Only several months has passed since Human Genome Project was successfully finished in this April. However, it has already influenced wide variety of research areas. Especially in the pharmaceutical industry, the genomic information and technology is bringing an evolutional change in its way of developing drugs, which is sometimes mentioned as a "paradigm shift". Sumitomo Pharmaceuticals has started genomics based research to facilitate its productivity of drug discovery and development four years ago. In this review, we will focus on two key technologies, transcriptome and proteome analysis, to make the use of genomic information, and will show some of our data.
(by Shinichi KOJIMA,Toru KIMURA )

At present, chemical analysis of dioxin-like compounds by high-resolution GC/MS is the standard method for determining TEQs of various samples. However, this analysis is laborious, time consuming and rather expensive, and thus unsuited for large scale screening. To circumvent these problems, we have made attempts to develop a new reporter gene assay and developed stably transformed mammalian cell lines. We tried to apply the obtained cell lines for analyzing dioxin and its related compounds in various samples such as human breast milk, and exhaust fumes and ash from incinerators, concluding that the results obtained by the reporter gene assay have very good correlation to those by GC/MS analysis.
(by Haruyuki MATSUNAGA,Koichi SAITO,Kenji OEDA )

A method for preparing bacterial formulations suitable for bio-augmentation was developed. Coal incinerated ash (fly ash) was used to flocculate and immobilize micro-organism granules (activated sludge), and the targeted micro-organisms in the flocculants, i.e. nitrifying bacteria, were enriched through continuous culturing in a medium containing their specific substrates, e.g. ammonium and oxygen. When the enriched nitrifying bacteria were applied in a required volume to the activated sludge, nitrification of the activated sludge was reactivated just as anticipated.
(by Yosuke NAKAMURA,Masahiro AOI )

"Ionic Liquid" has attracted many scientists' interest from various kinds of fields and so many reports have appeared on this subject just in these 10 years. It is also called "Room Temperature Molten Salt" because it is liquid at room temperature. As the result of its chemical structure, being composed of cation and anion, ionic liquid has almost no vapor pressure. Consequently it has some characteristic physico-chemical properties such as fireproofness, non-inflammability and high polarity. The most popular type of ionic liquid is based on nitrogen, where the salt is mostly composed of ammonium, pyridinium or imidazolium cation and some kind of anion. Generally, ionic liquids are synthesized as follows. First, nitrogen containing compound such as pyridine, imidazole or tertiary amine is reacted with alkyl halide. Then the obtained quarternary compond is treated with alkali metal compound like NaBF4, NaPF6 or LiN (SO2CF3)2 in an appropriate solvent to give the corresponding salt. Finally the thus obtained salt is purified. The point of manufacturing process exists in the purification. Now, Koei is distributing the catalogue of ionic liquid to potential customers in various kinds of fields, including academic and industrial. We are ready to provide sample for evaluation and also to collaborate for the development of custom-made ionic liquid. We have so much experience and expertise in manufacturing many kinds of amines, pyiridines and quarternary ammonium salts (phase transfer catalysts). We would like to introduce the history, properties, synthetic method and potential applications of ionic liquid as well as Koei's activity in this field.
(by Toshito SAKAI,Masatoshi USUI,Yoshimi YAMADA )

A visible light responsive TiO2 photocatalyst powder (TPS) was produced by a wet-chemical process, which can be applied as a mass production process. TPS decomposes acetaldehyde under irradiation of the light with wavelength lower than 550nm. Under fluorescent lamp irradiation, the activity of TPS was several times higher than that of commercial TiO2 photocatalyst. A coating agent (TSS) was prepared by an improved conventional coating agent preparation method. Anatase type crystalline particles are dispersed in water, therefore, the photocatalytic activity is observed by coating followed by drying without calcination. The TSS coating layer exhibited antibacterial activity under visible light irradiation.
(by Yoshiaki SAKATANI,Kensen OKUSAKO,Yuko YOSHIDA,Yasuyuki OKI,Hiroyuki ANDO,Hironobu KOIKE )

It outlines the history of polymer alloys and reactive processing is explained in detail as the method for getting compatibilized polymer alloy of immiscible system. The polymer alloy of finely distributed structure is obtained by mixing, making block co-polymer in melt kneading process using a reactive compatibilizer. The PP/PA alloy system and the PPE/PA alloy system are explained in detail. Furthermore
(by Takashi SANADA,Satoru MORITOMI,Shinya UTSUMI )

In May 2003, SAFER Real-Time System was installed in Ehime Works of Sumitomo Chemical Co., Ltd., the first installation in Japan. This software system is to monitor chemical process and to facilitate emergency response, in which real time meteorological data and gas sensor data are put in PC and their air dispersion simulation results under pre-determined scenario are shown on display in a form of map. Plume which is caused by release of chemical substance is usually unseen. But under this SAFER Real-Time System, its location (snapshot) and state are displayed in color on screen, through which we are able to issue a warning to those who are down the wind by providing them with information on an approximate arrival time and concentration of such plume at a time of real accident or emergency drill.
(by Toyoaki NAKARAI )

