The Value of Preventing Cryptosporidium Contamination

The authors evaluate the need for preventing illnesses and fatalities caused by Cryptospiridium contamination of water supplies based on the impacts of recent and likely future outbreaks

On the lease rate, convenience yield and speculative effects in the gold futures market

By examining data on the gold forward offered rate (GOFO) and lease rates over the period 1996- 2009, we conclude that the convenience yield of gold is better approximated by the lease rate than the interest-adjusted spread of Fama & French (1983). Using the latter quantity, we study the relationship between gold leasing and the level of COMEX discretionary inventory and exhibit that lease rates are negatively related to inventories. We also show that Futures prices have increasingly exceeded forward prices over the period, and this effect increases with the speculative pressure and the maturity of the contracts

Methotrexate treatment in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: Preliminary report [Romatoid artritli hastalarda metotreksat tedavisi: On calisma]

The aim of this study was to determine the efficiency of methotrexate treatment, the side effects, the time of appearance of the effects, and the tolerance to drug in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Twenty-seven patients with rheumatoid arthritis were admitted to the study with a mean age of 52.788 ± 10.109 ears and, 18 (%66.67) of the patients were female and 9 (%33.33) were male. The patients were under observation for averagely 10.333 ± 4.416 months. Stroke index was determined at onset, at the 12th week and at the 12th month as 13.444 ± 1.333, 8.333 ± 3.354, and 3.875 ± 3.314, respectively. Statistically significant improvement seem to happen, from the point of Stoke index and erytrocyte sedimentation rate. CRP, and Ritchie score and morning stiffness at the end of the first month, beginning from the end of the second month and beginning from the third month, respectively. The treatment was terminated due to the side effects in 2 (7.4%) and due to inefficiency in 2 (7.4%) patients, while the side effects were detected in 5 (18.4%) patients. Since the side effects and the drop out rates due to the side effects were found to be low, we thought that the tolerance to the drug could be acceptable. With these results, it is concluded that methotrexate is an effective agent in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, the responses to the drug averagely begins from the second month, and the side effects and the tolerance to the drug are at an acceptable range