fails to install packages that were OK prior to 14.04

[Mike Cornelison]

Ubuntu Software Center exits with this message:
"The installation or removal of a software package failed."

Selecting "details" in the USC dialog gives the following information:

previously unselected package libtiff4:amd64.
(Reading database ...
(Reading database ... 5%
(Reading database ... 10%
(Reading database ... 15%
(Reading database ... 20%
(Reading database ... 25%
(Reading database ... 30%
(Reading database ... 35%
(Reading database ... 40%
(Reading database ... 45%
(Reading database ... 50%
(Reading database ... 55%
(Reading database ... 60%
(Reading database ... 65%
(Reading database ... 70%
(Reading database ... 75%
(Reading database ... 80%
(Reading database ... 85%
(Reading database ... 90%
(Reading database ... 95%
(Reading database ... 100%
(Reading database ... 168308 files and directories currently installed.)
Preparing to unpack .../libtiff4_3.9.7-3ubuntu1_amd64.deb ...
Unpacking libtiff4:amd64 (3.9.7-3ubuntu1) ...
Selecting previously unselected package libimage-exiftool-perl.
Preparing to unpack .../libimage-exiftool-perl_9.46-1_all.deb ...
Unpacking libimage-exiftool-perl (9.46-1) ...
Processing triggers for man-db (2.6.6-1) ...
Setting up libtiff4:amd64 (3.9.7-3ubuntu1) ...
Setting up libimage-exiftool-perl (9.46-1) ...
Processing triggers for libc-bin (2.19-0ubuntu3) ...

I ran software-center from a terminal to get the following output:

/usr/share/software-center/softwarecenter/backend/installbackend_impl/aptd.py:764: Warning: Source ID 4688 was not found when attempting to remove it
  GLib.source_remove(self._progress_signal)
/usr/share/software-center/softwarecenter/backend/installbackend_impl/aptd.py:764: Warning: Source ID 4693 was not found when attempting to remove it
  GLib.source_remove(self._progress_signal)
/usr/share/software-center/softwarecenter/ui/gtk3/models/pendingstore.py:64: Warning: Source ID 4694 was not found when attempting to remove it
  GLib.source_remove(sig)
/usr/share/software-center/softwarecenter/ui/gtk3/models/pendingstore.py:64: Warning: Source ID 4695 was not found when attempting to remove it
  GLib.source_remove(sig)
/usr/share/software-center/softwarecenter/ui/gtk3/models/pendingstore.py:64: Warning: Source ID 4696 was not found when attempting to remove it
  GLib.source_remove(sig)
/usr/share/software-center/softwarecenter/ui/gtk3/models/pendingstore.py:64: Warning: Source ID 4697 was not found when attempting to remove it
  GLib.source_remove(sig)
2014-03-28 09:16:00,410 - softwarecenter.backend - ERROR - error in _on_trans_finished 'Error: Package operation failed
The installation or removal of a software package failed.

'
2014-03-28 09:16:04,081 - softwarecenter.db.pkginfo_impl.aptcache - INFO - aptcache.open()
2014-03-28 09:16:05,034 - softwarecenter.utils - WARNING - Could not determine the installed desktop file path for app-install desktop file: '/usr/share/app-install/desktop/fotoxx:kornelix-fotoxx.desktop'
2014-03-28 09:16:05,035 - softwarecenter.backend.zeitgeist_logger - WARNING - Invalid desktop file provided, impossible to log event

Additional information:

The package being attempted was Fotoxx, available at:
   www.kornelix.com/packages and in the GetDeb PPA
Both of these fail the same way.

The package installs OK in several prior releases of Ubuntu going back to 12.04.

The package installs OK using
   $ sudo dpkg --install fotoxx-14.04-x86_64.deb

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 14.04
Package: software-center 13.10-0ubuntu3
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 3.13.0-19.40-generic 3.13.6
Uname: Linux 3.13.0-19-generic x86_64
NonfreeKernelModules: wl
ApportVersion: 2.13.3-0ubuntu1
Architecture: amd64
CurrentDesktop: Unity
Date: Fri Mar 28 17:24:45 2014
InstallationDate: Installed on 2014-03-28 (0 days ago)
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 14.04 LTS "Trusty Tahr" - Beta amd64 (20140326)
PackageArchitecture: all
SourcePackage: software-center
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)