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Adams-Oliver syndrome (AOS) is characterised by aplasia cutis congenita of the scalp and variable degrees of terminal transverse limb defects. Short fingers and hypoplastic nails also occur in this predominantly autosomal dominant syndrome which displays marked variability of expression and lack of penetrance in some cases. We describe a boy with AOS whose sister is also mildly affected. Their mother has hypoplastic fifth toenails which may represent very mild expression of the syndrome. Brain (computed tomography) imaging to investigate mild left hemiparesis in the boy demonstrated severe cortical dysplasia of central, occipital and anterior regions of the right cerebral hemisphere. A variety of brain and cranial malformations has been reported in AOS but dysplasia of the cerebral cortex has not been noted previously. In addition, the boy and his sister have apparent constriction rings present on the toes which are uncommon in AOS.

Ten scientific organizations formed a joint international committee to provide expert recommendations for clinical pathology testing of laboratory animal species used in regulated toxicity and safety studies. For repeated-dose studies in rodent species, clinical pathology testing is necessary at study termination. Interim study testing may not be necessary in long-duration studies provided that it has been done in short-duration studies using dose levels not substantially lower than those used in the long-duration studies. For repeated-dose studies in nonrodent species, clinical pathology testing is recommended at study termination and at least once at an earlier interval. For studies of 2 to 6 weeks in duration in nonrodent species, testing is also recommended within 7 days of initiation of dosing, unless it compromises the health of the animals. If a study contains recovery groups, clinical pathology testing at study termination is recommended. The core hematology tests recommended are total leukocyte (white blood cell) count, absolute differential leukocyte count, erythrocyte (red blood cell) count, evaluation of red blood cell morphology, platelet (thrombocyte) count, hemoglobin concentration, hematocrit (or packed cell volume), mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular hemoglobin, and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration. In the absence of automated reticulocyte counting capabilities, blood smears from each animal should be prepared for reticulocyte counts. Bone marrow cytology slides should be prepared from each animal at termination. Prothrombin time and activated partial thromboplastin time (or appropriate alternatives) and platelet count are the minimum recommended laboratory tests of hemostasis. The core clinical chemistry tests recommended are glucose, urea nitrogen, creatinine, total protein, albumin, calculated globulin, calcium, sodium, potassium, total cholesterol, and appropriate hepatocellular and hepatobiliary tests. For hepatocellular evaluation, measurement of a minimum of two scientifically appropriate blood tests is recommended, e.g., alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, sorbitol dehydrogenase, glutamate dehydrogenase, or total bile acids. For hepatobiliary evaluation, measurement of a minimum of two scientifically appropriate blood tests is recommended, e.g., alkaline phosphatase, gamma glutamyltransferase, 5′-nucleotidase, total bilirubin, or total bile acids. Urinalysis should be conducted at least once during a study. For routine urinalysis, an overnight collection (approximately 16 hr) is recommended. It is recommended that the core tests should include an assessment of urine appearance (color and turbidity), volume, specific gravity or osmolality, pH, and either the quantitative or semiquantitative determination of total protein and glucose. For carcinogenicity studies, only blood smears should be made from unscheduled sacrifices (decedents) and at study termination to aid in the identification and differentiation of hematopoietic neoplasia.

Cracked, bulged, and displaced building facades are obvious indications that something is wrong and that repair, or at least an investigation, is needed. However, facades with no signs of failure may still be degraded or detached to the point of instability. Facade failures that are concealed from view are more concerning than those that are readily detectable from visual observations. Underlying facade deficiencies that rise to the level of life safety hazards can be difficult to detect from visual observations. However, certain characteristics or conditions of the facade may help us foresee hidden or potential facade failures. For example, a facade system with inadequate support redundancy, complicated connection details, or internal weak planes may be more vulnerable. Wall systems usually have hidden facade supports and internal flashings or moisture barriers that can be damaged or deteriorated without outwardly visible signs. The resulting failures may be dramatic, such as collapse of the facade, or subtle, such as water leakage. This paper does not offer a formula for identifying hidden failures, but instead provides insight to help recognize vulnerable characteristics that could result in latent building facade failures.

To facilitate the creation of easily comparable, low-resolution genetic maps with evenly distributed markers in rice (Oryza sativa L.), we conceived of and developed a Universal Core Genetic Map (UCGM). With this aim, we derived a set of 165 anchors, representing clusters of three microsatellite or simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers arranged into non-recombining groups. Each anchor consists of at least three, closely linked SSRs, located within a distance below the genetic resolution provided by common, segregating populations (< 500 individuals). We chose anchors that were evenly distributed across the rice chromosomes, with spacing between 2 and 3.5 Mbp (except in the telomeric regions, where spacing was 1.5 Mbp). Anchor selection was performed using in silico tools and data: the O. sativa cv. Nipponbare rice genome sequence, the CHARM tool, information from the Gramene database and the OrygenesDB database. Sixteen AA-genome accessions of the Oryza genus were used to evaluate polymorphisms for the selected markers, including accessions from O. sativa, O. glaberrima, O. barthii, O. rufipogon, O. glumaepatula and O. meridionalis. High levels of polymorphism were found for the tested O. sativa x O. glaberrima or O. sativa x wild rice combinations. We developed Paddy Map, a simple database that is helpful in selecting optimal sets of polymorphic SSRs for any cross that involves the previously mentioned species. Validation of the UCGM was done by using it to develop three interspecific genetic maps and by comparing genetic SSR locations with their physical positions on the rice pseudomolecules. In this study, we demonstrate that the UCGM is a useful tool for the rice genetics and breeding community, especially in strategies based on interspecific hybridisation.

