Abstract: A plant cell comprising: (a) a polynucleotide sequence encoding a nitrate reductase polypeptide comprising a contiguous polypeptide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 5 or SEQ ID NO: 7, wherein methionine is substituted for an amino acid that reduces nitrate reductase activity in the plant cell as compared to a control plant cell; (b) a polypeptide sequence encoded by the polynucleotide sequence set forth in (a); or (c) a construct, vector or expression vector comprising the polynucleotide sequence set forth in (b).

Abstract: A heating element for an aerosol-generating device is provided, the heating element including a heat-generating portion and a carbon-containing layer in thermal contact with the heat-generating portion, the carbon-containing layer including graphene; and a non-heat-generating portion, a layer of graphene being configured to transfer generated heat from the heat-generating portion to the non-heat-generating portion of the heating element. An aerosol-generating device for generating an inhalable aerosol is also provided, the device including the heating element.

Abstract: The invention relates to a homogenized tobacco sheet production line comprising: A tank (501) adapted to contain a slurry formed by a tobacco powder blend, a binder (6) and an aerosol former (5) in an aqueous medium; A cast apparatus (200) adapted to receive slurry from the tank (501) and to cast the slurry so as to form a homogenized tobacco material; A movable transporting support (606) on which said slurry is casted and adapted to transport the homogenized tobacco material along a transport direction; A slitter (611) located downstream the cast apparatus (200) adapted to slit the homogenized tobacco material along the transport direction so as to form portioned homogenized tobacco sheets; and A crimper (613) located downstream the slitter (611) adapted to receive at least one of the partial homogenized tobacco sheets from the slitter (611) and to crimp the at least one of the portioned homogenized tobacco sheets. It also relates to a method for inline production of a homogenized tobacco sheet.

Abstract: A cartridge includes a first compartment having a first air inlet and outlet and containing a nicotine source comprising a first carrier material (i) impregnated with nicotine, and (ii) defining a first airflow channel extending therethrough, which defines a first airflow path extending along the first airflow channel between the first air inlet and outlet. The cartridge includes a second compartment having a second air inlet and outlet and containing an acid source comprising a second carrier material (i) impregnated with an acid, and (ii) defining a second airflow channel extending therethrough, which defines a second airflow path extending along the second airflow channel between the second air inlet and outlet. The first and second compartments are arranged in parallel within the cartridge. The cross-sectional area of at least one of the first and second airflow channels varies in a direction along the first or second airflow path.

Abstract: A heater assembly for an aerosol-generating system is provided, including: a fluid-permeable heating element to vaporise a liquid aerosol-forming substrate; and a transport material to transport the substrate to the heating element and having a thickness defined between a first surface and an opposing second surface thereof, the first surface being in fluid communication with the element and the second surface being arranged to receive the substrate and provided with at least one hole extending into the material to a depth corresponding to at least a part of the thickness to define a formed fluid channel for the substrate, the material including a capillary material having elongate fibres, an average direction of the fibres is substantially parallel to the first and second surfaces, and the hole extends substantially perpendicular to the average direction. A method of manufacturing a heater assembly, a cartridge, and an aerosol-generating system are also provided.

Abstract: An inductively heatable aerosol-generating article for an inductively heating aerosol-generating device is provided, the article including: an aerosol-forming rod segment having a cylindrical shape with a constant outer cross-section including an elongate susceptor element and an aerosol-forming substrate surrounding the susceptor element so as to define the cylindrical shape of the rod segment, the susceptor element including at least one narrower portion at each extreme end of the susceptor element, and the narrower portion at each extreme end including a reduced transverse cross-section as compared to one or more portions of the susceptor element along a length extension of the susceptor element including a maximum transverse cross-section of the susceptor element.

Abstract: A case for an aerosol-generating device is provided, the case including: a case housing; a case power supply; a holder to receive the aerosol-generating device, the holder being movably coupled to the case housing and configured for both rotational movement relative to the case housing and translational movement relative to the case housing, and being movable relative to the case housing between an open position to receive the device and a closed position configured to store the device; a case electrical connector to supply power from the case power supply to the device when the device is received within the holder and when the holder is in each of the open and closed positions; an input; and case control circuitry to receive data from the input and to transmit a signal to the device by the connector, the signal being indicative of a state of the input.

