The national health program for vitamin D supplementation in a developing country.

Background: Previous studies have reported a high frequency of vitamin D deficiency (VDD) among different age groups in Iran.

Aims: In this study, the current coverage, status of vitamin D supplement taking, and program efficacy have been evaluated by the Office of Nutrition Department Society in Iran since 2014.

Methods: This study was conducted in collaboration with the International UNESCO center for Health-Related Basic Sciences and Human Nutrition and the Office of Nutrition Department Society.

Bacillus flexus strain As-12, a new arsenic transformer bacterium isolated from contaminated water resources.

A total of 14 arsenic-resistant bacteria were isolated from an arsenic-contaminated travertine spring water in the central district of Qorveh county, Kurdistan Province, Iran. One of strains designated As-12 was selected for further investigation because of its ability to transform arsenic. The strain was identified by cultural, morphological and biochemical tests, and 16S rRNA gene sequencing.

Phenol photocatalytic degradation by advanced oxidation process under ultraviolet radiation using titanium dioxide.

Background: The main objective of this study was to examine the photocatalytic degradation of phenol from laboratory samples and petrochemical industries wastewater under UV radiation by using nanoparticles of titanium dioxide coated on the inner and outer quartz glass tubes.

Method: The first stage of this study was conducted to stabilize the titanium dioxide nanoparticles in anatase crystal phase, using dip-coating sol-gel method on the inner and outer surfaces of quartz glass tubes. The effect of important parameters including initial phenol concentration, TiO2 catalyst dose, duration of UV radiation, pH of solution, and contact time was investigated.