer, Jörg A1 - Hinrichs, Hermann A1 - Lehnertz, Klaus T1 - State dependent properties of epileptic brain networks: Comparative graph–theoretical analyses of simultaneously recorded EEG and MEG JF - Clinical Neurophysiology N2 - Objective To investigate whether functional brain networks of epilepsy patients treated with antiepileptic medication differ from networks of healthy controls even during the seizure-free interval. Methods We applied different rules to construct binary and weighted networks from EEG and MEG data recorded under a resting-state eyes-open and eyes-closed condition from 21 epilepsy patients and 23 healthy controls. The average shortest path length and the clustering coefficient served as global statistical network characteristics. Results Independent on the behavioral condition, epileptic brains exhibited a more regular functional network structure. Similarly, the eyes-closed condition was characterized by a more regular functional network structure in both groups. The amount of network reorganization due to behavioral state changes was similar in both groups. Consistent findings could be achieved for networks derived from EEG but hardly from MEG recordings, and network construction rules had a rather strong impact on our findings. Conclusions Despite the locality of the investigated processes epileptic brain networks differ in their global characteristics from non-epileptic brain networks. Further methodological developments are necessary to improve the characterization of disturbed and normal functional networks. Significance An increased regularity and a diminished modulation capability appear characteristic of epileptic brain networks. Y1 - 2010 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clinph.2009.10.013 SN - 1388-2457 VL - 121 IS - 2 SP - 172 EP - 185 PB - Elsevier CY - Amsterdam ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Hirschfeld, Julian A. A1 - Lustfeld, Hans A1 - Reißel, Martin A1 - Steffen, Bernhard T1 - A novel scheme for precise diagnostics and effective stabilization of currents in a fuel cell stack JF - International Journal of Energy Research N2 - A novel scheme for detecting inhomogeneous internal currents in a fuel cell stack is presented. In this paper the scheme is investigated for the case that the flow field plates consist of graphite. Then plates of high conductivity, e.g. aluminium between the flow field plates together with small slits in these plates have three effects: (a) Whenever a local inhomogeneity of the electric current occurs at a particular cell in the stack, this will induce a surface current close to that cell perpendicular to the averaged current. This current can be detected. (b) The plates of high conductivity completely prevent the inhomogeneities from spreading to neighbouring cells. (c) Even at the particular cell the inhomogeneity is suppressed as far as possible. Thus this scheme leads to much better diagnostic possibilities and at the same time reduces electric instabilities to an extent, where they probably become harmless. This scheme will first be explained for a simple model to clarify the idea. However, very precise three dimensional computations using realistic parameters are presented, corroborating the results of the simple model. Y1 - 2010 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1002/er.1662 SN - 0363-907X VL - 34 IS - 3 SP - 293 EP - 301 PB - Wiley CY - London ER -