Abstract: In a cable return path system, a method for performing digital companding adds a predetermined offset to the digital value to be companded, and employs a modified &mgr;-law or a-law companding technique to obtain a reduced bit length digital value. One embodiment of this modified approach adds a predetermined offset (e.g., 129 for a 12-bit implementation) to the digital value before companding and then employs a two-bit chord and a 5-bit step for the 12-bit implementation. The end result is that the performance metrics are not significantly compromised by this bit reduction when compared to current transmission methods without this technique.

Abstract: The present invention is a sentence realization system that processes an abstract linguistic representation (ALR) of a sentence into a structure that can be fully realizable. The system includes a tree conversion component that receives the ALR and generates a basic syntax tree from the ALR. A global movement component then receives the basic syntax tree and hierarchically orders child nodes in that syntax tree relative to ancestor nodes. An intra-constituent ordering component then establishes a linear order among the nodes such that the syntax tree is fully ordered. A surface cleanup component receives the fully ordered tree and performs a number of realization operations to generate surface realizations for constituents that are still represented in an abstract way in the fully ordered syntax tree.

Abstract: A process for delignifying a lignocellulosic material comprising exposing the material to a mixture of peracid and ozone. Preferred peracids include Caro's acid and peracetic acid. Also disclosed is a kraft pulp delignification mixture comprising in combination: (a) water; (b) a kraft pulp at 1-40% consistency; (c) a peracid; and (d) from 0.1 to 5.0% ozone on pulp.