Preparation and characterization of nicotine tartrate and its application in gum-based chewing tobacco

To develop suitable nicotine derivatives for potential use in next generation tobacco products,mixtures of nicotine with tartaric acid were prepared.The prepared freeze-dried product was a white powder with good water solubility.The structure of nicotine tartrate was evaluated with X-ray powder diffraction,near infrared diffuse reflectance spectroscopy and solid-state Nuclear Magnetic Resonance(ss-NMR).The crystal structure of nicotine tartrate was analyzed by single-crystal X-ray diffraction.According to the obtained atomic coordinates,equivalent temperature factor,bond length and torsion angles,the chemical formula of nicotine tartrate was proposed as 2(C4H5O6)· C10H16N2·H2O.The relative molecular mass was 480.42,and the crystal density was 1.501 mg/m^3 The crystal structure of nicotine tartrate belongs to the orthorhombic system and the monoclinic space group is P212121.Nicotine tartrate was used in gum-based chewing tobacco to substitute pure nicotine,which showed a sustained nicotine release when compared to traditional ultrafine tobacco powder as assessed by an in situ dissolution method.

Variance Analysis of Growth Characteristics and Partial Production and Quality Characters of Different Tobacco Varieties

Objective] This study was conducted to discuss growth characteristics and partial production and quality characters of different varieties, so as to provide can-didates for tobacco production as wel as a theoretical basis for variety deployment in Guizhou. [Method] ‘K326’ was used as control, the experiment for variance analysis of growth characteristics and partial production and quality characters of dif-ferent tobacco varieties was carried out in Fengsan Town, Kaiyang County, Guizhou Province in 2015. [Result] GY8 grew faster in early stages and slower in late stages, the growth periods of GY2 （130 d） and GY5（129 d） were the longest, while those of Yun85 （121 d） and Yun87 （121 d） were the shortest; and GY2, GY5 and GY8 had larger plant heights, maximum leaf widths and maximum leaf areas, and Yun85, Yun87 and K326 showed larger stem girths and maximum leaf lengths. Yun87 exhibited lower natural incidences of diseases, while Yun85 and GY8 showed higher incidences of diseases. GY2, GY5 and GY8 had higher nicotine, total nitro-gen, K and Cl contents, while Yun85, Yun87 and K326 had higher total sugar and reducing sugar contents and higher total sugar/nicotine ratio. Yun85 and Yun87 showed better economic characters, while GY5 and GY8 showed poorer economic characters. [Conclusion] Yun85 and Yun87 have quality characters better than GY2 and GY8, field natural incidences of diseases lower than GY2 and GY8, and better economic characters, and thus could serve as candidates in future flue-cured tobac-co production in Guizhou.

Study on Toxicity of 9 Biocontrol Microbial Products to Adult Population of Tobacco Beetle,Lasioderrma serricorne(Fabricius)

