February 11, 1999

Alfred E Mann's main company, Minimed Inc, is scheduled to go before Food and Drug Administration advisory panel later this month to seek approval to sell world's first sensor that provides continuous measurements of glucose in the blood; Minimed says its system will be less painful for diabetics than current testing and will provide more detailed information, allowing diabetics to better control their condition and improve their health; some analysts and physicians say such promises are exaggerated, arguing that sensor's probe lasts only three days and will appeal to just a tiny percentage of diabetics; criticism has not deterred 73-year-old Mann; sensor is just a step toward Mann's ultimate goal--mechanical pancreas in which a pump would automatically dispense right amount of insulin in response to blood glucose levels detected by the sensor; Mann comments on his empire, which includes Spectrolab, Heliotex, Pacesetter Systems, Minimed, Advanced Bionics and Medical Research Group; chart; photos (M)

James Korn, owner of tiny army-navy store on fringe of Times Square, is locked in an unlikely legal battle over piece of history, claiming that he, and not 20th Century Fox or anyone else, owns name Titanic; says in trademark applications that he has informed 20th Century Fox, makers of blockbuster movie Titanic, that it owes him royalties for any clothing it has sold bearing name; RMS Titanic Inc, company that has been raising artifacts from ship, and 20th Century Fox insist they owe Korn nothing; photo (M)

Violinist Elmar Oliveira will play five of world's most precious violins, made by Antonio Stradivari and Giuseppe Guarneri, at special concert at Steinway Hall; Pina Bausch, who achieved international fame as director and choreographer of Tanztheater Wuppertal of Germany, is named winner of 1999 Samuel H Scripps American Dance Festival Award honoring lifetime achievement in modern dance; photo; Corcoran Gallery of Art in Washington will open exhibition on February 13 of more than 70 drawings by John Singer Sargeant; classical composers of African heritage will be focus of concert at 92d Street Y Tisch Center for the Arts on February 14; concert will feature mezzo-soprano Florence Quivar; photo (M)

Real appeal of Melrose Place, prime-time dramatic series canceled by Fox network after seven seasons, may be its fantasy of living dorm-like attenuated adolescence in glamorous surroundings--Spanish colonial building with pool in Los Angeles; drawing; photos (M)

Pres Clinton's advisers say he is so furious at House Republicans over his impeachment that he plans all-out offensive to knock out many of his foes and win back the House for Democrats in 2000; say he can be most effective in raising money and recruiting candidates, and already plans to attend early fund-raisers around nation; say he regularly cites statistics about House Republicans who may be vulnerable; other Clinton aides say he has always campaigned aggressively for House Democrats and is making no special effort because of impeachment (M)