Porous materials, such as metal-organic frameworks emerge to solve important quests of our modern society, such as CO2 sequestration. Zeolitic Imidazolate Frameworks (ZIFs) can undergo a glass transition to form ZIF-glasses; they combine the liquid handling of classical glasses with tremendous potential for gas separations. Using millimeter-sized ZIF-62 single crystals and centimeter-sized ZIF-62-glass we demonstrate scalability and processability. Further, following the evolution of gas penetration into ZIF-crystals and ZIF-glasses by IR microimaging techniques enables to determine diffusion constants and changes to the pore architecture on the Angstrom-scale. The evolution of ZIF-glasses is observed in situ using a microscope heating stage. The pore-collapse during glass-processing is tracked by changes to density and volume of the glasses. Mass spectrometry investigates the crystal-to-glass transition and thermal processing ability.

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The paper suggests a new approach to solving the problems of conservation biology. The design of the approach was stimulated, on the one hand, by the absence of a system of theoretical concepts and adequate methods for nature conservation and restoration and, on the other hand, by the need for adequate estimation of nature preservation in the reserves. The paper analyzes classical ideas about potential vegetation and short comings of this approach for evaluating the state of plant cover and predicting its development. On the basis of a synthesis of modern concepts of synecology: hierarchical continuum, gap mosaic, mosaic cycle concept of ecosystem, natural disturbance, keystone species, ecosystem engineer and population-demographic concept -new notions of "potential ecosystem cover" and "potential ecosystem" are suggested. The paper demonstrates perspectives of using the system of synecological concepts for development of ideas about successions and climax and for model reconstruction of the potential ecosystem cover. General approaches and specifics of reconstructing the potential ecosystem cover of forests and steppes are described.

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The state of the Earth's living cover raises serious concern about its ability to successfully exist and fully implement its ecosystem functions in modern conditions. Hence the need to revise our relationship with the Nature on the basis of modern scientific achievements reflected in the concept of complementarity which is mutual favour of living beings during their lives and after death. Data analysis has shown that complementary relations on the territory of Northern Eurasia were most developed during the Miocene -Pliocene period, which resulted in a huge biodiversity, the highest productivity, as well as the maximum implementation of climateregulating functions of the Biota. Mass destruction of the giant herbivores of the mammoth fauna who organized complementary systems had global consequences, i.e. changes in the temperature regime, reduction of feed resources, decreased soil fertility, changes in the size and boundaries of ranges of animals, plants, fungi and representatives of other kingdoms as well as the replacement of complementary systems of giant herbivores and grasses by systems dominated by trees which made these landscapes unsuitable for remaining the herbivores. Further transformations of the Biota of Northern Eurasia were determined by human activity.