Abstract: A variable valve operating apparatus for an internal combustion engine is provided which includes a helical wall part provided in a guide rail for changing valve opening characteristics of a valve and a projection part, and can secure a contact area between the two when the two are engaged, thus successfully reducing the contact pressure generated between the two. The placement of the projection part with respect to the helical wall part is determined such that the central axis line of the projection part and the central axis line of a camshaft perpendicularly intersect with each other in a state in which the projection part is protruded toward the guide rail by an actuator.

Abstract: A camshaft adjuster which has a control valve and at least one pressure-controlled positioning valve which is connected to a pair of control chambers. The control chambers each have an early chamber and a late chamber and one of the control chambers is designed in such a manner that, in an unenergized basic position of the control valve, in order to set a middle position, the smaller of the early and late chambers of the one of the control chambers is connected to a supply line and the larger of the early and late chambers of the one of the control chambers is connected to a removal line.

Abstract: A variable valve operating apparatus includes a drive camshaft that is rotationally driven by the rotational force of the crankshaft, and a driven cam lobe that is rotatably supported by the drive camshaft. The variable valve operating apparatus further includes a guide member that has a raceway surface formed so as to surround the drive camshaft. The variable valve operating apparatus further includes a link mechanism that is connected to each of the drive camshaft and the driven cam lobe and has a control roller which is in contact with the raceway surface. The variable valve operating apparatus further includes a link plate and holding rollers that maintain contact between the raceway surface and the control roller while the drive camshaft makes one rotation. The variable valve operating apparatus further includes an actuator that drives the guide member.

Abstract: A variable valve timing control apparatus has a housing; a vane rotor relatively rotating with respect to the housing; a torsion spring always forcing the vane rotor in one rotation direction with respect to the housing; and a spring guide accommodating therein the torsion spring. At least a part of an outside diameter of the torsion spring, before being installed inside the spring guide, is formed to be greater than an inside diameter of an inner wall of the spring guide. In a free state of the torsion spring, after being installed inside the spring guide, in which an urging force of the torsion spring acting on the vane rotor becomes smallest, the outside diameter of the torsion spring is substantially same as the inside diameter of the inner wall of the spring guide or is smaller than the inside diameter of the inner wall of the spring guide.

Abstract: Provided is a timing adjustment system having improved control for achieving a target rotational phase. The valve timing adjustment system includes a displacement mechanism unit that displaces a rotational phase of a camshaft relative to a crankshaft of an internal combustion engine; a locking mechanism unit that locks the rotational phase at an intermediate locked phase positioned within a displacement range of the rotational phase; a hydraulic pathway that hydraulically drives the displacement mechanism unit and the locking mechanism unit; and a control unit including a control system that controls operations of the hydraulic control valve. The control unit changes a temporal responsiveness of the control system based on a displacement force that displaces the rotational phase.

Abstract: A switchable roller finger follower is provided having an inner lever and two separate outer arms mounted at one end to a swing pivot axle that extends through the inner lever. A roller is mounted in the inner lever. The outer arms extend longitudinally along sides of the inner lever and include high lift cam contact surfaces. The inner lever includes a compression spring support extending out from each of the sides. The outer arms each include a corresponding spring support facing the respective spring support of the inner lever. A compression spring is located on each of the sides of the inner lever between the corresponding spring supports. A coupling arrangement is located between the inner lever and the outer arms which in a locked position, locks the outer arms in position on the inner lever, and in an unlocked position, allows the outer arms to pivot.

Abstract: A driver that reciprocates has its reciprocation divided into a non-actuating portion and an actuating portion. The driver in one embodiment positions a carrier that has two pins, each pin being slidably mounted in its slot on a housing. One of the pins is an output pin that may be linked to operatively position a valve of an internal combustion engine. The two slots are configured such that each pin, during its motion range, does effect a capture of the other pin such that the captured pin is generally stationary. When the output pin is captured, the driver reciprocation causes the non-output pin to perform a lost-motion traverse of its slot. When the non-output pin is captured, the driver reciprocation actuates the output pin. A linked pair of such embodiments driven by a single driver can thus alternately actuate two valves.

