Abstract: Provided is a block copolymer composition comprising block copolymer a and copolymer b with block copolymer a/copolymer b (mass ratio)=20/80 to 75/25, the block copolymer a comprises a polymer block mainly comprising a vinyl aromatic hydrocarbon monomer unit, and a polymer block mainly comprising a conjugated diene monomer unit with vinyl aromatic hydrocarbon monomer unit/conjugated diene monomer unit=50/50 to 95/5, the copolymer b is a random copolymer of a vinyl aromatic hydrocarbon monomer unit and a (meth)acrylic acid and/or (meth)acrylic acid alkyl ester monomer unit with vinyl aromatic hydrocarbon monomer unit/((meth)acrylic acid and/or (meth)acrylic acid alkyl ester monomer unit)=50/50 to 90/10, the copolymer b has Mw of 150,000 to 250,000 and a half width of 30% or more in a molecular weight distribution curve, and an outer haze value measured in accordance with ISO14782 is 4.0% or less.

Abstract: A thermoplastic resin composition comprising: a block copolymer (a) having 60 to 80% by mass of a vinyl aromatic monomer unit and 40 to 20% by mass of a conjugated diene monomer unit; and a copolymer (b) having 60 to 90% by mass of a vinyl aromatic monomer unit and 40 to 10% by mass of an unsaturated nitrile monomer unit, wherein the block copolymer (a) has at least one polymer block (S) primarily having a vinyl aromatic monomer unit, the block copolymer (a) has at least one tan ? peak of dynamic viscoelasticity at a temperature in a range of ?73 to ?10° C., and a mass ratio (a)/(b) of the block copolymer (a) to the copolymer (b) is 1/99 to 80/20.

Abstract: A block copolymer composition comprising: a polymer (a) comprising more than 95% by mass and 100% by mass or less of a vinyl aromatic monomer unit and 0% by mass or more and less than 5% by mass of a conjugated diene monomer unit; and a block copolymer (b) comprising 15% by mass or more and 50% by mass or less of a vinyl aromatic monomer unit and 50% by mass or more and 85% by mass or less of a conjugated diene monomer unit, wherein a mass ratio of the polymer (a) to the block copolymer (b) satisfies: (a)/(b)=70/30 to 30/70.

Abstract: A block copolymer composition comprising: a polymer (a) comprising more than 95% by mass and 100% by mass or less of a vinyl aromatic monomer unit and 0% by mass or more and less than 5% by mass of a conjugated diene monomer unit; and a block copolymer (b) comprising 15% by mass or more and 50% by mass or less of a vinyl aromatic monomer unit and 50% by mass or more and 85% by mass or less of a conjugated diene monomer unit, wherein a mass ratio of the polymer (a) to the block copolymer (b) satisfies: (a)/(b)=70/30 to 30/70.

Abstract: A thermoplastic resin composition comprising: a block copolymer (a) having 60 to 80% by mass of a vinyl aromatic monomer unit and 40 to 20% by mass of a conjugated diene monomer unit; and a copolymer (b) having 60 to 90% by mass of a vinyl aromatic monomer unit and 40 to 10% by mass of an unsaturated nitrile monomer unit, wherein the block copolymer (a) has at least one polymer block (S) primarily having a vinyl aromatic monomer unit, the block copolymer (a) has at least one tan ? peak of dynamic viscoelasticity at a temperature in a range of ?73 to ?10° C., and a mass ratio (a)/(b) of the block copolymer (a) to the copolymer (b) is 1/99 to 80/20.

Abstract: In a method of raising an edible animal, a finely pulverized product of a plant tissue of Stevia is added to feed in an amount of 0.5% to 7% by weight, thereby preventing exudation of meat juice from meat of the edible animal, decreasing fat content without turning meat of the edible animal stale, producing DHA-containing meat of the edible animal, or preventing an egg of the fowl (preferably, a hen's egg) from being broken.

Abstract: A vulcanized, olefinic elastomer composition comprising (A) 1 to 99 parts by weight of an ethylene-&agr;-olefin copolymer prepared using a metallocene catalyst which copolymer comprises an ethylene unit and an &agr;-olefin unit having 3 to 20 carbon atoms and (B) 1 to 99 parts by weight of a polypropylene resin, provided that the total amount of the components (A) and (B) is 100 parts by weight, wherein (C) a polyorganosiloxane having a dynamic viscosity at 25° C. of at least 5,000 centistokes is contained in a proportion of 0.01 to 20 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of a total of the components (A) and (B).

Abstract: Stevia particles of at least 10 &mgr;m diameter and/or liquid extract is applied to soil in which plants are cultivated and/or to the plants. The Stevia is applied in a quantity per unit area effective for at least one of the following effects: enhancing root growth of plants, prolonging freshness and tastiness of edible agricultural products yielded by the plants, decreasing the dropping of fruit before harvest time, aiding the sustaining and multiplying of microbes in the soil beneficial to the plants, countering soil damage which would otherwise occur due to repeated plantings, moderating the absorption of fertilizer by the plants in the event of excessive application of fertilizers, and making the plants more resistant to harmful microbes in the soil.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for raising an edible animal, in which a finely pulverized product of a plant tissue of Stevia is added to feed in an amount of 0.5% to 7% by weight, thereby preventing exudation of meat juice from meat of the edible animal, decreasing fat content without turning meat of the edible animal stale, producing DHA-containing meat of the edible animal, or preventing an egg of the fowl (preferably, a hen's egg) from being broken.

Abstract: Harmful effects of histamine are counteracted by the administration of an antihistaminic substance comprising a water extract of a plant tissue of Stevia. Standing of the extract naturally cause fermentation to form one or more organic acids, such as lactic acid and acetic acid, thereby enhancing the antihistaminic action. The addition of at least one organic acid to the extract immediately after extraction can also enhance the antihistaminic action.

Abstract: An antihistaminic substance comprising an extract from a plant tissue of Stevia, which is primarily contained in its stems and leaves, and in a cold water, hot water or lower alcohol extract thereof. Standing of the extract naturally causes fermentation to separate one or more organic acids such as lactic acid and acetic acid, thereby more enhancing the antihistaminic action. The addition of at least one organic acid to the extract immediately after extraction can also enhance the antihistiminic action. When rainbow trout or broilers are fed diets containing histamine, this extract significantly relieves the action of histamine. The extract also represses symptoms such as flare, itch and pain caused by excessive release of activated histamine or a histaminic substance, thus providing an antihistaminic substance of natural origin having no side effects.

Abstract: An auxiliary fuel system for an internal combustion engine which supplements the primary fuel means for delivering fuel through a carburetor passage to said engine. The auxiliary fuel system is comprised of first and second fuel valves placed in parallel which introduce extra fuel into the intake passage of the carburetor at heavy load conditions. The first fuel valve is of the diaphragm operated type and opens and closes as a function of the pressure in a first vacuum chamber being alternatively connected to either a vacuum source at the intake passage of the carburetor or to the atmosphere. A series of electromagnetic selector valves and check valves determine the pressure conditions within said vacuum chamber. The second fuel valve is also of the diaphragm operated type, but the diaphragm is actuated by a mechanical linkage system interconnected to the throttle valve.