Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions and methods for preserving and extracting nucleic acids from saliva. The compositions include a chelating agent, a denaturing agent, buffers to maintain the pH of the composition within ranges desirable for DNA and/or RNA. The compositions may also include a reducing agent and/or antimicrobial agent. The invention extends to methods of using the compositions of the invention to preserve and isolate nucleic acids from saliva as well as to containers for the compositions of the invention.

Abstract: Digital assay system, including methods and apparatus, for calculating a level of one or more targets. In an exemplary method, data for amplification of a plurality of targets including a first target may be collected from partitions. A level of the first target may be calculated from only a subset of the data that excludes partitions according to target content.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for analyzing genes using SDL-PCR (separation of displaced ligation probe-based PCR), and more particularly to a method for analyzing genes using SDL-PCR, in which probes comprising a nucleotide sequence complementary to the gene of interest are ligated with each other by ligase, and another probe capable of hybridizing to the probes is hybridized and extended, thereby preparing a template probe, and the template probe for the gene of interest is amplified using universal primers. According to the SDL-PCR method of the present invention, non-specific amplification can be minimized by removing non-ligated probes or genomic DNA using a tag, and separation can be achieved within a shorter time compared to a separation method that is performed using exonuclease.

Abstract: Provided are a composition or a kit for detecting a nucleic acid with genetic variation including a first amplification blocking nucleic acid and a second amplification blocking nucleic acid, and a method of detecting a nucleic acid with genetic variation by using the same. Based on the above, a nucleic acid with genetic variation can be detected with high sensitivity and accuracy.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of distinguishing genotypes using PCR-PHFA including: a nucleic acid amplification step in which a mutation site-including region of a gene is amplified by a nucleic acid amplification reaction, thereby obtaining an amplification reaction solution; and a distinction step in which the amplification reaction solution obtained from the nucleic acid amplification step is mixed with a reference double-stranded nucleic acid having a specific genotype on the mutation site as well as being labeled with a labeling substance, and the mixture is subjected to a competitive strand displacement reaction, and the level of the occurrence of strand displacement is assessed so as to distinguish the identity; and the competitive strand displacement reaction is performed under a condition to suppress a polymerase extension reaction, and a genotype distinguishing kit for use in the distinct of genotypes by this method.

Abstract: A nucleic acid amplification method is provided, along with kits useful in performing the amplification method.

Abstract: Provided herein are methods and compositions for performing PCR with primers with blocked 3?-ends that are unblocked when these primers anneal to the template. The multiplexed PCR can be used as real-time qPCR, for end-point detection or as enrichment method for next generation sequencing (NGS). Also described herein are methods and compositions to improve sensitivity of mutation-specific PCR when targeting closely-spaced mutations.

Abstract: Methods for multiplex amplification of a plurality of targets of distinct sequence from a complex mixture are disclosed. In one aspect targets are circularized using a single circularization probe that is complementary to two regions in the target that flank a region to be amplified. The targets may hybridize to the circularization probe so that 5? or 3? flaps are generated and methods for removing flaps and circularizing the resulting product are disclosed. In another aspect targets are hybridized to dU probes so that 5? and 3? flaps are generated. The flaps are cleaved using 5? or 3? flap endonucleases or 3? to 5? exonucleases. The target sequences are then ligated to common primers, the dU probes digested and the ligated targets amplified.

Abstract: Disclosed is a DNA detection device that detects a target DNA by detecting fluorescence output from sample droplets flowing through a flow path in a surface of a sensor chip, and that includes a fluorescence detector that detects fluorescence output from sample droplets flowing through the flow path, and a DNA detector that determines a type of fluorescent probe solution contained in each of the sample droplets based on a duration of the detected fluorescence and determines whether or not the sample droplet contains the target DNA based on whether intensity of the fluorescence is higher or lower than a threshold value.

Abstract: Sample nucleic acids are prevented from removing from a sample-immobilizing layer during a sequencing reaction. A reaction device for nucleic acid analysis is provided that enables high throughput analysis by increasing the number of nucleic acid samples that can be analyzed. The reaction device for nucleic acid analysis comprises a substrate, a sample-immobilizing layer on the substrate, nucleic acid samples or carriers having nucleic acid samples on their surfaces, which are immobilized on the sample-immobilizing layer, and a blocking layer that covers areas other than areas where the nucleic acid samples or the carriers are bound to the sample-immobilizing layer, wherein the immobilizing layer is formed of an inorganic oxide.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to methods and compositions for acquiring nucleotide sequence information of target sequences. In particular, the present invention provides methods and compositions for improving the efficiency of sequencing reactions by using fewer labels to distinguish between nucleotides and by detecting nucleotides at multiple detection positions in a target sequence.

