/**
     * Removes highlight tags from a string.
     *
     * @param str the string containing highlight tags
     * @return the string with highlight tags removed
     */
    protected String removeHighlightTag(final String str) {
        return str.replaceAll(originalHighlightTagPre, StringUtil.EMPTY).replaceAll(originalHighlightTagPost, StringUtil.EMPTY);
    }

    /**