Abstract: A vehicle having an internal combustion engine and having a vacuum reservoir which is connected to at least one vacuum source and to a plurality of vacuum consumers, wherein the internal combustion engine includes a control device, an intake system with an intake line, and a crankcase, and wherein the vacuum reservoir is connected to the intake line and to the crankcase in such a way that both the intake system and also the crankcase serve as vacuum sources.

Abstract: An air intake control valve includes a body extending to divide an inner portion of a surge tank of a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine into two portions, the body serving as a divided surface to divide the inner portion of the surge tank into the two portions, a valve element operated to rotate for opening and closing a fluid passage formed at the body, and a seal member sealing between a sealed surface of the surge tank and an outer periphery of the body, the seal member including a seal portion constituted by two contact portions that make contact with the sealed surface in a state where the two contact portions extend in directions opposite from each other relative to the divided surface.

Abstract: Various systems for reducing noise, vibration, and harshness in an intake manifold are provided. In one example, an intake manifold includes one or more runners, a plenum fluidically coupled to the one or more runners, an inlet having a wall thickness, and a first and a second indentation, where the first indentation protrudes radially inward at a first inflection point in a first direction, the second indentation protrudes radially inward at a second inflection point in a second direction substantially anti-parallel to the first direction, and the wall thickness is maintained at the first and second inflection points. In this way, noise, vibration, and harshness associated with the intake manifold and its inlet may be reduced without additional weight, cost, or complexity.

Abstract: A piston for an internal combustion engine has a body including an upper combustion wall having an upper combustion surface; cylindrical outer wall with a ring belt region adjacent the upper combustion surface, and a closed annular cooling gallery located in radial alignment with the ring belt region. A cooling medium is contained in the cooling gallery. The cooling gallery has an inner surface including a radially outermost portion extending along the ring belt region. The outermost portion converges from the upper combustion wall toward a longitudinal central axis. During reciprocating motion of the piston, the cooling medium flows and remains in contact with the cooling gallery walls, thereby maximizing the capacity for heat to be transferred from the upper combustion wall to the contained cooling medium and from the cooling medium to the piston body, ring belt region and ultimately to the engine cooling system.

Abstract: A piston, piston ring and method of construction thereof is provided. The piston ring is L-shaped, having a first portion configured to extend upwardly from a ring groove of a piston along a top land of the piston and a second portion configured for receipt in the ring groove. The first and second portions of the ring have an enclosed hollow cooling chamber with a cooling medium disposed therein such that the cooling medium is free to flow internally to the piston ring groove and upwardly from the piston ring groove along the top land.

Abstract: Piston for use in internal combustion engines, having a piston skirt composed of skirt walls and box walls, said walls enclosing a recess wherein the at least one skirt wall is provided for use on the pressure side of the piston in the installed state. Said piston is in particular characterized in that, in at least one partial region of at least one skirt wall provided for use on the pressure side of the piston, the recess is in substantially the shape of a parabola, a section of an ellipse or a catenoid, wherein said parabola, said section of an ellipse or said catenoid lies in a plane substantially parallel to the piston crown.

Abstract: A crankshaft structure for a model engine contains a body and at least one fin member. The body is formed in an elongated shaft shape and includes a cam disc disposed on a distal end thereof and a connecting shaft extending outwardly from an end surface of the cam disc, a window defined on a middle section thereof, and a channel formed therein and passing through the end surface of the cam disc so as to inhale and exhaust mixed oil gas. The at least one fin member is mounted at a position of the channel where corresponds to the window.

