Disclosed is an article for use with apparatus for heating smokable material to volatilize at least one component of the smokable material. The article includes a mass of smokable material. An exterior of the article has a length (L), a width (W) perpendicular to the length (L), and a depth (D) perpendicular to each of the length (L) and the width (W). The length (L) is greater than or equal to the width (W), and the width (W) is greater than the depth (D).

A smokeless tobacco composition configured for insertion into the mouth of a user is provided. The smokeless tobacco composition includes a tobacco material, a sugar alcohol, and a natural gum binder component, wherein the composition is in the form of a pastille. A process for preparing a smokeless tobacco composition pastille configured for insertion into the mouth of a user is also provided. The process includes providing an aqueous mixture comprising a hydrated natural gum binder component, mixing a tobacco material with the aqueous mixture to form a smokeless tobacco mixture, heating the smokeless tobacco mixture, depositing the heated smokeless tobacco mixture into a mold, and curing the smokeless tobacco mixture to form a smokeless tobacco composition pastille.

A smokeless tobacco composition configured for insertion into the mouth of a user is provided. The smokeless tobacco composition includes a tobacco material, a sugar alcohol, and a natural gum binder component, wherein the composition is in the form of a pastille. A process for preparing a smokeless tobacco composition pastille configured for insertion into the mouth of a user is also provided. The process includes providing an aqueous mixture comprising a hydrated natural gum binder component, mixing a tobacco material with the aqueous mixture to form a smokeless tobacco mixture, heating the smokeless tobacco mixture, depositing the heated smokeless tobacco mixture into a mold, and curing the smokeless tobacco mixture to form a smokeless tobacco composition pastille.

A sheet-type aerosol generating article includes at least two aerosol generating sheets each having aerosol generating material and an inductively heatable susceptor The inductively heatable susceptor is positioned between the aerosol generating sheets and each of the aerosol generating sheets has an exposed surface. Methods for manufacturing sheet-type aerosol generating articles are also disclosed.

An aerosol-generating article is provided, including: a substrate portion containing an aerosol-forming substrate; and a connect portion disposed at one end of the aerosol-generating article in direct abutment with the substrate portion, the connect portion having a tubular empty core structure, the substrate portion having a length of between 20 millimeters and 60 millimeters, and a diameter of between 4 millimeters and 7 millimeters, the aerosol-forming substrate including an aerosol former, and an amount of the aerosol former ranges between 6 percent and 20 percent by weight on a dry weight basis of the aerosol-forming substrate. An aerosol-generating system including the aerosol-generating article and an aerosol-generating device, and a method for manufacturing the aerosol-generating article, are also provided.

Plant metabolism and alkaloid levels can be regulated by transcription factors that regulate the nicotinic alkaloid biosynthetic pathway. In one embodiment, the disclosure provides a transcription factor that negatively regulates alkaloid biosynthesis, such as nicotine biosynthesis.

Plant metabolism and alkaloid levels can be regulated by transcription factors that regulate the nicotinic alkaloid biosynthetic pathway. In one embodiment, the disclosure provides a transcription factor that negatively regulates alkaloid biosynthesis, such as nicotine biosynthesis.

The gene encoding N-methylputrescine oxidase (MPO) and constructs comprising such DNA are provided, including methods of regulating MPO expression independently or with other alkaloid biosynthesis genes to modulate alkaloid production in plants and host cells. MPO genes or fragments thereof are useful for reducing pyrrolidine or tropane alkaloid production in plants, for increasing pyrrolidine or tropane alkaloid production in plants, and for producing an MPO enzyme in host cells.

The gene encoding N-methylputrescine oxidase (MPO) and constructs comprising such DNA are provided, including methods of regulating MPO expression independently or with other alkaloid biosynthesis genes to modulate alkaloid production in plants and host cells. MPO genes or fragments thereof are useful for reducing pyrrolidine or tropane alkaloid production in plants, for increasing pyrrolidine or tropane alkaloid production in plants, and for producing an MPO enzyme in host cells.

The present invention relates to an in vitro method for evaluating the risk of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease associated with smoking or inhalation. The method of the present invention comprises: (1) calculating probability P.sub.SMK on the basis of data on the expression of 11 or more genes including at least 11 specific genes from among the following 15 genes in airway epithelial cells exposed to a sample solution containing an aerosol or particulate matter in the aerosol from a tobacco product: TXNIP, EFNA1, CYP1 B1, ADM, AREG, DUSP6, SLC7A11, IGFBP3, WNT5A, CXCR4, PHLDA1, HILPDA, ZBED2, EGLN3, and FBXO32, with use of an intercept and coefficients calculated in advance by logistic regression analysis using public data; (2) calculating probability P.sub.COPD on the basis of data on the expression of 4 or more genes including at least 4 specific genes from among the following 15 genes in airway epithelial cells exposed to a sample solution containing the an aerosol or particulate matter in the aerosol from a tobacco product, with use of coefficients calculated in advance by logistic regression analysis using public data; and (3) calculating the risk of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease associated with smoking or inhalation of the aerosol or particulate matter in the aerosol from the tobacco product from the probability P.sub.SMK and the probability P.sub.COPD.