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Introduction: The bone tumor, osteosarcoma, remains challenging to treat in children and young adults, especially when patients present with metastatic disease. Developing new therapies based on genomic data from sequencing projects has proven difficult given the lack of recurrent genetic lesions across tumors. MYC overexpression has been associated with poor outcomes in osteosarcoma. However, other genomic markers of disease severity are lacking. Materials and Methods: We utilized whole genome sequencing of 106 tumors and matched normal controls in order to define genomic characteristics that correlate with overall survival. Single nucleotide variants were overlaid onto annotated molecular pathways in order to define aberrant pathway signatures specific to aggressive osteosarcoma. Additionally, we calculated differential gene expression in a subsample of 71 tumors. Differentially expressed genes were then queried for known MYC-responsive genes. Results: Molecular pathways specific to nuclear pore complex disassembly (NPCD) show significant correlation with poor overall survival in osteosarcoma when mutations were present. Genes involved in immune response and immune regulation are enriched in the differential expression analysis of samples with and without NPCD pathway aberrations. Furthermore, neither MYC nor MYCresponsive genes show differential expression between NPCD-aberrant and non-aberrant groups. The NPCD pathway mutations are dominated by regulatory region variants rather than protein-altering mutations, suggesting that dysregulation of genetic regulatory networks may be the underlying mechanism for their relation to osteosarcoma phenotype. Discussion: Overall survival is significantly worse in patients whose tumors show aberrations in the NPCD pathway. Moreover, this difference in survival is not driven by MYC-overexpression, suggesting a novel mechanism for some aggressive osteosarcomas. These findings add light to the evolving understanding of the drivers of osteosarcoma and may aid in the search for new treatments based on patient-specific genetic data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To sustain healthy forests in the United States, the USDA Forest Service, Forest Health Protection and cooperators utilize integrated pest management (IPM) programs to prevent, suppress, and eradicate insect and disease outbreaks affecting trees across all land ownerships. Forest pest management projects supported by federal funding from 2011 to 2020 were assessed to determine the most frequently used project types, IPM strategies and tactics, identify the dominant forest pests and associated hosts managed, and identify the most comprehensive forest IPM programs in practice. Forest pest management projects were obtained primarily from two centralized databases and included 2,416 projects that treated a total of 2,284,624 ha. Two project types accounted for most of the forest pest projects (suppression: 63% and prevention: 30%). Native forest pests were targeted more (79%) than non-native pests (21%) in these projects; however, non-native pests accounted for more treatment areas. Forest pest projects were directed mostly at phloem-feeding insects (70%) and subsequently followed by foliage feeders (10%), sap feeders (6%), and all other pest groups (each < 5%), including diseases. Four IPM control strategies (silvicultural: 32%, semiochemical: 22%, chemical: 21%, and physical/mechanical: 18%) accounted for most of the forest pest projects. Foliage feeders possessed the most comprehensive IPM programs that adopted two or more types of control tactics. Few pest programs incorporated microbial/biopesticide control strategies and this represents an area where research is needed. In addition, better-centralized records are needed for genetic control projects, treatment efficacy, and survey and technical assistance activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study is focused on seasonal variation in groundwater quality, hydrochemistry, and associated human health risk in the Shivganga river basin, Western Maharashtra, India, to promote sustainable development of groundwater resources of this semi-arid region. The qualitative geochemical analysis, contamination levels, and human health risk assessment (HHRA) of groundwater are integral steps in groundwater management in the Deccan Plateau basalt flow region of India. Representative groundwater samples (n = 68) collected from the Shivganga River basin area of Pune district, Maharashtra, during pre-monsoon (PRM) and post-monsoon (POM) seasons in 2015 were analyzed for major cations and anions. According to the World Health Organization (WHO, 2017) drinking standards, EC, total dissolved solids, hardness, bicarbonate, calcium, and magnesium surpassed the desirable limit. Boron and fluoride content exceeded the prescribed desirable limit of the WHO. The pollution and drinking suitability were assessed by computing pollution index of groundwater (PIG), groundwater quality index (GWQI), and HHRA particularly for boron and fluoride toxicity. PIG values inferred that about 6% of groundwater samples has moderate, 24% has low, and 70% has insignificant pollution in the PRM season, while only 1 sample (3%) showed high pollution, 6% showed low, and 91% showed insignificant pollution in the POM season. GWQI classification demonstrated that 27% and 15% samples are within the poor category, and only 15% and 18% of the samples fall into excellent water category in the PRM and the POM seasons, respectively. Total hazard index (THI) revealed that 88% of children, 59% of adults, and about 38% of infants are exposed to non-carcinogenic risk, as THI values (>1) were noted for the PRM season, while 62% of children, 47% of adults, and 24% of infants are vulnerable to non-carcinogenic health hazard during the POM period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sustainable management of groundwater resources requires detailed basin-wide water assessments. Semi-urbanized areas surrounding metropolitan cities in the western part of India were assessed for their suitability for domestic, irrigation, and industrial purposes. These study areas reflect rapid urban growth with residential complexes, combined with agricultural, horticultural, and industrial uses. Therefore, 68 representative groundwater samples were collected during the pre-monsoon (PRM) and post-monsoon (POM) seasons of 2015 and analyzed for major ions. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) drinking standards, parameters like EC, TDS, TH, HCO3, Ca, and Mg were found to exceed the desirable maximum limits, and the B and F content exceeded the permissible limits. The drinking suitability was studied using the modified water quality index (MWQI). The irrigation suitability was assessed using indices such as sodium adsorption ratio (SAR), percent sodium (%Na), and permeability index (PI). The industrial suitability was evaluated based on Langelier saturation index (LSI), saturation index (SI), Ryznar stability index (RSI), etc. MWQI results corroborate that 52.94 and 70% samples fall in no pollution category, and 47% and 30% samples were identified to be in the moderate category of pollution in the PRM season and POM season, respectively. The spatial variation maps of LSI, SI, RSI, Puckorius scaling index (PSI) and Larson–Skold index (LaI) show that the majority of the samples in the PRM season have low to insignificant scaling and corrosive potentials as compared to POM samples. The study results provide reliable information for water reserve managers to prepare the sustainable and more accurate basin management plans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Butternut is a relatively uncommon hardwood tree native to eastern North America. The species' abundance has declined over the past 50 years, primarily because of an invasive pathogen (Ophiognomonia clavigignenti-juglandacearum [ Oc-j ]) and loss of suitable habitat for regeneration. Although genetic diversity of butternut is highest along the southern range edge, genetic diversity rangewide is fairly high, except in small and isolated populations. Although there is little evidence for even moderate resistance in native butternut, hybrids with Japanese walnut, a closely related species, display enough tolerance to infection to persist on the landscape and bear abundant nut crops year after year. Cryostorage of native embryogenic axes has yielded promising initial results as a strategy for gene conservation, but additional action is needed to conserve the remaining native gene pool. We describe a strategy for canker-resistance breeding in butternut using naturally occurring hybrids, hybrids in research orchards, and sources of native trees from as many regions as possible. Forest managers are encouraged to find surviving trees and collect seed for planting in suitable habitat to develop actionable knowledge that will enable the restoration of butternut with enough resistance to be self-sustaining on the landscape. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) is treatable in the majority of cases, deadly invasive and metastatic cases do occur. To date there are neither reliable predictive biomarkers of disease progression nor FDA-approved targeted therapies as standard of care. To address these issues, we screened patient-derived primary cultured cells from invasive/metastatic cSCC with 107 small-molecule inhibitors. In-house bioinformatics tools were used to cross-analyze drug responses and DNA mutations in tumors detected by whole-exome sequencing (WES). Aberrations in molecular pathways with evidence of potential drug targets were identified, including the Eph-ephrin and neutrophil degranulation signaling pathways. Using a screening panel of siRNAs, we identified EPHA6 and EPHA7 as targets within the Eph-ephrin pathway responsible for mitigating decreased cell viability. These studies form a plausible foundation for detecting biomarkers of high-risk progressive disease applicable in dermatopathology and for patient-specific therapeutic options for invasive/metastatic cSCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Italian American Cosa Nostra crime families are the longest-lived and most successful organized crime organizations in US history, achieving their pinnacle of power in the 1970s and 1980s. The families seized opportunities during the early twentieth-century labor wars and under national alcohol prohibition from 1919 to 1933. Control of labor unions gave them power to determine the companies that could operate in various sectors and enabled them to establish employer cartels that rigged bids and fixed prices, and provided opportunity to exploit pension and welfare funds. The racketeers were urban power brokers. The families also profited from gambling, illicit drugs, loan-sharking, prostitution, and pornography, and they extorted protection payments from other black marketeers. For decades they faced little risk from law enforcement. FBI Director Hoover denied the existence of a national organized crime threat. Local police were corrupted. After Hoover's death, the FBI made eradicating organized crime a top priority. Relentless law enforcement coincided with socioeconomic and political changes that greatly weakened the Cosa Nostra families. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) remains a morbid disease with poor prognosis and treatment that typically leaves patients with permanent damage to critical functions such as eating and talking. Currently only three targeted therapies are FDA approved for use in HNSCC, two of which are recently approved immunotherapies. In this work, we identify biological pathways involved with this disease that could potentially be targeted by current FDA approved cancer drugs and thereby expand the pool of potential therapies for use in HNSCC treatment. We analyzed 508 HNSCC patients with sequencing information from the Genomic Data Commons (GDC) database and assessed which biological pathways were significantly enriched for somatic mutations or copy number alterations. We then further classified pathways as either “light” or “dark” to the current reach of FDA-approved cancer drugs using the Cancer Targetome, a compendium of drug-target information. Light pathways are statistically enriched with somatic mutations (or copy number alterations) and contain one or more targets of current FDA-approved cancer drugs, while dark pathways are enriched with somatic mutations (or copy number alterations) but not currently targeted by FDA-approved cancer drugs. Our analyses indicated that approximately 35–38% of disease-specific pathways are in scope for repurposing of current cancer drugs. We further assess light and dark pathways for subgroups of patient tumor samples according to HPV status. The framework of light and dark pathways for HNSCC-enriched biological pathways allows us to better prioritize targeted therapies for further research in HNSCC based on the HNSCC genetic landscape and FDA-approved cancer drug information. We also highlight the importance in the identification of sub-pathways where targeting and cross targeting of other pathways may be most beneficial to predict positive or negative synergy with potential clinical significance. This framework is ideal for precision drug panel development, as well as identification of highly aberrant, untargeted candidates for future drug development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on a symposium related to attacking corruption in union-management relations. The articles included in the symposium are revisions of studies that were commissioned by the New York State Organized Crime Task Force. Professors Ichniowski and Preston were requested to make analyses from the perspective of economists the reasons for the existence of corruption and racketeering in the construction industry in New York City. The authors of the other three articles were asked to make reports determining the efforts to prevent or decrease racketeering in the New York/New Jersey longshoring industry, the Quebec construction industry, and the New Jersey gaming industry.