Abstract: The invention generally features compositions and methods for modulating an immune response. In particular embodiments, such compositions and methods modulate regulatory T cell suppressive activity.

Abstract: Generalized idiopathic epilepsies (IGE) cause 40% of all seizures and commonly have a genetic basis. One type of IGE is Benign Familial Neonatal Convulsions (BFNC), a dominantly inherited disorder of newborns. A submicroscopic deletion of chromosome 20q13.3 which co-segregates with seizures in a BFNC family has been identified. Characterization of cDNAs spanning the deleted region identified a novel voltage-gated potassium channel, KCNQ2, which belongs to a new KCNQ1-like class of potassium channels. Nine other BFNC probands were shown to have KCNQ2 mutations including three missense mutations, three frameshifts, two nonsense mutations, and one splice site mutation. A second gene, KCNQ3, was found in a separate BFNC family in which the mutation had been localized to chromosome 8. A missense mutation was found in this gene in perfect cosegregation with the BFNC phenotype in this latter family. This demonstrates that defects in potassium channels can cause epilepsy.

Abstract: The present invention provides nucleic acids and peptides, and methods of using the nucleic acids and peptides to identify subjects at risk for a TDP-43 proteinopathy. The invention also provides for an array comprising the nucleic acids and peptides of the invention.

Abstract: The invention is directed to methods of generating sequence profiles of populations of nucleic acids, whose member nucleic acids contain regions of high variability, such as populations of nucleic acids encoding T cell receptors or B cell receptors. In one aspect, the invention provides pluralities of sets of primers for generating nested sets of templates from nucleic acids in such populations, thereby insuring the production of at least one template from which sequence reads are generated, despite such variability, or despite limited lengths or quality of sequence reads. In another aspect, members of such populations are bidirectionally sequenced so that further sequence information is obtained by analyzing overlapping sequence reads in the zones of highest variability.

Abstract: Novel gene deletions and translocations involving chromosome 2 resulting in fusion proteins combining part of Anaplastic Lymphoma Kinase (ALK) kinase with part of a secondary protein have been identified herein in human solid tumors, e.g. non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC). Secondary proteins include Echinoderm Microtubule-Associated Protein-Like 4 (EML-4) and TRK-Fusion Gene (TFG). The EML4-ALK fusion protein, which retains ALK tyrosine kinase activity, was confirmed to drive the proliferation and survival of NSCLC characterized by this mutation. The invention therefore provides, in part, isolated polynucleotides and vectors encoding the disclosed mutant ALK kinase polypeptides, probes for detecting it, isolated mutant polypeptides, recombinant polypeptides, and reagents for detecting the fusion and truncated polypeptides.

Abstract: Dermatophytes which belong to one of the three genera Epidermophyton, Trichophyton and Microsporum are the main cause of fungal infections of skin, hair and nails. Traditional diagnostic procedures consist of microscopy and culture, but due to the slow growth rate of dermatophytes typically two to four weeks are needed before a final diagnosis is obtained. The present invention is a rapid DNA extraction method extracting nucleic acids from fungi (e.g. dermatophytes and other pathogenic fungi) which can be performed from directly on hair, nail or skin specimens from humans, from naturally or experimentally infected animals or from cultured fungal colonies for the use in PCR amplification and detection assays. The present invention also includes specific primer sets for detection of any dermatophyte and for species specific detection of Trichophyton rubrum and Epidermophyton floccosum by PCR and a kit for diagnosing fungal infections.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a rapid, highly fieldable, nearly reagentless diagnostic to identify active RNA viral replication in a live, infected cells, and more particularly in leukocytes and tissue samples (including biopsies and nasal swabs) using an array of a plurality of vertically-aligned nanostructures that impale the cells and introduce a DNA reporter construct that is expressed and amplified in the presence of active viral replication.

Abstract: Oligonucleotide primer useful for synthesizing a cDNA copy of HIV-1 nucleic acids from a broad range of HIV-1 subtypes, including M group and O group variants.

