Search Results (75)

Improving construction site safety remains a critical challenge in Saudi Arabia’s rapidly growing construction sector, where high accident rates and diverse labor forces demand evidence-based managerial interventions. This study investigated the influence of Managers’ Safety Perceptions and Practices (MSP) on Workers’ Safety Behaviors (WSB) in the Saudi construction industry, emphasizing the mediating roles of Workers’ Safety Awareness (WSA), Safety Competency (WSC), and Safety Actions (SA). The conceptual framework integrates these three mediators to explain how managerial attitudes and practices translate into frontline safety outcomes. A quantitative, cross-sectional design was adopted using a structured questionnaire distributed among construction workers, supervisors, and project managers. A total of 352 from 384 valid responses were collected, and the data were analyzed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) via SmartPLS 4. The findings revealed that MSP does not directly influence WSB but has significant indirect effects through WSA, WSC, and SA. Among these, WSC emerged as the most powerful mediator, followed by WSA and SA, indicating that competency is the most critical driver of safe worker behavior. These results provide robust empirical support for a multidimensional mediation model, highlighting the need for managers to enhance safety behaviors not merely through supervision but through fostering awareness and competency, providing technical training, and implementing proactive safety measures. Theoretically, this study contributes a novel and integrative framework to the occupational safety literature, particularly within underexplored Middle Eastern construction contexts. Practically, it offers actionable insights for safety managers, industry practitioners, and policymakers seeking to improve construction safety performance in alignment with Saudi Vision 2030. Full article

Autosomal recessive types of both syndromic and non-syndromic inherited myopia are common in Saudi Arabia (SA) because many people marry their relatives. The prevalence of syndromic myopathies in SA, like Stickler syndrome (SS), Knobloch syndrome (KS), and Marfan syndrome (MFS), further complicates the disease spectrum. The causative genes linked to the Knobloch, Marfan, and Pierson syndromes are COL18A1, FBN1, and LAMB2, respectively. Additionally, we found recessive types of non-syndromic high myopia that have a high chance of causing retinal detachment, like those linked to LRPAP1 and LEPREL1. In these cases, regular evaluation and early intervention, including prophylactic laser photocoagulation and pars plana vitrectomy, may improve the outcome. Advancements in genetic testing for diagnosis and prevention accelerate detection, facilitate early interventions, and provide genetic counseling. The utilization of artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), and the advancement of gene therapy offer promising avenues for personalized care. We place a high value on using genetic knowledge to create a national screening program and patient registry aimed at understanding the national burden of myopia, knowing that we have a high rate of consanguinity, which reflects pathogenic homozygous alleles and founder mutations. This initiative will incorporate genetic counseling and leverage innovative technologies, which are crucial for disease management, early identification, and prevention in Saudi Arabia’s healthcare system. Full article

This paper examines the impacts of AI-powered assistive technologies (AIATs) on the academic success of higher education university students with visual impairments. As digital learning contexts become progressively more prevalent in higher education institutions, it is critical to understand how these technologies foster the academic success of university students with blindness or low vision. Based on the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) model, the study conducted a quantitative research approach and collected data from 390 visually impaired students who were enrolled in different universities across Saudi Arabia (SA). Employing Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM), the paper tested the influences of four UTAUT dimensions—Performance Expectancy (PE), Effort Expectancy (EE), Social Influence (SI), and Facilitating Conditions (FC)—on Academic Performance (AP), while also evaluating the mediating role of Behavioral Intention (BI). The results revealed a significant positive relationship between the implementation of AI-based assistive tools and students’ academic success. Particularly, BI emerged as a key mediator in these intersections. The results indicated that PE (β = 0.137, R² = 0.745), SI (β = 0.070, R² = 0.745), and BI (β = 0.792, R² = 0.745) significantly affected AP. In contrast, EE (β = −0.041, R² = 0.745) and FC (β = −0.004, R² = 0.745) did not have a significant effect on AP. Concerning predictors of BI, PE (β = 0.412, R² = 0.317), SI (β = 0.462, R² = 0.317), and EE (β = 0.139, R² = 0.317) were all positively associated with BI. However, FC had a significant negative association with BI (β = −0.194, R² = 0.317). Additionally, the analysis revealed that EE, SI, and PE can all indirectly enhance Academic Performance by influencing BI. The findings provide practical insights for higher education policymakers, higher education administrators, and AI designers, emphasizing the need to improve the accessibility and usability of sustainable and long-term assistive technologies to better accommodate learners with visual impairments in higher education contexts. Full article

