Investigating the benefits and challenges of the implementation of ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 in the aerospace industry

Aerospace companies implement certain quality management and environmental standards, e.g. ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 requirements specific to the aerospace industry. The big question is whether the implementation of the ISO standards has provided its hope for returns.The aim of this research is therefore to analyze the benefits and challenges of the implementation of ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 in the aerospace industry. This study aims to investigate two underlying subjects – quality management and environmental management, and explore how they influence firm performance and how they are implemented in the aerospace industry.Nine participants from different aerospace companies were interviewed. The results suggest that these companies were put under pressure internally and externally by the customers for pursuing the certification. Major factors that affect the implementation include size of company, employee participation, and company commitment.It also discovered that ISO 14001 seems to mainly impact the managers and employees related to environmental work. This study found that the larger the company size, the more sensitive it becomes toward customer pressure on commitment to sustainability

Correlation functions of the XXZ spin-1/2 Heisenberg chain at the free fermion point from their multiple integral representations

Using multiple integral representations, we derive exact expressions for the correlation functions of the spin-1/2 Heisenberg chain at the free fermion point.Comment: 24 pages, LaTe

Breadth and Dynamics of Human Norovirus-Specific Antibodies in the First Year of Life

We measured antibody binding to diverse norovirus virus-like particles over 12 months in 16 children. All had maternal antibodies at 2 months, with estimated lowest levels at 5 months of age. Antibody increases after 3 months suggested natural infections. This information could guide the timing of future norovirus vaccines

First Episodes of Norovirus and Sapovirus Gastroenteritis Protect Against Subsequent Episodes in a Nicaraguan Birth Cohort

Background: Norovirus and sapovirus cause a large burden of acute gastroenteritis (AGE) in young children. We assessed protection conferred by norovirus and sapovirus AGE episodes against future episodes. Methods: Between June 2017 and July 2018, we recruited 444 newborns in León, Nicaragua. Weekly household surveys identified AGE episodes over 36 months, and AGE stools were tested by reverse transcriptase-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) for norovirus genogroup (G)I/GII and sapovirus. We used recurrent-event Cox models and negative control methods to estimate protection conferred by first episodes, controlling for observed and unobserved risk factors, respectively. Results: Sapovirus episodes conferred a 69% reduced hazard of subsequent episodes using the negative control method. Norovirus GI (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.67; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.31, 1.3) and GII (HR = 0.20; 95% CI = 0.04, 0.44) episodes also appeared highly protective. Protection against norovirus GII was enhanced following two episodes. Conclusions: Evidence of natural immunity in early childhood provides optimism for the future success of pediatric norovirus and sapovirus vaccines

Association between breastfeeding, host genetic factors, and calicivirus gastroenteritis in a Nicaraguan birth cohort

Background Norovirus and sapovirus are important causes of childhood acute gastroenteritis (AGE). Breastfeeding prevents AGE generally; however, it is unknown if breastfeeding prevents AGE caused specifically by norovirus and sapovirus. Methods We investigated the association between breastfeeding and norovirus or sapovirus AGE episodes in a birth cohort. Weekly data on breastfeeding and AGE episodes were captured during the first year of life. Stools were collected from children with AGE and tested by RT-qPCR for norovirus and sapovirus. Time-dependent Cox models estimated associations between weekly breastfeeding and time to first norovirus or sapovirus AGE. Findings From June 2017 to July 2018, 444 newborns were enrolled in the study. In the first year of life, 69 and 34 children experienced a norovirus and a sapovirus episode, respectively. Exclusive breastfeeding lasted a median of 2 weeks, and any breastfeeding lasted a median of 43 weeks. Breastfeeding in the last week did not prevent norovirus (HR: 1.09, 95% CI: 0.62, 1.92) or sapovirus (HR: 1.00, 95% CI: 0.82, 1.21) AGE in a given week, adjusting for household sanitation, consumption of high-risk foods, and mother’s and child’s histo-blood group phenotypes. Maternal secretor-positive phenotype was protective against norovirus AGE, whereas child’s secretor-positive phenotype was a risk factor for norovirus AGE. Interpretation Exclusive breastfeeding in this population was short-lived, and no conclusions could be drawn about its potential to prevent norovirus or sapovirus AGE. Non-exclusive breastfeeding did not prevent norovirus or sapovirus AGE in the first year of life. However, maternal secretor-positive phenotype was associated with a reduced hazard of norovirus AGE

Clinical characteristics, risk factors, and population attributable fraction for campylobacteriosis in a nicaraguan birth cohort