Abstract: This high strength hot-rolled steel sheet includes: in terms of percent by mass, C: 0.05 to 0.12%; Si: 0.8 to 1.2%; Mn: 1.6 to 2.2%; Al: 0.30 to 0.6%; P: 0.05% or less; S: 0.005% or less; and N: 0.01% or less, with the remainder being Fe and unavoidable impurities, wherein a microstructure includes specific ranges (in area %) of ferrite phases as well as martensite phases, and a maximum concentration of Al detected by a glow discharge emission spectroscopic analysis is in a range of 0.75 mass % or less in a region from a surface of the steel sheet to a thickness of 500 nm after being acid-pickled.

Abstract: In cold-rolling a steel sheet coil, when a tail end portion of a steel sheet coil (7) is wound around a tension reel (3) prior to second-pass rolling after the completion of first-pass rolling, the tail end portion is heated to a temperature within a range of not lower than 50° C. nor higher 350° C. with a heater disposed between a rolling stand (1) and the coil tail end-side tension reel (3).

Abstract: A furnace system includes a pre-heating device disposed on a conveyer device, a heating member disposed in the pre-heating device for pre-heating the work piece, a furnace facility located behind the pre-heating device and having a heating zone, a carburizing zone for carburizing the work piece, a diffusing zone and a temperature decreasing zone for lowering the temperature of the work piece, and a cooling zone for lowering the work piece to a room temperature, the furnace facility includes a front door and a rear door and one or more intermediate doors for confining the work piece within the furnace facility, and a heating element is disposed in the furnace facility for pre-heating the work piece.

Abstract: Metastable beta titanium alloys and methods of processing metastable ?-titanium alloys are disclosed. For example, certain non-limiting embodiments relate to metastable ?-titanium alloys, such as binary ?-titanium alloys comprising greater than 10 weight percent molybdenum, having tensile strengths of at least 150 ksi and elongations of at least 12 percent. Other non-limiting embodiments relate to methods of processing metastable ?-titanium alloys, and more specifically, methods of processing binary ?-titanium alloys comprising greater than 10 weight percent molybdenum, wherein the method comprises hot working and aging the metastable ?-titanium alloy at a temperature below the ?-transus temperature of the metastable ?-titanium alloy for a time sufficient to form ?-phase precipitates in the metastable ?-titanium alloy. The metastable ?-titanium alloys are not solution heat treated after hot working and prior to aging.

Abstract: A new technology of intense double alloying and modification involves introduction, during the process of secondary treatment of steel, of nitrogen-containing substance in urea (NH2)2CO into a ladle with a steel melt, which at a temperature of the steel liquid phase of approximately 1650° C. dissociates in an explosive manner, releasing atomic nitrogen. Conversion or transformation of an explosive dissociation of urea into an intensive process of self-propagating synthesis of nitride nanophases is carried out using differentiated by the amount and time schemes of the input of urea into steel melt, wherein the basic parameters, depending on the type of steel, are the flow rate of urea per tonne of steel in the range of 0.4-1.8 kg/tonne and speed of its input into the melt in the range of 5.0-8.0 kg per minute.

Abstract: A high-strength cold-rolled steel sheet excellent in ductility, work hardenability, and stretch flangeability, and having tensile strength of 780 MPa or more includes: a chemical composition containing, in mass percent, C: more than 0.020% to less than 0.30%, Si: more than 0.10% to 3.00% or less, Mn: more than 1.00% to 3.50% or less; and metallurgical structure whose main phase is a low-temperature transformation product, and whose secondary phase contains retained austenite. The retained austenite has a volume fraction relative to overall structure of more than 4.0% to less than 25.0% and an average grain size of less than 0.80 ?m, and of the retained austenite, the number density of retained austenite grains whose grain size is 1.2 ?m or more is 3.0×10?2 grains/?m2 or less.

Abstract: A heat treatment process of high-Mg Er-containing aluminum alloy cold-rolled plates resistant to intergranular corrosion is disclosed, which belongs to the field of non-ferrous metals. The mass percentage of each component of high-Mg Er-containing aluminum alloy heat-rolled plates is, respectively, 5.8%-6.8% of Mg, 0.4%-0.8% of Mn, 0.15%-0.25% of Er, 0.15%-0.25% of Zr, the unavoidable impurities content being less than 4%, the balance being Al. The alloy hot-rolled plates are cold-rolled until the final cold deformation being 75%-90% after the intermediate annealing; the aluminum alloy cold-rolled plates undergo a stabilization annealing at the annealing temperature of 235° C. to 245° C. for 3.5-4 hours, and then is cooled in air to room temperature. This process significantly improves the resistance to intergranular corrosion while it does not reduce the strength of the alloy significantly.