Early building walls were usually constructed of stone or masonry and were intended to support the structure and to shelter the building occupants. Over the past 100 years building walls have become lighter and thinner. While they still serve to keep the weather out, these newer walls no longer support the structure. They often contain complicated interdependent components which can increase the likelihood of failure. Facade failures are not just limited to collapse, cracks, or excessive water or air infiltration. Building facades that do not comply with project specifications, governing building codes, or industry standards have also failed. Even facades that do not meet aesthetic standards or the desired appearance may also be considered to have failed to the owner or architect. Considering the complexity of contemporary wall systems, understanding why they fail to perform as expected is seldom an easy task. Failures can originate from a wide variety of influences; such as accumulated differential thermal or moisture expansion, inadequate wall cavity drainage, or material incompatibility. Complicated internal leak control systems or intricate connection or support mechanisms further increase the probability of facade failures. Special diagnostic techniques and tools are needed to properly identify facade failures to enable effective remediation (Beasley 2001).

Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) is an important species for the global fisheries and aquaculture industries. The Atlantic Cod Genomics and Broodstock Development Project (www.codgene.ca) aims to generate an extensive set of molecular tools for cod, including a database containing approximately 160,000 expressed sequence tags (ESTs). To date approximately 25,000 ESTs have been generated from normalized cDNA libraries representing various tissues (e.g. gonad, liver, heart, gill, brain), and suppression subtractive hybridization (SSH) libraries are being created for the purpose of identifying cod genes responsive to immunogens or environmental stress. The high-complexity cDNA libraries are being built from tissues collected in New Brunswick and Newfoundland, and individuals from the same populations have also been used to generate families for selective breeding. ESTs are being assembled, functionally annotated, and mined for marker development. Three methods are being used to generate markers within specific genes: 1) identification of gene-linked microsatellites, 2) development of exon-primed intron-flanking (EPIC) markers, and 3) analysis of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within EST clusters. Ultimately, these markers will be used to generate a high resolution genetic map for Atlantic cod, for studies aimed at identifying production-relevant quantitative trait loci (QTL) within the cod breeding programs. A cod gene microarray will also be developed for use in functional genomic studies.

Shifts in the timing of spring phenology are a central feature of global change research. Long-term observations of plant phenology have been used to track vegetation responses to climate variability but are often limited to particular species and locations and may not represent synoptic patterns. Satellite remote sensing is instead used for continental to global monitoring. Although numerous methods exist to extract phenological timing, in particular start-of-spring (SOS), from time series of reflectance data, a comprehensive intercomparison and interpretation of SOS methods has not been conducted. Here, we assess 10 SOS methods for North America between 1982 and 2006. The techniques include consistent inputs from the 8 km Global Inventory Modeling and Mapping Studies Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer NDVIg dataset, independent data for snow cover, soil thaw, lake ice dynamics, spring streamflow timing, over 16 000 individual measurements of ground-based phenology, and two temperature-driven models of spring phenology. Compared with an ensemble of the 10 SOS methods, we found that individual methods differed in average day-of-year estimates by ±60 days and in standard deviation by ±20 days. The ability of the satellite methods to retrieve SOS estimates was highest in northern latitudes and lowest in arid, tropical, and Mediterranean ecoregions. The ordinal rank of SOS methods varied geographically, as did the relationships between SOS estimates and the cryospheric/hydrologic metrics. Compared with ground observations, SOS estimates were more related to the first leaf and first flowers expanding phenological stages. We found no evidence for time trends in spring arrival from ground- or model-based data; using an ensemble estimate from two methods that were more closely related to ground observations than other methods, SOS trends could be detected for only 12% of North America and were divided between trends towards both earlier and later spring.

Water leakage through brick‐clad walls is one of the most difficult masonry problems to correct. These leaks can cause severe damage to underlying wall elements and to interior finishes as well as disrupt building occupants. Excessive water entry into the wall usually results from poor brick workmanship. Subsequent water penetration into interior spaces may result from errors in design and/or construction of the wall‐drainage system. In most cases, leaks can easily be avoided if the designer properly details the flashing‐and‐weep system and carefully monitors construction for quality workmanship and conformance with design. The two most common types of exterior brick‐clad walls in existence today are the barrier and the cavity walls. Barrier walls block water from passing completely through the wall, thus preventing leakage into the building's interior. Cavity walls provide a continuous void within the wall that serves as a channel to guide water out of the wall before it reaches the interior. Both barrie...

Failure of a building or its components usually means that it is performing in an unsatisfactory way. Investigation of such a failure often uncovers deterioration or other problems with the building or component materials. Deterioration can mean loss of strength, disintegration, or corrosion of some part of the structure. Discovering the cause of such deterioration may involve removing representative samples or complete systems and testing them in the laboratory. There are a wide variety of laboratory tests available to the investigator. This forum summarizes some of the more common ones used as part of a failure investigation.