Abstract: Methods of identifying named entities in natural language text using machine or computer compiler tools are provided. A lexical analyzer generator such as Flex or Lex or an equivalent tool can be used to generate a recognizer for named entities, such as digits, date expressions, and email or web addresses. Alternatively, a parser generator, such as Yacc or Bison or an equivalent tool can be used to generate a recognizer for other named entities, such as person and company names. Further, a lexical analyzer generated by Flex, Lex, or its equivalent is used in combination with a parser generated by Yacc, Bison, or its equivalent to identify named entities. Multiple lexical analyzers and/or parsers identify one or more classes of named entities, such as email addresses or person names. In many embodiments, recognized named entities can be used to construct at least one index of web pages or documents including named entities that can be accessed by a natural language processing application.

Abstract: Method of integrating Flex and Yacc (or their respective equivalents) into a named entity recognition engine used as a component of a general text processing system is provided. The named entity recognition engine adds results into a central representation or lattice for use by various subsequent applications. The applications can configure which named entity classes or types are recognized via an application program interface. The text processing system configures input and output through the lattice for Flex and Yacc to maintain high performance. Optionally, the text processing system minimizes expensive lexicon look-up by maximizing named entity constituents matched by Flex-generated recognizers.

Abstract: A radio frequency identification (RFID) architecture is described. RFID tags are interrogated by a reader, which may be located in a network of readers. The reader transmits symbols to the tags. Tags respond to the interrogations with symbols that each represent one or more bits of data. An RFID tag includes an antenna pad, a receiver, a state machine, and a modulator. The receiver is coupled to the antenna pad. The receiver receives a symbol from the antenna pad and outputs a received signal. The state machine is configured to determine a response symbol from the received signal and an operating state of the tag. The modulator is coupled to the antenna pad. The modulator is configured to backscatter modulate the received symbol with the response symbol. The modulator is configured to output the backscatter modulated symbol to the antenna pad.

Abstract: A lexicon stored on a computer readable medium and used by language processing systems. The lexicon can store word information in a plurality of data fields associated with each entered word. The data fields can include information on spelling and grammar, parts of speech, steps that the entered word can be transformed into another word, a word description, and a segmentation for a compound word. Information that cannot be stored in the lexicon can be stored in an intermediate indexes table. Associated methods of constructing, updating and using the lexicon are introduced.

Abstract: A method of determining the component words of a compound word is disclosed. The method identifies the component words, by comparing the word with a list of words found in a lexicon. If the word is not found in the lexicon the method proceeds to analyze the word on a character-by-character basis. After each character the method identifies any potential matches to the selected characters in the lexicon. If a match is found, it is added to a hypothesis trace in a lattice. Next, the method checks to see whether the remaining characters form a valid entry in the lexicon, and whether the entry is an allowed to be a final segment: All encountered component words are entered into the lattice, thus creating possibly more than one hypothesis path. Some paths may be rendered invalid, if they don't contain the required “seg1” annotation for non-final segments or had encountered an “anti-seg” bit for presumed final segment. The output can be ranked if more than one valid segmentation is found.

Abstract: A computer-readable medium stores a first lexicon data structure for lexicon words. The first data structure includes a host form variant field containing a host form variant such as a clitic host form variant, a host form field containing the host form of the host form variant (only present if the forms differ) such as a clitic host verbal form, and a verification field indicative of whether the host form variant is a valid word. The first data structure also includes a segment association field containing data or segmentation bits associating the host form variant with certain types of attachment entries in the lexicon, which also contain data or segmentation bits, to define valid combinations between the host form variant and at least one of the attachment entries in the lexicon. A second lexicon data structure for each of the attachment entries in the lexicon is also stored.

Abstract: A patient interface is disclosed which is comfortable for the user to wear and includes at least in part a moisture permeable or breathable area in the body of the patient interface. In another embodiment the patient interface is a strapless mask that is moulded to fit the contours of a user's face and maximise the mask-to-skin seal. An adhesive material is bonded to the mask cushion and is stamped in place to form substantially the same shape as the cushion such that it fits the facial contours of the user.