Abstract: A mesh element for an atomiser assembly is provided, including: a first layer defining at least one channel including a minimum cross-sectional area; and a second layer overlying the first layer and defining at least one nozzle including a maximum cross-sectional area, the second layer including an inner surface facing the first layer and an outer surface facing away from the first layer, the at least one nozzle overlying the at least one channel, and the maximum cross-sectional area of the at least one nozzle being smaller than the minimum cross-sectional area of the at least one channel, and the outer surface of the second layer defining an annular portion extending around the at least one nozzle, the annular portion having a semi-circular cross-sectional shape, and a thickness of the second layer at each annular portion being larger than a thickness of the second layer between adjacent annular portions.

Abstract: An aerosol-generating device for generating an aerosol from an aerosol-forming substrate is provided, the device including: a device housing defining a chamber configured to receive the substrate; an airflow channel extending from an air inlet in the device housing and through, or in fluid communication with, the chamber; and a puff sensor assembly including a heat transfer element and a temperature sensor in contact with the heat transfer element, a first portion of the airflow channel being at least partially defined by an airflow channel wall and a second portion of the airflow channel being at least partially defined by the heat transfer element, the second portion being adjacent to the first portion and outside of the chamber, and at least one of thermal conductivity or thermal diffusivity of the heat transfer element being greater than a respective thermal conductivity or thermal diffusivity of the airflow channel wall.

Abstract: An aerosol-generating device is provided, including: an elongate housing, and an aerosolisation module detachably insertable into the housing, the module including a vibratable transducer to aerosolise a liquid aerosol-forming substrate, electrical contacts in communication with the transducer to connect with corresponding contacts of the housing, and an electrically conductive membrane including an aerosol generation zone, the transducer coupled to the membrane to vibrate it, and a portion of the membrane forming electrical contacts of the module, the housing containing a power source and configured to detachably receive the module to establish a detachable electrical connection, a sidewall of the housing including an aperture defining an access opening to a cavity within the housing and containing the contacts, and the contacts of the housing and the module being configured such that insertion of the module into the cavity results in electrical connection between the contacts of the housing and the module.

Abstract: A dielectrically heatable aerosol-generating system is provided, including: an aerosol-forming substrate; a first electrode and a second electrode; and an aerosol-generating device including a controller configured to connect to the first electrode and the second electrode, in which the first electrode and the second electrode form a capacitor with a portion of the aerosol-forming substrate, in which the controller is further configured to supply an alternating voltage to the first electrode and the second electrode for dielectrically heating the aerosol-forming substrate, and in which the first electrode and the second electrode are configured to be spaced apart by a separation distance of between about 4 millimeters and about 9 millimeters. An aerosol-generating article for a dielectrically heated aerosol-generating system is also provided.

Abstract: A heated aerosol-generating article including a rod of aerosol-generating substrate is provided, the rod of aerosol-generating substrate including: a first plug of homogenised tobacco material including an aerosol former; and a second plug of homogenised tobacco material including an aerosol former, where the first plug and the second plug are coaxially aligned in an abutting end-to-end relationship, the first plug being disposed downstream of the second plug, where the first plug and the second plug differ from each other in at least one of density and composition of aerosol former, such that the first plug has a lower activation temperature than the second plug, and where, upon heating of the aerosol-generating substrate, the first plug releases aerosol after a shorter time than the second plug.

Abstract: A method of controlling aerosol production in an aerosol-generating device is provided, the device including: a heater including a heating element to heat an aerosol-forming substrate, and a power source to provide power to the element, the method including: providing power to the element; and controlling the power provided such that in a first phase, the power is provided to the element such that a temperature of the element increases from an initial temperature to a first target temperature, in a second phase, the power is provided such that the temperature reduces to a second target temperature lower than the first temperature, and in a third phase, the power is provided such that the temperature increases to a third temperature, the first phase being ended in response to the element reaching the first target temperature or at a predetermined time following the element reaching the first target temperature.

Abstract: An aerosol-generating device is provided, including: a reservoir containing a liquid aerosol-forming substrate; an aerosol-generating element configured to generate an aerosol from the liquid aerosol-forming substrate, the aerosol-generating element including an electrically operated, vibrating transducer; an electrically operated pump configured to deliver the liquid aerosol-forming substrate from the reservoir to the aerosol-generating element; and control circuitry connected to the pump and the transducer, the control circuitry being configured to control operation of the pump in dependence on one or more operating parameters of the transducer. A method of operating the aerosol-generating device is also provided.

Abstract: An aerosol-generating article is provided, including an aerosol-forming substrate, the aerosol-forming substrate including a sheet, including: a fibrous material including cellulose fibres; one or more nicotine salts; sugar; and at least one aerosol former, the sheet having an aerosol former content of at least 15% by weight on a dry weight basis, and the sheet including no tobacco material.