[Objectives]The paper was to study the toxicity of 9 biocontrol microbial products to adult population of Lasioderrma serricorne.[Methods]Nine biocontrol microbes were used as test materials to study their toxicity to the experimental population of L.serricorne adults.[Results]The toxicities of these biocontrol microbes from low to high at 5 d post spraying were:Luhai Beauveria bassiana powder(LC_(50)=462.752×10^(8) spores/L),Meichongzhi B.bassiana powder(LC_(50)=9713.157×10^(8) spores/L),Yiqiang Bio B.bassiana powder(LC_(50)=11203.321×10^(8)spores/L),Nongbao Bio B.bassiana powder(LC_(50)=12188.866×10^(8) spores/L),Yeshengwang B.bassiana powder(LC_(50)=21685.532×10^(8) spores/L);Fatu Bacillus thuringiensis suspension(LC_(50)=1.0844×10^(8) IU/L),Laojite B.thuringiensis suspension(LC_(50)=2.056×10^(8) IU/L),Lujinwa B.thuringiensis powder(LC_(50)=2.273×10^(8) IU/L),Nongbao Bio B.thuringiensis powder(LC_(50)=18.399×10^(8) spores/L).The toxicities of these biocontrol microbes from low to high at 10 d post spraying were:Nongbao Bio B.bassiana powder(LC_(50)=0.072×10^(8) spores/L),Yiqiang Bio B.bassiana powder(LC_(50)=2.484×10^(8) spores/L),Luhai B.bassiana powder(LC_(50)=44.551×10^(8) spores/L),Meichongzhi B.bassiana powder(LC_(50)=96.447×10^(8) spores/L),Yeshengwang B.bassiana powder(LC_(50)=723.347×10^(8) spores/L);Lujinwa B.thuringiensis powder(LC_(50)=0.0001×10^(8) IU/L),Fatu B.thuringiensis suspension(LC_(50)=0.045×10^(8) IU/L),Laojite B.thuringiensis suspension(LC_(50)=0.0644×10^(8) IU/L),Nongbao Bio B.thuringiensis powder(LC_(50)=1.899×10^(8) spores/L).The toxicities of these biocontrol microbes from low to high at 15 d post spraying were:Meichongzhi B.bassiana powder(LC_(50)=0.001×10^(8) spores/L),Nongbao Bio B.bassiana powder(LC_(50)=0.01×10^(8) spores/L),Yiqiang Bio B.bassiana powder(LC_(50)=0.084×10^(8) spores/L),Luhai B.bassiana powder(LC_(50)=2.370×10^(8) spores/L),Yeshengwang B.bassiana powder(LC_(50)=8.915×10^(8)spores/L);Lujinwa B.thuringiensis powder(LC_(50)=0.16×10^(4) IU/L),Laojite B.thuringiensis suspension(LC_(50)=0.185×10^(4) IU/L),Fatu B.thuringiensis suspension(LC_(50)=32.211×10^(4) IU/L),Nongbao Bio B.thuringiensis powder(LC_(50)=1590×10^(4) spores/L).[Conclusions]According to the three stages of tube rubbing,it is found that the control effects of Lujinwa B.thuringiensis powder and Meichongzhi B.bassiana powder are the best,and the results will provide technical support for the biological control of L.serricorne adults.

Problems in the Innovation of Tobacco Production Organization Mode in Sichuan Province and Recommendations

We summarize the main forms of tobacco production organization in Sichuan Province,including traditional peasant households,large scale growers,family farms,tobacco farmers' associations,and specialized tobacco cooperatives.In the process of innovation of production organization mode,some problems are pointed out,such as lack of management talents and long-term incentive mechanism,lack of standardization in operation,bottleneck in land and financing,low economic benefits of cooperatives,and difficulty in protecting farmers' interests and rights.We put forth the following recommendations for advancing the innovation of tobacco production organization mode in Sichuan Province:forming the longterm mechanism for supporting the innovation of production organization forms;standardizing the operation of the specialized cooperative organizations;strengthening personnel training,and establishing tobacco farmers' principal position;expanding cooperative economic production organizations,and achieving moderate concentration of land size;strengthening information services,to boost the development of cooperative production organizations.

Principles and Ways of Innovation on Organizational Model of Tobacco Production in China

The innovation of organizational model of tobacco production is the key to realization of sustainable development of tobacco production in China. From the perspective of sustainable development, we analyze the necessity of innovation of organizational model of tobacco production, put forward the principles on innovation of organizational model of tobacco production, and offer corresponding recommendations for the ways of innovation of organizational model of tobacco production.

