January 13, 2004

Shares in Switzerland-based Adecco, world's largest employment-services company, plunge after company says problems with accounting and financial controls will force indefinite delay in its 2003 profit figures; chief financial officer Felix Weber says company has found material weaknesses in internal controls in company's North American operations of Adecco staffing; adds Adecco is also looking into possible accounting, control and compliance issues in company's operations in certain countries; graph; photo (M)

Dr Allan H Treiman, Lunar and Planetary Institute (Houston) scientist, explains benefits of returning to moon and establishing permanent base there; holds that geological information gained could be window into how earth was formed and history of solar system; Dr J Roger P Angel, University of Arizona astronomy professor, proposes large infrared telescope stationed on moon; advantages of lunar telescope described; use of lunar outpost to aid mission to Mars discussed; photos (M)

Article on controversy arising over whether anything should be done to restore Spiral Jetty, earth sculpture made in 1970 in Great Salt Lake by Robert Smithson; 1,500-foot coil of black bassalt rocks, considered to be Smithson's masterpiece, has been re-emerging from underwater since 1999, when drought began lowering lake's water level; Dia Art Foundation, which owns earthwork, is considering adding more rocks and is studying whether nature will restore its contrast by dissolving some salt crystals when lake waters rise; photos (M)

Dave Anderson Sports of The Times column discusses Indianapolis Colts, which have gone two consecutive playoff games without needing to punt; photo (M)

Estimated 10 to 15 percent of adults have chronic insomnia and many sleep experts support new effort to expand use of sleeping pills; hold that insomnia is serious medical condition, not just nuisance, and untreated does have associated health risks; Gary A Lyons, Neurocrine Biosciences president and chief executive, contends that sleep inducing drugs are one of largest potential pharmaceutical markets worldwide; Neurocrine has developed new drug indiplon for Pfizer; drug should be available by end of 2005; history of sleeping pills described; Dr Daniel F Kripke, University of California (San Diego) psychiatry professor, believes use of sleeping pills is only beneficial for those seeking financial gain such as scientists and drug companies and holds that use of pills can be detrimental to those wanting to improve sleep; National Institutes of Health is expected to develop new consensus statement in next year or two about insomnia and treatment that should help doctors determine best course of action for those suffering from chronic insomnia; photos (L)