This article examines the use of military forces as replacements in public sector strikes, a practice employed in over forty cases since President Nixon established the modem-day precedent by deploying troops in the 1970 postal strike. The author shows that, despite the dubious legality of Nixon's action, legal constraints on the President and particularly on the governors in this context are very weak. He argues that political and philosophical qualms about breaking strikes with military replacements may have more vitality as constraints, but they are subject to erosion if the appropriate role of military forces in public sector labor relations does not become a subject of public debate. Following an appraisal of the major policy options, the author concludes that the use of troops as strike replacements is primarily a political rather than legal problem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In analyzing the 1979 strike by nearly all of the prison guards in New York State, this paper focuses on the social organization of the prison environment and the guards' changing occupational role as critical causes of the strike. Many guards believe that in recent years they have lost status and much of their authority; in addition, racial tension has mounted within the guard force as well as between guards and inmates. The authors argue that collective bargaining is not well suited to resolving those problems, and in fact the bargaining system may have aggravated them. The authors also analyze the strike's resolution, concluding that it was the state's use of National Guard troops and the application of Taylor Law sanctions, rather than any bargaining strategy by either party, that brought the guards back to work. Finally, the authors suggest that these strike penalties may have intensified the worker anger and discontent that were major causes of the strike. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article explores the role of inclination in the promulgation of the natural law. Topics include empirical fact of people acting in contradiction to the natural law, systematic inattention to natural law, society's assumptions about metaphysics and anthropology, and the rational formulation of the precepts of the natural law.

