Abstract: According to this invention, there is provided a planter box having four generally rectangular side walls having opposite longitudinal ends of like vertical height and an upper end forming a top edge, a joint structure for joining the opposite ends of respective pairs of sidewalls together into a right angled wall structure and the wall structures into an upwardly open frame. The joint structure has a plurality of L-shaped corner flange plates at right angles to one another. When abutted against and releasably connected to the outwardly facing end portions of a pair of side walls the plates form one right angled wall structure. The plate includes fastening members for joining the structure together.

Abstract: A smokeless tobacco product is configured for insertion into the mouth of a user and incorporates materials from Nicotiana species (e.g., tobacco-derived materials) and plant materials from non-Nicotiana species (e.g., non-tobacco plant materials). The tobacco material can have the form of processed tobacco material (e.g., granulated, reconstituted, heat treated, or otherwise processed tobacco laminae and/or stem), tobacco extract (e.g., an extract of water soluble tobacco components obtained by extracting tobacco with water), or a combination thereof. The non-tobacco material can have the form of vegetable pulp (e.g., sugar beet pulp), pulp obtained after removal of water soluble components as a result of water extraction treatment, or a combination thereof.

Abstract: Methods and systems of assigning an appraiser to perform a task are provided. A request may be evaluated to identify elements corresponding to the request. The elements may be evaluated to determine the task having a task a task parameter, such as conducting an appraisal. The task may comprise accepting an appraisal order, contacting a property owner, setting up a meeting, identifying comparable properties, confirming an appraisal time, submitting the appraisal report, or submitting a satisfaction survey. An appraiser database may be assessed to identify a group of appraisers having appraiser characteristics corresponding to the task parameter. Appraisal scores may be determined for the appraisers within the group of appraisers. The task may be assigned to an appraiser within the group of appraisers based upon the appraisal scores. Responsive to the task being assigned to the appraiser, an assignment notification may be provided to the appraiser.

Abstract: The present invention provides a dual layer planter liner having: (a) a first fibrous layer having an interior surface and an exterior surface, the first fibrous layer is formed into a pot for emplacing a planting medium and/or plant therein. The first fibrous layer is formed from a first fibrous material; and a second fibrous material adhered onto the exterior surface of the first fibrous layer. The adhered second fibrous material forms a second fibrous layer. The present invention, also, provides a method for making the dual layer planter liner hereof.

Abstract: Some embodiments are directed to an assembly for housing and covering a vehicle airbag in an un-deployed state. The assembly can include a hollow housing that defines an interior that is configured to house the airbag in the un-deployed state. The housing can include a door having a linearly extending primary weakened portion spanning longitudinally opposing ends of the housing. The housing door can also include a pair of angled seams that each extend proximate the primary weakened portion to a location adjacent opposing corners of the door. The assembly can also include an intermediate layer disposed over and joined to the housing door, and an exterior layer disposed over and joined to the intermediate layer.

Abstract: A fermentation process for the production of ethanol from natural sources, such as corn, comprising introducing a fermentable sugar, an inoculant, and a stabilized chlorine dioxide into a fermentation system is disclosed. The stabilized chlorine dioxide is added preventatively to the fermentation system, at concentrations in the fermentation system of acetic acid no greater than 0.30% (weight/volume) and lactic acid no greater than 0.60% (weight/volume). The stabilized chlorine dioxide is added in an amount effective to substantially prevent growth of bacteria.

Abstract: Some embodiments are directed to an assembly for housing and covering a vehicle airbag in an un-deployed state. The assembly can include a hollow housing that defines an interior that is configured to house the airbag in the un-deployed state. The housing can include a door having a linearly extending primary weakened portion spanning longitudinally opposing ends of the housing. The housing door can also include a pair of angled seams that each extend proximate the primary weakened portion to a location adjacent opposing corners of the door. The assembly can also include an intermediate layer disposed over and joined to the housing door, and an exterior layer disposed over and joined to the intermediate layer.

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 and has opposed lighting and mouth ends. A mouth end portion is disposed at the mouth end and a heat generation portion is disposed about the lighting end. An outer wrapping material is wrapped at least about the heat generation portion and extends toward the mouth end portion, to define a cylindrical rod. An aerosol-generating portion is disposed within the outer wrapping material and between the heat generation and mouth end portions. The aerosol-generating portion is configured to generate an aerosol in response to heat received from the heat generation portion. The aerosol-generating and heat generation portions are further configured to cooperate to distribute heat received by the aerosol-generating portion from the heat generation portion, so as to prevent scorching of the outer wrapping material. An associated method is also provided.

Abstract: A method of preparing a whitened tobacco material is provided, the method including the steps of (i) extracting a tobacco material with an aqueous solution to give a tobacco pulp and a tobacco extract; (ii) treating the tobacco pulp with at least one of a caustic reagent and an oxidizing agent for a time and at a temperature sufficient to lighten the color of the tobacco pulp to give a whitened tobacco pulp; (iii) clarifying the tobacco extract to remove higher molecular weight components; and (iv) combining the whitened tobacco pulp with a clarified tobacco extract to form a whitened tobacco material. The whitened tobacco material can be isolated and incorporated into a smokeless tobacco product. The invention also provides a smokeless tobacco product incorporating a whitened tobacco material. The smokeless tobacco product may be a snus-type formulation contained within a sealed pouch.