Abstract: Provided is an Mg alloy and a method for producing same able to demonstrate high strength without requiring an expensive rare earth element (RE). The high-strength Mg alloy containing Ca and Zn within a solid solubility limit and the remainder having a chemical composition comprising Mg and unavoidable impurities is characterized in comprising equiaxial crystal particles, there being a segregated area of Ca and Zn along the (c) axis of a Mg hexagonal lattice within the crystal particle, and having a structure in which the segregated area is lined up by Mg3 atomic spacing in the (a) axis of the Mg hexagonal lattice. The method for producing the high-strength Mg alloy is characterized in that Ca and Zn are added to Mg in a compounding amount corresponding to the above composition and, after homogenization heat treating an ingot formed by dissolution and casting, the above structure is formed by subjecting the ingot to hot processing.

Abstract: A method for producing a hot-dip zinc alloy coated steel sheet excellent in coating adhesion, comprising: hot-rolling a steel sheet, subjecting the base sheet for coating to a reduction heat treatment, and subjecting the base sheet for coating to hot-dip zinc alloy coating. The hot-dip alloy coated steel sheet is excellent in coating adhesion, by using, as a base sheet for coating, a steel sheet that is imparted with resistance to liquid metal embrittlement cracking by adding B. The hot-dip zinc alloy coated steel sheet excellent in coating adhesion contains at least one of a Si simple oxide, a Mn simple oxide, a Cr simple oxide, a Si—Mn composite oxide, a Si—Cr composite oxide, a Mn—Cr composite oxide, and a Si—Mn—Cr composite oxide in a portion within 10 ?m from an interface between a steel sheet as a base sheet and a hot-dip galvanized layer formed on a surface thereof.

Abstract: Described are articles having, at least, an outer surface comprising unalloyed oxidized Zirconium with Niobium having a thickness and configurations suitable for sports equipment, golf clubs, aircraft, boat hulls, motor vehicle, propellers, helicopter rotors, and various other non-medical applications.

Abstract: Mechanical devices such as prosthetic knees, hips, shoulders, fingers, elbows, wrists, ankles, fingers and spinal elements when implanted in the body and used as articulating elements are subjected to wear and corrosion. These prosthetic implants are usually fabricated in modular form from combinations of metallic materials such as stainless steels, Co—Cr—Mo alloys, and Ti—Al—V alloys; plastics such as ultra high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE); and ceramics such as alumina and zirconia. As the articulating surfaces of these materials wear and corrode, products including plastic wear debris, metallic wear particles, and metallic ions will be released into the body, transported to and absorbed by bone, blood, the lymphatic tissue, and other organ systems. The polyethylene wear particles have been shown to produce long term bone loss and loosening of the implant.

Abstract: A cutting tool insert having a cemented carbide substrate and a coating including a layer of NbN, wherein the cemented carbide substrate includes 11-12.5 wt % cobalt, 0.2-1.2 wt % chromium, and 86.3-88.4 wt % wolfram carbide.

Abstract: A Ti—Si—C—N coating for a piston ring and a method forming such coating, wherein the deposited coating exhibits a thickness in the range of 10.0 micrometers to 20.0 micrometers and exhibits a coefficient of friction of less than 0.15 and a wear rate of less than 10×10?6 mm3/N/m. The coefficient of friction being measured on a Plint TE77 and the wear rate being measured against an alumina ball of 0.25 inches in diameter at a load of 1 N at 100 rpm in a dry environment. The deposited Ti—Si—C—N coating includes nanocrystalline phases in an amorphous matrix.

Abstract: A method of continuously subjecting an elongated substrate to vacuum film formation is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of: feeding a first substrate from a first roll chamber in a first direction from the first roll chamber toward a second roll chamber; degassing the first substrate; forming a film of a second material on the first substrate, in a second film formation chamber; and rolling up the first substrate in the second roll chamber, thereby producing the first substrate, and comprises similar steps to produce a second substrate. In advance of producing the first substrate with the second material film, the first cathode electrode of the first film formation chamber is removed from the first film formation chamber, and, in advance of producing the second substrate with the first material film, the second cathode electrode of the second film formation chamber is removed from the second film formation chamber.