The article presents a metaphysical analysis of the existence of God and the concept of divine personhood. Topics discussed include the ontological category of personhood according to German philosopher Robert Spaemann, the capability of individuals to understand both goodness and objective truth, and the diversity of sciences based on arguments raised by Catholic Saint Thomas Aquinas.

The heterogeneity in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) has made reliable stratification extremely challenging. Behavioral risk factors such as smoking and alcohol consumption contribute to this heterogeneity. To help elucidate potential mechanisms of progression in HNSCC, we focused on elucidating patterns of gene interactions associated with tumor progression. We performed de-novo gene co-expression network inference utilizing 229 patient samples from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) previously annotated by Bornstein et al. (2016). Differential network analysis allowed us to contrast progressor and non-progressor cohorts. Beyond standard differential expression (DE) analysis, this approach evaluates changes in gene expression variance (differential variability DV) and changes in covariance, which we denote as differential wiring (DW). The set of affected genes was overlaid onto the co-expression network, identifying 12 modules significantly enriched in DE, DV, and/or DW genes. Additionally, we identified modules correlated with behavioral measures such as alcohol consumption and smoking status. In the module enriched for differentially wired genes, we identified network hubs including IL10RA, DOK2, APBB1IP, UBASH3A, SASH3, CELF2, TRAF3IP3, GIMAP6, MYO1F, NCKAP1L, WAS, FERMT3, SLA, SELPLG, TNFRSF1B, WIPF1, AMICA1, PTPN22; the network centrality and progression specificity of these genes suggest a potential role in tumor evolution mechanisms related to inflammation and microenvironment. The identification of this network-based gene signature could be further developed to guide progression stratification, highlighting how network approaches may help improve clinical research end points and ultimately aid in clinical utility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dwarf mistletoe is a destructive pathogen of many commercial ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa var. scopulorum) stands in the Southwest. From 2005 to 2006, on the Mescalero Apache Indian Reservation, a mistletoe control project was implemented across 3,300 acres. Locally developed management guidelines for treating moderate to severely infected stands recommended salvaging merchantable timber and then slashing remaining hosts >2 ft tall. The goal of this treatment was to diminish residual southwestern dwarf mistletoe (Arceuthobium vaginatum subsp. cryptopodum) infection while maintaining sufficient, albeit small, natural ponderosa pine regeneration for stocking. In 2008, 12 fixed-radius plots were established within the project area to monitor the emergence of latent infections. Our observations revealed that 9 years posttreatment, 2.3% of the retained cohort had harbored latent mistletoe infections. The treatment appears to result in satisfactory control of the parasite in the Sacramento Mountains of southcentral New Mexico. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses why Pope Francis's encyclical Laudato Si' has been described as an environmental encyclical and mentions how Francis identifies environmental problems with erosion of man's sense of moral order. Topics include Aristotelian realism in which real universal principles unite disparate beings into species, convertibility of the transcendental means that this order is knowable and principles of metaphysics of being.

The author argues that the failure of the contemporary artists lies in their ignoring the affinity between truth and beauty and explains why beauty has a unique dual quality. Topics discussed include the two points to draw from the definition of beauty as one which pleases when seen, how transcendentals are distinguished from one another and beauty being described as transformative because of its ability to point to a higher truth.

A letter to the editor is presented in response to the article "Promoting Electronic Government Documents: Part Four: Preservation" by Scott Casper in the Summer 2014 issue.

The article presents the author's views about the argument of philosopher John Stuart Mill for justice. Topics discussed include problematic mode of argumentation, Mill's definition of justice as a negation of injustice and the fundamental problem with Mill's argument based on principles of natural law.

