The remarkable growth of Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) market is owing to the improvement of its performance and the creation of new markets. Since a start in business of the retardation film "Sumikalight^®" and the polarizing film "Sumikalan^®", to improve the performance of LCDs, these optical films have been advanced in many points such as polarization properties, surface properties, viewing angle characteristics, etc.
In this paper the advancement of these films is described.
( by Fumio FUJITA, Kazuaki SAKAKURA, Yukio YASUNORI, Nobuyuki KURATA, Kohji HIGASHI, Toshihiro OHNISHI, Kazuya OGINO )

Cytochrome P450 represents a large group of hemoproteins that catalyze the oxidation of a wide variety of both endogenous and exogenous compounds. Recent advances in molecular biology have revealed the multiplicity of P450 at the molecular level. In addition, genetic engineering enables the expression of mammalian P450 species including human ones in heterologous hosts such as yeast and bacteria. We have established a yeast expression system for mammalian P450 and have constructed recombinant yeast strains expressing each of major eleven P450 species from human liver. These series of recombinant yeast strains are useful for in vitro prediction of metabolism of new chemical compounds, especially for the identification of the P450 species responsible for the metabolism and for analysis of the major matabolites in human.
( by Yoshiyasu YABUSAKI, Megumi AKIYOSHI, Koji HAYASHI )

Sumikaflex^® has wide range of product lines such as ethylene-vinylacetate copolymer emulsion, ethylene-vinylacetate-vinylchloride copolymer emulsion and ethylene-vinylacetate-acrylate copolymer emulsion.
Sumikaflex^® is applied for adhesive, construction (Ex. mortar mixing), paper (Ex. impregnation) and textile (Ex. binder for non-woven fablic).
In this paper, first we briefly present the basic design of ethylene copolymer emulsion and then we introduce some new grades which are suitable for adhesives and paper-textile.
( by Yuji YOSHII, Choji TOMIZAWA, Tatsuo MITSUTAKE )

PPE (poly phenylene ether) is one of ductile polymers, and possesses high glass transition temperature. For the improvement of heat resistance, several PPE alloys have been developed. In this paper, toughening mechanisms of PPE alloys are investigated concerning following items by means of SR-SAXS (Synchrotron Radiation Small-Angle X-ray Scattering).
The effect of rubber properties on the deformation processes of PPE/polyamide alloys.
The effect of PPE content on the deformation processes of PPE/PS alloys having bimodal rubber particle distribution.
( by Yasuhito IJICHI, Yuji SAGA, Takeshi FUJII, Keisaku YAMAMOTO )

We have succeeded in developing the novel thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) having both softness and higher heat resistivity as compared with those reported so far, by way of the graft copolymerization of rigid rod like oligomer derived from p-hydroxy benzoic acid to ethylene-methylacrylate-glycidyl methacrylate terpolymer.
( by Masahiro NIWANO, Kenji MANABE, Ichiki MURASE )

This articles describes Sumitomo Chemical's Responsible Care activities such as organization in charge, preparation of standards and rules, internal audit, and preparation of safety and maintenance control guideline as well as the activities in Process & Production Technology Center and Environmental Health Science Laboratory which play a supporting role, together with brief explanation of development and current situation of Responsible Care Activities in Japan.
( by Tadatsune FUKUNAGA )

The objective of toxicological studies of chemicals (pesticides, pharmaceuticals, etc) using experimental animals is to extrapolate toxicity in human from that in the animals. However, it is well-known that there is a great species difference in toxicity of chemicals. Therefore, it is important to conduct mechanistic studies for better assessment of the toxicity in human.
In this paper, we introduce the recent results of our studies, and document the significance of the mechanistic study of toxicity and the future of this field.
( by Koichi SAITO, Yoshitaka TOMIGAHARA, Kunio SHIBA, Hideo KANEKO, Iwao NAKATSUKA )

Recently, the environment of production system has been changed by the borderlss (economy) and the increasing variations of sense of values.
In this paper, to cope with the environment changes around companies and the technology revolution, we introduce the manufacturing technology group??s activities related to the automation of chemical plants and the technology development of the manufacturing processes with some examples.
In the field of chemical plants automation, the approaches for the development of the operator oriented production system by removing 3K operations (Kitanai ; Dirty, Kitsui ; Hard, Kiken ; Dangerous) are reported.
On the other hand, in the field of the manufacturing processes, the required technologies and the methods are explained.
( by Toshimasa NAKAI, Takayuki YAMAGUCHI, Osamu HIROSE, Takashi SUZUKI )

Information retrieval and analysis is becoming more and more important in R & D recently. We are emphasizing usage and application of various databases in order to promote R & D in organic synthesis.
In this article, present status of online databases and in-house databases are described and examples of applying various databases to R & D are introduced. Finally, future view of online and in-house databases are discussed.
( by Yoshikazu EMOTO, Kenji YOSHIMORI, Noriko OKA, Kumiko TANII, Mika KATAOKA, Hiroshi SATO )

Resource^® (flumichlorac pentyl ester, S-23031, pentyl 2-chloro-4- fluoro-5- [ (3,4,5,6-tetrahydro) phthalimido] phenoxyacetate) is new post-emergence herbicide for use in soybeans and corn. Resource^® is applied for controlling some important broad-leaved weeds, especially velvetleaf (Abutilon theophrasti Medik.) at extremely low use rates and it shows excellent tank-mix compatibility with other soybeans or corn herbicides such as Pursuit^®, Select^®, atrazine and Accent^®. Resource^® has no potential risks for the environments and human health and it is the first new crop use pesticide approved by the EPA under their reduced risk policy. Resource^® has been registered in November 1994 as a soybeans and corn herbicide in the U.S.A.
( by Shunichi Hashimoto, Eiki Nagano, Toshiro Otsubo, Kenji Nambu, Shunji Hosokawa, Ichiki Takemoto )