Abstract: A process is provided for depositing a substantially amorphous titanium oxynitride thin film that can be used, for example, in integrated circuit fabrication, such as in forming spacers in a pitch multiplication process. The process comprises contacting the substrate with a titanium reactant and removing excess titanium reactant and reaction byproducts, if any. The substrate is then contacted with a second reactant which comprises reactive species generated by plasma, wherein one of the reactive species comprises nitrogen. The second reactant and reaction byproducts, if any, are removed. The contacting and removing steps are repeated until a titanium oxynitride thin film of desired thickness has been formed.

Abstract: A method of producing a ceramic matrix composite component for use in a gas turbine engine comprising forming a ceramic matrix composite component, assembling the preform in a tool, loading the tool into a furnace and infiltrating the preform. Infiltrating the preform may include the methods of CVI, CVD, slurry infiltration, and melt infiltration.

Abstract: Provided is a substrate processing apparatus, including: a processing space configured to process a substrate: an exhaust buffer chamber which is provided so as to surround a lateral circumference of the processing space and into which a gas supplied into the processing space is flowed; and a conductance adjustment plate disposed to face a gas flow path between the processing space and the exhaust buffer chamber, wherein the conductance adjustment plate has R-shaped portion or a tapered inclined portion on an inner peripheral side edge facing the gas flow path from the processing space to the exhaust buffer chamber.

Abstract: A vaporizer for introducing a vapor-phase precursor into a substrate processing system, comprising: a vaporizer chamber having an vaporizer inlet, an vaporizer outlet, and a container wall extending between said vaporizer inlet and said vaporizer outlet and defining a vaporization volume there between, said container wall defining a lateral dimension of said vaporizer chamber; and at least one porous foam member arranged within said vaporizer chamber between said vaporizer inlet and said vaporizer outlet such that vapor flows through said at least one porous foam member, said at least one porous foam member in physical contact and thermal communication with said container wall, said at least one porous foam member having a thickness that is at least 10% said lateral dimension. The vaporizer chamber comprises an entrant chamber portion characterized by a diverging cross-sectional area with half angle of about 30-40 degrees and a vaporizer nozzle.

Abstract: A metallic-dielectric photonic crystal is formed with a periodic structure defining a plurality of resonant cavities to selectively absorb incident radiation. A metal layer is deposited on the inner surfaces of the resonant cavities and a dielectric material fills inside the resonant cavities. This photonic crystal can be used to selectively absorb broadband solar radiation and then reemit absorbed radiation in a wavelength band that matches the absorption band of a photovoltaic cell. The photonic crystal can be fabricated by patterning a sacrificial layer with a plurality of holes, into which is deposited a supporting material. Removing the rest of the sacrificial layer creates a supporting structure, on which a layer of metal is deposited to define resonant cavities. A dielectric material then fills the cavities to form the photonic crystal.

Abstract: A pre-treatment method for plating can form a plating layer having sufficient adhesivity on an inner surface of a recess and on a surface of a substrate at an outside of the recess even when the recess has a high aspect ratio. The pre-treatment method for plating includes a preparation process of preparing the substrate having the recess; a first coupling layer forming process of forming a first coupling layer 21a at least on the inner surface of the recess of the substrate by using a first coupling agent; and a second coupling layer forming process of forming a second coupling layer 21b at least on the surface of the substrate at the outside of the recess by using a second coupling agent after the first coupling layer forming process.

Abstract: Use of a compound of Formula (I) as a metal surface corrosion activator, a formulation containing the same compound and a process by using the same compound for providing a clean metal surface. Said formulation may further comprise water, a solvent such as a dipolar aprotic solvent, a water miscible organic solvent, or an organic base.

Abstract: The embodiments herein relate to methods and apparatus for electroplating one or more materials onto a substrate. In many cases the material is a metal and the substrate is a semiconductor wafer, though the embodiments are no so limited. Typically, the embodiments herein utilize a channeled plate positioned near the substrate, creating a cross flow manifold defined on the bottom by the channeled plate, on the top by the substrate, and on the sides by a cross flow confinement ring. During plating, fluid enters the cross flow manifold both upward through the channels in the channeled plate, and laterally through a cross flow side inlet positioned on one side of the cross flow confinement ring. The flow paths combine in the cross flow manifold and exit at the cross flow exit, which is positioned opposite the cross flow inlet. These combined flow paths result in improved plating uniformity.