Campylobacteriosis is an important contributor to the global burden of acute gastroenteritis (AGE). In Nicaragua, the burden, risk factors, and species diversity for infant campylobacteriosis are unknown. Between June 2017 and December 2018, we enrolled 444 infants from León, Nicaragua, in a population-based birth cohort, conducting weekly household AGE surveillance. First, we described clinical characteristics of symptomatic Campylobacter infections, and then compared clinical characteristics between Campylobacter jejuni/coli and non-jejuni/coli infections. Next, we conducted a nested case–control analysis to examine campylobacteriosis risk factors. Finally, we estimated the population attributable fraction of campylobacteriosis among infants experiencing AGE. Of 296 AGE episodes in the first year of life, Campylobacter was detected in 59 (20%), 39 were C. jejuni/coli, and 20 were non-jejuni/coli species, including the first report of Campylobacter vulpis infection in humans. Acute gastroenteritis symptoms associated with C. jejuni/coli lasted longer than those attributed to other Campylobacter species. In a conditional logistic regression model, chickens in the home (odds ratio [OR]: 3.8, 95% CI: 1.4–9.8), a prior AGE episode (OR: 3.3; 95% CI: 1.4–7.8), and poverty (OR: 0.4; 95% CI: 0.2–0.9) were independently associated with campylobacteriosis. Comparing 90 infants experiencing AGE with 90 healthy controls, 22.4% (95% CI: 11.2–32.1) of AGE episodes in the first year of life could be attributed to Campylobacter infection. Campylobacter infections contribute substantially to infant AGE in León, Nicaragua, with non-jejuni/coli species frequently detected. Reducing contact with poultry in the home and interventions to prevent all-cause AGE may reduce campylobacteriosis in this setting

Timing and genotype distribution of symptomatic and asymptomatic sapovirus infections and re-infections in a Nicaraguan birth cohort

Objectives: To characterize the timing and genotype distribution of symptomatic and asymptomatic sapovirus infections and re-infections in a Nicaraguan birth cohort. Methods: Infants (N = 444) were enrolled at 10–14 days of life and observed weekly until 2 years of age. Stool samples were collected for each acute gastroenteritis (AGE) episode, and routine stool samples were collected monthly. Stool samples were tested for sapovirus using RT-qPCR, and positive samples were genotyped. Results: A total of 348 children completed 2 years of AGE weekly surveillance; 93 (26.7%) of them experienced sapovirus AGE. Most infections occurred after 5 months of age and mainly during the second year of life (62.4%, 58/93) and early in the rainy season. Sapovirus screening in all stools from a subset of 67 children who consistently provided samples showed sapovirus infections in 91 of 330 (27.6%) AGE episodes and in 39 of 1350 (2.9%) routine stools. In this subset, the median age at the first sapovirus AGE was 11.2 months (95% CI, 9.3–15.9 months); 38 of 67 (57%) children experienced re-infections, 19 symptomatic and 19 asymptomatic. On average, sapovirus re-infections were reported 7.2 months after symptomatic and 5.3 months after asymptomatic infections. Genogroup GI (64%, 69/108) was the most common detected. Sapovirus GI.1 was more frequently detected in AGE stool samples than in routine stool samples (47.2%, 43/91 vs. 25.6%, 10/39; p 0.005), and re-infection with the same genotype was uncommon. Discussion: The first sapovirus infections occurred at approximately 11 months of age, whereas the median time to symptomatic re-infection was 7.2 months. Re-infections with the same sapovirus genotype were rare during 2 years of life suggesting genotype-specific protection after natural infection

Risk Factors and Clinical Profile of Sapovirus-associated Acute Gastroenteritis in Early Childhood: A Nicaraguan Birth Cohort Study

Background: Sapovirus is increasingly recognized as an important cause of acute gastroenteritis (AGE) in children. We identified risk factors and characterized the clinical profile of sapovirus AGE in a birth cohort in León, Nicaragua. Methods: We conducted a case-control study nested within a birth cohort (n = 444). Fieldworkers conducted weekly household AGE surveillance. AGE stools were tested for sapovirus by reverse transcriptase quantitative polymerase chain reaction. For each first sapovirus episode, we selected 2 healthy age-matched controls and estimated independent risk factors of sapovirus AGE using conditional logistic regression. We compared clinical characteristics of sapovirus AGE episodes with episodes associated with other etiologies and identified co-infections with other enteric pathogens. Results: From June 2017 to July 2019, we identified 63 first sapovirus AGE episodes and selected 126 controls. Having contact with an individual with AGE symptoms and vaginal delivery were independent risk factors for sapovirus AGE. All cases experienced diarrhea, lasting a median 6 days; 23% experienced vomiting. Compared with children with AGE due to another etiology, sapovirus AGE was similar in severity, with less reported fever. Most cases experienced co-infections and were more likely than controls to be infected with diarrheagenic Escherichia coli or astrovirus. Conclusions: Sapovirus was a commonly identified AGE etiology in this Central American setting, and symptoms were similar to AGE associated with other etiologies. The association between vaginal delivery and sapovirus is a novel finding. Gut microbiome composition might mediate this relationship, or vaginal delivery might be a proxy for other risk factors. Further investigation into more specific biological mechanisms is warranted