A Neutral Heteroatomic Zintl Cluster for the Catalytic Hydrogenation of Cyclic Alkenes

We report on the synthesis of an alkane-soluble Zintl cluster, [η4-Ge9(Hyp)3]Rh(COD), that can catalytically hydrogenate cyclic alkenes such as 1,5-cyclooctadiene and cis-cyclooctene. This is the first example of a well-defined Zintl-cluster-based homogeneous catalyst

Validations of the names of seven Podocarpaceae macrofossils

Seven names of macrofossil taxa belonging to Podocarpaceae are here validated; they were all previously published but not validly so under the International Code of Botanical Nomenclature. The names apply to species in the genera Acmopyle Pilg. [A. setiger (Townrow) R. S. Hill & R. J. Carp. ex R. R. Mill & R. S. Hill], Dacrycarpus (Endl.) de Laub. [D. praecupressinus (Ettingsh.) D. R. Greenw. ex R. R. Mill & R. S. Hill], Falcatifolium de Laub. [F. eocenicum (D. R. Greenw.) R. S. Hill & L. J. Scriven ex R. R. Mill & R. S. Hill], Prumnopitys Phil. [P. tasmanica (Townrow) D. R. Greenw. ex R. R. Mill & R. S. Hill], Sigmaphyllum R. S. Hill & L. J. Scriven [S. australe (D. R. Greenw.) R. S. Hill & L. J. Scriven ex R. R. Mill & R. S. Hill], Smithtonia R. S. Hill & M. Pole [S. lanceolata (D. R. Greenw.) R. S. Hill & M. Pole ex R. R. Mill & R. S. Hill] and Willungia R. S. Hill & M. Pole [W. maslinensis (D. T. Blackburn) R. S. Hill & M. Pole ex R. R. Mill & R. S. Hill]. All these combinations were originally published without exact basionym references; instead, the authors cited the complete pagination of the paper in which the intended basionym was made.Robert R. Mill and Robert S. Hil

Utilising biological geotextiles: Introduction to the BORASSUS project and global perspectives

Field and laboratory studies indicate that utilisation of biological geotextiles constructed from palm-leaves and other selected organic materials are an effective, sustainable and economically viable soil conservation technique. The three-year plus (1 July 2005–28 February 2009) EU-funded BORASSUS Project (contract no. INCO-CT-2005-510745) evaluated the long-term effectiveness of biological geotextiles in controlling soil erosion and assessing their sustainability and economic viability. These studies progressed in ten countries, both in the ‘industrial north’ (in Europe) and in the ‘developing south’ (Africa, South America and South East Asia). The studied countries in the ‘developing south’ included Brazil, China, The Gambia, South Africa, Thailand and Vietnam. The ‘industrial north’ countries included Belgium, Hungary, Lithuania and the UK. The main findings of these studies are summarised in this paper and thematic information is presented in the other four papers in this Special Issue. Biological geotextiles offer potentially novel bioengineering solutions to environmental problems, including technologies for soil conservation, sustainable plant production and use of indigenous plants, improved ecosystem management by decreasing deforestation, improving agroforestry and cost-effective biogeotextile applications in diverse environments. Biogeotextiles may provide socio-economic platforms for sustainable development and the benefits for developing countries may include poverty alleviation, engagement of local people as stakeholders, employment for disadvantaged groups, small and medium enterprise (SME) development, earning hard currency, environmental education and local community involvement in land reclamation and environmental education programmes. These benefits are achieved through: (i) promotion of sustainable and environmentally friendly palm-agriculture to discourage deforestation, promoting both reforestation and agroforestry; (ii) construction of biogeotextiles enabling development of a rural labour-intensive industry, particularly encouraging employment of socially disadvantaged groups and (iii) export of biogeotextiles to industrialised countries could earn hard currency for developing economies, based on the principles of fair trade. Research and development activities of the BORASSUS Project have improved our knowledge on the effect of biogeotextile mats on the micro- and macro-soil environments and at larger scales through controlled laboratory and field experiments in diverse environments

A palaeoenvironmental reconstruction of the Middle Jurassic of Sardinia (Italy) based on integrated palaeobotanical, palynological and lithofacies data assessment

During the Jurassic, Sardinia was close to continental Europe. Emerged lands started from a single island forming in time a progressively sinking archipelago. This complex palaeogeographic situation gave origin to a diverse landscape with a variety of habitats. Collection- and literature-based palaeobotanical, palynological and lithofacies studies were carried out on the Genna Selole Formation for palaeoenvironmental interpretations. They evidence a generally warm and humid climate, affected occasionally by drier periods. Several distinct ecosystems can be discerned in this climate, including alluvial fans with braided streams (Laconi-Gadoni lithofacies), paralic swamps and coasts (Nurri-Escalaplano lithofacies), and lagoons and shallow marine environments (Ussassai-Perdasdefogu lithofacies). The non-marine environments were covered by extensive lowland and a reduced coastal and tidally influenced environment. Both the river and the upland/hinterland environments are of limited impact for the reconstruction. The difference between the composition of the palynological and palaeobotanical associations evidence the discrepancies obtained using only one of those proxies. The macroremains reflect the local palaeoenvironments better, although subjected to a transport bias (e.g. missing upland elements and delicate organs), whereas the palynomorphs permit to reconstruct the regional palaeoclimate. Considering that the flora of Sardinia is the southernmost of all Middle Jurassic European floras, this multidisciplinary study increases our understanding of the terrestrial environments during that period of time