Abstract: Provided are: a high-quality SiC single crystal ingot that suppresses the generation of inclusions; and a production method for said SiC single crystal ingot. The present invention pertains to a SiC single crystal ingot including a seed crystal substrate and a SiC growth crystal grown using the solution method and using the seed crystal substrate as the origin thereof, the growth crystal having a recessed crystal growth surface and not including inclusions.

Abstract: The invention relates to the technology for producing three-dimensional monocrystals and can preferably be used in optoelectronics for manufacturing substrates for various optoelectronic devices, including light-emitting diodes that emit light in the ultraviolet region. The method for growing an AlN monocrystal by gas-phase epitaxy from a mixture containing a source of Al and NH3 comprises arranging the Al source and a substrate, with the growth surface of said substrate turned towards said Al source, opposite one another in a growth chamber, said source and substrate forming a growth zone, producing a flow of NH3 in the growth zone; and heating the Al source and the substrate to temperatures that ensure the growth of the AlN monocrystal on the substrate. The Al source used is only free Al, the substrate is pretreated with Ga and/or In, whereupon the Al source is cooled to a temperature of 800-900° C. and the substrate is annealed by being heated to a temperature of 1300-1400° C.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for forming free-standing, substantially monocrystalline semiconductor substrates is described. A template substrate is subjected to a process of forming a porous layer on each major surface of the template substrate. The porous layer is smoothed, and then an epitaxial layer is formed on each porous layer. Mechanical energy is used to separate the epitaxial layers from the template substrate, which is recycled by removing any remaining porous and epitaxial material.

Abstract: Cross-linked fibers include first and second precursors, each possessing a core and at least one functional group known to have click reactivity when exposed to UV radiation. Mixtures of the first and second precursors are extruded to produce a filament and irradiated with UV light during the extrusion process.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of preparing an antimicrobial 3D-printing filament, comprising: providing a first mixture comprising a plastic resin and at least one antimicrobial agent selected from the group consisting of an inorganic antimicrobial agent, an organic antimicrobial agent, a metal antimicrobial agent, an ammonium salt antimicrobial agent, a guanidine antimicrobial agent, a copper compound antimicrobial agent, a sustained-release polymer antimicrobial agent, and a natural antimicrobial agent; providing a master batch by extruding the first mixture; and preparing an antimicrobial filament by excluding a second mixture containing the master batch and the plastic resin.

Abstract: (1) An elastic nonwoven fabric and a fiber product using the elastic nonwoven fabric, the elastic nonwoven fabric containing a crystalline resin composition containing low crystalline polypropylene and high crystalline polypropylene, the low crystalline polypropylene satisfying items (a) and (b) below, and a crystallization temperature (Tc) of the crystalline resin composition measured with a differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) being from 20 to 100° C.: (a) a melting point (Tm-D) being from 0 to 120° C., which is defined as a peak top of a peak observed on the most high temperature side of a melt endothermic curve obtained by maintaining at ?10° C. for 5 minutes and increasing in temperature at 10° C.

Abstract: A method for making a macro-scale carbon nanotube tube structure includes the following steps. A linear structure and a carbon nanotube structure are provided. The carbon nanotube structure includes at least one carbon nanotube film or at least one carbon nanotube wire. The carbon nanotube structure is wrapped around the linear structure to form a carbon nanotube composite structure. The linear structure is removed from the carbon nanotube composite structure, thereby forming the macro-scale carbon nanotube tube structure.

Abstract: Provided is a method for producing a carbon material, the method utilizing a cellulosic material and enables the carbon material, which retains the shape of the cellulosic material, to be produced in high yield. The method for producing a carbon material is characterized by comprising the steps of: allowing a cellulosic material and/or a regenerated cellulosic material to adsorb a sulfonic acid; and heating the cellulosic material and/or the regenerated cellulosic material which has adsorbed the sulfonic acid at a temperature of 600-2800° C. in an inert gas atmosphere.

Abstract: A nonwoven fabric has multiplicity of fibers, bonded portions, and unbonded portions. The bonded portions are spaced apart from one another, each bonded portion comprises portions of the fibers that are bonded together, and each bonded portion has a thickness extending perpendicularly between opposite faces of the nonwoven fabric. Each unbonded portion comprises portions of the fibers that are not bonded together, and each unbonded portion has a thickness extending perpendicularly between the opposite faces of the nonwoven fabric. The thicknesses of the unbonded portions is greater than the thicknesses of the bonded portions. The bonded portions are sized and arranged for providing a desirable balance of properties.