May 16, 1999

Six-story brick apartment house at 86th Street and Second Avenue will open as modern rental building after renovation of 19 of structure's 33 units (S)

Article on debate among New Jersey educators and parents over whether private schools offer much more than public schools to students in affluent suburban communities; studies show high achievers will excel anywhere; photos; charts (L)

Kosovo crisis, especially mistaken NATO bombing of China's Belgrade Embassy, has revealed degree to which China and Russia still distrust Americans and way in which United States view of former enemies own vital interests is too limited; Chinese, while anxious to join Western-led world economy, feel with growing force that US does not take China seriously and ignores its vital security concerns; Russians, dependent on Western financial aid and suffering political meltdown, also stew over what they see as ignorant and disrespectful treatment from West; bombing has ignited major reassessment in China of global politics and US ties; photos (M)

Article Research for Hire, first of two, on clinical drug research that has become multimillion-dollar industry; hundreds of testing and drug companies working with private doctors have turned patients into 'commodities,' bought and traded as physicians are enticed into usingthem as test subjects; practice gives drug companies get access to vast new pool of subjects, but also raises serious ethical questions by injecting money into delicate doctor-patient relationship, usually without patient even realizing it; ten-month New York Times investigation studies contracts and other confidential documents that reveal system that fuels pharmaceutical renaissance, is fraught with conflicts of interest, places premium on speed and meeting quotas, and relies on Government and private monitoring that can be easily fooled; drug companies and contractors offer large payments to doctors, nurses and other medical staff to recruit patients, some getting finder's fees for merely referring patients to studies; companies use doctors as clinical investigators regardless of their speciality; example is Dr Peter Arcan's enlistment of patient Thomas W Parham in inappropriate prostate trial for SmithKline Beecham; other cases also cited; Drs David S Shimm, Jay Grossman, Robert M Califf and others on both sides of issue comment; photos; diagram tracing how typical drug comes to market (L)

Assisted living facilities now account for three-quarters of new senior housing being built, and they offer wide range of services; many stand-alone assisted-living facilities are transforming themselves into co-called continuing-care communities that often combine, on campus-like setting, apartments for independent living, assisted-living facility, skilled-nursing beds and special-care facilities for residents with medical conditions requiring constant care; photos (L)

Shopping With excursion in Manhattan with Leelee Sobieski, 16-year-old actress featured in film Eyes Wide Shut and television mini-series Joan of Arc; photos (M)

Interview with Anthony Salim, Indonesia's leading ethnic Chinese tycoon, whose businesses have been target of anger against ethnic Chinese in failing economy; he has returned to Indonesia, which he fled during May 1998 rioting, and is fighting to save business empire; is particularly vulnerable because of close ties with ex-Pres Suharto; Salim Group's businesses have proven remarkably resilient, showing crony capitalism's deep roots and limits of reform in nation where conglomerates still dominate economy; graps; map; photos (M)

Cruiser motorcycles now represent 55 percent of America's motorcycle market; as result of their growing popularity, there are more types for sale this spring than ever before; appraisals of some new models; photos (M)

Internet investing is far broader phenomenon than day traders who have made on-line investing almost full-time pursuit; NFO Worldwide study finds number of households with people trading stocks via Internet has nearly tripled, to 6.3 million, in last 16 months; finds 20 million households tap into Internet for investment data; finds Internet has bolstered confidence of users of various ages, incomes, investment philosophies and behaviors about investing and spurred them to take greater risks; investors comment; graphs; photos (M)

Outcome of crucial New York Knicks-Miami Heat playoff game may also decide Jeff Van Gundy's future as coach with Knicks, and center Patrick Ewing's as well; photos (S)

Alex Witchel report on her flamenco lessons with Jorge Navarro in Manhattan; photo (S)

Charismatic wins Preakness Stakes two weeks after winning Kentucky Derby; D Wayne Lukas, who trains Charismatic for Bob and Beverly Lewis, and jockey Chris Antley comment; photos (M)