The following three vapor-phase reactions were examined over pentasil zeolites, and the results were considered from the view point of acidity control: 1) para-selective dealkylation of cymenes over MgO/Li-ZSM-5, 2) Beckmann rearrangement of cyclohexanone oxime over the extremely highly silicious pentasil zeolite (having no acidity) treated with trimethylchlorosilane (TMCS), and 3) synthesis pyridines over Pb (or TI) - ZSM-5. For the Beckmann rearrangement, the active site was elucidated to be a neutral silanol group on the external surface of zeolite. Furthermore, the recent advances of zeolite chemistry have been surveyed.
( by Hiroshi Sato, Masaru Kitamura, Ken-ichi Hirose, Norio Ishii )

We have successfully prepared polymer light-emitting diodes, LEDs, utilizing poly (arylene vinylenes) as a light emitting material. Numbers of poly (arylene vinylenes), PAVs were synthesized and analyzed. We found that the substitution of long side chain led to improving the efficiency of fluorescence of PAV and that an alternating copolymer of p-phenylene vinylene and 2,5-dialkoxy-p-phenylene vinylene showed higher efficiency of fluorescence than that of homopolymer of each monomer unit. Using the highly fluorescent polymer, a maximum luminance of 70,000cd/m2 and a long life time of about 1,000hours were achieved. In this paper, the recent progress and prospect of polymer LEDs utilizing various kinds of PAV are described.
( by Toshihiro Ohnishi, Takanobu Noguchi, Shuji Doi )

Corresponding to the remarkable development of the electronic devices, the printed wiring board possessing low dielectric constant and low dissipation factor is required for high-speed processing and the use of high frequency. The selection of matrix resin is an important factor for getting the low dielectric printed wiring board. We developed new epoxy resins "Sumi^®-epoxy LDX series" and cyanate resins possessing low dielectric constant and low dissipation factor by using our synthetic technology of epoxy resins and molecular designing by computer chemistry.
( by Mitsuhiro Shibata, Youichi Ueda, Hisashi Watabu, Yasuhiro Endou, Kaori Yamasaki, Toshiaki Hayashi )

In Superconducting Magnetic Energy Storage (SMES), an electric power is directly stored in the form of electricity. As an electric power storage, we greatly expect its excellent efficiency, high power, rapid response and distinguished reliability. In order to realize this power storage, a large amount of high purity aluminum is expected to be used as the cryostatic stabilizer to protect the superconductor from the destruction caused by "Quenching". As one of the largest high purity aluminum suppliers in the world, we review the status of the SMES development, especially its conductor design. Also, our newly developed high purity aluminum for the cryostatic stabilizer is demonstrated.
( by Akihiko Takahashi, Hitoshi Yasuda )

High concentration of the phytohormone 2,4-D induces somatic embryos on immature soybean seed. They are capable of proliferation and regenerating to mature plants, and are suitable target for gene transfer experiments. We established an efficient transformation method for soybean using particle gun, which is a device to deliver DNA-coated gold particles (up to 1 micron m) to plant cells by air-pressure power. In this system, a constructed plasmid pSUM-GH containing both GUS reporter gene and hygromycin resistant gene as a selectable marker was bombarded on somatic embryos. Selected hygromycin resistant embryos showed strong GUS activity and regenerated to transgenic plants. In order to apply this transformation system to modify soybean seed quality, we constructed a seed-specific expression vector pSUM-GY1. The GUS gene cloned into the vector exhibited high level of expression in developing seed but neither in leaves nor in germinating seed. This vector will be a powerful tool to alter agronomic characteristics of soybean.
( by Kenji Oeda, Akitsu Nagasawa, Asako Iida, Eijiro Watanabe )

Gas-Injection molding is one of the low pressure injection moldings. This process forms hollow core with highly pressurized nitrogen gas filling in melted polymer and has the potential to produce rigid parts with better surface finish which has no sinkmark and warpage than conventional injection molding. In this paper the outline of low pressure injection molding and gas-assisted injection molding including the principles, the special features, processes, application examples, parts and mold design technics using CAE are introduced.
( by Yoshiaki Togawa, Kenichi Higashi, Masaaki Tsutsubuchi, Tsuyoshi Kayanoki, Moriyasu Shimojo )

Many of bioactive molecules are chiral and enantioselective analytical methods are essential for characterizing their biological and physicochemical properties. Chiral separation by high-performance liquid chromatography without prior derivatization, using chiral stationary phases has played a large role in these fields. In this review, our work on various chiral stationary phases is described. Additionally, chiral separations with micellar electrokinetic chromatography and supercritical fluid chromatography, which are highly efficient separation techniques, are demonstrated.
( by Ritsuko Furuta, Masahiko Okamoto, Ken-ichi Takahashi, Tadashi doi )

When emergency relief systems for runaway reactions are designed, the occurrence of two phase vapor-liquid flow must be taken into consideration. Generally, in case of two phase flow, larger relief areas are necessary in comparison with all vapor flow. In this review, the outlines of DIERS Users Group which is the subordinate organization of AIChE are presented. Then, the bench-scale calorimeteres and the simplified vent sizing equations based on homogeneous mixture which are developed by DIERS are explained together with the applicative examples.
( by Takeshi Kikuchi )