Abstract: The invention relates to a cigarette for reducing a ratio of at least one constituent to tar in mainstream smoke. The cigarette comprises at least one of a low efficiency tobacco smoke filter and a tobacco blend having a lower stem content as compared to a conventional tobacco.

Abstract: At least two computer systems in a peer-to-peer network are utilized to support a secure transaction. Aspects of the present invention include allowing a shopper to create an order to purchase one or more digital assets stored on a first computer system in the peer-to-peer network, and after the order is created, passing the order and control from the first computer system to a second computer system in the peer-to-peer network. The second computer system establishes a secure transaction session with the shopper, and then proceeds to process the order.

Abstract: The present invention is related to a computer system that provides a web page to a requester over a network. Aspects of the present invention include receiving by the computer system a request to access a web page and in response, determining whether a descriptor for the requested web page is in a session memory. If the descriptor is not in the session memory, it is retrieved from a database and the stored in the session memory. From there, the descriptor is used to determine whether the web page should be retrieved and returned to the requestor. By storing the descriptor in session memory, additional accesses to the database can be avoided when the descriptor is used for subsequent tasks.

Abstract: Systems and methods of internally bracing straw bales during construction of a straw bale wall using ladder structures that eliminate the need for external bracing and form a permanent part of the wall's internal structure.

Abstract: A moisture control system for a straw bale core wall in which gravity fed moisture from the bales is collected in a sump at the foundation level and drained away, while an airspace is provided above the bale core to collect and direct away moisture of evaporation.

Abstract: A non-smokeable cigarette unit which may be rendered smokeable by application of a tubular sleeve to the cigarette filter region has a tobacco rod, a filter plug portion and connecting material for connecting the filter plug to the tobacco rod. At least a portion of the periphery of the filter plug is of a sufficient porosity to render the cigarette unit unsmokeable. The filter has a diameter less than the diameter of the tobacco rod. The connecting material bridges a transition from the smaller filter to the larger tobacco rod. This transition portion assists in sliding the sleeve onto the larger tobacco rod to provide a smokeable cigarette.

Abstract: A novel reconstituted tobacco sheet material is provided which is useful in providing a novel smoking product which has a smoking quality closely approximating that of cigarettes having conventional paper wrappers. The reconstituted tobacco sheet is prepared by a paper-making process in which the water-soluble material extracted in the paper-making process is not added back to the sheet, or if added back, to an extent of no more than 20 wt % of the reconstituted tobacco sheet. In the novel smoking product, a tobacco filler rod is enclosed within an outer wrapper, which usually comprises an inner binder layer and an outer wrapper layer, one or both formed of reconstituted tobacco sheet material. When the tobacco filler rod is double-wrapped, the novel smoking product also exhibits a significant reduction in sidestream smoking production in comparison to a conventionally-wrapped cigarette.

Abstract: A novel reconstituted tobacco sheet material is provided which is useful in providing a novel smoking product which has a smoking quality closely approximating that of cigarettes having conventional paper wrappers. The reconstituted tobacco sheet is prepared by a paper-making process in which the water-soluble material extracted in the paper-making process is not added back to the sheet, or if added back, to an extent of no more than 20 wt % of the reconstituted tobacco sheet. In the novel smoking product, a tobacco filler rod is enclosed within an outer wrapper, which usually comprises an inner binder layer and an outer wrapper layer, one or both formed of reconstituted tobacco sheet material. When the tobacco filler rod is double-wrapped, the novel smoking product also exhibits a significant reduction in sidestream smoking production in comparison to a conventionally-wrapped cigarette.

Abstract: An energy storage and release system (10) in combination with an aircraft (11) for ejecting an ordnance from the aircraft, the system (10) including a housing (22) mounted in the aircraft (11) and a drive shaft (24) having an outer end (26) and inner end (28) supported within the housing (22) for reciprocating axial movement of the outer end (26) into and out of the housing (22). An energy storage system including a flywheel (30) rotatably mounted within the housing (22) and operatively connected to the drive shaft (24) moves the outer end (26) of the drive shaft (24) axially out of the housing (22) to eject an ordnance (18). A linear induction motor (16) powers the flywheel (30).