Gauge theory on noncommutative spaces

We introduce a formulation of gauge theory on noncommutative spaces based on the notion of covariant coordinates. Some important examples are discussed in detail. A Seiberg-Witten map is established in all cases. Received: 6 March 2000 / Published online: 8 May 2000     

Neutrino dipole moments and charge radii in non-commutative space-time

In this paper we obtain a bound TeV on the scale of space-time non-commutativity considering photon-neutrino interactions. We compute *-dipole moments and *-charge radii originating from space-time non-commutativity and compare them with the dipole moments calculated in the neutrino-mass extended standard model (SM). The computation depends on the nature of the neutrinos, Dirac versus Majorana, their mass and the energy scale. We focus on Majorana neutrinos. The *-charge radius is found to be at TeV.Received: 17 June 2004, Published online: 18 August 2004     

Polymeric Antitumor Agents on a Molecular and on a Cellular Level?

“Chemistry has become a mature science, with all the advantages and handicaps of maturity: harvest is abundant, but many people think future and adventure are to be found elsewhere”^[1a]. This holds true—in 1981, the year of Hermann Staudinger's 100th birthday—for macromolecular chemistry, too. Where can the polymer chemists seek adventures? Unsolved problems in neighboring fields like medicine and molecular biology attract his zeal. Cancer chemotherapy is such a field. Can the polymer chemist help to solve its problems? Polymers may be pharmacologically active as such. If used as carriers, they may, due to their intrinsic properties, influence body distribution, excretion or cell uptake of the pharmaca they carry. Hence, there is a chance for new ways in therapy, including affinity chemotherapy using synthetic macromolecules. Our own body has a perfect biological system for affinity therapy: immune response to infection selectively attacks foreign cells, It is fascinating to observe what the immune system does to a tumor cell which could not escape immune surveillance (cf. Fig. 14). Can these specific cell-cell interactions be mimicked? What do we have to learn for an experimental approach to this adventure? Stable membrane and cell models can be synthesized, a first step towards this goal. Macromolecular chemistry is far from being able to offer satisfying solutions for a specific tumor therapy; striving for it, polymer chemists can learn lots of things. In order to do so, they will have to enter neighboring fields and they will have to be willing and able to cooperate.     

Cost-effective interrogation of single nucleotide polymorphisms using the mismatch amplification mutation assay and capillary electrophoresis

The ability to characterize SNPs is an important aspect of many clinical diagnostic, genetic and evolutionary studies. Here, we designed a multiplexed SNP genotyping method to survey a large number of phylogenetically informative SNPs within the genome of the bacterium Bacillus anthracis. This novel method, CE universal tail mismatch amplification mutation assay (CUMA), allows for PCR multiplexing and automatic scoring of SNP genotypes, thus providing a rapid, economical and higher throughput alternative to more expensive SNP genotyping techniques. CUMA delivered accurate B. anthracis SNP genotyping results and, when multiplexed, saved reagent costs by more than 80% compared with TaqMan real-time PCR. When real-time PCR technology and instrumentation is unavailable or the reagents are cost-prohibitive, CUMA is a powerful alternative for SNP genotyping.