Abstract: A method of preparing a whitened tobacco material is provided, the method including the steps of (i) extracting a tobacco material with an aqueous solution to give a tobacco pulp and a tobacco extract; (ii) treating the tobacco pulp with at least one of a caustic reagent and an oxidizing agent for a time and at a temperature sufficient to lighten the color of the tobacco pulp to give a whitened tobacco pulp; (iii) clarifying the tobacco extract to remove higher molecular weight components; and (iv) combining the whitened tobacco pulp with a clarified tobacco extract to form a whitened tobacco material. The whitened tobacco material can be isolated and incorporated into a smokeless tobacco product. The invention also provides a smokeless tobacco product incorporating a whitened tobacco material. The smokeless tobacco product may be a snus-type formulation contained within a sealed pouch.

Abstract: A smokeless tobacco product is configured for insertion into the mouth of a user and incorporates materials from Nicotiana species (e.g., tobacco-derived materials) and plant materials from non-Nicotiana species (e.g., non-tobacco plant materials). The tobacco material can have the form of processed tobacco material (e.g., granulated, reconstituted, heat treated, or otherwise processed tobacco laminae and/or stem), tobacco extract (e.g., an extract of water soluble tobacco components obtained by extracting tobacco with water), or a combination thereof. The non-tobacco material can have the form of vegetable pulp (e.g., sugar beet pulp), pulp obtained after removal of water soluble components as a result of water extraction treatment, or a combination thereof.

Abstract: A smokeless tobacco product is configured for insertion into the mouth of a user and incorporates materials from Nicotiana species (e.g., tobacco-derived materials) and plant materials from non-Nicotiana species (e.g., non-tobacco plant materials). The tobacco material can have the form of processed tobacco material (e.g., granulated, reconstituted, heat treated, or otherwise processed tobacco laminae and/or stem), tobacco extract (e.g., an extract of water soluble tobacco components obtained by extracting tobacco with water), or a combination thereof. The non-tobacco material can have the form of vegetable pulp (e.g., sugar beet pulp), pulp obtained after removal of water soluble components as a result of water extraction treatment, or a combination thereof.

Abstract: A fermentation process for the production of ethanol from natural sources, such as corn, comprising introducing a fermentable sugar, an inoculant, and a stabilized chlorine dioxide into a fermentation system is disclosed. The stabilized chlorine dioxide is added preventatively to the fermentation system, at concentrations in the fermentation system of acetic acid no greater than 0.30% (weight/volume) and lactic acid no greater than 0.60% (weight/volume). The stabilized chlorine dioxide is added in an amount effective to substantially prevent growth of bacteria.

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 tobacco material mixed with at least one botanical material, wherein the botanical material comprises at least about 0.1% of the total dry weight of the smokeless tobacco product. One exemplary product is in the form of a snus product contained within a water-permeable pouch, which includes at least about 50% of a pasteurized and fermented particulate tobacco material, based on the total dry weight of the smokeless tobacco product, and a botanical material in particulate form. 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 50 (?mol TE)/g or a FRAP index value of at least about 80 (?mol/Fe2+)/g.

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: A method of preparing a whitened tobacco material is provided, the method including the steps of (i) extracting a tobacco material with an aqueous solution to give a tobacco pulp and a tobacco extract; (ii) treating the tobacco pulp with at least one of a caustic reagent and an oxidizing agent for a time and at a temperature sufficient to lighten the color of the tobacco pulp to give a whitened tobacco pulp; (iii) clarifying the tobacco extract to remove higher molecular weight components; and (iv) combining the whitened tobacco pulp with a clarified tobacco extract to form a whitened tobacco material. The whitened tobacco material can be isolated and incorporated into a smokeless tobacco product. The invention also provides a smokeless tobacco product incorporating a whitened tobacco material. The smokeless tobacco product may be a snus-type formulation contained within a sealed pouch.

Abstract: A cigarette is provided that includes a rod of smokable material circumscribed by an outer wrapping material and a filter element, which may include an adsorbent material such as activated carbon, attached to one end of the rod of smokable material. The smokable material includes at least about 5 percent by weight of a dark air-cured tobacco, based on the dry weight of the smokable material, blended with additional tobacco materials such as flue-cured tobacco, burley tobacco, Oriental tobacco, Maryland tobacco, and mixtures thereof.

Abstract: The invention provides a tobacco product including a flavorful tobacco composition in the form of an extract of a fire-cured tobacco material. Exemplary tobacco products include smoking articles, smokeless tobacco compositions, and aerosol-generating devices that do not burn tobacco. The invention also provides a process for preparing a smokeless tobacco composition, the method including: mixing a fire-cured tobacco material having a first benzo[a]pyrene concentration with water to produce an aqueous slurry; maintaining the slurry for a time and at a temperature sufficient to form a fire-cured tobacco extract, the aqueous fire-cured tobacco extract exhibiting a second benzo[a]pyrene concentration lower than the first benzo[a]pyrene concentration; separating the aqueous fire-cured tobacco extract from a residual pulp material, and mixing the aqueous fire-cured tobacco extract with a tobacco or non-tobacco plant material to form a smokeless tobacco composition.

Abstract: A smokeless tobacco product is configured for insertion into the mouth of a user and incorporates materials from Nicotiana species (e.g., tobacco-derived materials) and plant materials from non-Nicotiana species (e.g., non-tobacco plant materials). The tobacco material can have the form of processed tobacco material (e.g., granulated, reconstituted, heat treated, or otherwise processed tobacco laminae and/or stem), tobacco extract (e.g., an extract of water soluble tobacco components obtained by extracting tobacco with water), or a combination thereof. The non-tobacco material can have the form of vegetable pulp (e.g., sugar beet pulp), pulp obtained after removal of water soluble components as a result of water extraction treatment, or a combination thereof.