Homeostasis Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Homeostasis - Research Paper Example This paper will discuss four ways human physiology responds to athletic training from the perspective of musculoskeletal system, body composition, thermoregulatory system and cardiovascular system and explain physiological mechanisms. Exercise programs promote muscle development, which takes place in conjunction with body fat reduction resulting from the difference between the intake and output of energy. In the initial stages of weight reduction, the body fat available for the body to use as fuel is often counteracted as denser muscle tissues are gained. The adenosine triphosphate chemical (ATP) facilitates muscle contraction and after several repetitions, ATP levels are depleted. Glycogen is initially burnt to replenish the level and the longer exercise takes, the more fat is burnt, like in short and high-intensity exercises (Curtin & Woledge 583). If the exercises are longer, the muscles release more lactic acid, which could eventually lead to muscle fatigue and cramping. However, flexibility and stretching exercises create greater motion range in joints subjected to the associated stresses. The result is that when the joints gain the ability to move with more dynamism, there is a notable increase in stability , power and speed in the motions of the related structure. This greatly reduces chances of injury or being overstressed. Body composition accounts for the most visible physiological change in response to athletic training. The human body is constructed from skeletal bone, organs, lean muscle mass and body fat. Although training does not alter their dimensions, specialized exercise reduces body fat percentage while increasing the mass of lean muscle. Processed triglycerides are stored in the form of body fat in the adipose tissues for indefinite periods. When exercise is combined with the right diet, it will result in

The reasearch paper about Apple INC Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

The reasearch paper about Apple INC - Coursework Example The overall external environment and other strategic factors become important to manage in order to lengthen the stay of each organization in a particular stage of its life cycle. Apple Inc is one of the largest growing companies in the world which has been able to withstand much of economic downturn. Over the period of time, it has revolutionized many industries and changed the very fundamentals of doing business in consumer electronics market. Duly supported by the visionary leadership of its late CEO Steve Jobs, Apple has become a new force in consumer electronics industry while dominating handheld music devices, smartphones, tablet PCs and other consumer electronics items. This report will be based upon Apple Inc, what advantages and disadvantages it has enjoyed during its growth phase and how it can deal with its external environment for maintaining its sustainable development and growth achieved during last few years. Apple Inc- A general Introduction Apple Inc was incorporated as Apple Computers Inc is a global organization engaged in the manufacturing, development and marketing of consumer electronics items. It also produces consumer software and commercial servers which are used for storage as well as for other associated purposes. Apple’s range of core products however, is based upon a portfolio of consumer electronics items and is most importantly I.T. oriented. Its flagship products include IPod, IPhone, Ipad as well as Mac laptops. (Levy, 2008) The IPod comes in different models and shapes and is used as an MP3 music player. It can be used to store and play music as well as movies. IPod is also connected with Apple’s music store with the name of ITunes where users can directly download the music and listen the same immediately on their IPods. It was also one of the main products launched by Apple which it started its journey towards hyper growth it achieved during the recent past. IPhone is a smartphone whereas IPads are tablet comput ers and are considered as the leading products of Apple Inc now. Advantages & Disadvantages of Growth The recent growth observed by Apple has brought in different advantages and disadvantages to its business. Over the recent past, following advantages and disadvantages have been enjoyed by Apple Inc due to its growth: A Dedicated base of Consumers Apple’s growth has provided it a dedicated base of consumers which are more loyal to it than any other brand offering similar products. Recent growth of the firm has actually provided Apple a loyal group of users who value its brand and remain stuck with what is offered by Apple. It has been able to sell over 1 million IPhones; over 300 million of IPods have been sold whereas Ipad is also a hot selling product. These figures suggest that Apple’s growth has offered it a dedicated base of consumers who are willing to buy different product ranges offered by Apple. Technology and Customer lock-in Apple’s growth is often at tributed to its ability to design aesthetically good products duly supported by excellent engineering and designs. As Apple grew in its size, it has been able to tap into far superior technology which is not used by other competitors. It has been able to design products which are considered technologically superior with longer useful lives and are considered as more durable. This aspect of its business therefore has helped Apple to lock in its customers as users