Urbanization, climate change, and the need for sustainable development are critical challenges facing cities worldwide. The United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 11 emphasizes the importance of creating inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable settlements. In Saudi Arabia, where urban expansion is accelerating, achieving sustainable cities requires an understanding of urban livability and effective navigation systems. This study explores the role of street legibility in enhancing urban livability and facilitating sustainable urban development. Through a mixed-methods approach, including a literature review and a survey of 295 households, this study assesses the effectiveness of Saudi Arabia’s street addressing system (SAS) based on 14 key legibility criteria. The analysis reveals that while 85.1% of participants are aware of their home addresses, only 25.8% have memorized them, and just 15.6% rely on the SAS for navigation. For navigation, most respondents opt for alternatives like sharing GPS locations (81.4%) or making calls (6.1%). The SAS met 2 of the 14 legibility criteria, partially fulfilled 4, and failed to meet 8, highlighting critical deficiencies. This study recommends simplifying address formats, incorporating street names, and adopting sequential numbering to improve the existing SAS. These insights are essential for urban planners and policymakers to improve street legibility, ultimately fostering more livable and sustainable cities. Full article

This research examines the proposition that enhancing sustainable innovation can be particularly effective when the focus is on strategy, machine learning, and digitalization. The study specifically targets the complex interactions among strategic alignment (SA), sustainability-oriented innovation (SOI), and digital transformation (DT) within small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Saudi Arabia, particularly within the service sector. A moderated mediation framework was constructed to analyze the influence of SA on SOI, the mediating role of DT, and the moderating effect of strategic orientation (SO). Data were collected through structured surveys from 339 SMEs using a quantitative research design and a cross-sectional methodology. The partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) technique was employed to validate the proposed framework and hypotheses. The results indicate that SA significantly boosts SOI, with DT acting as a strong mediator in this connection. Furthermore, SO moderates the relationships between SA and SOI, SA and DT, and DT and SOI, highlighting its essential role in shaping the dynamics of sustainable innovation. These findings emphasize the necessity of aligning strategic initiatives with digital advancements to foster innovation that achieves a balance among economic, social, and environmental objectives. This study contributes to existing literature by filling the research gap regarding SOI and DT in Saudi SMEs and offers practical insights for SMEs facing sustainability challenges. Future research should delve deeper into digital technology configurations, industry-specific contexts, and cross-national applications to improve the applicability of these findings. Full article

Background: Medication errors are among the most prevalent medical errors and result in significant morbidity and mortality. They pose a major threat to patient safety in psychiatric hospitals. However, the lack of a comprehensive investigation into the root causes of these errors restricts the development of effective corrective measures. Objective: This study aimed to characterize the types of errors, determine the stages of the medication use process, and identify factors associated with errors occurring among government psychiatric hospitals in Saudi Arabia. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted from August 2019 to June 2020. All medication error reports submitted to the Ministry of Health General Administration of Pharmaceutical Care database from 18 government psychiatric hospitals in Saudi Arabia were assessed. The database is de-identified and contains information on all medication errors, including patient demographics, medication information, error information, causes of errors, and reporter information. Medication use was categorized as ordering/prescribing, transcribing, dispensing, administration, and monitoring. The present findings represent a descriptive analysis of the data using Statistical Analysis Software (SAS) version 9.4. Result: A total of 23,355 medication error reports were reported to the database during the study period. Among Saudi Arabian cities, Riyadh (n = 8972, 38.4%) had the highest medication error reporting rate, followed by Taif (n = 3705, 15.9%) and Jeddah (n = 2621, 11.2%). Most reported errors were frequently made by physicians (n = 20,284, 86.9%) and were primarily detected by pharmacists (n = 20,974, 89.8%). Approximately half of them (n = 13,150, 56.3%) were classified as “Category B” that occurred, but they did not reach patients. Most medication errors were reported in adults (n = 22,589, 96.7%) and male patients (n = 16,393, 70.2%). Most error reports were detected at the prescription stage (n = 16,481; 70.6%) during the medication-use process. Work overload of the staff (n = 2911, 12.8%) and drug labeling, packaging, and nomenclature (n = 2826, 12.1%) were the most common contributing factors associated with the reported errors. Olanzapine (n = 1650, 7.1%), omeprazole (n = 1350, 5.8%), and quetiapine (n = 1273, 5.5%) were the most common medications associated with medication errors. Conclusions: Preventable medication errors are typical in psychiatric hospitals and may result in severe consequences. Increased efforts are needed to control and minimize prescribing errors and improve reporting in Saudi Arabia. Full article

