Abstract: According to one embodiment, provided is an active material including a niobium titanium-containing oxide phase and a carbon coating layer. The niobium titanium-containing oxide phase contains a niobium titanium-containing oxide having a monoclinic structure and Na, and a Na content therein is 0 ppm or more and 100 ppm or less. The carbon coating layer coats at least a part of the niobium titanium-containing oxide phase, and contains 0.001% or more of carboxyl group.

Abstract: Provided is a breeding apparatus that can facilitate disposition and collection of a spawning bed. A breeding apparatus includes a breeding area forming member that forms breeding areas for organisms and is open at least at the bottoms of the breeding areas, and a spawning bed sheet that forms the bottom surfaces of the breeding areas, has a belt shape, and is provided so as to be movable in a longitudinal direction of the belt shape relative to the breeding area forming member.

Abstract: An artificial fur having chinchilla-like appearance and hand, which consists of a substrate fabric and piles provided on at least one surface thereof, which piles comprise underhairs of 0.5 to less than 4.0 deniers, having an average length of 10.about.35 mm, a hair density of 8,000.about.30,000 hairs/cm.sup.2, a crimp ratio of at most 20%, a frictional coefficient in the right direction of 1.6 or less and a frictional coefficient ratio of the adverse direction to the right direction of 1.0.about.1.4. The piles preferably further comprise guard hairs of 4.about.50 deniers, equal to or a little longer than underhairs, having a hair density of 3,000 hairs/cm.sup.2 or less. The piles preferably have color variations lengthwise.

Abstract: A process for producing an anion-exchangeable nonhollow novolak filament which comprises treating a cured nonhollow novolak filament with an amination agent thereby introducing an anion-exchangeable group into the filament.