Structure and Change of Costs for Flue-cured Tobacco Production:A Case Study of Liuyang Tobacco Growing Areas

On the basis of consulting related information and data,costs for flue-cured tobacco production were surveyed and analyzed with Liuyang tobacco growing areas as an example.Results showed that there is rise and fall in fertilizer cost for flue-cured tobacco production;change in pesticide and agricultural plastic film is little;other costs for flue-cured tobacco production rise rapidly in recent years.Besides,there is certain reduction in labor units per mu for flue-cured tobacco production;labor price has an annual growth rate of 15%-25%.The proportion of labor cost to total cost for flue-cured tobacco production is increasing,thus rise of labor cost is the major factor promoting rise of costs for flue-cured tobacco production.Through adjustment of purchasing price and various subsidies,the change of per mu yield is a decisive factor influencing benefits of flue-cured tobacco production.

Study on the Production Benefit of Large-scale Tobacco Growers

The tobacco growers with the growing area of greater than or equal to 100 mu,have become an important subject of tobacco production in Weng'an County of Guizhou Province. Regulating and developing the production and business activities of large-scale tobacco growers, plays an important role in stabilizing tobacco production,reducing costs and increasing efficiency in Weng'an County. Through the field survey of large-scale growers' production activities,this article analyzes the input and output levels,and explores the key factors influencing benefit, in order to provide a basis for further regulating the tobacco growing practices and improving the flue-cured tobacco production benefit.

Effect of the Growth Promoter VIUSID Agro on the Morphophysiological and Productive Performance of Tobacco Growth(Nicotiana tabacum L.)

With the objective of evaluating the effect of VIUSID agro on the morphophysiological and productive performance of tobacco seedlings,a randomised block experiment was designed with five treatments and three replications.The variants were:dosage of 0.2,0.5,0.7 and 1.0 L/ha and one control.The variables are recorded at three points of the cultivation cycle 10th,20th and 30th days after planting(DAP).Among the indicators evaluated were the fresh and dry mass of the plants,the leaves per plant,foliar area,the length and diameter of the stalk as well as the characteristics of the root.The rates of physiological growth and agricultural yield were also evaluated.The results showed a significant increase(p≤0.05)in the fresh and dry mass of the plants when VIUSID was used.Regarding the length of the stalk,the average increases of those treated in comparison to the control in the final evaluation were 28.42%,30.51%,41.17%and 38.43%.In terms of the diameter of the stalk and the foliar area in all evaluations,the treatments with VIUSID significantly exceeded the control.The absolute growth rate and net assimilation was significantly higher when the product was used.In the relative growth rate,the most favourable behaviour was the dosage of 0.5 L/ha,in final evaluation.With regard to yield,the best performance with significant differences(p≤0.05)to the other treatments was the dosage of 0.5,0.7 and 1.0 L/ha.Therefore,VIUSID agro had a positive influence on the morphophysiological and productive indicators of the tobacco seedlings.

Tobacco Production Baseline Survey in Serengeti, Tarime and Rorya Districts, Mara Region

Using 2009/2010 cropping season survey data from 181 randomly selected smallholder tobacco farmers, this study provides baseline information on tobacco farming in Mara region. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were employed in data analysis. Result indicates that farmers adopted tobacco farming from tobacco farmers in Kenya. Drought and inadequate supply of inputs were identified as the major production constraints. Others were incidence of pests and diseases, shortage of fire woods, poor extension services and hailstones. Low selling price and contradicting grading systems were the major tobacco marketing constraints. The study also revealed that access to extension services was similar across study districts with over 65.7% of the respondents accessing technical expertise mainly from Alliance One Tanzania employees. Given the positive and negative impacts of tobacco farming, majority of the respondents （95.6%） still were willing to proceed with tobacco farming as their main source of income. However, watermelon, maize and sunflower were ranked as first priority alternative cash crops to tobacco in Serengeti, Tarime and Rorya districts, respectively. This study concludes that tobacco farming still is the main household income source; hence, more investment is required to ensure sustainable economic develooment of rural communities in Mara reeion.