Background/Objectives: Maternal mental health problems such as stress, anxiety, and depression (SAD) in antenatal women are major public health challenges. This study aimed to determine the levels of SAD in antenatal women and associate the selected variables with them. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in selected primary health centers (PHC) in Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia. The pregnant women were selected using systematic randomization, and their SAD levels were assessed using the perceived stress scale (PSS), the state anxiety scale (SAS), and the patient health questionnaire (PHQ-9), respectively. Linear regression was used to associate factors related to stress, anxiety, and depression. Results: Out of 346 antenatal women, 4% had a high level of stress and 27.2% had a moderate level of stress. Regarding the level of anxiety, 2.6% of them had high anxiety, and 32.9% had moderate anxiety. Around 32 (9.2%) women had moderate depression, and 4 (1.2%) had severe depression. The mean score of SAD was 11.99, 28.88, and 4.73, respectively. A linear regression proved that there was an association between stress and age, occupation, gestational age (GA), gravida, para, abortions, and social support (SS) (p < 0.05). Anxiety was associated with age, GA, gravida, para, abortions, past obstetrical complications, and SS (p < 0.05). Depression was related to age, education, occupation, para, abortions, past obstetrical complications, and SS (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Due to the prevalence of SAD in pregnancy, the screening of these conditions and awareness creation about the associated factors can help to identify potential risks earlier and prevent maternal and fetal complications. Full article

The Tabuk region is located in the northern part of Saudi Arabia, and it has an area of 117,000 km² between longitudes 26° N and 29° N and latitudes 34° E and 38° E. King Salman Bin Abdulaziz Royal Natural Reserve (KSRNR) is the largest natural reserve in Saudi Arabia and covers about 130,700 km². It represents a new tourist attraction area in the Tabuk region. Human activities around the lake may lead to changes in water quality, with subsequent changes in microenvironment components, including microbial diversity. The current study was designed to assess possible changes in bacterial communities of the water sediment at some natural lakes and artificial waterpoints of KSRNR. Water samples were collected from ten different locations within KSRNR: W1, W2, W3 (at the border of the royal reserve); W4, W5, W6, W7 (at the middle); and W8, W9, and W10 (artificial waterpoints). The total DNA of the samples was extracted and subjected to 16S rRNA sequencing and metagenomic analysis; also, the environmental parameters (temperature and humidity) were recorded for all locations. Metagenomic sequencing yielded a total of 24,696 operational taxonomic units (OTUs), which were subsequently annotated to 193 phyla, 215 classes, 445 orders, 947 families, and 3960 genera. At the phylum level, Pseudomonadota dominated the microbial communities across all samples. At the class level, Gammaproteobacteria, Clostridia, Alphaproteobacteria, Bacilli, and Betaproteobacteria were the most prevalent. The dominant families included Enterobacteriaceae, Pseudomonadaceae, Clostridiaceae, Comamonadaceae, and Moraxellaceae. At the genus level, Pseudomonas, Clostridium, Acinetobacter, Paenibacillus, and Acidovorax exhibited the highest relative abundances. The most abundant species were Hungatella xylanolytica, Pseudescherichia vulneris, Pseudorhizobium tarimense, Paenibacillus sp. Yn15, and Enterobacter sp. Sa187. The observed species richness revealed substantial heterogeneity across samples using species richness estimators, Chao1 and ACE, indicating particularly high diversity in samples W3, W5, and W6. Current study results help in recognizing the structure of bacterial communities at the Tubaiq area in relation to their surroundings for planning for environmental protection and future restoration of affected ecosystems. The findings highlight the dominance of various bacterial phyla, classes, families, and genera, with remarkable species richness in some areas. These results underscore the influence of human activities on microbial diversity, as well as the significance of monitoring and conserving the reserve’s natural ecosystems. Full article