Abstract: A fuel-pressure-sensor diagnosis device is applied to a fuel injection system having a plurality of fuel pressure sensors detecting a fuel pressure which is provided to a fuel injector of each cylinder, and a control portion controlling the fuel injectors by using a computed result which is computed based on a variation in the fuel pressure detected by the fuel pressure sensor due to a fuel injection. Two pressure sensors of which pulsation values of the detected fuel pressure are in a specified range are selected among the multiple fuel pressure sensors. For example, a pair “A” refers to the sensors #1 and #3, a pair “B” refers to the sensors #3 and #4, a pair “C” refers to the sensors #4 and #2, and a pair “D” refers to the sensors #2 and #1. An ECU diagnoses whether the selected sensors are faulty by comparing the detected values.

Abstract: A rotary machine is described with a vane carried by a rotor in a housing. The vane includes: a central vane axis extending radially outward along a y-axis from a center of the rotor through the vane to the housing. A centrifugal force of the vane against the housing is primarily distributed with a first sealing element mounted on an end of the vane, such as a rotatable element supported by a rigid support. The rigid structure of the first sealing element facilitates use of a second flexible sealing element mounted on the vane end. The second flexible sealing element performs as a sliding seal between a trailing expansion chamber and a leading expansion chamber on opposite sides of the vane. The rigid seal and the flexible sliding seal typically function independently of each other as separate constituents of the tip or end of a given vane.

Abstract: A direct-injection internal combustion engine includes an intake camshaft with a low-lift intake cam and a high-lift intake cam, a variable lift control for selectively operating an intake valve in one of a low-lift intake valve profile with the low-lift intake cam and a high-lift intake valve profile with the high-lift intake cam, a variable cam phase control operative on the intake camshaft for simultaneously controlling the phase of the low-lift intake cam and the high-lift intake cam, an ignition spark control, a fuel injection control, an exhaust gas recirculation control, and an intake throttle control.

Abstract: A throttle valve body includes a main body, a main valve, and a bypass valve. The main body includes intake and bypass passages, a sensor mounting hole, and a bypass valve mounting hole. The main valve divides the intake passage into upstream and downstream portions. The bypass valve divides the bypass passage into upstream and downstream sections that are in fluid communication respectively with the upstream and downstream portions. The sensor mounting hole extends along an axis along which the downstream section extends. The bypass valve mounting hole is in fluid communication with a portion of the bypass passage disposed between the upstream and downstream sections.

Abstract: In a control apparatus for and a control method of controlling a variable valve mechanism in a hybrid vehicle, just before an engine is stopped in response to an automatic stop request, an intake valve closing timing is controlled to be set to a second closing timing near the bottom dead center to stabilize an engine stop position; when the engine is stopped, the intake valve closing timing is retarded from the second closing timing to a first closing timing that is suitable for engine start; the engine is started with the closing timing being set to the first closing timing, and the intake valve closing timing is changed towards the retard angle side beyond closing timing against rev-up of the engine just after completion of engine start, so that the rev-up can be suppressed with good response while controlling the intake valve closing timing as required for starting the engine.

Abstract: A method for operating a valve, in particular a fuel injector of an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle, in which an auxiliary variable is obtained as a function of at least one electrical operating variable of an electromagnetic actuator driving a component of the valve, in particular a valve needle, and in which the auxiliary variable is checked for the presence of a predefinable characteristic. A reference variable which characterizes the operating behavior of the electromagnetic actuator is ascertained, the auxiliary variable is modified as a function of the reference variable to obtain a modified auxiliary variable, and the modified auxiliary variable is checked for the presence of the predefinable characteristic.

Abstract: A fuel system, in particular of a motor vehicle, includes a fuel tank and a ventilation device for ventilating the fuel tank, wherein the ventilation device has at least one separation device which has a temporary accumulator for liquid fuel and a fuel delivery device which is configured as jet pump for delivering fuel out of the temporary accumulator. In an operating medium line of the jet pump a pressure reducing element or a pressure adjustment element is provided.

