Writing Narrative Free Essays

IMPLEMENTING PICTURE SERIES TO IMPROVE TENTH GRADE STUDENTS’ ABILITY IN WRITING NARRATIVE TEXTS AT MABI PROGRAM OF MAN 3 MALANG A Thesis by Fifin Naili Rizkiyah (Nim 20622140128) State University of Malang, Faculty of Letters, English Department, July 2010 Nowadays, English is becoming more and more important. English is a global language which many people all over the world speak English as first or second languages. Many countries include English as the subject taught in educational institution. We will write a custom essay sample on Writing Narrative or any similar topic only for you Order Now English is a key to open the door of science, technology, economics and culture. In Indonesia, our government has made a policy on the school curriculum that English is taught as a compulsory subject. As stated in Pusat Pembinaan amp; Pengembangan Bahasa in 1984 (in Marhum, 2009:3), on December 12, 1967, the Minister of Education issued Decree No 096/1967, stipulating English as the first foreign language to be taught in Indonesian schools. Based on KTSP (Kurikulum Tingkat Satuan Pendidikan= School Based Curriculum), the instructional objective of English is that the mastery of four language skills; they are listening, reading, speaking, and writing. Language skills are classified into receptive and productive skills. Receptive skill includes listening and reading while productive skill includes speaking and writing. Productive skills are obviously more difficult than the receptive. Widiati and Cahyono (2006:139) state that writing is the most complex skill compared to the other three skills. Some students often complained about how difficult it is to write in a foreign language, even Blanchard and Root (2003:1) state that writing can be difficult even in your language. In a new language, writing can be even more difficult. Students often got stuck in expressing their ideas into written texts. They also had problems with the language use. Those problems are faced by students of 10th MABI program MAN 3 Malang which is the subject in this study. To solve the students’ problem in writing, the researcher decided to conduct a classroom action research applying picture series as a strategy to improve the students’ ability in writing narrative texts. The study is to find out how picture series strategy is implemented in improving 10th grade students’ ability in writing narrative text. The writing activities were to giving a model of how to write a paragraph of narratives including teaching students generic structures of narrative and training students to write a paragraph of narrative by using picture series. As the warm-up activity, the researcher did brainstorming in order to raise the students’ readiness and eagerness to write. Then the researcher comes to training stage, which is the process of writing. And the students’ final products are assessed based on the scoring rubrics made. The procedures of implementing picture series in teaching writing are as follows: 1. Brainstorming (asking some questions related to the topic to be discussed to elicit the students’ ideas) 2. Discussing flow-chart text containing communicative purpose, rhetorical structure, and grammatical pattern of the text 3. Distributing the pictures series 4. Prewriting (listing topics, identifying objects and action verbs in the pictures) 5. Outlining (making outline; making sentences representing every picture in the picture series) 6. Drafting 7. Polishing (revising and editing) The research design was a collaborative action research which consisted of two cycles, in where cycle 1 consisted of two meetings and cycle 2 consisted of four meetings. A cycle consisted of four steps namely: planning the action, acting on the plan, observing the action and reflecting on the observation. The subject of the study was the 21 students of X MABI MAN 3 Malang in the academic year of 2009/2010. The instruments used to collect data were observation checklist, field notes, questionnaires, scoring rubrics and the students’ writings. The data from the observation, scoring rubrics and questionnaires were analyzed and the results are presented in the form of tables and description, while the data gained from the field notes and the students’ writings were analyzed and reported descriptively. The result of the study showed that the picture series effectively improved the students’ ability in writing narrative texts. All students had reached the minimum score of 3 in all aspects; organization, diction, and language use. Moreover, the majority of the students gave positive responses towards the implementation of picture series, in the case that 70% of the students showed excitement. Furthermore, they found that picture series is interesting, easy to understand, moreover, it helped them to organize paragraphs and develop ideas in writing narrative texts. Here are the mean scores of the students’ writings in each category. Cycle 2 collaborative Cycle 2 individual Cycle 1 Preliminary study In conclusion, picture series can be implemented to improve the students’ ability in writing narrative text at MABI program of MAN 3 Malang. Picture series was very helpful to develop the students’ ideas and creativity. The students enjoyed the writing activity implementing picture series because it was interesting, fun, and not boring. It is suggested that the teacher use the picture series in teaching writing since it can solve students’ problems in writing. It is also suggested that other researchers conduct other researches that apply picture series in other skills and genres. How to cite Writing Narrative, Essays

Banking and Emerging Multidisciplinary Processes †Free Samples