Background: In the last three decades, Electronic Health Records Systems (EHRSs) have become one of the top priorities of policymakers globally. Nowadays, EHRS reform is fast becoming a priority in developed countries. The introduction of EHRSs in Saudi healthcare organizations is considered one of the highest priorities of policymakers. Saudi Arabian e-health strategy pays reasonable attention to the EHRS implementation project. According to Saudi Vision 2030, the e-health transformation will be on top of IT projects in the country. However, an estimated 50% of EHRS implementations have failed. Project leadership and type of project management have been found to be crucial components of effective EHRS implementation. Aim of the study: To evaluate the role of centralized project management (CPM) in the implementation of large-scale EHRSs in Primary Healthcare Centers (PHCs) in Saudi Arabia (SA). Methods: A sequential explanatory mixed-methods approach involving a survey and semi-structured qualitative interview methods were utilized. Results: A total of 39 (75%) out of 53 policymakers at the Saudi Ministry of Health completed the survey, and 14 project team members were interviewed. Findings from both illustrated that adopting centralized project management approaches to implementation was beneficial in facilitating large-scale EHRS implementation and helped to overcome barriers that may have otherwise led to the failure of the project. EHRS interoperability and software selection were the factors that CPM influenced most positively. Full article

In this study, we explore the financial and economic integration of BRICS nations (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) and key emerging economies (Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE) using graph theory, aiming to map intersectoral connections and their impact on financial stability and market risk. The research addresses a critical gap in the literature; while political and economic linkages between nations have been widely studied, the specific connectivity between sectors within these economies remains underexplored. Our methodology utilizes eigenvector centrality and Euclidean distance to construct a comprehensive network of 106 publicly listed firms from 2013 to 2022, across sectors such as energy, telecommunications, retail, and technology. The primary hypothesis is that sectors with higher centrality scores—indicative of their interconnectedness within the broader financial network—demonstrate greater resilience to market volatility and contribute disproportionately to sectoral profitability. The analysis yielded several key insights. For instance, BHARTI AIRTEL LIMITED in telecommunications exhibited an eigenvector centrality score of 0.9615, positioning it as a critical node in maintaining sectoral stability, while AMBEV SA in the retail sector, with a centrality score of 0.9938, emerged as a pivotal player influencing both profitability and risk. Sectors led by companies with high centrality showed a 20% increase in risk-adjusted returns compared to less connected entities, supporting the hypothesis that central firms act as stabilizers in fluctuating market conditions. The findings underscore the practical implications for policymakers and investors alike. Understanding the structure of these networks allows for more informed decision making in terms of investment strategies and macroeconomic policy. By identifying the central entities within these economic systems, both policymakers and investors can target their efforts more effectively, either to support growth initiatives or to mitigate systemic risks. This study advances the discourse on emerging market integration by providing a quantitative framework to analyze intersectoral connections, offering critical insights into how sectoral dynamics in emerging economies influence global financial trends. Full article

