Abstract: The method includes first defining at least one channel within a first housing of a heater assembly, the at least one channel extending from a first end to a second end of the first housing, second defining a cavity in the first end of the first housing, third defining a first reservoir in the second end of the first housing, the at least one channel being in fluid communication with the first reservoir, and fourth defining an opening within a first wall within the first housing, the opening causing the first reservoir and the cavity to be in communication with each other.

Abstract: The method includes first defining a reservoir within at least one first housing, the reservoir having a first part and a second part and being configured to contain a pre-vapor formulation, second defining at least one channel that is configured to communicate the pre-vapor formulation from the first part to the second part, third defining an airflow path within the at least one first housing, and first configuring a heater that is fluid permeable to heat and at least partially vaporize the pre-vapor formulation, the heater being on an end of the second part, the heater having a first surface that faces the first part, a first portion of the first surface being in direct communication with a second portion of the airflow path.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer program products for fugitive emission determinations are provided. An example imaging system includes a first infrared (IR) imaging device configured to generate first IR image data of a field of view of the first IR imaging device that include one or more data entries associated with a fugitive emission from an emission source. The system further includes a computing device operably connected with the first IR imaging device and configured to receive the first IR image data from the first IR imaging device, generate spectral absorption data based on the first IR image data, and determine a gas amount associated with the fugitive emission based upon the spectral absorption data. The computing device also determines a leak rate and leak duration of the fugitive emission based upon the determined gas amount and determines a total emission loss based on the same.

Abstract: A cartridge for an aerosol-generating system includes a storage container containing a supply of an aerosol-forming substrate, a fluid permeable heating element positioned across an opening in the storage container, a protective cover coupled to the storage container and covering the fluid permeable heating element, at least one air inlet, at least one air outlet, and an airflow path from the at least one air inlet to the at least one air outlet. The protective cover is configured such that a portion of the airflow path is between the protective cover and the fluid permeable heating element.

Abstract: A cartridge for an aerosol-generating system may comprise a liquid storage portion, which includes a housing holding a liquid aerosol-forming substrate. The housing has a first and a second opening. The cartridge may further comprise a first and a second permeable planar heater assembly, wherein the first permeable planar heater assembly is fixed to the housing and extends across the first opening of the housing, and the second permeable planar heater assembly is fixed to the housing and extends across the second opening of the housing. The first and second permeable planar heater assemblies are arranged opposite each other such that they face each other and form an airflow channel in between.

Abstract: Methods are provided for delivering a treatment therapy to treat an organ diagnosed with a disease state. The methods include delivering a first therapeutic agent into systemic circulation at a first flow rate, and delivering a second therapeutic agent directly into a vessel feeding the organ at a higher second flow rate than the first flow rate in a manner that prevents the second treatment agent from circulating systemically.

Abstract: A method of producing a liquid tobacco extract is provided, including: preparing a tobacco starting material including natural tobacco material; heating the tobacco starting material in a non-sealed extraction chamber at an extraction temperature of between 125° C. and 160° C. for between 90 minutes and 270 minutes to release gaseous volatile compounds from the tobacco starting material, the tobacco starting material not being in a liquid suspension during the heating step, a flow of inert gas being passed through the tobacco starting material during the heating in the extraction chamber, and the inert gas carrying the gaseous volatile compounds released from the tobacco starting material during heating away from the chamber; collecting the volatile compounds released and carried away from the tobacco starting material by the inert gas flow during the heating; and forming a liquid tobacco extract including the collected volatile compounds.

Abstract: A cartridge for an aerosol-generating system includes a storage container containing a supply of an aerosol-forming substrate, a fluid permeable heating element positioned across an opening in the storage container, a protective cover coupled to the storage container and covering the fluid permeable heating element, at least one air inlet, at least one air outlet, and an airflow path from the at least one air inlet to the at least one air outlet. The protective cover is configured such that a portion of the airflow path is between the protective cover and the fluid permeable heating element.

Abstract: A cartridge for an aerosol-generating system may comprise a liquid storage portion, which includes a housing holding a liquid aerosol-forming substrate. The housing has a first and a second opening. The cartridge may further comprise a first and a second permeable planar heater assembly, wherein the first permeable planar heater assembly is fixed to the housing and extends across the first opening of the housing, and the second permeable planar heater assembly is fixed to the housing and extends across the second opening of the housing. The first and second permeable planar heater assemblies are arranged opposite each other such that they face each other and form an airflow channel in between.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer program products for infrared (IR) image operations are provided. An example imaging system includes a first IR imaging device configured to generate first IR image data and a second IR imaging device configured to generate second IR image data. The system further includes a computing device that receives the first IR image data from the first IR imaging device and receives the second IR image data from the second IR imaging device. The computing device further determines a first feature representing a position of a gas plume based upon the first IR image data and a second feature representing a position of the gas plume based upon the second IR image data and determines a disparity between the first and second features. The computing device further determines a distance between the imaging system and the gas plume based upon the determined disparity.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer program products for fugitive emission determinations are provided. An example imaging system includes a first infrared (IR) imaging device configured to generate first IR image data of a field of view of the first IR imaging device that include one or more data entries associated with a fugitive emission from an emission source. The system further includes a computing device operably connected with the first IR imaging device and configured to receive the first IR image data from the first IR imaging device, generate spectral absorption data based on the first IR image data, and determine a gas amount associated with the fugitive emission based upon the spectral absorption data. The computing device also determines a leak rate and leak duration of the fugitive emission based upon the determined gas amount and determines a total emission loss based on the same.