Study on Tobacco Leave Lean Production Management System

In recent years, tobacco lean production infrastructure is almost full-fledged through development, and professional service scope expands accordingly. Hence, the developing emphasis has transformed from hardware facilities improvement to software updating of lean management and precise work. With related documents released by China Tobacco and Guizhou Tobacco, the achievement of comprehen- sive lean management probably becomes one of the key goals for the future devel- opment of tobacco business. The construction goal of tobacco leaves lean produc- tion management system is to internalize technology, information, human resources, material and other production elements into value stream of flue-cured tobacco pro- duction, and strict control value stream of input costs and output benefits, and then create management profit, promote enterprise, core competitiveness. The lean pro- duction management is both extension and expansion of modern tobacco agriculture, closely related to agricultural standardization and GAP management, which is based on professional service training and production machinery upgrading, with team management and station working as carriers, and information feedback, key quality monitoring and benefit evaluation as assessment references.

Effects of Different Chemical Fertilizer Reduction Techniques on Flue-cured Tobacco Production

[Objectives]This study was conducted to find out the most suitable special formula fertilizer for flue-cured tobacco production in tobacco-growing areas of Zhaotong City,so as to provide a basis for scientific fertilization and reduced application of inorganic fertilizers with improved efficiency in tobacco production in Zhaotong City.[Methods]Different formulas of special base fertilizer and special topdressing for tobacco were designed by optimizing and adjusting the application amounts and proportions of nitrogen,phosphorus,potassium and medium trace elements in fertilizer formulas,and the formulas of special base fertilizer and special topdressing for flue-cured tobacco production were selected through a field plot experiment.[Results]The combination of special base fertilizer and special topdressing was conducive to the early growth and rapid growth of tobacco plants under the condition of reduced fertilizer application,and the treatment using organic-inorganic compound fertilizer as the special base fertilizer was the most obvious,with an average growth period of two days increased.Compared with conventional fertilization,the yield,output value,average price,proportion of superior tobacco and proportion of medium and superior tobacco increased in the organic-inorganic compound fertilizer treatment,with the yield increasing by 5.96%,the output value increasing by 17.08%,the average price increasing by 10.49%,the proportion of superior tobacco increasing by 4.63%,and the proportion of medium and superior tobacco increasing by 2.44%.It was concluded from indexes including growth period,agronomic traits,disease incidence and economic traits,the fertilization mode of organic-inorganic compound fertilizer with the addition of trace elements(boron,magnesium and zinc)applied as the base fertilizer and nitrogen and potassium topdressing was most efficient and economic.[Conclusions]This study provides a basis for scientific fertilization and reduced application of inorganic fertilizers with improved efficiency in tobacco production in Zhaotong City.

Tobacco control challenges in China: Big data analysis of online tobacco marketing information

Objective:To develop tobacco control strategies by analyzing online tobacco marketing information in China.Methods:Using web-crawler software,this study acquired 106,485 pieces of online tobacco marketing information published on 11 different Internet platforms including Weibo,WeChat,Baidu,etc.,from January-June 2018.The data were used to investigate the characteristics and social networks of online tobacco marketing via content and social network analysis.Results:The total volume of online tobacco marketing during the study period was high,showing a positive trend.Of all the marketing subjects,those involving"flavor capsule","Marlboro",and"Esse"were the most popular.The Weibo platform had the highest volume of online tobacco marketing information as well as the largest proportion of explicit marketing information.This was followed by other social media platforms such as Baidu Search,Baidu Tieba,and Xiaohongshu,where implicit marketing information predominated.The overall network structure of tobacco websites exhibited a significant centralization feature,where traditional and novel tobacco websites formed two clusters with almost no intersections.The China Tobacco Science and Education Website(http://www.tobaccoinfo.com.cn/)and E-Cigarette Home(http://ecigm.com/)were the two nodes of the highest degree centrality within the respective"circle",while the China Tobacco Monopoly Bureau Website(http://www.tobacco.gov.cn/)was the node with the highest closeness centrality.By contrast,Baidu Tieba's overall network structure was more decentralized,and the degree of correlation between different nodes was relatively low.Conclusion:Online tobacco marketing demonstrated high volumes and wide coverage,and an intertwined network,thereby creating major obstacles for tobacco control.To address this issue,the government should strengthen network supervision of tobacco marketing and revise its current regulations.Meanwhile,Internet platforms should improve self-regulation by comprehensively removing and blocking tobacco-related information.Lastly,the media and public should advocate associated policies and support Internet platform supervision.