Abstract: An air intake device includes a cooler and a surge tank accommodating the cooler. The air intake device is to be connected to a cylinder head of an engine. The cylinder head includes an intake port that accommodates an intake valve. The cooler has a refrigerant passage through which refrigerant flows and an air passage through which intake air flows. The surge tank has a connector connected to the cylinder head. The cooler has a protrusion protruding from the connector toward the intake valve.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for adjusting cylinder valve timings to enable a group of cylinders to operate and combust while another group of cylinders on a second are selectively deactivated. Valve timing may be adjusted to allow flow of air through the inactive cylinders to be reduced, lowering catalyst regeneration requirements upon reactivation. The valve timing may alternatively be adjusted to enable exhaust gas to be recirculated to the active cylinders via the inactive cylinders, providing cooled EGR benefits.

Abstract: An exhaust gas recirculation system according to the present invention includes an EGR passage for introducing a part of exhaust gas emitted from an engine to an intake passage, the EGR passage communicating at one end thereof with the intake passage whereas at the other end thereof with an exhaust passage, an EGR control valve for controlling the flow rate of the exhaust gas flowing therein, the EGR control valve being disposed at one end of the EGR passage, an on-off valve for opening or closing the EGR passage, the on-off valve being disposed at the other end of the EGR passage, and a heat exchanger for cooling the exhaust gas introduced to the EGR passage, the heat exchanger) being disposed nearer the other end of the EGR passage than the on-off valve.

Abstract: A positive crankcase ventilation system for an internal combustion engine (ICE) includes an engine crankcase, an intake manifold disposed in downstream gas flow communication with the engine crankcase, an air induction system disposed in upstream gas flow communication with the engine crankcase, and a vacuum pump disposed in gas flow communication between the air induction system and the engine crankcase. Operation of the vacuum pump facilitates air flow from the air induction system to the engine crankcase, and from the engine crankcase to the intake manifold.

Abstract: A mounting structure for mounting a PCV valve includes a mount recess formed in at least one of joint surfaces of a cylinder head and an intake manifold, so that at least a part of the PCV valve can be fitted into the mount recess.

Abstract: A paintball propelling device capable of propelling paintballs using bottom feed magazine is disclosed. The paintball propelling device, in one embodiment, includes a receiver and a bottom feed magazine. The receiver, for example, has a top surface facing upward and a bottom surface facing downward at the ground, wherein the bottom surface of the receiver includes a bottom feed port. The bottom feed magazine provides paintballs to the receiver via a bottom feed port of the receiver. The bottom feed magazine, in one aspect, includes a feed tube, an L-shaped tube, and one-way paintball stopper. The feed tube transfers the paintballs from the bottom or floor of the bottom feed magazine to the top of the bottom feed magazine. The L-shaped tube assists to transfer paintballs from paintball reservoir to the feed tube. The one-way paintball stopper is configured to hold paintballs from leaving the feed tube back to the paintball reservoir.

Abstract: A toy projectile launcher includes a body having a magazine for storing at least one cylindrical projectile. The body has an elongate barrel in communication with the magazine. The barrel is shaped for travel of the projectile from the magazine to an exit end. The barrel has an intermediate opening between the magazine and the exit end. A drive wheel is powered by a motor to spin about an axis of rotation. The drive wheel can be coupled to the body by a drive wheel biasing member. The drive wheel intrudes into the barrel though the intermediate opening to contact and propel the projectile down the barrel. The drive wheel can include a resilient part. The axis of rotation of the drive wheel can deviate from being perpendicular to the length of the barrel by a predetermined angle selected to impart spin to the projectile.

Abstract: A C-shaped forearm brace attaches to a bow through a support and a bracket that is attached to the front of a bow's riser. The brace extends arcuately around a forearm axis at least 180°, to partially encompass a forearm. The support is mounted in a slot in the brace and extends outwardly, transverse to the forearm axis. The support can be adjusted to allow angular and linear translation of the forearm brace relative to an axis that is parallel to the forearm axis. The forearm brace is circumferentially repositionable along the support. The support may be a post with a bearing surface skewed relative to a plane perpendicular to a longitudinal axis. Walls on opposite sides of this bearing surface straddle part of the forearm brace. The bracket supports a rearwardly extending element that attaches to and supports the post.