Question: Discuss about the Banking and Emerging Multidisciplinary Processes. Answer: Introduction Bank Muscat is the provider of financial services in the Oman Sultanate. The company has a strong presence in the section of corporate banking with most of the corporate organizations having accounts in Bank Muscat. The bank also has a presence in retail banking, investment banking, treasury, private banking and management of the asset. The bank is estimated to be worth US $15 billion, the bank has over 130 branches across the country. Bank Muscat was voted the best bank in Oman for seven continuous years by The Banker, FT London. This report analyzes the marketing strategies that the bank uses to market itself to new and existing customers. The products offered by the bank include; money deposit, loans for SME`s offering financial advice services, Card services, Banking channels, Insurance, Payment services, money transfer and remittances(International, 2009). The report contains an environmental analysis to determine the competitive environment and the other internal and external f actors that may affect the operations and the strategies and tactics that the company will use to compete in the market (Ian, 2014). This marketing plan aims at developing marketing strategies and tactics that Bank Muscat will apply in order to retain its market position and to achieve its vision of better customer services. The marketing plan will seek to establish ways in which the bank can improve its relations with customers and also improve its already big market share in the industry. This section involves an analysis of the external environment in which Bank Muscat is operating. The analysis of the external environment is important in designing strategy for the organization since it will help to identify opportunities and threats in the external environment. Opportunities can be utilized to profit the company more. The weaknesses identified can help the company to make decisions that reduce the risk of the business. The environment will be accessed using the PESTEL analysis method. Political environment The political environment in which Bank Muscat is operating is favorable to the organization. The sultanate is peaceful since the political activities in the country are not as violent as those of other middle East environment (Academy of Marketing Science In Crittenden, 2015). The Sultanate also makes policies that favor growth and expansion of banking sector and this has ensured that Bank Muscat is operating in a very stable political environment. The economy of Oman is vibrant and growing at an impressive rate. There are also major in infrastructural projects going on currently in Oman and this contributes hugely to the growth of the economy and the banking sector at large. The interest rates in the country are controlled by free market forces and this ensures that demand and supply determine the cost of credit. One challenge in the economic environment in Oman is that the fluctuations in prices of oil have a major hit on the economy of the company hence making it difficult to predict the future with certainty. The consumption patterns of consumers in the banking sector are affected by social factors. Since Oman is a majority Muslim country, there are a slot of social factors at play. The religion of Islam does according to Sharia law does not allow lending at an interest commonly referred to as riba. The products and services offered by Bank Muscat, therefore, has to consider the religion factor in order to accommodate most of its customers. Some of the technological factors affecting the banking industry not only in Oman but also globally include the mobile phone banking, mobile phone money transfer and online customer services as well as electronic banking (Molyneux, Lloyd-Williams Thornton,2015). These factors have a huge impact on banking because they contribute to efficiency as well as increased customer satisfaction. Environmental factors The Bank of Muscat is committed to ensuring environmental sustainability in all its operations and activities. The bank obeys and fulfills all the environmental regulations that are put in place by the Sultanate. The banking industry in Oman is regulated by the central bank. The players in this industry are required to adhere to all the legislation regarding lending, money deposits, money laundering laws and all other laws that are meant to prevent financial crime in the banking sector. The following is a SWOT analysis of Bank Muscat. The SWOT analysis is used to make investment decisions and to strengthen the company further in other aspects. Bank Muscat is the largest financial institution with large presence in all the areas of the country. The bank has a customer base exceeding 1.79 million customers and more than 3,500 employees. This means that has an advantage due to its strong network and its huge scope of operation Bank Muscat also enjoys the strong financial position. The bank maintains a capital adequacy ratio of about 16% for the last 4-5 years which is very healthy. The company has net profit ratios of 16.5% and its still growing(Rama, 2017). This has given the bank a competitive advantage over its rivals. Another strength is that the bank has implemented successfully Islamic banking policies which have helped the bank to enjoy huge client base. Investment in technology by the company has been borne fruits and the bank has been able to achieve its efficiency goals and objectives. The bank raises very little revenue from fees they charge for services such as credit services, asset management, private banking, and investment banking. This has contributed to declining organizations revenue levels. Oman strategy of building