Abstract: A smoking article including a smokable rod manufactured using a paper wrapping material having an additive material applied thereto as a pattern. The additive material is applied as aqueous coating formulation incorporating both an alginate and hydroxypropylcellulose.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for manufacturing small quantities of cigarettes in a substantially simultaneous fashion while maintaining consistent quality between the cigarettes. The apparatus provides for arranging loose tobacco into tobacco charges and simultaneously inserting the charges into pre-formed tubular cigarette wrappers.

Abstract: Method of making an electrochemical device for the recovery of oxygen from an oxygen-containing feed gas comprising (a) preparing a green electrochemical device by assembling a green electrolyte layer, a green anode layer in contact with the green electrolyte layer, a green cathode layer in contact with the green electrolyte layer, a green anode-side gas collection interconnect layer in contact with the green anode layer, and a green cathode-side feed gas distribution interconnect layer in contact with the green cathode layer; and (b) sintering-the green electrochemical device by heating to yield a sintered electrochemical device comprising a plurality of sintered layers including a sintered anode-side gas collection interconnect layer in contact with the anode layer and adapted to collect oxygen permeate gas, wherein each sintered layer is bonded to an adjacent sintered layer during sintering.

Abstract: Feed materials are melted in a furnace to form a glass melt at a first temperature T1, the glass melt containing at least one fining agent. The glass melt is cooled to a second temperature T2 less than T1, and an oxygen-containing gas is bubbled through the cooled melt. The glass melt is then re-heated to a third temperature T3 equal to or greater than the first temperature T1.

Abstract: A method for producing a single crystal by Czochralski method with pulling a seed crystal from a raw material melt, wherein in which a range of a pulling rate of pulling a single crystal, a temperature gradient at a solid-liquid interface and a highest temperature at an interface between a crucible and a raw material melt are defined. The single crystal is pulled with controlling the pulling rate and/or the temperature gradient at a solid-liquid interface within the determined range. The method produces a single crystal in which a desired defect region and/or a desired defect-free region can be determined more precisely and a single crystal with desired quality can be more surely pulled.

Abstract: A method of a stirring a molten glass which includes an analytical model which may be used to optimize the stirring conditions to minimize refractory metal inclusions which may result from the stirring operation.

Abstract: Device and method for chemical deposition on an elongated member of vitreous material in which a rotating gripping member causes a first end portion of the elongated member to rotate. The second end portion of the elongated member is borne by a pair of supporting members which are axially spaced apart (L1) and are capable of permitting angular rotational movement and axial sliding of the second end portion. Each supporting member also applies a radial constraint preventing the second end portion from moving away from the axis of rotation, thus forcing the second portion and the elongated member to lie with a longitudinal axis coaxial with the axis of rotation. Any curvature of the elongated member is corrected and recovered in this way.

Abstract: A tobacco product is formed by rolling moistened tobacco leaves about a cylindrical form casing and allowing the leaves to dry to form a shell. After the form casing is removed a consumer can fill the shell with crushed tobacco leaves of a favorite blend, thereby eliminating some steps in the making of a “roll-your-own” tobacco product.

Abstract: A system and method is provided for dispersing fine catalyst powders having nanoscale or microscale particles throughout the tobacco rod portion of a cigarette. A source of vacuum is connected to the filter end of a cigarette through a tube that is sealingly engaged with the filter end of the cigarette. The opposite cut filler end of the tobacco rod portion of the cigarette is placed in the proximity of a predetermined amount of the catalyst powder contained in a container. The vacuum is applied to the cigarette filter in an amount and for a period of time that is a function of the size and quantity of the particles to be drawn into and dispersed throughout the tobacco rod portion of the cigarette.

Abstract: A method of producing a ceramic multilayer substrate involves producing a green composite laminate 11 containing first and second shrink-suppressing layers formed on the main surfaces of a green multilayer mother substrate 12 having a plurality of ceramic green layers 17 containing ceramic powder, the shrink-suppressing layers containing a sintering-difficult powder substantially incapable of being sintered under the sintering conditions for the ceramic powder; forming first grooves 16 extending from the first shrink-suppressing layer 13 side into a part of the multilayer mother substrate 12; firing the composite laminate 11; removing the first and second shrink-suppressing layers 13 and 14 and taking out the sintered multilayer mother substrate 11; and dividing the multilayer mother substrate 12 along the grooves 16, and obtaining a plurality of the ceramic multilayer substrates. Thereby, shrinkage in the plan direction at firing can be suppressed.

