Abstract: A smoking article is provided that includes an aerogel, which can be optionally impregnated with a catalytic metal compound or can optionally be coated with at least one aerosol-forming material and a flavoring agent. The smoking article comprises various segments such as a heat generation segment, an aerosol-generation segment, and a mouth end. The aerogel can be placed near or within any of these segments. The presence of the aerogel can reduce the concentration of certain gaseous components of mainstream smoke generated during use of a smoking article incorporating a heat generation segment containing a fuel element.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for forming a cigarette filter rod member defining a longitudinal axis. A rod-forming unit is configured to form a continuous supply of a filter material into a continuous cylindrical rod member. An insertion unit configured to insert a carrier carrying a plurality of frangible microcapsule objects into the rod member. Associated apparatuses and methods are also provided.

Abstract: A flavor delivery article is provided including a substantially rod-shaped carrier element and a wrapping element. The wrapping element surrounds at least a portion of the carrier element. The delivery article includes a flavor material within one or both of the carrier element and the wrapping element. The flavor delivery article is adapted for delivery of the flavor material to the mouth of a user under mouth conditions in the absence of combustion or other external heating.

Abstract: A smoking article is provided, having opposed lighting and mouth ends, and including a mouth end portion at the mouth end. A tobacco portion is between the lighting end and the mouth end portion. An aerosol-generation system is between the lighting end and the tobacco portion. The aerosol-generation system includes a heat generation portion, comprising an elongate fluted member actuated by ignition of the lighting end. The fluted member defines grooves extending longitudinally between opposed first and second ends, with the first end being at the lighting end and the grooves being equidistantly spaced apart about the fluted member. Each groove has a maximum depth. The depth maxima of the grooves define a circle having a radius. The maximum depth of each groove is no more than the radius of the circle. A heat generation apparatus for an aerosol-generation system of a smoking article is also provided.

Abstract: Methods for obtaining natural colorants from plant material (e.g., tobacco material) and for using such natural colorants to dye various substrates are provided. Natural colorants are obtained using particular enzymes and particular conditions (e.g., time, temperature, and pH profiles). Such colorants can be used to dye substrates, for example, using conventional dyeing techniques or using unique in situ methods.

Abstract: A meltable smokeless tobacco composition configured for insertion into the mouth of a user is provided. The smokeless tobacco composition includes a tobacco material and a lipid having a melting point of about 36° C. to about 45° C. An associated process is also provided. The process includes melting a lipid having a melting point of about 36° C. to about 45° C. to form a molten lipid composition, mixing a tobacco material with the molten lipid composition to form a molten smokeless tobacco composition, and cooling the molten smokeless tobacco composition to form a solidified smokeless tobacco composition.

Abstract: A product package includes an inner case for storing the product and an outer case for enclosing the inner case. The product package includes a display area for product messaging. The display area includes exterior surfaces of the outer case. The outer case includes an open position in which the display area also includes exterior portions of the inner case. The product package may also include additional features intended to increase the display area of the product package, including a fold-out panel providing an additional exterior surface, an angled outer surface that is visible from a front perspective of the product package, and pivotable sections increasing the surface area of the product package.

Abstract: Methods and compositions are provided for increasing the expression of a gene of interest in a plant by co-expressing the gene of interest with a p21 polynucleotide. The gene of interest can be endogenous or heterologous to the plant. Further provided are plants, such as tobacco plants, comprising a heterologous p21 polynucleotide. Co-expression of the p21 polynucleotide with a gene of interest in the plant increases the expression of the gene of interest when compared to a control plant. Accordingly, p21 co-expression can increase the expression of genes of interest encoding proteins such as defense proteins, enzymes, signaling proteins, reporter proteins, antibodies and fragments thereof, growth factors, cell surface receptor molecules, seed storage proteins, and fungicides in a plant.

Abstract: A flavor delivery article is provided including a substantially rod-shaped carrier element and a wrapping element. The wrapping element surrounds at least a portion of the carrier element. The delivery article includes a flavor material within one or both of the carrier element and the wrapping element. The flavor delivery article is adapted for delivery of the flavor material to the mouth of a user under mouth conditions in the absence of combustion or other external heating.

Abstract: A container configured to hold one or more units of a product is provided. The container may comprise a lid and a base. The lid and/or the base may be constructed from a pulp derived from a plant material. For example, the pulp derived from the plant material may be a wood pulp material. A related method is also provided.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides protein-enriched, tobacco-containing products, suitable for use as oral formulations. Products of the present disclosure typically include at least one tobacco material (e.g., a particulate tobacco material or a tobacco-derived extract), at least one protein-enriched material (e.g., a tobacco-derived protein-enriched material), and at least one sugar alcohol.