a diversified economy through vision 2010 provides the bank with a great opportunity to lend to corporate organizations especially those winning big government contracts and tenders. Another opportunity for Bank Muscat is that the demographic factors of the country favor further growth in the retail banking sector. Statistics indicate that about half of the countries` population is composed of persons below the age of 25. the youth are more vibrant than the old people and therefore the bank can benefit a lot by focusing on these customers and fulfilling their financial needs(Bank al-Markazi.2010) Fluctuations in prices of oil which is the major source of income for the country makes the economy venerable and this factor affects the banking sector a lot hence making it planning difficult. Another threat of Bank Muscat is the political turmoil in the neighboring countries like Syria, Yemen, and Lebanon. These conflicts have spillover effects which end up affecting the banking sector of Oman. Bank Muscat market segmentation The company segments its market using various techniques. The main technique is based on demographic factors. Demographic factors include factors like age, gender, population and education levels. The bank segments its market depending on the age of customers. The bank that designs products which are aimed at attracting the youth and products designed for the older generation. This helps the company to carry out target marketing efficiently. The bank also segments its marketing depending on income levels of consumers. Consumers of higher income are offered products that are tailor made to suit their specific needs. Another important factor in market segmentation by the bank is population (Academy of Marketing Science In Bahn, 2015). In this, geographical segmentation is carried out depending on the population of the areas in which the bank is operating. The bank offers priority to densely populated areas which have more complex customer needs. The objective of this marketing plan is to increase the market share of Bank Muscat by 6% by the end of the next financial year. This objective is based on the opportunities of growth especially by targeting the youth. Another objective of this marketing plan is to improve the customer satisfaction by focusing on service provision and more personalized banking. The positive customer feedback messages should increase by 4% so as to measure the extent to which the customer satisfaction objective has been achieved. Designing of more products specially tailored to cater for the needs of customers through technological advancement. The bank should develop at least three products in the next two years which are focused on fulfilling customer needs. By the fourth year, the bank should have come up with at least 7 products that help to promote effective interaction between the bank and its customers. Marketing mix strategy recommendations The marketing mix of Bank Muscat should be designed in such a way that all the aspects are able to work harmoniously to achieve the objectives of the organization. The following is the recommended marketing mix of Bank Muscat. The products that Bank Muscat currently offers its consumers include accounts and deposits, loans and mortgages, insurance, card services and priority banking. In the new products strategy to help cater for the needs of consumers, the bank should introduce products and services that are more consumer oriented and unique. Such products include mobile money transfer, mobile banking, and customer self-service portal and localized banking where shops and small groceries act as agents of the bank. The introduction of these products and services will increase the product portfolio of the bank and hence providing more value to consumers. These products will also contribute to increased efficiency within the organization as well as offer consumers convenience. Bank Muscat distributes its products and services mainly through its branches. The bank has over 130 branches distributed in all areas across the country. This ensures that services reach all potential customers conveniently. There are shortcomings in the current distribution strategy of the company. The following strategies should be implemented in order to improve the distribution system of the bank. The first strategy is opening up more branches especially in the rural areas so as to increase customer satisfaction and needs since customers in the areas will no longer have to travel for long distances to access banking services. Another strategy is opening local banking agents which will ensure that a customer can carry out transactions in a shop next door (Sarlak Hastiani,2017). The use of mobile technology in banking will also go a long way in improving the distribution system of Bank Muscat. The price of Bank Muscat`s products and services is currently fair and very competitive. The prices charged by the bank especially as services fee are the lowest in the region. This aspect of marketing has been important in attracting customers. The bank can achieve increased revenues and consumer satisfaction through price by setting prices that are lower compared to competitors. Lower cost will be achieved through increased efficiency in the organization. Care should be taken to make sure that quality is not compromised as a result of low prices. Promotion is a very crucial aspect of marketing. For Bank Muscat to achieve its marketing objectives as stated above, it has to improve its promotion and advertising. The first strategy that the company should adopt is increase the use of social media advertising. This will be very effective for the company since the population of the Sultanate is mainly