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Statistical Methods for Communication Science is the only statistical methods volume currently available that focuses exclusively on statistics in communication research. Writing in a straightforward, personal style, author Andrew F. Hayes offers this accessible and thorough introduction to statistical methods, starting with the fundamentals of measurement and moving on to discuss such key topics as sampling procedures, probability, reliability, hypothesis testing, simple correlation and regression, and analyses of variance and covariance. Hayes takes readers through each topic with clear explanations and illustrations. He provides a multitude of examples, all set in the context of communication research, thus engaging readers directly and helping them to see the relevance and importance of statistics to the field of communication.

The rise of postmodern theories and pluralist thinking has paved the way for multicultural approaches to communication studies and now is the time for decentralization, de-Westernization, and differentiation. This trend is reflected in the increasing number of communication journals with a national or regional focus. Alongside this proliferation of research output from outside of the mainstream West, there is a growing discontent with communication theories being \"Westerncentric\". Compared with earlier works that questioned the need to distinguish between the Western and the non-Western, and to build \"Asian\" communication theories, there seems to be greater assertiveness and determination in searching for and developing theoretical frameworks and paradigms that take consideration of, and therefore are more relevant to, the cultural context in which research is accomplished. This path-breaking book moves beyond critiquing \"Westerncentrism\" in media and communication studies by examining where Eurocentrism has come from, how is it reflected in the study of media and communication, what the barriers and solutions to de-centralizing the production of theories are, and what is called for in order to establish Asian communication theories.

Invasive alien species are considered one of the greatest threats to biodiversity, ecosystem services, economy and human health. Global climate change will only exacerbate the impact of several invasive species in the introduced range. Hence the control and management of invasive species is crucial. Spatial tools such as GIS/RS and ecological niche models can help understand the potential region where the species might invade and predict invasive spread under different climate change scenarios. This study explores if the newly introduced slug from South Africa, Laevicaulis haroldi (Purcell’s hunter slug or caterpillar slug) will become invasive in India under current as well as future climate scenarios. Our result suggests that most parts of western and Peninsular India are vulnerable to the invasion, and suitable regions will only increaseunder both climate change scenarios. It calls for the early detection and management of this potential invader to India.

Rice is the prime target of biofortification as it provides calories for about half of the world’s population. We assessed the iron (Fe) and zinc (Zn) bioavailability from polished rice grains of three high Fe and Zn recombinant inbred lines (RILs) using simulated in vitro digestion/Caco-2 cell model. Ferritin induction and 65Zn uptake were used as surrogate for Fe and Zn bioavailability respectively. Fe and Zn concentration in both unpolished and polished rice grains of three RILs was higher compared to Swarna, a parent and popular variety used as control. The grain Fe concentration was positively correlated (r = 0.94) to Zn concentration. There was a 2-fold induction of ferritin (42.4 ± 3.2 ng/mg protein) in Caco-2 cells only in the presence of ascorbic acid and 3-fold increase in 65Zn uptake (17.7 ± 2.4 pmol/mg protein) from the RIL 185M compared to Swarna (ferritin: 24.8 ± 4.0 ng/mg protein; 65Zn uptake: 5.8 ± 0.3 pmol/mg protein). Phytic acid was highest (8.75 mg/g) in 185 M but that did not affect bioavailability of Fe and Zn. Thus, improving the density of Fe and Zn in grains of conventionally bred rice lines has the potential to enhance the bioavailability of Fe and Zn.

Epidemiological studies have demonstrated the cellular toxicity of trihalomethanes (THMs) and haloacetic acids (HAAs) that usually form during water treatment with chemical chlorine disinfectants such as chlorine and chlorine dioxide. THMs and HAAs formation potential of organic precursor in a surface water source for water treatment with Cl₂ and ClO₂ was studied with reference to key determinants. It was observed that the concentration of THMs and HAAs formed during ClO₂ treatment was significantly lower than that formed during Cl₂ treatment concentration that formed during chlorination. HAAs, dominated with bromo-HAAs were predominantly formed with a negligible amount of THMs during ClO₂ treatment. The combined total of HAAs and THMs formed during chlorine dioxide treatment was only 10–21% of that formed for chlorination. Among the HAAs species, dibromoacetic acid accounted for 86% of total HAAs during chlorine dioxide treatment whereas dichloroacetic acid (36.7%) followed by dibromoacetic acid (20.4%) and bromochloroacetic acid (16.9%) were major constituent formed during chlorination. Species shift towards more toxic bromo-HAAs may pose a concern on shifting water treatment from chlorine to chlorine dioxide, particularly for bromide-containing water.

The use of Cesium-137 (137Cs) as a potential environmental marker was examined for estimating soil erosion induced carbon losses on slopping agricultural land. Depth-wise incremental soil samples were taken from uneroded reference sites and four levels of cultivated slopping lands representing different erosion phase in Doon valley region of India. Comparing the 137Cs inventories for eroded sites with the reference inventory, the erosion rates were computed. The estimated erosion rates were then compared with the actual measured values of erosion at each erosion phase. Since soil erosion preferentially removes the finer soil particles, these results were used to assess erosion induced loss of OC. The result indicated that erosion in different phases relocate 137 kg C ha−1 in slightly eroded plots to 384 kg C ha−1 in severely eroded plots which in turn contributes to 27 to 77 kg C ha−1 the atmosphere as net source of C respectively.

The high rate moving bed biofilm reactor (MBBR) processes were designed for wastewater treatment to meet the past effluent discharge norms of biological oxygen demand (BOD) <50 mg/l. However, they are incapable of meeting current effluent discharge norms which consist of BOD <10 mg/l and total nitrogen <10 mg/l. This study analyses the effect and variation of organic loading rate from 1.21 kg to 4.59 kg chemical oxygen demand (COD)/(m³ day) and surface loading rate from 4.9 g to 24 g COD/(m² day) on a high rate MBBR performance. The results of COD reduction (CODred) and subsequent ammoniacal nitrogen reduction (NH₃–Nred) were in the range of 65.4% to 87.8% and 11.8% to 47.2% respectively. The projected graphical optimization defines the design parameters for MBBR and also predicts CODred and subsequent NH₃–Nred. By understanding this subsequent NH₃–Nred in the MBBR system, future designs for engineering technologies will be aided.