In response to the President's Office of Science and Technology Policy request to identify promising areas for U.S. research investment in science and technology, this report contains briefings by outstanding researchers in several fields of science. This volume is the fifth in a series of briefings which are used to anticipate important new avenues for research and to help establish priorities for funding. The papers focus on applications of science and technology which could result in economic and social benefits. Panel reports presented in this volume examine: (1) the science of interfaces and thin films (addressing research and management issues and applications for microelectronic technologies); (2) decision making and problem solving (explaining theories and extensions of theories related to problem solving); (3) protein structure and biological function (identifying research goals and summarizing technological advances); and (4) prevention and treatment of viral diseases (citing recent advances in molecular virology). This volume also includes a listing of the research briefing topics from previous reports. (ML)