Abstract: A method of producing a liquid tobacco extract is provided, the method including the steps of: preparing a tobacco starting material including natural tobacco material such that during the step of preparing the tobacco starting material, the tobacco is not subjected to any treatment adapted to alter the pH of the tobacco; heating the tobacco starting material in a flow of inert gas at an extraction temperature of between 125 degrees Celsius and 160 degrees Celsius for between 90 minutes and 270 minutes; collecting volatile compounds released from the natural tobacco starting material during the heating step; and forming a liquid tobacco extract comprising the collected volatile compounds.

Abstract: An aerosol-generating device is provided, including an air inlet and outlet; an air flow passage extending between the inlet and the outlet; a heating element to heat an aerosol-forming substrate; a sensor assembly in communication with the passage to measure one or both of a flow rate and a pressure level within the air flow passage; and a controller coupled to the sensor assembly to control a supply of power to the heating element, receive data from the sensor assembly and record when a user puffs on the device, and assign a puff number to each puff recorded by the controller, an amount of power supplied for a given puff being dependent on the puff number of the given puff, and the device being configured such that the puff number resets to zero after a predefined amount of time has passed since a certain numbered puff occurred.

Abstract: A heater assembly for an aerosol-generating system is provided, the heater assembly including: a fluid-permeable heating element configured to vaporise a liquid aerosol-forming substrate; and a transport material configured to transport liquid aerosol-forming substrate to the fluid-permeable heating element, the transport material having a thickness defined between a first surface of the transport material and an opposing second surface of the transport material, the first surface being arranged in fluid communication with the fluid-permeable heating element and the second surface being arranged to receive liquid aerosol-forming substrate, the second surface of the transport material being provided with at least one hole that extends into the transport material to a depth corresponding to at least a part of the thickness of the transport material to define a formed fluid channel for the liquid aerosol-forming substrate, and the first surface of the transport material being convex.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer program products for thermal contrast determinations are provided. An example imaging system includes a first infrared (IR) imaging device that generates first IR image data of a field of view of the first IR imaging device and a computing device connected with the first IR imaging device. The computing device receives probe temperature data from a temperature probe indicative of an external environment of the imaging system and receives the first IR image data from the first IR imaging device. The computing device determines background temperature data based upon the first IR image data, determines gas temperature data based upon the probe temperature data, and determines a thermal contrast for each pixel based upon a comparison between the background temperature data and the gas temperature data. The computing device further determines a detection limit for each pixel as a function of thermal contrast.

Abstract: Methods, apparatuses, and systems for improving gas detecting apparatuses are provided. An example gas detecting apparatus may comprise at least one imaging sensor; and a controller component, wherein the controller component is configured to: obtain image data comprising at least a first frame and a second frame, identify a number of matching features between the first frame and the second frame, and in an instance in which the number of matching features satisfies a predetermined threshold number of matching features, estimate a transformation between the first frame and the second frame, and perform one or more vibration correction operations.

Abstract: A heater assembly for an aerosol-generating system is provided, including: a fluid-permeable heating element to vaporise a liquid aerosol-forming substrate; and a transport material to transport the substrate to the heating element and having a thickness defined between a first surface and an opposing second surface thereof, the first surface being in fluid communication with the element and the second surface being arranged to receive the substrate and provided with at least one hole extending into the material to a depth corresponding to at least a part of the thickness to define a formed fluid channel for the substrate, the material including a capillary material having elongate fibres, an average direction of the fibres is substantially parallel to the first and second surfaces, and the hole extends substantially perpendicular to the average direction. A method of manufacturing a heater assembly, a cartridge, and an aerosol-generating system are also provided.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer program products for recursive modifications are provided. An example imaging system includes a first infrared (IR) imaging device that generates first IR image data of a first field of view of the first IR imaging device at a first time and a computing device operably connected with the first IR imaging device. The computing device receives the first IR image data from the first IR imaging device and determines a first set of pixels and a second set of pixels from amongst a plurality of pixels associated with the first IR image data. The computing device further determines a first modification protocol for the first set of pixels and determines a second modification protocol for the second set of pixels. In response, the computing device generates a recursive modification input based upon the first and second modification protocols.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein relate to a system, method, and sensors for real-time microbial monitoring based on the presence and concentrations of microbial signals, typically gaseous compounds, which are reflective of the microbial population size, microbial health, and/or microbial metabolic activity level within aqueous environments. Use of the disclosed technology to provide online remote measurement of microbial signals, and importantly the detection of changes therein, can be used to determine stable operating conditions and detect fluctuations in water quality. The sensor monitoring technology is able to monitor the native microbial population present in an aquatic environment and does not consume any reagents or require discrete sampling points. Further, an online measurement can be implemented to track microbial activity in real-time.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer program products for thermal contrast determinations are provided. An example imaging system includes a first infrared (IR) imaging device that generates first IR image data of a field of view of the first IR imaging device and a computing device connected with the first IR imaging device. The computing device receives probe temperature data from a temperature probe indicative of an external environment of the imaging system and receives the first IR image data from the first IR imaging device. The computing device determines background temperature data based upon the first IR image data, determines gas temperature data based upon the probe temperature data, and determines a thermal contrast for each pixel based upon a comparison between the background temperature data and the gas temperature data. The computing device further determines a detection limit for each pixel as a function of thermal contrast.