N.Y. TIMES HARDCOVER BEST-SELLERS.(BOOKS)

FICTION

THE BRETHREN, by John Grisham. (Doubleday, $27.95.) Three former judges, doing time at a federal prison in Florida, concoct a lucrative mail scam that goes awry. 13 HARRY POTTER AND THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS, by J.K. Rowling. (Levine/Scholastic, $17.95.) A British boy finds trouble when he returns to a witchcraft school. 238 HARRY POTTER AND THE PRISONER OF AZKABAN, by J.K. Rowling. (Levine/Scholastic, $19.95.) A British boy's life at a school for witchcraft is menaced when an infamous murderer escapes from prison. 324 GAP CREEK, by Robert Morgan. (Algonquin, $22.95.) The fortunes of a struggling young couple in Appalachia during the 19th century. 45 HARRY POTTER …

Bricks & mortar.

Shadow and sunlight fill the atrium of Wachovia's headquarters in Charlotte. Completed in 1990, it's a haven for the lunch crowd and shelter for strollers. …

Marseille seeking to keep Lyon under pressure

Marseille needs a victory at Saint-Etienne on Sunday to keep defending champion Lyon under pressure in the French league.

Marseille trails leader Lyon by one point as it tries to end the club's seven-year monopoly on the league title. Lyon has 56 points after 29 rounds, followed by Marseille with 55 and Bordeaux with 53.

"We're working toward the title but there's still a long way to go," Marseille forward Brandao said. "There is a good fighting spirit within the squad and I believe that we have the capabilities to reach first place."

However, the Brazilian striker is doubtful this weekend after spraining his ankle in practice …

Cranberry: Folk wisdom prevails for prevention of urinary tract infections

According to folk wisdom, "cranberry juice can be used to prevent the occurrence of urinary tract infections (UTI)," shares James C. Fleet, Ph.D., from the Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University, Boston, in a review of the scientific evidence in favor of cranberry juice. UTIs cause frequent, painful urination; and the condition is far more common in women than in men.

Cranberry's mechanism of action debated Although modern science has not necessarily doubted the health benefits of cranberries, there has been debate about how cranberries prevent UTIs.

Early researchers at the turn of this century suggested that cranberries - a very tart fruit -- …

ICI's Uniqema Links Surfactants, Lubes, and Oleochemicals.

ICI is combining its ICI lubricants, ICI Surfactants, Mona Industries, Solaveil, and Unichema International into a single unit, Uniqema. Integrating the activities will provide one-stop shopping for customers, says Peter Johnson, global business director/Americas at Uniqema. The unit will be fully operational by January 1.

Uniqema will have sales of $1.2 billion/year and R&D expenditure of $30.8 million. Headquarters will be in London and Wilmington, DE. About one-half of sales will be in Europe, one-third in the U.S., and the remainder in Asia/Pacific.

"Our customers demand new and better solutions, products, and services," says Richard Stillwell, executive …

Bigley competes at U.S. Amateur.(Sports)

Byline: Staff reports

Robby Bigley of Schenectady was 3 over par through nine holes Monday as he competed in his first U.S. Amateur championship at Olympic Club in San Francisco.

But Bigley, a Siena College graduate and Pinehaven Country Club member, will have to finish this morning after play was suspended by darkness.

There are 312 golfers vying for spots in a 64-man match-play bracket following today's second round, which will start after the first round is completed.

Bigley's younger brother Bryan qualified for the U.S. Amateur three years ago.

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Northeastern N.Y. PGA

Massena captured the inaugural …

O'KEEFE ELUDES DRAGNET 12 DAYS RESIDENTS REPORT MORE `SIGHTINGS'.(CAPITAL REGION)

Byline: DONNA LIQUORI Staff writer

O'Keefe WILTON Joel M. O'Keefe managed to evade authorities for the 12th day Tuesday as the search for the accused sex offender continued several towns north of where he jumped out of an unmarked State Police car.

State Police worked off some of the 300 tips and reported sightings they've received since O'Keefe, 34, disappeared Sept. 23 en route to the Saratoga County Jail with State Police investigators.

Two of what State Police Capt. Lawrence Britt called ``good sightings'' came more than 24 hours late. Britt said that on Sunday afternoon a family spotted a man fitting O'Keefe's description walking along …