A risk assessment system, i.e. TASCS (Toxicity Assessment System for Chemical Substances) was founded in Sumitomo Chemical Co., Ltd. in 1982, which is one of the supporting system for responsible care activities on industrial chemical. Since 1982, over 820 chemicals have been scientifically evaluated and over 4400 reports have been prepared for responsible care activities. In this system, the risk assessments for carcinogen, skin sensitizer et. al. were carried out. In a typical case of a skin sensitizer, the environmental concentrations in worker place were simulated in coupled with the measured data, and using the dose-response relationships in guinea pig study (maximization method), the risk in worker place was improved. In the early stage of chemical development, the prediction methods were applied for preliminary assessment, using database stored in Sumitomo Chemical Co., Ltd. as well as using a computer aid prediction system.
(by Yumiko NAKAYAMA, Keisuke YAMAMOTO, Yosuke NAKAMURA, Fumio KISHIDA )

The social request to the concern of healthy influence and the establishment of countermeasures by soil and groundwater pollution has been strongly desired. Based on those situations, the "Soil Contamination Countermeasures Law" about grasp of the situation of soil contamination and prevention of the human healthy influence by soil pollution etc. was enforced. It makes fairly obvious that countermeasures to cope with polluted soil will be further reinforced in the future, which in turn will variously affect related businesses and companies. We introduce about investigation technology and countermeasures of soil contamination and about activities on these businesses in SCAS, Ltd.
(by Hiromitsu DAIGOBO, Kouichi NISHIKAWA, Kazumasa MIHARA, Yoshio INOUE, Hideharu FUJIMOTO )

Public needs for "barrier free" has brought the rapid expansion of the market of Easy Peel Film that is easy to open a lid in the packaging material fields. To meet this market demand, Sumitomo Chemical Co., Ltd has been making an extensive research and succeeded in the development of "Assist^®", the functional film by using its sophisticated resin design technology along with its extrusion processing technology. Sumika Plastech Co., Ltd., subsidiary of Sumitomo Chemical Co., Ltd has been engaging in production and marketing of this "Assist^®" film. Investigation of the fracture mechanism of the materials was the key to success for its product development. In this paper, several examples of product development to meet the client's various needs along with its product performance are addressed.
(by Ryuma KURODA, Hiroaki TAKAHATA, Yasuyuki TAKAGI, Shinichi MITSUI, Akihiro FURUTA )

Oristar^®A is a natural enemy insect formulation, which contains a predatory bug (Orius strigicollis) (Heteroptera, Anthocoridae) mainly distributed in Japanese main islands except Hokkaido, for thirps control. Oristar^®A contains selected strain of O. strigicollis with non-diapause under short day period. Based on this character of Oristar^®A, it shows more consistent efficacy than former Orius sauteri formulation in greenhouse cultivation in south-west Japan from autumn to spring, which provides the most important market for Oristar^®A. In this paper, mass-production and detail of efficacy of Oristar^®A are described and IPM (Integrated Pest Management) model including Oristar^®A is also introduced.
(by Noboru UKISHIRO, Yoshinori SHONO )

Tsukuba research laboratory successfully developed the novel liquid crystalline polymer (LCP) materials for easily film and bottle moldings. These materials were developed from studies based on rheological and synthetic technologies for LCPs. The film obtained has high heat resistance, high modulus, high gas barrier, high solvent resistance, and so on. On the other hand, studies on reduction of anisotropy of the properties are now on progress.
(by Takanari YAMAGUCHI, Hiroaki KUMADA, Yasuhiro YAMASHITA, Shino MATSUMI )

Methoxyamine was found to directly aminate nitrobenzenes under basic conditions to give nitroanilines. The yield of nitroanilines was highly enhanced by the addition of a copper catalyst. In the course of our studies on the amination with methoxyamine, we also found that the amination of nitropyridines, nitroolefins, α, β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds and naphthoquinones gave aminonitropyridines, β-nitroenamines, β-acylenamines and aminonaphthoquinones, respectively. We describe here the novel aminations with methoxyamine.
(by Shinzo SEKO, Kunihito MIYAKE )

In order to overcome global competition and to keep continuous growth, it is indispensable to shorten the development period of products. Accordingly the practical CE technique was developed. In developing this technique, the following keywords were thought as the most important, ""GENRYU-KA"", ""running parallel"" and ""technological power"" ; 1)GEN-RYU-KA, i.e., formation of the subject in the initial stage of development, 2)making the system which enables simultaneous task execution, 3)harmonizing several technological power that is the basis of the developing. The subject of an industrialization-project was formed systematically by using various kinds of standardization sheets, the system which can manage a subject functionally with GEN-RYU-KA. By expressing of the project-progress-condition using the OZ-chart which consists of formation, solution distribution and completeness of the subject, it is able to evaluate quantitatively how to do work or the level of technological power The standard level of the degree of GEN-RYU-KA and degree of completeness for making project successful becomes clear, and it becomes possible to predict the results of the project. This technique was applied to the project, following achievements were obtained, i.e., 25% shortening of the total developing period, full achievement of the target and innovation of stuff-section business.
(by Tatsuya OZAKI, Takanori ITOH )