Abstract: Smoking-related article inspection systems and associated methods are disclosed herein. In some aspects, the systems include an x-ray imaging device configured to capture at least one image of the smoking-related articles, a smoking-related article transporting device configured to sequentially introduce the smoking-related articles into the imaging zone; and an analysis unit in communication with the x-ray imaging device and configured to analyze the at least one image captured by the x-ray imaging device for each of the smoking-related articles, the analysis unit being configured to execute: an inspection tool to determine values for one or more parameters of each of the smoking-related articles based on the analysis of the at least one image; and a comparison tool to determine an acceptability of the smoking-related articles for further processing based on comparing the determined values for the one or more parameters to ideal values for the one or more parameters.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to an aerosol delivery device and a holder for use with a removable substrate cartridge. In one implementation, the holder includes a first body portion and a second body portion, the first body portion defining a main body and a guide post that defines a receiving chamber extending at least a portion therethrough. The second body portion is configured to rotate about and slide along at least a portion of the guide post to and from a use position, wherein the second body portion is proximate the main body of the first body portion and the substrate cartridge is retained in the receiving chamber, and an open position, wherein the second body portion is rotated relative to and extended away from the main body of the first body portion such that the substrate cartridge can be inserted into or removed from the receiving chamber.

Abstract: A smokeless tobacco pastille configured for insertion into the mouth of a user is provided. The smokeless tobacco pastille can include (i) a tobacco material present in an amount of less than about 40 dry weight percent, based on the total dry weight of the pastille; (ii) at least one natural gum binder present in an amount of at least about 25 dry weight percent; and (iii) a plurality of sugar alcohols present in a total amount of at least about 40 dry weight percent, the predominant component of the plurality of sugar alcohols being isomalt or erythritol, wherein the shape of the smokeless tobacco pastille is moldable in the oral cavity.

Abstract: A smokeless tobacco product is provided that includes a tobacco material in the form of a tobacco extract, a particulate tobacco material, or a combination thereof. In some embodiments, the smokeless tobacco product is substantially translucent. Methods for making and using the smokeless tobacco product are also provided. The smokeless tobacco product can include isomalt, maltitol syrup, particulate tobacco, and a translucent tobacco extract prepared by ultrafiltration.

Abstract: The disclosure describes methods for the purification of protein-enriched extracts to provide concentrates and isolates and methods for incorporation of such materials into products. The purification methods are adapted for removal of, e.g., chlorophyll and may thus provide lightening the color of the protein-enriched extracts. The methods generally include treatment with peracetic acid or hydrogen peroxide and filtrations. A protein composition in the form of a concentrate or isolate is provided, the protein composition including RuBisCO, F2 fraction proteins, or combination thereof extracted from a plant material.

Abstract: A smokeless tobacco product configured for insertion into the mouth of a user of the product is provided, the smokeless tobacco product including a dissolvable or meltable base composition admixed with a tobacco material and a botanical material, wherein the botanical material is present in an amount of at least about 0.1% of the total dry weight of the smokeless tobacco product. The botanical material and the smokeless tobacco product can be characterized based on antioxidant content using the ORAC index or the FRAP index. An exemplary product has an ORAC index value of at least about 20 (?mol TE)/g or a FRAP index value of at least about 50 (?mol/Fe2+)/g.

Abstract: Tobacco products suitable for oral ingestion are provided. The tobacco products include a tobacco composition and at least one edible film. The edible film can include one or more of (i) a fruit or vegetable puree and (ii) a denatured protein. A multi-layer tobacco product is provided that includes a tobacco composition in the form of a compressed sheet layer and at least one edible film adjacent to the tobacco composition layer, wherein the edible film includes a puree of at least one fruit, vegetable, or a combination thereof. A process for preparing a tobacco product is also provided, such as a process that includes receiving a tobacco composition and an edible film; applying the edible film to the tobacco composition; and compressing the edible film and tobacco composition together to form a multi-layer tobacco product.

Abstract: An aerosol delivery device is provided that includes a user interface including a pushbutton and a display. A control component contained coupled to the user interface controls operation of at least one functional element of the aerosol delivery device. The control component controls the display to present a menu including a plurality of menu items selectable using only the pushbutton. Each menu item of the plurality of menu items is associated with a respective functional element of the aerosol delivery device, and the control component is configured to navigate the plurality of menu items, and select a currently-presented menu item of the plurality of menu items for control of the respective functional element, in response to respective first and second types of presses of the pushbutton, the first and second types of presses being of different durations.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to an aerosol delivery device and a holder for use with a removable substrate cartridge. The holder may include a first body portion and a second body portion. The first body portion may define a longitudinal axis, a rotational axis, and an aerosol passage. The second body portion may include a cartridge receiving chamber and may be configured to slide along the longitudinal axis and rotate about the rotation axis relative to the first body portion to and from a use position, wherein at least a portion of the second body is received by the first body portion and the substrate cartridge is retained in the receiving chamber, and an open position, wherein the second body portion is rotated relative to and extended away from the first body portion such that the substrate cartridge can be inserted into or removed from the receiving chamber.