composed of young people who constitute the majority of social media users. This will ensure that the bank reaches as many customers as possible through this method. The bank should also invest more in mainstream media advertising such as TV ads and newspaper advertisement (Krishnamacharyulu Ramakrishnan, 2012). This strategy will contribute to increased customer satisfaction since the customers will be able to get timely updates and communication on new products and services. Evaluation and control To monitor the implementation of the marketing plan, the bank will appoint an implementation and monitoring committee which will keep track of the progress in the marketing plan. The committee will monitor to determine factors that may be hindering the achievement of objectives stated in the marketing plan. They will work closely with the management of the Bank. Item Estimated budget US$ Social media marketing 12,000 Administration of social media and online accounts 7,500 Product development and research 34,900 Advertising budget 23,450 Customer call center 17,600 TOTAL 95, 450 Conclusion To achieve the objective of increased customer value and satisfaction, Bank Muscat should implement the marketing plan to the letter. The recommendations stated in the plan should be implemented .The monitoring of the marketing plan will be important to ensure that the bank does not veer off the path of achieving the predetermined objectives. The report contains an environmental analysis to determine the factors that influence strategies in the banking industry in Oman. The analysis is done using both SWOT analysis and PESTEL analysis. The report clearly highlights and discusses the strategies that Bank Muscat will implement in order to achieve its strategies. These strategies include increased use of social media and technological innovations in the company. References Academy of Marketing Science., In Crittenden, V. L. (2015). Proceedings of the 1992 Academy of Marketing Science (AMS) Annual Conference. Academy of Marketing Science., In Bahn, K. D. (2015). Proceedings of the 1988 Academy of Marketing Science (AMS) Annual Conference, Montreal, Canada, April 27-May 1, 1988. Ian, S. (2014)A study of customer's attitudes to cross selling by banks with particularly reference to the practice in Libya: Marketing. Mu?nchen: GRIN Verlag GmbH. International, B. P. U. (2009). Islamic financial institutions. Place of publication Management not identified: Intl Business Pubns Usa. Krishnamacharyulu, C. S. G., Ramakrishnan, L. (2012). Rural marketing: Text and cases. New Delhi: Pearson Education. Molyneux, P., Lloyd-Williams, D. M., Thornton, J. (January 01, 2015). European Banking: An Analysis of Competitive Conditions. Oman 2011. (2010). Place of publication not identified: Oxford Business Group. Rama, M. R. K. (2011). Services marketing. New Delhi: Pearson. Report: Oman 2013. (2013). Place of publication not identified: Oxford Business Group. Sarlak, M. A., Hastiani, A. A. (2011). E-banking and emerging multidisciplinary processes: Social, economical and organizational models. Hershey, PA: Business Science Reference.

The Effect of Stimulus Voltage free essay sample

The Effect of Stimulus Voltage on Skeletal Muscle Contraction Lab Report Pre-lab Quiz Results You scored 25% by answering 1 out of 4 questions correctly. 1. Skeletal muscle fibers are innervated (stimulated) by You correctly answered: c. motor neurons. 2. A single action potential propagating down a motor axon results in Your answer : a. We will write a custom essay sample on The Effect of Stimulus Voltage or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page several action potentials and several contractile events in the muscle fibers it innervates. Correct answer: d. single action potential and a single contractile event in the muscle fibers it innervates. Â  In resting skeletal muscle, calcium is stored in Your answer : a. the sarcomere. Correct answer: c. the sarcoplasmic reticulum. 4. During the latent period for an isometric contraction Your answer : a. the actin and myosin filaments slide past each other, causing the muscle to shorten. Correct answer: c. the cellular events involved in excitation-contraction coupling occur. 05/09/13 page 1 Experiment Results Predict Question: Predict Question: As the stimulus voltage is increased from 1. volt up to 10 volts, what will happen to the amount of active force generated with each stimulus? Your answer : a. The active force will continually increase. Stop Think Questions: What do you see in the active force display when the stimulus voltage is set to 0. 0, and why does this observation make sense? You correctly answered: a. 0. 00 g; there was no activation of skeletal muscle fibers by this stimulus. What is the lowest stimulus voltage that induces active force in the skeletal muscle? Y ou correctly answered: b. threshold voltage. The maximal voltage induces the most calcium release from a muscle fibers sarcoplasmic reticulum. Correct answer: b. At the maximal voltage, all the muscle fibers contained in this muscle are depolarized and they all develop active force (that is, they were all successfully recruited). 5/09/13 page 11 Review Sheet Results 1. Describe the effect of increasing stimulus voltage on isolated skeletal muscle. Specifically, what happened to the muscle force generated with stronger electrical stimulations and why did this change occur? How well did the results compare with your prediction? You did not answer this question. 2. How is this change in whole-muscle force achieved in vivo? You did not answer this question. 3. What happened in the isolated skeletal muscle when the maximal voltage was applied? You did not answer this question.

