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The Omani construction industry has been recently witnessing a boosted expansion associated with the notable growth in population and economy. In comparison with its neighboring countries, the construction industry in Oman is criticized for the lack of sustainability practices. Recently, the government and professional bodies have taken proactive actions to promote sustainable construction practices. The Industrialized Building Systems (IBS) could play an important role in the Omani's construction industry in the future due to its environmental, economic, and social benefits. However, the lack of evidence on the contribution of IBS to the Omani's construction industry suggests that this approach is not yet at top of stakeholder's agenda. This paper focuses on the potential contribution of IBS on sustainable construction practices in Oman. Through literature review, a comprehensive list of sustainability factors affecting IBS applications in the Omani construction industry was developed. A stakeholder survey of Omani construction industry including clients, engineers, and contractors was conducted to understand their perception on the importance of these factors. The statistical analysis revealed that the environment-related and the implementation-related factors are more important than the social-related factors. The Economic-related factors were not found to be significantly more important than any other group of factors. Moreover, Construction Time was found to be the most important and the most influential factor among the 62 factors considered in this study. The paper concludes with recommendations to promote and improve applications of Industrialized building system in the Omani construction industry.

Multilateral investment treaties (MITs) are international legal instruments whose purpose is to facilitate social and economic cooperation on a global scale. While there is abundant literature and precedent on MITs generally, authors Kabir Duggal and Mohamed Wahab provide some of the first analysis focusing on the execution of MITs in the Arab and Muslim-majority worlds in this volume of Brill Research Perspectives in Investment Arbitration . This book focuses on two MITs: the Unified Agreement for the Investment of Arab Capital in the Arab States (UAA) and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation Agreement for Promotion, Protection and Guarantee of Investments Among Member States (OIC). The UAA and OIC are among the oldest MITs in the world, enacted in 1980 and 1988, respectively. But only recently have these two long-dormant treaties acquired special significance. This book provides a comprehensive, critical review of these two treaties

Coronavirus pneumonia disease (COVID-19) is a newly identified coronavirus strain that causes symptoms ranging from cold-like signs to deaths that reached millions around the world. Until this time, there is no approved vaccine has been invented for clinical use, therefore, developing an effective program for therapy is of high priority to save the lives of patients and protect others from being infected. Nature resembles a huge reservoir of anti-infectious compounds, from which innovative ideas, therapies, and products can be deduced. Chinese herbal medicine had succeeded in the treatment of other coronavirus pneumonia such as SARS, MERS and, H7N9 avian influenza which gives us hope to find the targeted remedy in the traditionally used natural herbs consumed by natives from different regions. This work aims to highlight the use of natural traditional remedies to treat viral pneumonia. This systematic review will include studies of the effects of traditional herbal medicine and its role in the treatment of COVID-19 pneumonia. Although promising results were obtained in many cases, but, only a few studies reported the fractional characterization of bioactive principles and/or mechanisms of action. It is requested that pharmaceutical industries, government agencies, and the scientific community will have a gaze at some of these plants for future research and, to find a potential drug candidates for the development of anti-SARSCoV-2 therapeutics in the near future. Peer Review History: Received: 6 September 2020; Revised: 10 October; Accepted: 25 October, Available online:15 November 2020 Academic Editor: Dr. Sally A. El-Zahaby, Pharos University in Alexandria, Egypt, sally.elzahaby@yahoo.com UJPR follows the most transparent and toughest 'Advanced OPEN peer review' system. The identity of the authors and, reviewers will be known to each other. This transparent process will help to eradicate any possible malicious/purposeful interference by any person (publishing staff, reviewer, editor, author, etc) during peer review. As a result of this unique system, all reviewers will get their due recognition and respect, once their names are published in the papers. We expect that, by publishing peer review reports with published papers, will be helpful to many authors for drafting their article according to the specifications. Auhors will remove any error of their article and they will improve their article(s) according to the previous reports displayed with published article(s). The main purpose of it is 'to improve the quality of a candidate manuscript'. Our reviewers check the 'strength and weakness of a manuscript honestly'. There will increase in the perfection, and transparency. Received file: Reviewer's Comments: Average Peer review marks at initial stage: 5.0/10 Average Peer review marks at publication stage: 7.0/10 Reviewer(s) detail: Prof. Dr. Ali Gamal Ahmed Al-kaf, Sana'a university, Yemen, alialkaf21@gmail.com Prof. Dr. Amani S. Awaad, College of Pharmacy, PrinceSattam Bin Abdulaziz University, Al-Kharj. KSA. amaniawaad@hotmail.com Similar Articles: EUCALYPTUS ESSENTIAL OIL; AN OFF-LABEL USE TO PROTECT THE WORLD FROM COVID-19 PANDEMIC: REVIEW-BASED HYPOTHESES THE RISKS AND ADVANTAGES OF ANTI-DIABETES THERAPY IN THE POSITIVE COVID-19 PATIENT