Abstract: A shaving razor blade unit including a housing having a primary guard at a front of the housing and a primary cap at an upper surface at a back of the housing, one or more primary shaving blades between the primary guard and the primary cap, a rear wall having a rear exterior surface extending downward from the upper surface at the back of the housing to a terminating surface, and a trimming blade mounted on the rear wall and having a trimming cutting edge extending at least partially beyond the terminating surface inside of an imaginary extension of the rear exterior surface, the rear exterior surface defining a secondary cap for the trimming blade. The back of the housing can include trimming guard including spaced guard segments. The trimming blade, trimming guard and trimming cap can be provided as an assembly that is attached to the rest of the housing. The assembly can include a sheet metal support with a blade welded to the support.

Abstract: A method, system, and apparatus for remotely calibrating data symbols received by a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag population are described. Tags are interrogated by a reader, which may be located in a network of readers. The reader transmits data symbols to the tags. Tags respond to the interrogations with symbols that each represent one or more bits of data. To calibrate the tags, the reader transmits a plurality of pulses of different lengths to the tag population. The tags receive the plurality of pulses. A characteristic of each pulse, such as a pulse length, is stored by the tags. The stored pulse lengths are used to define different data symbols that are subsequently received by the tags from the reader.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method of etching a substrate in a chamber on an electrostatic chuck, which defines a gas cooling path at the substrate/chuck interface. The method includes electrostatically clamping the substrate on the chuck with gas in the gas path being at a first pressure; etching the substrate at a first power; detecting the end point for the etc; reducing the gas pressure to a second pressure at which the substrate floats on a gas; and over etching the wafer at a second power, which is lower than the first power.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method of etching a substrate in a chamber on an electrostatic chuck, which defines a gas cooling path at the substrate/chuck interface. The method includes electrostatically clamping the substrate on the chuck with gas in the gas path being at a first pressure; etching the substrate at a first power; detecting the end point for the etc; reducing the gas pressure to a second pressure at which the substrate floats on a gas; and over etching the wafer at a second power, which is lower than the first power.

Abstract: An electrostatic chuck 12 for a plasma reactor apparatus 10 comprises a base metallic section 23, a pair of electrodes 24 set in bonding material 27 and electrically insulated from the base by a plate 29 and a thick dielectric layer 20 (e.g. 0.5 to 1.5 mm), which covers the electrodes 24 and bonding material 27 and forms the support surfaces for wafers 31.

Abstract: The invention relates to the use for control of Homopteran insect pests of a protein which has toxic or antimetabolic effects on them. According to the invention there is provided a transgenic plant comprising a gene coding for a protein which has toxic or antimetabolic effects on Homopteran insect pests, the gene being associated with a promoter which causes the gene to express the protein in the phloem of the plant.

Abstract: The invention is a hemostasis valve having a main body, a proximal end cap, a register member, and a reinforcing member. The main body has a proximal end, a distal end, and a first bore having a proximal end at the proximal end of the main body and a distal end at the distal end of the main body. The first bore has a first flexure-receiving enlargement at its proximal end. The proximal end cap is joined to the proximal end of the main body and forms therewith a valve chamber. The proximal end cap has a second bore formed therethrough that is at least approximately an extension of the first bore. The register member is received in the valve chamber adjacent the proximal end cap. The register member has a proximal portion and a distal portion. The proximal portion of the register member has a third bore formed therethrough that is at least approximately an extension of the first and second bores.

Abstract: The invention is a hemostasis valve having a main body, a proximal end cap, a register member, and a reinforcing member. The main body has a proximal end, a distal end, and a first bore having a proximal end at the proximal end of the main body and a distal end at the distal end of the main body. The first bore has a first flexure-receiving enlargement at its proximal end. The proximal end cap is joined to the proximal end of the main body and forms therewith a valve chamber. The proximal end cap has a second bore formed therethrough that is at least approximately an extension of the first bore. The register member is received in the valve chamber adjacent the proximal end cap. The register member has a proximal portion and a distal portion. The proximal portion of the register member has a third bore formed therethrough that is at least approximately an extension of the first and second bores.