Writer#8217;s Manual for Research Paper on Child Development

Writer#8217;s Manual for Research Paper on Child Development Writing a research paper is not as daunting as some people like to believe. If you have the required information, you can create a compelling paper in no time. And to be able to do so, you need to learn the methods and techniques that outline an exemplary research paper. However, knowing how a research paper is written alone is not really that beneficial. To compose a perfect research paper on child development, you have to read our previous two guides i.e. 10 facts for a research paper on child development and 20 child development research paper topics. These two guidelines will play a vital role in allowing you to write quickly and effectively – leaving you worry free at the time of need. Composing an Attractive Title A title is what really attracts your audience to read your research paper. It is the first thing they will notice about it. You should compose a persuasive title by providing insights to what the reader is going to find inside the paper. You should also try to indicate the variables, both independent and dependent ones. Writing the Abstract The abstract, in general terms, is a brief summary of your content in your research paper. It contains your research question, hypothesis (if there is any) and the discoveries along with the studies you have done on that particular topic. You can also discuss the resources and samples that you’ll use in your paper. Composing the Introduction of Your Paper Introduction is one of the most important paragraphs of your research paper. If your title is attractive, but your introduction isn’t convincing, the reader would not want to read further. To compel the reader to read further, you have to speak clearly. Tell your readers about the problem you’ll be discussing. Describe the research that you did on the problem or topic and sprinkle some information on sources and evidence that support your research and point of view. Concluding everything very briefly would allow the reader to know what’s coming in the next paragraphs and he’ll be interested to read it further. To refine the introduction even further, you have to define issues and problems that would later lead to you research. Explain the variables (independent and dependent) of your research/experiment. Define why you were eager to study this phenomenon in the first place and add some little personal touch to it while describing it. You can also include the hypothesis right after that. Plus, you can define some significant concepts that will be mentioned in your paper but it’s considered optional. Finally, don’t forget to conclude your introduction with a clear and concise delimitation focus. Writing the Body of Your Research Paper Once you have gone through the beginning, it’s time that you start working on the main body of your paper. These paragraphs should be properly organized and must be full of information. Each paragraph should only talk about a particular research that you have done with proper source. Concluding the Paper with Documentation Documenting the sources in your research paper is necessary because it clarifies that your research is original and authentic and it is not a copied version of the sources you used. It also helps the reader know that you have a good understanding of the topic that you have chosen to research on. And of course, if you forget to include the documentation then your research may be suspected as plagiarized content. Don’t forget to include the bibliography of the sources that you have use. It’s a must to let readers know that your research is authentic and has been borrowed from some credible sources. In other words, it helps define your research as an unbiased version of your opinion, based mostly on facts and nothing else. That’s about it! Once you have concluded the paper. It’s time to take a break. Once reenergized, go through your paper and correct mistakes to have a perfect output. Remove parts that might seem a bit excessive, add information that would make your paper better. Don’t forget to look for outline mistakes and grammatical errors and consider revising again. The more you revise, the better your research paper would become. Now you’re reading to write an exemplary research paper on child development. Be sure to read our first and second guide as well, if you haven’t already. Happy writing!

