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An analysis of the state of Iran's water resources shows that hydro-political challenges have shifted from the national scale to the sub-national scale (at the catchment level) and the conflict of interests of users has led to a contradiction in the approach of agents, especially in times of drought. Meanwhile, Karkheh catchment in Khuzestan feeds by Kashkan river in Lorestan province. On the other hand, climate change and Kashkan floods have often been associated with losses. The basic agricultural livelihood of Delfan city and the prevention of floods have made the construction of Gaushmar dam on Kashkan inevitable. The construction of this dam has reduced the volume of water entering the downstream cities of the dam and the Karkheh catchment in Khuzestan, especially during dry seasons. The construction of this dam has led to the conflict of interests of the actors and the emergence of hydro-political challenges on a subsidence scale. The present article is applied and the methodology of the text is explanatory-analytic. The data and information required for the research were collected by library and field methods (interview). The result of the research showed that with the construction of Gaushmar Dam, hydro-political relations within the province (Lorestan) and extra-provincial relations between Khuzestan and Lorestan provinces have been brought hydro-political tension. The adaptation of these conflict of interests eventually led to a reduction in the height of the dam and the volume of water stored behind the dam due to the authorities’ policies.

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Eleven species of Chalcidoidea (Hymenoptera) belonging to Aphelinidae, Encyrtidae, Eriaporidae and Signiphoridae associated with the cotton mealybug, Phenacoccus solenopsis Tinsley (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) were collected and identified during 2017-2018 from Khuzestan province in the southwestern Iran. Prochiloneurus rex (Girault) (Encyrtidae) is new record for the fauna of Iran. Meanwhile, biological associations of Bothriothorax serratellus (Dalman), Leptomastix dactylopii Howard and L. mayri Özdikmen (Encyrtidae) as parasitoids and Marietta picta (André), P. rex and Chartocerus kurdjumovi (Nikolskaya) (Signiphoridae) as hyperparasitoids of Ph. solenopsis were new.
 

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This study tries to investigate relationship between rainfall parameters and USLE R factor. To gain R-factor, at first, shower kinetic energy was calculated and then its erosivity computed by using maximum 30 minutes rainfall intensity. Therefore 3 meteorological stations in Khuzestan province and one station per Kohgiloyeh & BoyerAhmad and Boushehr provinces were selected and their recorded hyetographs of 13 years were analyzed. For any hyetographs, rainfall erosivity was computed in any one month, season, or year and corresponding rainfall parameters were extracted too. Temporal and spatial variation of rainfall erosivity was studied and relationships between R factor and rainfall characteristics were investigated by using regression analysis. It was resulted that February to March and winter season has the most erosivity risk. Spatial analysis of rainfall erosivity in selected area showed that Dezful and Ramhormuz have the maximum erosivity factor. Mean annual erosivity factor of Khuzestan province was computed 28.07 ton.m/ha.h. Regression analysis showed strong relationships between rainfall amount (mm) and maximum 30 minutes rainfall intensity (cm/h) with R factor. A model that computes R-factor by means of rainfall amount was suggested.

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Using productivity index for investigating a firms’ performance makes it possible to evaluate efficiency of the production system and cost at the same time. In this study the Total Factor Productivity (TFP) of several sugar cane varieties in Imam Khomeini Cultivation and Processing Center in Khuzestan Province is compared. Two hundred and forty eight farms are categorized on the basis of variety years old and then Tornqvist-Tiel Productivity Index is employed for calculating TFP for each sugar cane farm. The investigated sugar cane varieties include CP57-614, CP69-1062 and CP48-103. Results revealed that year long utilization system gained the lowest TFP among utilization systems in all the mentioned varieties. The most suitable utilization system according to the TFP index is biennial for CP57-614 variety, triennial for CP69-1062 and five years for the CP48-103 variety. Triennial CP57-614 variety has the most partial productivity in fertilizer. On the other hand, the six year long plant of the forgoing variety exhibits the largest partial productivity in water. The largest partial productivity in machinery is shown in biennial CP69-1062 variety. Among these varieties, triennial CP48-103 one has the largest partial productivity per unit area cultivation.

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Small and medium-sized enterprises, by increasing job creation and reducing poverty, lead to the economic and social growth of developing countries. Today, these companies face rapid market shifts and budget cuts that have reduced their ability and, consequently, increased risk of planning. Therefore, the need for a new system of governance, called the clean production system, is felt. Lean production is a production method that deliver quality products to customers while eliminating any process that is not worthwhile for the customer. The main objective of the present research is to determine the factors affecting the implementation of the principles of lean production in food industry small and medium-sized enterprises of Khuzestan province. The statistical population of the study consisted of all managers of food industry small and medium enterprises of Khuzestan (N = 307). By using Krejcie and Morgan’s Table and stratified random sampling with proportional to size 170 of them (n = 170) were selected as sample. Of these, 161respondents completed the questionnaires. The results of correlation analysis showed that there is a positive and significant relationship between the factors affecting the implementation of the principles of clean production, including the management of the relationship with the supplier and the use of information technology by implementing the principles of lean production. According to the results of regression analysis, three variables of customer relationship management, human resources management and empowerment of employees have the most effect in implementing the principles of lean production.
 

