May 6, 1997

Scientists are still puzzling over what precisely is meant by complexity; at issue: how can essence of complexity be captured and quantified in precise definition that scientists can use? challenge of defining complexity has been compared to that confronting early 19th-century scientists as they tried to get grip on mysterious concept called energy; problem is that there is no way to know whether complexity will turn out to be something like energy, which can be precisely metered, or something like, say, prudence or charity, which will remain forever in realm of the subjective (M)

Market Place column on gold fraud case involving Bre-X Minerals Ltd of Canada says it seems Canada produces more stock market fraud, at least per capita, than do other countries; holds unlike other major industrial nations, Canada has no national regulatory agency for securities but leaves task to provinces, which pursue oversight with varying degrees of enthusiasm; adds efforts at reform have been incomplete (L)

Officials at New Jersey State Department of Human Services says that they had asked for $18 million to hire estimated 200 employees, mostly social workers and clerical staff, for Division of Youth and Family Services (New Jersey Daily Briefing) (S)

Tobacco Giant Wins One In a verdict that represented a show of strength for the tobacco industry, the R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company was found not liable in the lung cancer death of a Florida woman who smoked for 34 years. Page A16. Texas Fugitive Is Killed One of two members of a militant Texas secessionist movement who had fled the site of siege was shot and killed in a gun battle with the Texas authorities. Page A16. Tony Spotlight on Musicals ''The Life,'' ''Steel Pier'' and the revival of ''Chicago'' led the pack among the shows nominated for the 1997 Tony Awards in a season full of new American musicals. Page C11.

Fire, fueled by piles of shoes in shoe store's basement, destroys five-story building on Avenue of Americas and 38th Street; fire continues to burn early this morning, threatening two neighboring buildings and sending torrents of thick smoke and fumes through midtown; no injuries are reported; photo (M)