Abstract: A chain bar unit for a wall saw is presented herein. The chain bar unit can include a bar configured to receive a circulating chain or wire around a perimeter of the bar. The chain bar unit also can include a driving gear for driving the chain or wire around the bar, the driving gear configured to be coupled to an output shaft of the wall saw. The chain bar unit further includes the bar being tapered from an end proximate to the driving gear to a distal end having a distal end radius, wherein a width of the bar at the proximate end, is at least two times the distal end radius of the distal end.

Abstract: A combustion convection oven has improved energy efficiency. The oven includes a moveable exhaust damper that selectively closes off the exhaust plenum so as to inhibit the escape of heated air from the oven's cooking cavity. The exhaust damper is open when the oven is in a heating mode with the burners on, but closed when the oven is in a heated mode where the burners are off. Thus, airflow through the oven is significantly reduced or eliminated when the burners are off. That damper, or another damper, may have a degree of openness that is controlled to be inverse to the speed of the oven's fan.

Abstract: A furnace or other heat exchanger application for heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration systems having condensate control. Specifically, a condensate control for secondary heat exchangers is provided for use with high efficiency furnaces, particularly for small tonnage systems, such as residential or unitary systems. Condensate management permits a plurality of furnace orientations while providing resistance to corrosion due to liquid condensate.

Abstract: A cooker and methods of manufacturing and controlling the same. The cooker including a first coating layer that is a general ceramic enamel layer and a second coating layer that includes phosphorus oxide-based components are coated on a surface of a cavity corresponding to the inner surface of the cooking chamber. Therefore, the inside of the cooking chamber can be more easily cleaned.

Abstract: Described herein are embodiments of solar heating systems, including solar collection panels used in the solar heating systems, and methods for manufacturing solar collection panels suitable for use in the solar collection panels. The solar heating system is a closed direct connected solar heating system that need not include heat exchangers or drain back systems. The solar collection panels include a series of interconnected pockets between two sheets of material and inlet and outlet fittings for providing fluid into and out of the solar collection panel. The system described herein is capable of operating under pressures of 160 psi or higher and can also tolerate extreme temperature conditions, such as freezing temperature conditions.

Abstract: An apparatus for delivery of therapeutically conditioned air to a patient may include a hollow flexible tube and at least one clamp attached to the tube. A shape retention wire may be engaged with the tube. The apparatus may be configured to direct the therapeutically conditioned air to a region near the patient's nose and mouth without being attached to the patient.

Abstract: A gas apparatus for use in a medical procedure may include a housing, a heater, a port, and a dispensing device. The housing defines a chamber having a gas inlet and a gas outlet. The heater warms a gas flowing through the chamber. The port is positioned in fluid communication with the chamber. The dispensing device is inserted within the port for delivering water in aerosol form to warmed gas as it exits the gas outlet.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the inhalation delivery of aerosols containing small particles. Specifically, it relates to a method of forming an aerosol for use in inhalation therapy. The method involves: (a) heating a substrate coated with a composition comprising a drug to form a vapor, wherein the coated composition is in the form of a film less than 10? thick; and, (b) allowing the vapor to cool, thereby forming an aerosol, which is used in inhalation therapy. In another aspect, a method of forming an aerosol for use in inhalation therapy is provided, wherein the method comprises: (a) heating a substrate coated with a composition comprising a drug to form a vapor in less than 100 milliseconds, wherein the vapor has a mass greater than 0.1 mg; and, (b) allowing the vapor to cool, thereby forming an aerosol, which is used in inhalation therapy.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for providing continuous positive airway pressure for treating sleep apnea. The method comprises the steps of providing a breathing gas flow to a subject, measuring a respiratory characteristic of the subject, determining or estimating a preferable breathing gas flow for the subject based on wavelet analysis utilizing in part the respiratory characteristic of the subject, and preferably adjusting the breathing gas flow if the determined or estimated preferable breathing gas flow is different. This method and apparatus can be used in a number of applications including both clinical and home use in the form of CPAP for the treatment of sleep apnea or less preferably as a ventilator to assist in patient breathing.