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Objective: Trichomonas vaginalis (T. vaginalis) is a pathogenic protozoan of human reproductive-urinary systems that causes trichomoniasis. The disease is the most important non-viral sexually transmitted infection worldwide. Various laboratory methods have been used to diagnose T. vaginalis. Based on the actin gene, 6 genotypes (H, G, E, I, M, N) of T. vaginalis have been identified. In most studies, the clinical samples were cultured initially and then genotyped. In this study, we sought to identify and determine the genotype of T. vaginalis in urine samples from infected women in Mahshahr, Khuzestan Province, Iran.
Methods: Urine samples were collected from 2200 women who referred to the Laboratory of Imam Musa Kazim Hospital of Mahshahr. After microscopical examination, we extracted the parasite’s DNA from 34 positive urine samples. Then, the actin gene of the parasite was amplified by nested-PCR. Finally the PCR products of actin gene were sequenced. 
Results: Totally, 34 samples (54.1%) tested positive for T. vaginalis. After sequencing, the genotype of the parasite was identified as E in Mahshahr. 
Conclusion: Genotype E of T. vaginalis is the single genotype among women residents of Mahshahr. No genotypic variation was seen.

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Synoptic analysis of the structure of heat waves in Khuzestan province is the main purpose of the present study. Statistical and synoptic analysis and dynamic downscaling technique were used to identify the atmospheric circulation structure in the time of the emergence of a heat wave in the area. To this end, daily maximum temperature during the warm period (June to September) for 13 synoptic stations in the southwest of Iran with different statistical length were taken from the Iran Meteorological Organization. Based on the statistical analysis results, 1 July 2000 was identified as the hottest day in the selected hottest heat wave in the period of study, and therefore this day was selected for exact investigation and dynamic downscaling. The results of synoptic analysis showed that the intense subsidence heating that occurred in the selected day had two causes: At the surface of the earth, a low pressure situation with the origin in thermal low pressures of the Gange, Arabian Peninsula and Persian Gulf and West Asians independent subtropical high pressure at 500 hpa level; and warm air advection fluxes to the study area, both in low latitudes and Iran dry areas. The RegCM4 dynamic downscaling results indicated that at the earth surface, there is a strong low pressure on the Zagros and there exists a strong typical ridge at upper levels. This strong typical ridge caused dry adiabatic subsidence and created intense heating. This study revealed that the Zagros high Pressure (ridge) has obvious role in the emergence of heat waves and intensification in Khuzestan.      

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Participatory approaches have been advocated as ways of increasing knowledge through technology transfer to farmers. Model sites as a participatory approach consist of a Main Unit (MU), owned by the extension local assistant or facilitator, and about 25 subordinate units belonging to the surrounding farmers. These sites disseminate technical knowledge through the MU among the subordinate units. This approach seeks to create synergies among researchers, extension agents, field experts, and farmers to improve the quality and quantity of agricultural products. This investigation, carried out in the production units of Extension Local Assistants (ELA) along with the participation of farmers through the dissemination of knowledge, benefits from the results of a survey through researcher-made checklists. The sample population consisted of 724 farmers in Khuzestan Province, Iran, selected through census method, 34 of whom were extension local assistants and the rest (as large as 690) included ordinary farmers. The results showed that the farmers participating in the sites had gained significantly higher quantity and quality of field crops, horticulture, and vegetables production. Degrees of reduction in water consumption, chemical fertilizers, and pesticides application were observed in MU sites and subordinate units. Moreover, in each site, some new technologies were transferred to subordinate farmers. The sites could be considered as demonstration farms for non-member farmers. This study brings new insights into the impact of synergy between all stakeholders in the form of new agricultural extension approach to improve quantity and quality of field crops, horticulture, and vegetables production, using the capacity of local communities.
 