Abstract: A method for forming an optical fiber includes drawing the optical fiber from a glass supply and treating the fiber by maintaining the optical fiber within a treatment temperature range for a treatment time. Preferably also, the fiber is cooled at a specified cooling rate. The optical fiber treatment reduces the tendency of the optical fiber to increase in attenuation due to Rayleigh scattering, and/or over time following formation of the optical fiber due to heat aging. Apparatus are also provided.

Abstract: A fiberizing device includes a housing, a receiving seat mounted on the housing, and a drawing device. The receiving seat includes a receiving groove having a discharge port. The receiving groove receives molten fluid formed by heating waste. A heating device is provided for heating the molten fluid in the receiving seat. The drawing device draws the molten fluid from the discharge port to form a solid fiber after the molten fluid comes in contact with cool air. The solid fiber possesses excellent fire-resistant properties and thus can be used as fire-resistant materials.

Abstract: A method of reducing the content of TSNA in tobacco leaves, comprising treating tobacco leaves with a microorganism which has the capability to reduce TSNA and which is selected from the group consisting of Sphingomonas paucimobilis and Pseudomonas fluorescens.

Abstract: A method of expanding tobacco involves introducing a steam flow and a tobacco material into a duct having an inlet and an outlet and defining an arcuate flow path. The tobacco is entrained in the steam flow and conveyed along the arcuate flow path and toward the outlet. The presence of the steam results in volumetric expansion of the tobacco as the steam and entrained tobacco travel along the flow path. The steam and entrained tobacco are then collected and separated. As such, an expanded tobacco is provided.

Abstract: Carbides as substrates in prosthetic joints, particularly in sintered polycrystalline diamond compacts and sintered cubic boron nitride compacts.

Abstract: A process for producing a ceramic molding having a three-dimensional network structure with a plurality of spherical cells and a plurality of through holes present in dividing walls between the spherical cells, includes: a step of obtaining an aggregate of coated particles in which a plurality of ceramic particles are attached to the surface of spherical synthetic resin particles; a step of arranging the aggregate of coated particles in closest packed form within a mold; a step of filling gaps in the aggregate of coated particles with a ceramic so as to give a shaped product; a step of releasing the shaped product from the mold; a step of thermally decomposing the spherical synthetic resin particles of the shaped product so as to form the spherical cells and form the plurality of through holes in dividing wall-forming sections that are present between adjacent spherical cells; and a step of sintering the ceramic particles and the ceramic so as to form the dividing walls.

Abstract: An exhaust gas purifying filter is made of a ceramic material in a honeycomb structure having introduction passages for introducing exhaust gas that includes particulate matter emitted from an internal combustion engine, porous walls that collect the particulate matter and exhaust passages for exhausting the exhaust gas after the particulate matter has been removed therefrom, with the porous walls supporting a catalyst for oxidizing and removing the particulate matter. The porosity of the porous wall is in a range from 55 to 80%, the mean pore size is in-a range from 30 to 50 ?m, and the total volume X of the pores included in the exhaust gas purifying filter and the volume Y of the pores that are not smaller than 100 ?m satisfy the relation of inequality Y/X?0.05.

Abstract: A method of reducing the content of nitrite and/or nitrosamine in tobacco leaves, having treating the tobacco leaves with a microorganism belonging to Agrobacterium genus and having the denitrifying ability.

Abstract: A method of reducing the content of TSNA in tobacco leaves, comprising treating the tobacco leaves with a microorganism having no nitrate-reducing ability but having the ability of growth-competition with a microorganism belonging to Enterobacter or Pantoea genus.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method of manufacturing a porous ceramic structure, comprising the steps of: preparing a formed structure using a ceramic material containing a pore former and a binder; and drying and firing the formed structure, wherein the process of firing the formed structure comprises the steps of: holding a firing atmosphere temperature in a temperature range of ?50 to +10° C. with respect to a combustion start temperature of the binder from the time when the temperature reaches the combustion start temperature of the binder contained in the porous ceramic structure to be fired to the time when the binder is burnt out. According to this method, ceramic structures having not only a low porosity but also a high porosity can be manufactured without generating any crack during the firing.