A network element, method and computer program product enable to reduce the need to send keep-alive messages when elements have to be traversed. A device comprises a) an elongate member having a distal end, b) at least one foot member extending from the distal end of the elongate member, said foot member having a upper surface and a lower surface, c) an electrically and thermally insulating covering formed on at least the lower surface of the foot member and d) at least one electrode on the upper surface of the foot member. An electrical-storage-device controller causes the electrical storage device to be charged or discharged, based on the reduction in output power, the acoustic-noise-suppression output power, and the grid-demanded output power demanded from the utility grid. If a query is transmitted to its destination, and it is later determined that query caused a problem on that destination, that query is added to the database of queries. The method includes heating the reaction mixture to form the polymeric material product. Electrode layers of identical electrical polarity are jointly contacted to an external contact arranged at a side face of the stack.