Abstract: Method and apparatus for determining relevant parts of an input phrase having a plurality of text elements. A first data structure is provided having a hierarchical taxonomy of a group of terms from the agro-food domain, and a second data structure including a plurality of product related item identifications. Keywords are distilled from the input phrase by matching terms from the first data structure to the plurality of text elements of the input phrase, and providing a certainty score for each associated distillated keyword. The distillated keywords are prioritized into prioritized keywords using the hierarchical structure of the matching terms in the first data structure. The prioritized keywords having the highest certainty score are then matched with the plurality of product related item identifications from the second data structure.

Abstract: Diesters of dianhydroglycitols can be prepared by esterification of dianhydroglycitols, anhydroglycitols and/or glycitols with alkylcarboxylic or arylcarboxylic acids in the presence of an acid catalyst, the acid catalyst being a macroporous acid ion exchange resin. If glycitols or monoanhydroglycitols are used as the starting material, the reaction temperature is initially of the order of 120° C. and after the dehydration is approximately 140° C.

Abstract: Diesters of dianhydroglycitols can be prepared by esterification of dianhydroglycitols, anhydroglycitols and/or glycitols with alkylcarboxylic or arylcarboxylic acids in the presence of an acid catalyst, the acid catalyst being a macroporous acid ion exchange resin. If glycitols or monoanhydroglycitols are used as the starting material, the reaction temperature is initially of the order of 120° C. and after the dehydration is approximately 140° C.

Abstract: The use of isosorbide esters, isosorbide polyesters, isosorbide ethers, isosorbide carbonates, isosorbide thioethers, isosorbide thioesters, isosorbide amides, isosorbide (thio)urethanes, isosorbide urea, isosorbide phosphates and isosorbide phosphonates as a plasticizer is described. Instead of isosorbide it is also possible for corresponding diols such as isomannide and similar compounds, in which the ring oxygen atoms of the isosorbide have been replaced by carbon or by other heteroatoms, to serve as a base. In particular, this relates to C3-C11 alkanoates of isosorbide, isomannide and the like. In particular, the compounds are used as a plasticizer inpoly(vinylchloride), optionally in conjunction with usual plasticizers such as dioctyl phthalates.

Abstract: &bgr;-Ketoesters and their enamines derived from alcohols or polyols are suitable for stabilizing polymers, and are represented by formulae: A[(O—CHR4—Z—CHR5)m—O—CO—CHR1—CO—R3]n and A[(O—CHR4—Z—CHR5)m—O—CO—CR1═C(—NHR2)—R3]n, wherein: A is the residue of an alcohol or polyol selected from hydroxyalkanoic acid esters, sugars and their glycosides, sugar alcohols, sugar acids and their esters, and oligosaccharides; m is an integer number from 0 up to 6; n is a number from 1 up to the total number of hydroxyl groups in the polyol; R1 is hydrogen, C1-C8 alkyl, C3-C8 alkenyl or cycloalkyl (alkyl) or C6-C8 aryl or aralkyl; R2 is hydrogen, C1-C6 alkyl, C2-C6 hydroxyalkyl or C3-C6 alkenyl; R3 is C1-C18 alkyl, alkoxy or alkylamino, C3-C18 alkenyl, alkanoylmethyl, alkoxycarbonylmethyl or cycloalkyl(alkyl), C6-C18 aryl, aryloxy, arylamino, aralkyl, aralkoxy or aralkylamino, or C8-C18 aroylmethyl, arylox

Abstract: Natural cyclic polyalcohols such as polyfructoses and, dehydration products of sugar alcohols can be used for stabilising thermoplastic polymers, at a ratio of 0.001-5 phr of polyol with respect to the polymer. The cyclic polyol is in particular inulin or sorbitan. The polymer to be stabilised is in particular PVC, PE, PP or a halogenated rubber.

Abstract: Condensation products having adhesive properties are obtained by reaction of a polyamine with at least two equivalents of an oligosaccharide or a derivative thereof. Examples of the oligosaccharide include glucose, lactose, lactobionic acid and gluconic acid. Examples of the polyamine include diethylene triamine and triethylene tetraamine. The reaction may be a direct amination of the oligosaccharide, with the formation of a glycosylamine and optional N-acylation, or a reductive amination of the oligosaccharide, a glycitylamine being obtained, or alternatively an amidation of an glyconic acid. The condensation products can be used for gluing, for example, paper, cardboard, wood, plastic or glass at low or high temperature.