Background: Privacy in healthcare is a fundamental right essential to maintain patient confidentiality and trust. Community pharmacies in Saudi Arabia (SA) play a critical role in the healthcare system by providing accessible services and serving as initial points of contact for medical advice. However, the open nature of these settings poses significant challenges in maintaining patient privacy. Methods: This cross-sectional study used electronic surveys distributed across various online platforms. The target sample included Saudi adults, with a sample size of 385 participants to achieve 80% statistical power at a 95% confidence interval. The survey comprised demographic questions and sections evaluating perceptions of privacy, the importance of privacy, and personal experiences regarding privacy in community pharmacies. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression models were used for the analysis. Results: A total of 511 responses were obtained. The mean age was 33.5 years, with an almost equal distribution of males (49.71%) and females (50.29%). Most participants held a bachelor’s degree or higher (78.67%). Privacy perceptions varied, with only 9.0% strongly agreeing that there was a private space for consultations, while 64.0% felt that the design of community pharmacies did not adequately consider patient privacy, and 86.9% reported that conversations could be overheard. Privacy concerns were notable, with almost one-half of the participants (47.6%) having concerns about privacy and 56.6% doubting the confidentiality of their health information. Moreover, 17.6% reported being asked for unnecessary personal information when buying medication, and 56.2% admitted to avoiding discussing a health problem with the pharmacist due to privacy concerns. Experiences of privacy breaches were reported by 15.7% of respondents. Logistic regression analysis revealed that the availability of private space in the pharmacy and patients feeling that the pharmacy respects their privacy were associated with a lower likelihood of avoiding discussions with pharmacists due to privacy concerns (OR = 0.758, CI = 0.599–0.0957 and OR = 0.715, CI = 0.542–0.945 respectively) Conversely, greater privacy concerns and previous privacy breaches significantly increased the likelihood of avoiding discussions with pharmacists in the community pharmacy (OR = 1.657, CI = 1.317–2.102 and OR = 4.127, CI = 1.886–9.821 respectively). Conclusions: This study highlights the significant concerns regarding privacy practices in community pharmacies in SA. Thus, there is a need for standards to improve privacy in community pharmacies, such as mandating the need for private consultation areas and enhanced staff training on handling privacy-related issues. Addressing the issue of privacy is crucial for maintaining patient trust, improving healthcare service quality, and ensuring effective patient–pharmacist interactions. Full article

The number of migrant workers in Saudi Arabia (SA) has gradually increased, particularly in the construction industry, where migrant workers make up 89% of the workforce. Migrant workers frequently experience exposure to dangerous working conditions and increased risk for occupational injury and hazards due to the work they typically perform. Despite this, there is a lack of comprehensive studies comparing occupational accidents and injuries between migrant and domestic workers. To address this challenge, this study explores the differences between migrant and domestic workers’ injuries and occupational accident rates in SA’s construction industry. Data were analyzed from reported accidents and injuries obtained from the General Organisation for Social Insurance (GOSI) between 2014 and 2019. Chi-square test was used to examine the associations of occupational accidents and injuries among migrant and domestic workers. Migrant workers experienced higher incidences of falls, strikes, collisions, abrasions (wounds caused by scraping), bodily reactions (e.g., chemical reactions), and car accidents compared to domestic workers. Furthermore, migrant workers aged 30–39 and domestic workers aged 20–29 experienced more severe injuries and higher seasonal mortality rates during the six-year period examined (2014–2019). In addition, domestic workers achieved a higher proportion of full recovery across all types of accidents, except for transport and car accidents related to construction. The findings emphasize the need for ongoing safety education, training, and improved safety measures to protect the health and safety of construction workers, especially migrant workers. Full article

In relation to its rapid infrastructure expansion, exemplified by projects like the Najran Valley Dam or the rehabilitation of agricultural terraces, Saudi Arabia stands out among the Arabian Gulf nations. To mitigate the earthquake-related risks effectively, it is imperative to conduct an exhaustive analysis of its natural hazards. The southwesternmost region of Saudi Arabia is the main subject area of this study for the probabilistic seismic hazard assessment (PSHA), which aims to identify the peak ground acceleration (PGA) and spectral acceleration (SA) values. The investigation encompasses a 10% and 5% probability of occurrence over a 50-year exposure time for both B/C and C NEHRP soils. In order to take into account the earthquake activity that takes place in the vicinity of the Red Sea Rift, which in fact may have an impact on the seismic hazard in this active tectonic region, different seismic source zones were especially designed for this evaluation. Various characteristics such as the uncertainties related to the b-value, the expected maximum magnitude, and different ground motion prediction equations (GMPEs) were integrated using a logic tree scheme. Additionally, regression relationships between the computed ground motion values were established, and a novel design response spectrum was developed and recommended for several cities. Regarding the key findings, it is significant to highlight that the seismic hazard decreases towards the northeast, when moving away from the Red Sea Rift, confirming anticipated trends where proximity to the rift corresponds to increased seismic hazard. Notably, cities such as Farasan Island, Jazan, Al Qunfundhah, Al Lith and Al Birk present the highest observed hazard values among all the cities analyzed. For these cities, the obtained maximum SA values for both 475 and 975 years under B/C site conditions are as follows: 0.268 g and 0.412 g, 0.121 g and 0.167 g, 0.099 g and 0.150 g, 0.083 g and 0.135 g, and 0.066 g and 0.118 g, respectively. These results emphasize the crucial necessity of adequately evaluating and thoroughly updating the seismic hazard inherent to these particular areas to enhance the risk reduction and disaster readiness initiatives. Full article