Coca Cola and their Marketing techniques Case Study

Coca Cola and their Marketing techniques - Case Study Example In recent years due to increased competition the company has involved itself in ownership of franchises all over the world. The coca-cola company produces a wide range of products, including: soft drinks (Coke, Fanta, and Sprite), Mineral water (Dasani), non-carbonated beverages (PowerAde sports beverage, flavored tea Nestea). In general the Coca-Cola Company (TCCC) only produces syrup concentrate which is then sold to various bottlers throughout the world who hold a Coca-Cola franchise. Coca-Cola bottlers, who hold territorially exclusive contracts with the company, produce finished product in cans and bottles from the concentrate in combination with filtered water and sweeteners. The bottlers then sell, distribute and merchandise the resulting Coca-Cola product to retail stores, vending machines, restaurants and food service distributors. The Coca-Cola Company offers nearly 400 brands in over 200 countries, besides its namesake Coca-Cola beverage. Diet Coke was introduced in 1982 to offer an alternative to dieters worried about the high number of calories present in Classic Coke.2 The Company also introduced new soft drinks to satisfy a widening spectrum of tastes. Born in Germany, Fanta was introduced in the United States in 1960; today the Fanta family of flavored soft drinks has become one of the best-selling brands in the world. Sprite, a lemon-lime drink, followed in 1961, and in 1963 the Company introduced TAB, its first low-calorie beverage. In 1960 the Minute Maid Corporation merged with the Company, adding frozen citrus juice concentrates and ades under the trademarks Minute Maid and Hi-C to the Company's array of beverages. The Coca-Cola Company offers nearly 400 brands in over 200 countries, besides its namesake Coca-Cola beverage. This includes other varieties of Coca-Cola such as Diet Coke (introduced in 1982 ), which uses aspartame , a synthetic phenylalanine -based sweetener , to eliminate the sugar content of the drink; Caffeine-free Coke ; Cherry Coke (1985); Diet Cherry Coke (1986 ); Coke with Lemon (2001 ); Diet Coke with Lemon (2001); Vanil la Coke (2002 ); Diet Vanilla Coke (2002); Coca-Cola C2 (2004 ); Coke with Lime (2004 ); Diet Coke with Lime (2004 ); Diet Coke with Splenda (2005 ), Coca-Cola Zero (2005), Coca-Cola Black Cherry Vanilla (2006) , Diet Coca-Cola Black Cherry Vanilla (2006), and Coca-Cola Black Tab was Coca-Cola's first attempt to develop a diet soft drink, using saccharin as a sugar substitute. Introduced in 1963, the product is still sold today, however its sales have dwindled since the introduction of Diet Coke. The Coca-Cola Company also produces a number of other soft drinks including Fanta (introduced circa 1942 or 1943) and Sprite. Fanta's origins date back to World War II

Unemployment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

Unemployment - Essay Example An unemployed individual does not currently have a job, has sort for a job in the prior 4 weeks and ready for work as defined by the U.S. Department of Labor (1). This is usually denoted as a percentage. Unemployment is a very significant measure or indicator of the economy and serves to indicate how healthy or ailing an economy is. The unemployment rate, which by definition is the ratio of people who are unemployed to the total number of people in the labor market, is the most common measure used to define and size up employment. There are instances when unemployment is voluntary (Gay 30). This scenario occurs when persons opt not to seek employment due to a number of reasons such as low wages in the market. Unemployment generally significantly affects parameters such as inflation and stock prices. What then is the relationship that exists between unemployment and inflation? Market players, such as the Federal government and corporate world usually relate low unemployment rates are attributed to high inflation levels. Low unemployment is consequently related to an increase in the growth of the economy. These market participants also view the reverse as true, which means that an increase in unemployment and a slow economic growth are indicative of a decrease in unemployment. Theoretically, the relationship between unemployment and inflation is explained by the Phillips curve. According to this theory, unemployment and inflation work in opposite direction. Chang asserts that in a period of low unemployment as compared to a period of high unemployment, there are fewer unemployed laborers in the labor market (Chang 10).

