Mathematicians interested in computability theory have to deal with partial functions. Those interested in the theory of complex variables talk of multi-valued functions. Even in elementary arithmetic we use functional expressions which take plurals or lists: we talk, e.g., of ‘the sum of the first ten numbers’ and ‘the sum of 4, 7, 11, 19’. A logic that is apt for regimenting the reasoning of ...

Peachtree Healthcare has major IT infrastructure problems, and CEO Max Berndt is struggling to find the right fix. He can go with a single set of systems and applications that will provide consistency across Peachtree's facilities but may not give doctors enough flexibility. Or he can choose service-oriented architecture (SOA), a modular design that will allow Peachtree to standardize increment...

Health is a complex interaction requiring complex science techniques, say Ana Fernandez and colleagues from the University of Sydney and the University of Newcastle, Australia. They argue that randomised controlled trials (RCTs) can be useful in the discovery phase, but inadequate in the field of implementation. Implementing change in healthcare needs to take into account not only the evidence,...

The mechanisms of planar cell polarity are being revealed by genetic analysis. Recent studies have provided new insights into interactions between three proteins involved in planar cell polarity: Flamingo, Frizzled and Van Gogh.

Formal efforts to connect animal behavior and behavioral ecology to conservation biology and management began ten years ago, time enough to assess their impact on stopping species decline and extinction. After outlining the rationale for applying behavior to conservation, and the links that were originally proposed between them, I argue that theoretical advances in our understanding of behavior...

Hyponatremia is the most common electrolyte abnormality and is often neglected, especially in elderly and seemingly terminal patients. Hyponatremia can be asymptomatic or can cause symptoms ranging from nausea and lethargy to convulsions and coma. This condition has become increasingly common over time with a similar time course to the increase in adoption of low salt diets. The popularization ...