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Introduction
Thunderstorms are one of the most important atmospheric hazards that cause human casualties every year, destroying large amounts of agricultural products , construction and infrastructure. Due to the combination of Thunderstorms with rainstorms and its effective role in causing sudden floods, this phenomenon has always been the main focuse of researchers in agriculture and financial issues. Considering this matter, we have studied climatic conditions of Khuzestan province in order to investigate this phenomenon and its causes. It is necessary to determine days of the thunderstorm and its sequence in different months, seasons and years, so experts can identify the atmospheric patterns causing this occurrence. Also they can provide necessary strategies and preconditions to inform farmers, gardeners and officials. Therefore, the purpose of this researh is studing the Thunderstorms in Khuzestan Province using synoptic, mann - kendall and Sen indexes during the period of 2003-2013.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Methodology
In order to investigate the climatic phenomenon of Thunderstorm in Khuzestan province, information and statistics of 12 synoptic stations during the 10 year statistical period (2003-2013) are investigated. The statistics and data are collected and tested in order to extract a similar statistical period. The data are analyzed in Excel and thunderstorms dispersion map is developed in Khuzestan. The data of thunderstorms in Khuzestan province are investigated and spatial-temporal analysis of this climatic phenomenon is studied in the study area. during the statistical period changes in Thunderstorms days are studied based on non-parametric Mann-Kendall and Sen index. also geographical dispersion maps of trend type (incremental, constant and decreasing) associated with Thunderstorm are prepared in seasonal and annual scales, then synoptic maps are prepared and evaluated.
 
Results and Discussion
In the spring data series, there is an increasing and decreasing trend in study stations. By analyzing summer data, it is found that there is significant decreasing trend in the most stations except Dezful, Izeh and Masjed Sulayman stations using the Man-Kendall test. The analysis of autumn and winter data also shows an increasing trend in all stations. In this series of data, the Mann-Kendall test and age index test at 95 and 99 confidence levels are significant. In the spring, the highest significant trend is observed in Dezful, Izeh, Ahvaz, Bostan and Omidieh stations. In the summer, the southern, central and western parts of the region have a significant decreasing trend. In the autumn, there is a significant increase in the whole region. In the winter, the southern and southeastern parts of the region have a steady trend. The spatial distribution of the annual trend of Thunderstorm days in Khuzestan province indicates a significant increase in most of stations. At Abadan, Bandar Mahshahr and Hendijan stations there is a significant decrease, and there is a constant trend in Behbahan and Ramhormoz stations. According to storm occurrence maps and analyzing of the maps, it can be seen that the occurrence of thunderstorms in Khuzestan province is generally frontier and is due to hot air flood from the Persian Gulf. in spite of the conditions for the tornado incident there has not been a twist in the region, due to the salinity of the Persian Gulf and a its small extent to provide enough moisture for the occurrence of this phenomenon.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Conclusion
In the spring data series, there is an increasing and decreasing trend in study stations. By analyzing of summer data, it was determined that using Mann-Kendall test, a significant decrease is observed in most stations except Dezful, Izeh and Masjed Soleiman stations. This trend is not observed with the age index test. The analysis of autumn and winter data also shows an increasing trend in all stations. According to the results of Mann-Kendall test on an annual scale, all of the stations have a significant incremental trend. At Abadan, Bandar Mahshahr and Hendijan stations there is a significant decrease, and there is a constant trend in Behbahan and Ramhormoz stations. Investigation of atmospheric patterns is shown that the cause of Thunderstorm phenomenon in the region is the result of strengthening and expansion of low pressure systems in the East of the Red Sea and Saudi Arabia. Therefore, cold airflow from the middle levels with high temperature changes in the upper and lower layers of the atmosphere causes instability and extreme climbing of the air, formation of cumulonimbus clouds, heavy falls of rainfall, lightning, hail and ... in selected periods in Khuzestan province.
 
 

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The Oriental hornet, Vespa orientalis L. (Hymenoptera: Vespidae), is one of the most important and serious enemies of honeybees. In this study, the annual population dynamics and daily activity rhythm of Oriental hornet were examined, based on the number of adults trapped in an apiary located in Ahvaz (southwest of Iran) during a period of two years (January 2021 to December 2022). Samplings were performed using the box traps available in the market. The bait used in the traps was fresh chicken liver, with the traps checked daily in four time periods. The results revealed that the first overwintering queens (gynes) emerged in March and two population peaks of newly emerged hornet workers occurred during the year, one in July and the other in October. In late November and early December, no adult hornet was trapped. The daily activity rhythm of adult hornets was observed mostly during 9 – 12 hr, almost twice as much as in the afternoon period (12 – 15 hr). The lowest activity was recorded in the evening period and night (6 pm - 9 am). During both sampling years, the seasonal abundance of adult hornets displayed a significant positive correlation with air temperature and a significant negative correlation with relative humidity. By comparing the results of our findings with other studies performed in the same and different climate zones, it can be hoped to present effective methods to control the population of V. orientalis, especially in areas that have extensive beekeeping.