This paper considers recent arguments from Jürgen Habermas and Charles Taylor that argue that even secular societies ought to tolerate religion for its practical benefits. Then, taking inspiration from Thomas Aquinas, I critique their positions as misconstruing the nature of religion in two fundamental ways. First, we must distinguish generic religion as a natural virtue from diverse species of faith that go beyond the duty to render homage to the First Cause. It will be seen that, generically, religion is integral to the common good inasmuch as it is essential to the perfection of the intellect's search for truth. Second, from this it follows that religion ought not be justified in utilitarian terms of extrinsic benefit; rather, the good of religion is the intrinsic realization of the activity itself. In light of these correctives, I conclude that even secular societies ought to encourage religious belief, while remaining open to a variety of faiths. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Piwi proteins and their small non-coding RNA partners are involved in the maintenance of stem cell character and genome integrity in the male germ cells of mammals. MIWI2, one of the mouse Piwi-like proteins, is expressed in the prepachytene phase of spermatogenesis during the period of de novo methylation. Absence of this protein leads to meiotic defects and a progressive loss of germ cells. There is an accumulation of evidence that Piwi proteins may be active in hematopoietic tissues. Thus, MIWI2 may have a role in hematopoietic stem and/or progenitor cell self-renewal and differentiation, and defects in MIWI2 may lead to abnormal hematopoiesis. MIWI2 mRNA can be detected in a mouse erythroblast cell line by RNA-seq, and shRNA-mediated knockdown of this mRNA causes the cells to take on characteristics of differentiated erythroid precursors. However, there are no detectable hematopoietic abnormalities in a MIWI2-deficient mouse model. While subtle, non-statistically significant changes were noted in the hematopoietic function of mice without a functional MIWI2 gene when compared to wild type mice, our results show that MIWI2 is not solely necessary for hematopoiesis within the normal life span of a mouse. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Books meant for young readers did not appear until scholars such as John Locke began to suggest a more modern concept of childhood. Though the eighteenth century saw the establishment and growth of children's book publishing, it was as late as the nineteenth century when children's literature truly came of age. This article traces the development of American children's literature from its early European roots to the rich and diverse literary offerings available to young readers in the twenty-first century. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the U.S., Great Britain, and European Union initiatives in order to prevent convicted sex offenders from having access to children. It states that persons convicted of children's sexual abuse and violent offenses should be disallowed from working with children. It mentions that US states laws have required employers to do criminal background checks for employment positions that have access to children.

The article offers the author's insights regarding the use of unwilling human subjects as an object of science. The author argues that the idea of science by Thomas Aquinas was oriented to universal truth which cannot grasp the unrepeatable and unique reality of the person. The author states that the unique dignity of man was deprived to him when a man was made the subject of science.

The article discusses the study which determines whether seeded plants could persist at high levels and suppress invaded grassland. The study suggested that the Thinopyrum intermedium reduced Centaurea maculosa biomass by 93% after seeding. Results show that seeded plants sometimes suppress and persist long periods of invaded grasslands but cannot predict short-term data.

A criminal conviction, if widely known, constitutes a life-long stigma that limits the convicted person’s employment and other opportunities. European countries, including Spain, recognizing an individual right of informational privacy and a societal interest in limiting recidivism, sharply restrict the dissemination of individual criminal history information. By contrast, the USA, in accordance with its commitments to judicial transparency, free speech and the individual’s right of self protection, allows (and even promotes) extensive dissemination of individual criminal history information. This article compares the profoundly different policies on providing public access to individual criminal history information in Spain and the USA, illuminating the cultural and legal values behind each country’s policies and the tensions both countries encounter in attempting to reconcile these policies with other socio-political values and goals. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Critical wildlife habitat supporting mule deer, antelope, and sage grouse in high elevation rangeland and sagebrush ecosystems of southwest Wyoming is threatened by an expanding population and energy exploration and development. Our objective was to evaluate native shrub species establishment for restoration after disturbance. In October 2005, on a well-pad disturbance, 16 accessions of 12 native shrub species were drill-seeded in single species plots in a randomized complete block design with four replications. Also, two seed mixtures (Bridger and Shell) of grass, forb, and shrub species were broadcast- or drill-seeded, and one seed mixture (Shell) was hydro-seeded to separate areas outside of the replicated plots. Densities were sampled in September 2007. By 2007, nine of the 16 shrub accessions established in the replicated plots. Atriplex aptera had the greatest establishment at six plants/m2 followed by Atriplex canescens at four plants/m2. Establishment of the other seven accessions was similar and ranged from two to 0.4 plants/m2. Where the Bridger mix was broadcast seeded, Artemisia tridentata ssp. wyomingensis, Atriplex aptera, and Krascheninnikovia lanata establishment was estimated at 10,000, 6,770, and 1,120 plants/ha, respectively. Where drill seeded, establishment of the three shrubs was 0, 4,480, and 2,240 plants/ha, respectively. Where the Shell mix was broadcast seeded, Artemisia tridentata ssp. wyomingensis, Krascheninnikovia lanata, and Atriplex canescens establishment was estimated at 21,300, 4,500, and 4,500 plants/ha, respectively. Where drill seeded, establishment for the three species was 7,800, 10,000, and 1,100 plants/ha, respectively. Where the Shell mix was hydro-seeded, only Krascheninnikovia lanata established at 1,100 plants/ha. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

