The recent research advances on taxol, the newest weapons against cancer,have been reviewed. The authors give an overview on taxol research from the following aspects: 1. The history of taxol development; 2. Sources of taxol; 3. Total synthesis of taxol; 4. Biosynthesis of taxol; 5. Taxol from fungi; 6. Taxol from callus systems; 7.Perspective in taxol chemical research.

The research progress in the studies of the Mncontaining superoxide dismutase and its model complexes have been reviewed with 41 references.

The research for biom arkers has been regarded as an encouraging and promising approach in the risk assessment for environmental carcinogens. Biomarkersmay furnish the critical information about exposure levels and biological effects. This paper reviews the current status and trends of the studies on biomarkers and risk assessment for environmental carcinogens, as well as their important roles in the strategy of the priority program of risk.

A review of recent progress on chiral separation by capillary electrophoresis (CE) is presented. The development of enantiomer separation concerning chiral selectors, theory, methods and applications are introduced. Several no table strategies for improvement of resolution are also discussed briefly.

This paper reviews briefly the advances in plastic optical fibers and gives a classification according to the applications. Influencing factors on the transmission loss of light signs and the loss limit of plastic optical fiber are discussed, particularly for graded index plastic optical f ibers.

The nonlinear chemical reaction kineticsis comprehensively reviewed experimentally and theoretically. Many nonlinear chemical kinetics phenomena such as the clock reaction, feedback, mixed oscillation, chemical chaos and chemical patterns are introduced. The methods of time space series, power spectrum , Lyapunov index, at tractors and their dimensions, Poincare section, bifurcation theorem are also discussed. The reactors, measurement, mechanisms and models in nonlinear chemical reaction research are described.

The characteristics and preparation methods of magnetic fluid are introduced. Applications and stability analysis of magnetic fluid are discussed in detail.

The R&D of biodesulfurization of coal is reviewed. The bacteria, reaction mechanisms and typical technological processes for biodesulfurization are introduced, and the major problems are pointed out.

Ceramics used for the repair and reconstruction of diseased or damaged parts of the musculo skeletal system , termed bioceramics, may be bioinert, resorbable,bioactive. Clinical applications include replacements for hips, knees, teeth, tendons and ligaments, repair for periodental disease,maxillofacial reconstruction, augmentation and stabilization of the jaw bone, spinal fusion and bone fillers after tumor surgery, carbon coatings for prosthetic heart valves. A dvanced techniques such as biomimetic process and ion implantation can be used to form coatings with the bone-like apatite layer on polymer,which are useful as substitutes not only for hard tissues but also for soft tissues, since it exhibits high bioactivity as well as ductility. Bioactive ferrom agnetic glass ceramics and chemically durable radioactive glasses are expected to be usefu l for cancert reatments.

The principle of neutron capture therapy (NCT ) , its historical evolution,and the latest developments were briefly described. The successful application of NCT needs high quality epithermal neutron beams, highly selective NCT drugs, accurate dose calculation and measurements, and well conceived therapeutic planning. Two possible kinds of facilities for production of epithermal neutron beam , i. e. , nuclear reactors and particle accelerators were discussed. The requirements for epithermal neutron beam were also included. The comparative evaluation of four possible NCT varieties, BNCT ,GdNCT , LiNCT ,UNCT , and relevant tumor seeking drugs were given. The conduction of NCT research in China was finally suggested.