Effects of Polychlorinated Biphenyl (PCB)

Effects of Polychlorinated Biphenyl (PCB) Polychlorinated Biphenyl (PCB) is a persistent organochlorine that has 209 congeners and can be divided into two categories, dioxin-like and non-dioxin-like. Although these two categories have different structures and toxicological profiles, both have an adverse impact on the human health [1]. Since PCB is a stable chemical and can withstand extreme temperature and pressure, it was heavily used back in 1929 for electrical equipment [2]. While the production of PCB was ceased in 1977, traces of PCB can still be observed on the Great Lakes for it was once used as a disposal site along with the possibility of accidental leaks. From lakes, it can move into different waterways and later be passed on by organisms. Long-range-transport of PCB vapours through air currents also functions as a dispersion mechanism in the ambient air [3] [4] [5]. Anyone can be susceptible depending on the rate of the exposure and the amount of stressor a person had been exposed to. PCB can enter the system thro ugh ingestion, inhalation and dermal contact, all of which can essentially bioaccumulate and inhibit the bodys natural processes in the event that the receptor had exceeded the threshold. PCB has been linked to endocrine dysfunction, reproduction deficiencies, chloracne, liver damage and kidney cancer [6]. Recognizing credible sources is a key factor in toxicity assessment. This allows the reader to acquire more information about the chemical of concern and make an informed decision. Some credible sources are listed below: Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry European Chemicals Agency Health Canada United States Environmental Protection Agency World Health Organization     Ã‚   3.1. What happens when PCB enters the body? Humans absorb PCB through inhalation, ingestion and dermal contact. On bioassays conducted, it was observed that animals absorbed PCB well when administered orally and less absorbed when exposed through dermal contact. While inhalation is an accounted pathway for PCB, there is inadequate data to identify the absorption rates. Upon absorption, PCB is dispersed into the lipophilic cell membranes in the gastrointestinal tract. It then circulates into the blood vessels and enters the lymphatic system. Due to the lipophilic nature of PCB molecules, it is readily absorbed by the fatty tissue. In autopsies conducted, the liver, adipose tissue, brain and skin usually contains higher concentrations of PCB. Elimination of PCB can be through excretion of feces, urine and breast milk [7]. When exposed to PCB, symptoms include severe acne, swelling of the upper eyelids, discolouring of the nails and skin, numbness in arms and/or legs, weakness, muscle spasms, chronic bronchitis, and neurological complications [6]. 3.2. Acute and Chronic Effects PCB exhibits both acute and chronic effects. Although it demonstrates low potential in producing acute effects, however, due to the risk it poses in human health in the long-term, it is still deemed to be a public health concern. Skin lesions particularly chloracne has been observed during occupational exposures. Nausea and headaches were also reported yet this could be primarily due to the solvents in the PCB mixtures. Subsequently, long-term exposure to PCB has been linked to reproductive deficiencies, liver damage and kidney cancer [8]. 3.3. Threshold vs Non-threshold PCB has shown evident carcinogenicity in animals and therefore is considered to be non-threshold substance by USEPA. The data for human carcinogenicity for PCB mixture is deemed to be inadequate but suggestive. Essentially, PCB can also be classified as threshold substance because of its non-cancer potential in lower concentrations and short-term exposure [9].   3.4. What effects does it have? Carcinogenic US EPA labeled PCB as Group B2, a probable human carcinogen. This was based on the experiment of exposure of rats to several mixtures of PCB that are often found in the environment [10]. On a study published in 1976, occupational exposure to PCB increased the mortality from cancer. However, the outcomes were mixed since the study only found limited deaths and incomplete exposure assessments [7]. Mutagenicity There were insufficient data involving the mutagenicity of PCB [7]. A bacterial test which distinguishes chemical mutation effects was conducted on PCB. Although PCB demonstrated negative results, this was not uncommon since PCB has complex compounds and pathways [11]. Reproductive Toxicity Oral administration of PCB on animals has displayed toxicity effects but dermal and inhalation exposure were not available. Exposure of rats and mice to high doses of PCB had produced several effects. The effects documented were decreased conception rate, pro-longed menstruation, decreased litter size and reduced sperm count. Rats and mice that were exposed to PCB while lactation suggested long-lasting adverse effect on the offspring. On another study, PCB is also associated to estrogen-related effects [7]. 