Abstract: A respiration system includes a regulator including an inlet for connection to a source of pressurized gas and an outlet for delivery of the gas to the user, and a respiration facepiece for use in connection with the regulator including an interface removably attachable to the regulator, at least one seal system adapted to form a sealing engagement with the face of a user, an inhalation port in fluid connection with the regulator interface and with the facepiece interior, an inhalation check valve in fluid connection between the inhalation port and the facepiece interior; an exhalation port in fluid connection with the facepiece; an exhalation check valve in fluid connection with the exhalation port; and an ambient port separate from the inhalation port and from the exhalation port, which is in fluid connection with the facepiece interior without an intervening check valve.

Abstract: A sensor 40 that detects a chemical such as an organic vapor. The sensor 40 includes a film that has a film body 58 that includes a detection layer 48 and that is responsive to the presence of a chemical by providing a color change. The film also includes an occluding layer 54 that has a first major surface 59 and that is bound to the film body 58 but is inert to the detection layer 48 to preclude the occluding layer 54 and the chemical from causing a color change in the film body 58 in an area 42 normal to the first major surface 59 of the occluding layer 54. A sensor having this construction can provide a distinctly visible image on the sensor, which may be helpful in evaluating the remaining life of a filter cartridge.

Abstract: A respirator includes a mask having a body extending between a front edge and a rear edge, and a face seal extending inward from the body. The face seal has a first wall extending from the body and a second wall intersecting with the first wall at a sealing land. The sealing land is configured to contact a user's face to form a continuous circumferential seal. The face seal is folded over such that the first wall and the second wall both extend away from the sealing land in a common direction. Optionally, the face seal may be U-shaped.

Abstract: A forehead support for a mask assembly includes a frame connector provided to a mask frame, a forehead cushion support movably mounted to the frame connector for generally linear movement between retracted and extended positions with respect to the frame connector, and an adjustment knob movably mounted to the frame connector and threadably engaged with the forehead cushion support such that turning movement of the adjustment knob causes the forehead cushion support to be moved between the retracted and extended positions. The adjustment knob includes a resilient prong having a ratchet bump. The ratchet bump is adapted to selectively engage a series of ridges provided to the frame connector to provide indexed incremental adjustment.

Abstract: Methods, systems and devices are described for new modes of ventilation in which specific lung areas are ventilated with an indwelling trans-tracheobronchial catheter for the purpose of improving ventilation and reducing hyperinflation in that specific lung area, and for redirecting inspired air to other healthier lung areas. Trans-tracheobronchial Segmental Ventilation (TTSV) is performed on either a naturally breathing or a mechanical ventilated, patient by placing a uniquely configured indwelling catheter into a bronchus of a poorly ventilated specific lung area and providing direct ventilation to that area. Typically the catheter's distal tip is anchored without occluding the bronchus. TTSV is optionally performed by insufflation only of the area, or by the application of vacuum to the area, can include elevating or reducing the pressure in the targeted area to facilitate stagnant gas removal, or can include blocking the area to divert inspired gas to better functioning areas.

Abstract: An earplug insertion device can include a housing that is configured to hold a first earplug and a second earplug. The device can also include an ejection mechanism that can be configured to respond to a first user force by ejecting the first earplug from the device in a first ejection motion. The ejection mechanism can also being configured to respond to a second user force by ejecting the second earplug from the device in a second ejection motion.

