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Cerium tungstate nanostructure was prepared through precipitation and characterized using field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), as well as cyclic voltammetry (CV), galvanostatic charge-discharge, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and continuous cyclic voltammetry (CCV) in terms of structural and electrochemical properties. The electrochemical evaluations using cerium tungstate electrodes revealed that the electrode material has interesting supercapacitive properties including a specific capacitance (SC) of 348 F g À 1 at a potential scan rate of 2 mV s À 1 . Also CCV experiments proved that the material maintains 95.8% of its original capacitance after 4000 cycles. The properties make the nanostructures suitable for use as high-quality electroactive materials for supercapacitor applications.

Viper venom contains antibacterial and cytotoxic components. The aim of this study was to identify and evaluate the antimicrobial and cytotoxic properties of the crude venom of Vipera latifii (V. latifii). Lyophilized venom of V. latifii was quantified by Bradford method and its antibacterial activity (6.25-400 μg/ml) was assessed using the MTT, MIC, Disc diffusion, and Well diffusion assays. Also, its cytotoxic activity was investigated using MTT reduction, Neutral uptake, and Comet assay on human liver cancer (HepG2) cell line. Crude venom showed antibacterial effects against Bacillus subtilis and Staphylococcus aureus, but was not effective on Escherichia coli. Also, the crude venom showed apoptotic and necrotic effects on human liver cancer cells. The venom of V. latifii can inhibit the growth of bacteria and cancer cells. These findings suggest that this may be a potential source of molecules with antibacterial and anticancer characteristics.

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Background Lack of information about the dispersal of vector species barricade surveillance and control. Aims Therefore, the aim of the present study was to determine the species diversity of Culex mosquito's larvae in the coastal areas of the Persian Gulf. Methods Mosquito larvae were collected from six places in three main environmental categories: urban (UA), rural (RA) and uninhabited areas (UNA), using dipping technique. Four dips were taken from each breeding site (350 ml each). Larval investigation was conducted two times a month during the study period. Diversity studies were conducted separately for each category by calculating classic diversity indices. Results In total, 1369 specimens belonging to 10 different species were collected and identified, as follows: Culex hortensis , Cx. laticinctus , Cx. mimeticus , Cx. perexiguus , Cx. pipiens , Cx. modestus , Cx. sinaiticus , Cx. theileri, Cx. torrentium and Cx. tritaeniorhynchus . None of these mosquito species have been recorded previously in this region. Diversity analysis indicated higher species richness for RA ( Margalef 1/26). The average diversity indices for the three environment types ranged from 1.50 to 1.64 for Shannon index and from 0.730 to 0.738 for Simpson index. Conclusions Biodiversity analysis indicated that species diversity in rural, urban and uninhabited areas is somewhat similar. Therefore, attention to all areas in vector control programs is essential.

Synanthropic flies are members of order Diptera and considered as medical and veterinary pests. In this study, parasitoid wasps were determined and their natural host preferences in order to select a suitable agent for biological control of flies. The pupae of three species of flies; Musca domestica, Lucilia sericata and Sarcophaga haemorrhoidalis were used as hosts for natural parasitoids. For this issue, as much as 50 pupae of each fly species put in three separate dishes with covered top by a net. These dishes were placed in the field to attract parasitoid wasps. The most parasitic rate was related to N. vitripennis (%17.2). Host preferences of N. vitripennis on M. domestica pupae were higher than observed parasitism on L. sericata and S. haemorrhoidalis. The emerging rate of two parasitoids; P. vindemmiae and S. nigroaenea were one per host pupae. According to the result, N. vitripennis can be an appropriate candidate for use as natural enemy which expected to be effective in controlling various species of synanthropic flies. Therefore, S. nigroaenea was more suitable to biological control of housefly populations.