4.1. Bioassay Overview The slope factor of PCB was based upon the studies conducted by Brunner et al. (1996) and Norback and Weltman (1985). A group of male and female Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed to different Aroclor. Groups of 50 female or male rats were orally administered with 25, 50 or 100 ppm Aroclor 1260 or 1254; 50 or 100 ppm Arcolor 1242; or 50, 100, or 200 ppm Aroclor 1016. At 104 weeks, the rats were killed. Liver adenomas or carcinomas were discovered in all female rats for all Aroclors and male rats for Aroclor 1260. While thyroid gland follicular cell carcinoma was evident on male rats, female rats also exhibited mammary tumors at a later age. On another study, male and female Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed to 0 or 100ppm of Aroclor 1260 for 16 months and subsequently reduced to 50 ppm for another 8 months. Tests were executed in different months to understand the changes in the structure of the rats. The intensity of the damage on the liver increases as you progress through the months. On the 29th month, most of the female rats displayed carcinoma and neoplastic nodules whereas male rats had lesser incidence [10] . 4.2. Published Benchmark A tiered approach was used by USEPA to determine the cancer potency of PCB. Upper-bounds provide precision while central-estimates are appropriate for estimating risks. Potency values are dependent on the exposure pathway. For exposure pathways with increased risks, we use High Risk and Persistence. Exposure pathways that decrease risk are appropriate on Low Risk and Persistence. Lowest Risk and Persistence is developed from Aroclor 2016, therefore it is appropriate for congeners with more than for chlorine. The slope factor can be generated by dividing 0.10 by ED10 (Estimated dose associated with 10% increased incidence, in mg/kg-d) [12]. High Risk and Persistence Low Risk and Persistence Lowest Risk and Persistence Upper-Bound Slope Factor 2.0 per (mg/kg)/day 0.4 per (mg/kg)/day 0.07 per (mg/kg)/day Central-Estimate Slope Factor 1.0 per (mg/kg)/day 0.3 per (mg/kg)/day 0.04 per (mg/kg)/day Criteria for use Food chain exposure Sediment or soil ingestion Dust or aerosol inhalation Dermal exposure, if an absorption factor has been applied Presence of dioxin-like, tumor-promoting, or persistent congeners Early-life exposure (all pathways and mixtures) Ingestion of water-soluble congeners Inhalation of evaporated congeners Dermal exposure, if no absorption factor has been applied Congener or isomer analyses verify that congeners with more than 4 chlorines comprise less than 1/2% of total PCBs. Figure 1 Tiers of Human Slope Factors For Environmental PCB [13]. Uncertainty Factors It is important to know that not everyone responds equally to a given chemical. Populations with higher sensitivity may be associated with increased risks. Also, the genetics and lifestyle of a person must be accounted as this pose potential change on the dose-response trend. Furthermore, it is essential to recognize that the mixtures of PCB tested in animals are Aroclor mixtures which have been pre-determined and not environmental mixtures that had bioaccumulated which are generally more potent [10]. Figure 1 shows that the slope factor is dependent upon the exposure pathway. Although these are just estimates, scientists have dedicated their time to conduct bioassays where we can extrapolate the data to potentially understand the dose that can harm humans. However, it is also crucial to know that environmental processes can alter the PCB concentrations, therefore it is best to be educated on how you can be exposed to PCB and how you can avoid this. To improve the assessment, studies concerning sensitive population should be further considered and assessed. Since PCB concentrations are altered in the environment, animals or humans that are already exposed could be used to investigate and compare the differences with the experiments done in the laboratory. In addition, it was not mentioned why rats were chosen as experiment parameters, analyzing parameters used could help readers discern why rats are relevant for the study. [1] P. Heikkinen, . L. T. M. van der Ven,, F. Rendel, R. Roos, J. Esteban, M. Korkalainen, S. Lensu, H. Miettinen, K. Savolainen, S. Sankari, H. Lilienthal, A. Adamsson, J. Toppari, M. Herlin, M. Finnila, J. Tukkanen, H. Leslie, T. Hammmers and G. Hamscher, Toxicological Profile of Ultrapure 2,2à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ²,3,4,4à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ²,5,5à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ²-Heptachlorbiphenyl (PCB 180) in Adult Rats., PLoS ONE, vol. 9, no. 8, pp. 1-26, 2014. [2] PCBs: Polychlorinated Biphenyls, [Online]. Available: http://www.greenfacts.org/en/pcbs. [Accessed 2 February 2017]. [3] S. 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Available: https://www3.epa.gov/region02/superfund/hudson/hhra-app-c.pdf. [Accessed 20 February 2017]. [10] United States Environmental Protection Agency, 1 October 1996. [Online]. Available: https://cfpub.epa.gov/ncea/iris2/chemicalLanding.cfm?substance_nmbr=294. [Accessed 21 February 2017]. [11] Polychlorinated Biphenyls and Polybrominated Biphenyls., in IARC Monographs, IARC, 2016. [12] U. S. E. P. Agency, PCBs: Cancer Dose-Response Assessment and Application to Environmental Mixtures, September 1996. [Online]. Available: https://cfpub.epa.gov/ncea/iris_drafts/recordisplay.cfm?deid=12486. [Accessed 21 February 2017]. [13] United States Environmental Protection Agency, 1 June 1994. [Online]. Available: https://cfpub.epa.gov/ncea/iris2/chemicalLanding.cfm?substance_nmbr=294. [Accessed 21 February 2017].