Abstract: Provided is a voice assistance system with proactive routines that couples a remote server and respective user voice interactive devices to deliver a complete experience to the end user of the device. The user devices can be managed by groups and/or associated entities who manage voice services for their users. For example, the entities can provide pre-configured voice routines that perform actions on behalf of their users. The voice assistance system can also allow users to customize these routines to improve day to day operation. In addition, external services and/or providers can be linked to the system and allowed to define routines that have external system dependencies. Avoiding and managing conflicts in this environment becomes quite challenging. Some approaches use execution queues and priority, others invoke time slices and limitations on assignment of routines to time slices to resolve these issues, among other examples.

Abstract: This invention relates to growth media for capturing and sustaining the growth of conifer embryogenic tissue and conifer embryos.Using media of the invention allows good growth of embryogenic tissue and conifer embryos which can subsequently be germinated to obtain plants. With these media there is no need to use plant regulator/hormones such as auxins and/or cytokinins for embryogenic tissue cature and maintenance.

Abstract: This invention is directed to a method for maturing plant material, such as cotyledonary stage embryos, on a medium which includes the step of placing a filter over a vessel containing the plant material and the medium, the filter being water vapor permeable and impermeable to micro-organisms.

Abstract: A pressure converter valve suitable for use in fluid flow systems. The pressure converter valve comprises a solid body having a plurality of interconnected bores formed therein with unidirectional flow devices located within certain of the bores to form parallel flow paths between the inlet and outlet ports of the pressure converter valve such that fluid flows in a first direction through one of the outlet ports and in a second direction through the other of the outlet ports regardless of the direction of fluid flow through the inlet ports. The pressure converter valve is adapted to have an auxiliary fluid control valve mounted thereto in fluid flow communication with the outlet ports of the pressure converter valve and, further, includes fluid flow paths connecting the outlet ports of the auxiliary valve to an auxiliary fluid operated device which is controlled by the auxiliary valve.