Soil Fertility Is a Productive Capital Asset

In recent years, the understanding of human health has progressed considerably, through the study and understanding of the symbiotic role played by the myriad microorganisms that populate the gut and do the digesting, and populate the skin and keep it healthy, and even populate the lining of the lungs and do the same. In plant life, it is the microorganisms in the soil—which “are” the soil’s fertility—which fulfil a similar symbiotic role in a healthy plant’s life, but as yet this is a subject most visible by its absence from all scientific discussion of good farming practice. The science underlying this understanding is summarised in this paper. Understanding this and nurturing the fertility of impoverished soil by “seeding it” with the appropriate mix of microorganisms is transformational for plant health and productivity. Significant results are indicated from early trial examples of doing this in rice, oil palm and tobacco cultivation in Malaysia.

Exploration on Hail Suppression Work of Tobacco in Yuxian County

Climatic characteristics of hail,principle of hail suppression and implementation situation of local hail suppression work in Yuxian County were introduced. Moreover,the problems existed in hail suppression work of tobacco in Yuxian County were analyzed,and corresponding measures and suggestions were proposed to improve planting benefit of local tobacco.

Pregnancy Outcomes in Smokeless Tobacco Users Cohort Study in a Tertiary Care Hospital

There is a dearth of literature regarding the pregnancy outcomes in antenatal women using smokeless tobacco products (STP). Objective: To compare maternal and neonatal pregnancy outcomes in antenatal women using smokeless tobacco products with those not using tobacco products. Method: Pregnant women attending antenatal clinic at Guru Teg Bahadur hospital, Delhi received brief information about smokeless tobacco products. Antenatal women using STP and matched controls, 92 in each group (total 184) were recruited for the study. After obtaining consent, the urinary cotinine level was measured in both groups at first contact. Antenatal, labour and postpartum events were recorded in both groups. Urinary cotinine levels were again measured at 6 months in the user group. Results: Average age of antenatal women under study was 24.8 yrs and 25.21 yrs in user and non-user groups respectively. More women in the user group were illiterate (P ? 20.39 μg/ml and 24.37 +/? 20.14 μg/ml respectively (p < 0.0001). Women using STPs for more than 5 yrs recorded higher urinary cotinine levels. There was no significant difference in urinary cotinine levels with the type of tobacco product consumed. Pregnancy outcomes of 39 women are known. There was no significant difference in antenatal, intra-natal and postpartum complications in the two groups. Neonatal weight difference was 20 gms.Conclusion: Smokeless tobacco products are the most common forms used by women in low and middle income countries. Larger studies are required to understand their effects on pregnancy outcomes.

Preliminary Studies on Evaluation and Change Trends of Dominant Components in New Types of Tobacco Sheets by Thick Pulp Process

[Objectives]This study was conducted to deeply understand the effects of production process on the quality of new types of tobacco sheets with different flavors.[Methods]Based on the pilot production process of thick pulp method,four different flavors of tobacco sheets were sampled at several links in the production process,for the detection of the contents of the main components in the samples,including propylene glycol,glycerol,menthol and glyceryl triacetate,so as to explore the change trends of various components in the thick pulp process.[Results]The change laws of propylene glycol and glycerol contents had a very high similarity,showing a trend of first decreasing and increasing then.The changes of menthol content and glyceryl triacetate content were greatly affected by the specific flavor formula.As one of the indexes of the new tobacco evaluation system,the alcohol-to-ester ratio data need to be further improved in the actual production and application process.[Conclusions]This study provides basic data support for improving the quality of tobacco sheets.

