Factor analysis and Mokken scaling of the Organizational Commitment Questionnaire in nurses.

AIMS: To generate an Arabic version of the Organizational Commitment Questionnaire that would be easily understood by Arabic speakers and would be sensitive to Arabic culture. BACKGROUND: The nursing workforce in Saudi Arabia is undergoing a process of Saudization but there is a need to understand the factors that will help to retain this workforce. INTRODUCTION: No organizational commitment tools exist in Arabic that are specifically designed for health organizations. An Arabic version of the organizational commitment tool could aid Arabic speaking employers to understand their employees' perceptions of their organizations. METHODS: Translation and back-translation followed by factor analysis (principal components analysis and confirmatory factor analysis) to test the factorial validity and item response theory (Mokken scaling). RESULTS: A two-factor structure was obtained for the Organizational Commitment Questionnaire comprising Factor 1: Value commitment; and Factor 2: Commitment to stay with acceptable reliability measured by internal consistency. A Mokken scale was obtained including items from both factors showing a hierarchy of items running from commitment to the organization and commitment to self. DISCUSSION: This study shows that the Arabic version of the OCQ retained the established two-factor structure of the original English-language version. Although the two factors - 'value commitment' and 'commitment to stay' - repudiate the original developers' single factor claim. CONCLUSION: A useful insight into the structure of the Organizational Commitment Questionnaire has been obtained with the novel addition of a hierarchical scale. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING POLICY: The Organizational Commitment Questionnaire is now ready to be used with nurses in the Arab speaking world and could be used a tool to measure the contemporary commitment of nursing employees and in future interventions aimed at increasing commitment and retention of valuable nursing staff.

Correction to: Direct oral anticoagulants for the treatment of venous thromboembolism in patients with active malignancy: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Unfortunately the author list in the original article is incomplete. The correct list of contributing authors is given in this Correction.

Identification of a New Genotype of African Swine Fever Virus in Domestic Pigs from Ethiopia.

African swine fever (ASF) is an important emerging transboundary animal disease (TAD), which currently has an impact on many countries in Africa, Eastern Europe, the Caucasus and the Russian Federation. The current situation in Europe shows the ability of the virus to rapidly spread, which stands to threaten the global swine industry. At present, there is no viable vaccine to minimize spread of the disease and stamping out is the main source of control. In February 2011, Ethiopia had reported its first suspected outbreaks of ASF. Genomic analyses of the collected ASF virus (ASFV) strains were undertaken using 23 tissue samples collected from domestic swine in Ethiopia from 2011 to 2014. The analysis of Ethiopian ASFVs partial p72 gene sequence showed the identification of a new genotype, genotype XXIII, that shares a common ancestor with genotypes IX and X, which comprise isolates circulating in Eastern African countries and the Republic of Congo. Analysis of the p54 gene also followed the p72 pattern and the deduced amino acid sequence of the central variable region (CVR) of the B602L gene showed novel tetramer repeats not previously characterized.

Sequence analysis of the large (L) polymerase gene and trailer of the peste des petits ruminants virus vaccine strain Nigeria 75/1: expression and use of the L protein in reverse genetics.

The large (L) polymerase gene and the 5'-terminal UTR of the genome of peste des petits ruminants virus (PPRV), vaccine strain Nigeria 75/1, were cloned and sequenced. The L protein was also expressed in eukaryotic cells and its polymerase activity was quantitatively measured in a PPR reverse genetics assay using a reporter minigenome. Comparative sequence analysis of this functional L gene with corresponding genes of other morbilliviruses showed a degree of conservation exceeding 70%. The multiple sequence alignment and the phylogenetic study of L gene discriminated the morbilliviruses in 6 clusters, which are more closely related to Tupaia and Henipaviruses than to other paramyxoviruses. Important protein domains and functional motifs of the L polymerase of the PPRV Nigeria 75/1 vaccine were also identified by using different bioinformatics tools.

The relationship between periodontal disease and blood glucose level among type II diabetic patients.

The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between periodontal disease and the blood glucose level among type II non-insulin dependent diabetic mellitus (NIDDM) subjects. Forty subjects, 20 in each group, of healthy and diabetic subjects, ages ranged 20-70 years, were examined at King Saud University, College of Dentistry. Clinical examination included frequency of oral hygiene practices, periodontal status by using the Community Periodontal Index of Treatment Needs (CPITN), fasting blood glucose level (FBGL), and random blood glucose level (RBGL). Unstandardized orthopantomograms (OPGs) were taken for radiographic findings. The number of missing teeth (tooth loss) was assessed from the radiographs. The results showed that periodontal disease severity was high among diabetic subjects. Diabetic subjects brushed less frequently, and they had a higher blood glucose level than healthy subjects. The mean CPITN score was compared with mean blood glucose level and the severity of periodontal disease. There was a steady increase in blood glucose level with increase in CPITN scores, i.e., CPITN score 13.5 to 19.12 corresponded with 142 mg/dl and 173.2 mg/dl FBGL, and 184.2 and 199.12 mg/dl RBGL among diabetic subjects. The study indicated that diabetic subjects should improve their oral hygiene practices and control of blood glucose levels should be emphasized. Further studies are needed among diabetics and healthy subjects from the general population with better sampling techniques and a larger sample size.

Contagious bovine pleuropneumonia vaccines: the current situation and the need for improvement.

The control of contagious bovine pleuropneumonia (CBPP) has been clearly identified by the Organisation of African Unity/Inter-African Bureau of Animal Resources as a priority. In the first part of this article, the authors introduce the past and present vaccines, based on the two classic strains, T1, and KH3J. They describe the guidelines for vaccine production technology, and the quality control requirements for CBPP vaccines of the Office International des Epizooties. The failure of the currently used T1-SR vaccine to provoke satisfactory immunity in cattle, particularly in the newly infected areas of Africa, is pointed out. Other shortcomings of the current CBPP vaccines are also highlighted. Thus, there is a need to improve CBPP vaccines and the authors propose detailed emergency measures to address this problem. In the second part of the article, a subunit approach using immunostimulating complex technology is outlined. The authors emphasise the importance of current research in cell-mediated immunity and immunopathology, which is aimed at improving the efficacy of CBPP vaccines.