June 7, 1988

LEAD: This hamlet on the banks of the Hudson River in northern Dutchess County is braced for an influx of tourists and traffic. The reason: Montgomery Place, a restored estate dating back to 1805, will open to the public on Saturday, bringing in an estimated 200 visitors a day.

LEAD: Because it is warmer in the United States, trees grow faster and produce lumber with larger knotholes than in Canada. In the arena of international trade, such a bit of lumberjack lore is of more than passing interest. In fact, passions run high when Canadian and American plywood producers discuss knotholes.

LEAD: IN the last few years, the quest to discover new elements and new variants of known elements has become increasingly difficult. But recent developments have raised hope that despite remaining obstacles, the pace of discovery may quicken.

LEAD: RESEARCHERS studying the effectiveness of groups are drawing conclusions that may change the way many executives view their work habits. Among these are findings that meetings are too often a poor way to get the best out of people and that one of the most destructive forces in a group can be the participant who is trying harder than everybody else.

LEAD: IN a marked shift in focus, researchers are concentrating on what they now see as the crucial, perhaps overriding role of scavenger cells of the immune system in the development of AIDS.