lthough the vast majority of children with acute lymphocytic leukemia attain remission with modern therapies, an unacceptably high number will suffer a disease relapse. Both the duration of remission and the site of relapse are important prognostic factors. This review focuses on leukemic relapse isolated to sites outside the bone marrow (extramedullary sites). Data from cooperative study groups as well as large single institutions are reviewed with respect to the incidence of isolated extramedullary relapse as well as the outcome following relapse. The unique anatomic and physiologic properties of the testes and the central nervous system-the two most common sites of isolated extramedullary relapse-are discussed. Finally, the evolution of leukemia therapy is reviewed, bringing into focus the goals and challenges of future therapeutic endeavors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a notice of release of Quercus macrocarpa, or the Ekalaka Germplasm bur oak, for use in the Northern Great Plains and Intermountain West for windbreaks, shelterbelts, and riparian forest buffers. Information is presented on the justification for its release, collection site, ecological considerations, and anticipated conservation use. A chart is presented that shows bur oak seed source origin.

The article discusses the concept of human freedom in agreement with the notion of the freedom with complete autonomy of the human person. It explores the basis of human freedom through thinking, acting and making to achieve the true, the good and the beautiful integrated with transcendental properties of human action. It explores also the relationship between freedom and human transcendence to develop understanding of freedom to the goodness of creation and selection of highest good.

An essay on the various forms of gang database and the controversy of the limited and even mistaken information about gang affiliation is presented. It offers the history of gang labeling, the civil liberties concerned and examines the stigma on youth labeled as gang members as well as the political and legal challenges to gang databases. The author questions the due process for labeled gang members, the regulation of information as it is being accessed by the public including government agencies, private companies and schools.

The future of noncredit workforce education programs looks bright but organizational, funding, and accountability issues remain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the inclusion of moral theories in the definition of the good in the natural law theory of saint Thomas Aquinas. Philosopher Bernard Williams identifies utilitarianism, deontology and virtue ethics with the moral theories in contemporary metaethics. The different definitions of good include doing the right actions and being good persons. The natural law tradition is the most adequate approach to ethics since it suits all the insights about morality.

The article focuses on Norval Morris who was considered as penologist and formulated the sentencing reform of criminal law academics in the U.S. Morris provides answers based on sentencing philosophy, logistical constraints and administrative competence as guiding principles to treat imprisoned inmates with dignity and humanity. He was also recognized as sentencing theorist and advocated moral level of society for prisoners with respect and decency.

There is a dilemma at the heart of the moral life, in that we often appeal to the Decalogue as being the basis of a common morality, yet it is impossible to justify these precepts as self-evident. I resolve this dilemma in light of Aquinas's analysis of the relation between the self-evident precepts of the natural law and the Decalogue. The self-evident precepts (that man should live in society and should know and love God) follow directly from human nature. The precepts of the Decalogue indicate how those goods are to be pursued in the context of just social relations. It is this contextualization in terms ofjust relations that prevents them from being self-evident and, correspondingly, requires their revelation. Since the commandments act as invitations to pursue the good without the defects of injustice, they are the most manifest condition for achieving the end of human happiness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses reasons why it is good practice by employers to remove questions about past criminal convictions from job applications. Some cities, such as San Francisco, California, Boston, Massachusetts, and Minneapolis, Minnesota have banned such questions on their job applications and won't consider a criminal record unless it is clearly related to the requirements of a particular position. The authors conclude that employment discrimination against ex-offenders will create a growing class of people who are alienated from the mainstream population. Ex-offenders who are reintegrated into society are much less likely to reoffend and a more likely to become productive citizens.

The author reports on a study which was done regarding the impact which herbicides may on wildflowers which have been grown from seed. The article discusses a study which took place that looked at the growth of wildflowers grown in soil treated with herbicides. The impact herbicides had on different types of wildflowers are discussed.