Abstract: There are disclosed graphite materials for a negative electrode used in a lithium secondary battery which graphite materials have an average specific surface area of 1.5 m2/gram to 5 m2/gram and comprise (A) milled graphite fibers which are produced by milling and graphitizing mesophase pitch-based carbon fibers, and which have an interplanar spacing of the graphite layer (d002) of at most 0.337 nm and a specific surface area of 0.8 m2/gram to 1.3 m2/gram; and (B) graphite materials which have an interplanar spacing of the graphite layer (d002) of at most 0.336 nm, a degree of graphitization (P101/P100) of at least 2.0 and a specific surface area of 2 m2/gram to 15 m2/gram, wherein the components (A) and (B) are mixed at a ratio (A)/(B) by weight of 90/10 to 50/50.

Abstract: There are disclosed cosmetics which comprise N-acylamino acids containing acyl groups having specifically numbered carbon atoms, or derivatives thereof and which are well suited for hair growth, skin care and the like; N-acylamino acid compositions which are favorably usable for detergents, dispersants, emulsifying agents, antimicrobial drugs, antiseptics, ultraviolet absorbers and the like. The invention provides cosmetics which comprise N-acylamino acids containing acyl groups having odd-numbered carbon atoms, salts thereof or esters thereof; N-acylamino acid compositions; and further N-acylamino acids containing acyl groups having carbon atoms in an odd number in the range of 13 to 17 along with salts and esters thereof.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for producing lipids, which comprises culturing bacteria capable of assimilating aliphatic hydrocarbons and accumulating lipids in medium containing aliphatic hydrocarbons until lipids are accumulated in the bacteria and then recovering the lipids therefrom, as well as to process for producing cosmetics which comprises using the lipids produced by said method.