Rift Valley fever (RVF) in ungulates and humans is caused by a mosquito-borne RVF phlebovirus (RVFV). Live attenuated vaccines are used in livestock (sheep and cattle) to control RVF in endemic regions during outbreaks. The ability of two or more different RVFV strains to reassort when co-infecting a host cell is a significant veterinary and public health concern due to the potential emergence of newly reassorted viruses, since reassortment of RVFVs has been documented in nature and in experimental infection studies. Due to the very limited information regarding the frequency and dynamics of RVFV reassortment, we evaluated the efficiency of RVFV reassortment in sheep, a natural host for this zoonotic pathogen. Co-infection experiments were performed, first in vitro in sheep-derived cells, and subsequently in vivo in sheep. Two RVFV co-infection groups were evaluated: group I consisted of co-infection with two wild-type (WT) RVFV strains, Kenya 128B-15 (Ken06) and Saudi Arabia SA01-1322 (SA01), while group II consisted of co-infection with the live attenuated virus (LAV) vaccine strain MP-12 and a WT strain, Ken06. In the in vitro experiments, the virus supernatants were collected 24 h post-infection. In the in vivo experiments, clinical signs were monitored, and blood and tissues were collected at various time points up to nine days post-challenge for analyses. Cell culture supernatants and samples from sheep were processed, and plaque-isolated viruses were genotyped to determine reassortment frequency. Our results show that RVFV reassortment is more efficient in co-infected sheep-derived cells compared to co-infected sheep. In vitro, the reassortment frequencies reached 37.9% for the group I co-infected cells and 25.4% for the group II co-infected cells. In contrast, we detected just 1.7% reassortant viruses from group I sheep co-infected with the two WT strains, while no reassortants were detected from group II sheep co-infected with the WT and LAV strains. The results indicate that RVFV reassortment occurs at a lower frequency in vivo in sheep when compared to in vitro conditions in sheep-derived cells. Further studies are needed to better understand the implications of RVFV reassortment in relation to virulence and transmission dynamics in the host and the vector. The knowledge learned from these studies on reassortment is important for understanding the dynamics of RVFV evolution. Full article

The genome of severe acute respiratory coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), the virus responsible for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), has undergone a rapid evolution, resulting in the emergence of multiple SARS-CoV-2 variants with amino acid changes. This study aimed to sequence the whole genome of SARS-CoV-2 and detect the variants present in specimens from Saudi Arabia. Furthermore, we sought to analyze and characterize the amino acid changes in the various proteins of the identified SARS-CoV-2 variants. A total of 1161 samples from patients diagnosed with COVID-19 in Saudi Arabia, between 1 April 2021 and 31 July 2023, were analyzed. Whole genome sequencing was employed for variant identification and mutation analysis. The statistical analysis was performed using the Statistical Analytical Software SAS, version 9.4, and GraphPad, version 9.0. This study identified twenty-three variants and subvariants of SARS-CoV-2 within the population, with the Omicron BA.1 (21K) variant (37.0%) and the Delta (21J) variant (12%) being the most frequently detected. Notably, the Omicron subvariants exhibited a higher mean mutation rate. Amino acid mutations were observed in twelve proteins. Among these, the spike (S), ORF1a, nucleocapsid (N), and ORF1b proteins showed a higher frequency of amino acid mutations compared to other the viral proteins. The S protein exhibited the highest incidence of amino acid mutations (47.6%). Conversely, the ORF3a, ORF8, ORF7a, ORF6, and ORF7b proteins appeared more conserved, demonstrating the lowest percentage and frequency of amino acid mutations. The investigation of structural protein regions revealed the N-terminal S1 subunit of the S protein to frequently harbor mutations, while the N-terminal domain of the envelope (E) protein displayed the lowest mutation frequency. This study provides insights into the variants and genetic diversity of SARS-CoV-2, underscoring the need for further research to comprehend its genome evolution and the occurrence of mutations. These findings are pertinent to the development of testing approaches, therapeutics, and vaccine strategies. Full article