Abstract: The invention provides an article, such as an aerosol-generating smoking article that does not combust tobacco, that includes a tobacco rod and a filter element connected to the tobacco rod, the filter element having an end proximal to the tobacco rod and an end distal from the tobacco rod, wherein the filter element includes a first section of filter material and a second section of filter material, and further includes a smoke-altering flavorant.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure include systems and methods for identifying, quantifying, and prioritizing repair, maintenance and system change opportunities within a telecommunications network. This disclosure describes doing so by obtaining churn, repair, and outage data and processing the obtained data using various models and algorithms to provide meaningful insights into the business impact of undertaking some action, which may include proactive maintenance, repair, and/or some form of system change (e.g., upgrade). In the cases of maintenance and repair, the system may further identify a particular issue and the resolution. The system may also provide information as to costs and return for various actions, which may assist the operator in taking actions that will provide optimal customer satisfaction.

Abstract: Automatic testing/analysis of local loops of telecommunications networks includes obtaining bits-per-tone data for a local loop of a telecommunications network and generating a bit value string from the bits-per-tone data. The bit value string is then analyzed to determine whether it includes a bit pattern indicative of an impairment of the local loop. Further approaches for automatically testing local loops of telecommunications networks include obtaining attenuation data for multiple tones carried by the local loop and determining whether the attenuation data falls below thresholds for providing a service using the local loop.