Abstract: A dual lumen catheter may be provided with one or more stents in a stent-deployment lumen and a wire guide disposed through a wire guide lumen. The wire guide may be directed to a target site in a patient body such as a biliary stricture. The catheter may be directed along the wire guide until it is in or adjacent the target site. A distalmost stent may be advanced out a distal side-facing aperture of the stent-deployment lumen into the target site by a pusher member that advances the stent or that holds the stent in place while the catheter is proximally withdrawn from around the stent. With the wire guide remaining substantially in place, the stent-deployment lumen can be reoriented and the steps repeated to place a second (and, if desired, subsequent) stent(s) next to—and generally parallel with—the first stent.

Abstract: A smoking apparatus is disclosed herein for use in the consumption of liquefied herbs or resins. The invention utilizes a thermal tip with an orifice disposed therein, wherein the thermal tip is heated by an external heat source. Once heated, the thermal tip may glow due to the existence of thermal radiation emitting visible light. The tip is thereafter touched to the material to be consumed and the material is vaporized and drawn through the smoking apparatus. The smoking apparatus thereafter utilizes two offset reservoirs, connected by an air passageway in a series, where the reservoirs are separated by an s-shaped curve. The reservoirs in such a configuration with substantially trap large droplets of oil or resin, which improves the consumption and overall smoking experience. The reservoirs further cool the air before it is drawn into the lungs of the user, which also increases the enjoyment of the smoking experience.

Abstract: A vapor dispensation system includes a base having a vaporizing element, a cylindrical vapor tube extending along a longitudinal axis, a mouthpiece connected to the vapor tube opposite the base, a vial body surrounding the vapor tube from the base to the mouthpiece, and a cartridge dimensioned to fit within the vial body. The cartridge has a frangible seal ruptured by the seal penetrating element when the cartridge is enclosed in the vial body between the mouthpiece and base. A method of filling a vapor dispensation system includes disengaging a mouthpiece, removing a spent cartridge, inserting a fluid containing cartridge with a frangible seal of the cartridge oriented toward the vapor dispensation system, rupturing the frangible seal upon full insertion, and engaging the mouthpiece onto the longitudinal end of a vapor dispensation system.

Abstract: The invention provides a tobacco composition for use in a smoking article or a smokeless tobacco composition that includes an additive derived from a flower of the Nicotiana species. The additive can be a flower of the Nicotiana species or a portion thereof in particulate form or in the form of flower isolate derived from a flower of the Nicotiana species. In certain embodiments, the flower isolate is in the form of an extract from a flower of the Nicotiana species or in the form of a chemically transformed flower isolate, the chemical transformation being selected from acid/base reaction, hydrolysis, thermal treatment, and enzymatic treatment. The invention also provides smoking articles and smokeless tobacco compositions that include the flower additives described herein, and methods for preparing an additive derived from a flower of the Nicotiana species for addition to a tobacco composition.

Abstract: A system (100) and method for managing communication session is provided. The system includes a mobile node (104) that is communicably coupled to a first communication network (102). Further, the system includes a first proxy-relay (108). The first proxy-relay is communicably coupled to the first communication network and performs one or more functions on behalf of the mobile node. The system also includes a first policy-profile repository (106) that is communicably coupled to the first communication network. The first policy-profile repository stores a first set of policy-profile definitions describing a first set of services in the first communication network that the mobile node is allowed to access and a first set of rules describing discovery preferences for the mobile mode.

Abstract: A hair treating apparatus having a first component with opposite first and second sides. The first side is engageable by a first finger on a user's hand. A second component has opposite third and fourth sides. The third side is engageable by a second finger on the user's hand. The hair treating apparatus is operatively positioned with: a) the user's first finger engaging the first side and the user's second finger engaging the third side; and b) an accumulation of elongate hair strands between the second and fourth sides. The first and second components can be manipulated by movement of the user's first and second fingers to cause the second and fourth sides to move selectively towards each other to engage the accumulation of hair strands and away from each other. The operatively positioned hair treating apparatus can be drawn lengthwise of an engaged accumulation of hair strands to thereby controllably apply additive.