Abstract
Africa's human, natural and legal diversity and wealth have always positioned the Continent as a desired investment destination. Historically, Africa contributed in shaping the ISDS system, and since the turn of the 21st Century, the Continent is witnessing considerable economic growth and is attracting many investors from around the world and especially China, which strengthens Africa's integration in the global economy. The past decade has also witnessed an increase in the number of BITs signed by African States, as well as in the number of investment legislations enacted and modernized. This article addresses the increase of investment in the African Continent, the new Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and its potential for investments in the African Continent, sheds light on the status quo of the African arbitration landscape, provides an overview of the ICSID-Africa symbiotic relationship, emphasizes the uniqueness of the ICSID system in offering adequate dispute resolution schemes for investment disputes involving African parties and concludes by offering some concluding remarks and observations on the future of arbitration on the African Continent.

1. Frontiers Between Theory and Industrial Practice in Vinyl Acetate Polymerizations -- 2. The Polymerization of Aqueous Solutions of Vinyl Acetate -- 3. Effects of Particle Number and Initiator Level on the Kinetics of Vinyl Acetate Emulsion Polymerizations -- 4. Synthesis Kinetics and Characterization of Poly(Vinyl Acetate)- Molecular Weight and Long Chain Branching Development -- 5. Some Surface Chemical Effects on the Capture of Free Radicals-A Kinetic Parameter Analysis of the LPS Model -- 6. The Reinvestigation of Vinyl Acetate Emulsion Polymerization (I)- The Rate of Polymerization -- 7. The Reinvestigation of Vinyl Acetate Emulsion Polymerization (II)-The Induced Decomposition of Initiator -- 8. The Reinvestigation of Vinyl Acetate Emulsion Polymerization (III)-Isotope Effect -- 9. The Radiation Induced Emulsion Polymerization of Vinyl Acetate -- 10. The Stabilization of Poly(Vinyl Acetate) Latexes by Polymethacrylic Acid -- 11. Particularities of Emulsion Polymerization of Vinyl Acetate in the Presence of Hydroxyethylcellulose -- 12. Preparation, Characterization and Properties of Vinyl Acetate- Butyl Acrylate Copolymer Latexes -- 13. Some Studies on Vinyl Acrylic Latex-Surfactant Interactions.

AbstractTwenty-nine sediment samples were collected from the Hurghada Bay, a heavily polluted bay on the Red Sea of Egypt, to inspect the environmental quality status and anthropogenic consequences on benthic foraminifera. Some foraminiferal species showed deformations in their apertures and coiling directions as a response to environmental stresses. In addition, the FoRAM index, an index used for evaluating the growth of coral reefs, indicated a hazard in the proximity of nearshore stations. To elucidate the relationships between the biological response and chemistry of sediments, eight heavy metals concentrations (Cu, Cd, Zn, Pb, As, Cr, Ni, and Mn) were analyzed using inductively coupled plasma–atomic emission spectrometers (ICP-AES). Interestingly, two groups of benthic foraminiferal associations were illustrated using multivariate statistical analyses. Group I have extremely high heavy metal concentrations, an enriched total organic matter (TOM)%, high deformation percentages, and mud content. Moreover, it is dominated by Ammonia tepida which is regarded as an opportunistic species. Group II includes low to moderately polluted stations, highly enriched living foraminiferal assemblages, and is dominated by the sensitive rotaliids Neorotalia calcar and Amphistegina lobifera. Alternatively, four geochemical indices, EF, CF, Igeo, and PLI, are used to assess the contamination level that shown ominous spots for the nearshore stations of the Hurghada Bay. The pollution indices (HQ and HI) were also conducted to evaluate the risks of carcinogenic heavy metals on human health. Our findings demonstrated that ingestion and dermal exposure have greater carcinogenic hazards for adults and children than inhalation. The lifetime carcinogenic risk (LCR) is significantly higher than the permissible limit and follows this order: Pb > As > Cr > Cd > Ni. To that end, developing strategies to lessen the negative impact of pollution on human health and/or the Red Sea's biodiversity is an inevitable issue in the present day and future.

AbstractSimulation of a passively aerated biological filter packed with non‐woven polyester fabric (NWPF) was carried out using GPS‐X V.7 software. System was operated at HLR and OLR rates of 11.1 m3/m2. d and 2.5 kg BOD m3. d, respectively. Calibration of experimental results indicated excellent correlation between experimental and modelled effluent. Simulation was done by incremental increase of HLR, OLR until break through point. System was very efficient at OLR up to 4.1 kg BOD/m3. d where removal rates of 81–91% COD and 86–97% TSS were achieved. Increasing OLR to 2.25 folds of its original value (5.7 kg BOD/m3. d) decreased the efficiency of the system by 55% COD and 37% TSS. Increasing surface area of the packing material increased the overall efficiency of the treatment system. This study proved that simulation of any project prior implementation is a better optimization tool for design and construction as well as reducing costs of laboratory analyses.