Analysis of Employment Trend in Flue-Cured Tobacco Planting

Based on the investigation of the amount of labor used in each production link of flue-cured tobacco planting in Liuyang since 1989,and through the analysis of the changes of labor-related factors,it is concluded that the amount of labor used in tobacco planting in Liuyang experienced a significant increase and relatively stable stage in the early 1990s,and it has been declining continuously since the beginning of the 21st century;the change of flue-cured tobacco planting technology mode,as well as mechanized,large-scale and specialized production are the main factors that affect the change of the amount of labor used in flue-cured tobacco planting in Liuyang.Based on the method of changing the technical model to reduce amount of labor used,the types of labor used for planting of flue-cured tobacco can be divided into the following types:reducing the amount of labor by technical methods;reducing the amount of labor by making use of weather;reducing the amount of labor by using drugs;reducing the amount of labor used at the cost of reducing the technical implementation standards of a certain production link.The change of labor used in flue-cured tobacco planting is not only related to the cost and price factors,but also related to the profound social and economic background.In the future,reducing labor and cost is the trend of flue-cured tobacco production,and mechanization,large-scale and specialized production are the main development direction of flue-cured tobacco production,but under the condition that flue-cured tobacco production is still dominated by manual operation,maintaining a certain amount of labor is still the basis for maintaining high quality of flue-cured tobacco planting at present.

Levels of Chemical Toxicants in Waterpipe Tobacco and Waterpipe Charcoal Solid Waste

This work provides insights on waterpipe tobacco and waterpipe charcoal as potential sources of environmental toxicants. Selected harmful and potentially harmful constituents (HPHCs) from ten U.S. commercial waterpipe tobacco filler products (before and after electric heating) and five waterpipe charcoal products (before and after burning) were investigated. The differences in quantities of HPHCs between the evaluated products appear to be affected by raw material properties and/or the manufacturing processes involved in product production. Trace metal quantities in waterpipe tobacco and charcoal products were observed after heating or burning conditions compared to unheated or unburned conditions, which could impact the environment through the generation of toxic tobacco product waste. This study demonstrates that waterpipe tobacco and waterpipe charcoal contain substantial quantities of benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P) and trace metals (i.e., selenium, arsenic, cadmium, chromium, cobalt, lead, nickel) before use and that extensive and varied changes in trace metal quantities take place as a result of heating, and more studies are needed to estimate the magnitude of the environmental impact of waterpipe tobacco use.

The Tobacco Farmers’Mutual Assistance and Cooperation Pattern in Modern Tobacco Agriculture in Mountainous Areas

This article introduces the basic situation of Yanziqian Tobacco Farmers' Mutual Assistance and Cooperation Association in Jiamachi Town of Xianfeng County.It analyzes the operating mode of tobacco farmers' mutual assistance and cooperation association,and conducts a comparative analysis of tobacco farmers' costs and benefits before and after participating in mutual assistance and cooperation.Studies show that the mode of tobacco farmers' mutual assistance and cooperation,is conducive to reducing labor in curing link,promoting the quality of tobacco,increasing tobacco farmers' income,which is worthy of promotion.

基于增量式PID算法的香精施加系统设计

为解决加热不燃烧烟草制品生产过程中香精施加量无法根据薄片质量变化进行实时调控的问题,设计了一种基于增量式PID算法的香精施加系统。该系统由称重单元、螺杆泵、喷嘴、流量传感器等组成,通过称重单元实时获取薄片质量数据,根据理论计算模型确定香精施加量,基于增量式PID算法驱动螺杆泵定量输出香精至喷嘴中,利用流量传感器对香精施加量实时反馈,实现香精精准施加。验证结果表明,当薄片质量发生变化时,香精施加量可快速调整,最大超调量为1%,最长调整时间为1.8 s,系统具有较好的跟踪性能;施加量检测值与理论值的偏移率为0.23%~0.52%,施加量组内波动为3.11%~4.17%,系统可实现香精的准确、均匀、稳定施加。