Prepare a proposal to the CEO of ZExpress Coursework

Prepare a proposal to the CEO of ZExpress - Coursework Example They need to understand their role and others as well to put the overall administration in perspective. It’s only then they shall optimize the resources and take full advantage of the M&A which has taken place. If there is a communication gap between management or structural deficiencies, it will directly effect the business and hence its profitability. SMART objectives Specific: What exactly do I want to achieve Create a structure which is acceptable to all top management of merged companies. Who reports to whom? Why? Who is senior to whom? Why? Is single reporting structure better or should there be dual reporting? How about dotted reporting? Should companies still consider their staff separate from other companies? These are few of the questions which can be asked in order to achieve this project, because I believe that its only a healthy management team which can fulfill your target of increasing revenue and decreasing costs by correct delegation and reporting. Measurable: How will I know I have got it? Seamless flow of administrative instructions with 99% accuracy will be a point where one can say that the structure is running smoothly. There can be staff members identified from the top management who shall be responsible in implementing the whole plan and giving feedback to overall management team about its progress and improvements required if any. Since time in hand to revamp the whole system is only 6 months, keeping in mind the Bonsai business, this needs to be done on priority and within 6 weeks or so. Achievable: How do you know you are capable of reaching this goal? A step is already taken by identifying the CEO, 3 VPs and 3 GMs all from different erstwhile companies. The rest of the structure should fall in place whereby the remaining Ex GMs and VPs and COOs of the merged companies find their best fit in the organization. There are innumerable examples of good and bad management structures available by research on other companies where one can learn from in case of such M&As. Hence its certainly achievable, but its success depends on its planning and execution. Realistic: How realistic is this goal? Putting a structure in place for better organizational management is achievable with correct information and cooperation from all team members. This is a prerequisite and there is no question of it being non realistic. Timed: How long will it take me to reach this goal? Time is of essence here, but that should not lead to a haphazard structure or strategy. Huge effort has to go into this, within a significantly small time frame. 6 weeks is what I have set with scope of 2 weeks delay. This is assuming that its not only the restructuring work being carried out but other projects being implemented side by side in operations, logistics and administration. Contribution to your goals This project will be the hidden secret to your success if its well executed. Team work specially between staff of different merged companies is key to success of the united entity. Your goal to make UPE a company which is most exciting to your staff and suppliers and eventually become best distribution and Logistics Company worldwide can be possible if this goal is achieved in early stages of new company. It is these joint teams which will enable the company to be agile and responsive to customer’s business needs across the world. Challenge 1 - Relatively less cooperation from management team of either of the merged com

Voting Behaviour Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Voting Behaviour - Case Study Example These are based on studies conducted by the Center for Research into Elections and Social Trends (CREST). This section will also deal with the changes in voting behaviour patterns that have been observed in Britain, and how changes in social and economic systems can impact voter behaviour. The next section will deal with the common theoretical frameworks used in the analysis of voting behaviour. Based on the discussions in the book, 'Political Choice in Britain' (2004), by Clarke, Sanders, Stewart and Whiteley, this part will deal with the traditional sociological framework, followed by the individual rationalist approach. Widening the scope of the individual rationalist approach, the focus will shift to what are termed valence politics models. In the next section, these models will be used to analyse the voting behaviour patterns in the 2001 and 2005 general elections. This section will also discuss the issues of voter apathy and the growing trend towards tactical voting. The paper will conclude with a discussion on the changing patterns of voter behaviour in Britain, and will also discuss how these can be very essential in predicting the outcome of future elections in Britain. A key factor influencing voter behaviour is social attitude. ... Discussing voting behaviour, the CREST studies note that the social class remains a key influence on how people vote. Curtice (2002) states that this is in line with Pulzer's famous words, "Class is the basis of British politics; all else is embellishment and detail". The studies also note that a voter's behaviour is not motivated by self-interest and that the media, especially newspapers, have little influence on the election results. The studies also note the emergence of tactical voting as a means of expressing preferences. Changes in social attitudes and voting behaviour are a result of changing social and economic conditions. In the 21st century, the common man in Britain does not enjoy the social and economic certainty and cohesion that characterized life in the 1950s. The employment position is less secure, and the society he/she lives in is more diverse. In modern Britain, class boundaries are more fluid, and the average citizen has access to several sources of information, and the right to make the appropriate social and economic choices. (Clarke, Sanders, Stewart and Whiteley,2004, pg.2) The socio-economic changes have had an impact on the political thinking of the citizens as well. The biggest impact has perhaps been on the attitude of the British citizens towards politics, especially in how they vote at the time of elections. To understand the changes in voting patterns, the models of voting behaviour need to be studied. Models of Voting Behaviour There are several theoretical frameworks that analyse voting behaviour in elections. The foremost among them is the sociological framework proposed by Butler and Stokes in 1969. This framework works on three levels. To begin with,

Health Care Payment Systems

Health Care Payment Systems Miguel Boquer   Introduction Healthcare spending has been on the rise over the years and is even more so affected by the continually evolving healthcare payment and insurance systems. To put it into perspective, national healthcare spending has grown from 5.3 percent in 2014 to 5.8 percent in 2015 reaching an astonishing reached $3.2 trillion or $9,990 per individual (Wilson, 2016). In 2016, healthcare expenditures were expected to reach $3.35 trillion averaging $10,345 per individual (Alonso-Zaldivar, 2016). Payment and insurance systems through employers, insurance providers, and government agencies are providing for ways of controlling factors driving healthcare costs. Payment Systems Payment systems have continued to evolve into many various forms over time such as fee-for-service, pay-for-coordination, comprehensive care, pay-for-performance, bundled payment or episode-of-care, upside shared savings programs (Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) or Commercial), downside shared savings programs (CMS or Commercial), partial or full capitation, and global budget (McKesson, 2017). The most popular and original way of payment for health care services being utilized today is the fee-for-service payment system. This system allows for each separate service that is provided to be paid for at a set amount (Miller, 2009). From what I gathered through my research is that as the population ages, healthcare costs rise, and technology advances, the fee-for-service isnt always the most efficient method of payment. A combination of payment systems is more preferable when working with the different sources of payers such as self-payment, insurance providers, or Medicaid/Medicare. Episode- of-care and comprehensive care would be a great combination reason being that some of the aging population or those with more serious conditions can utilize episode-of-care, whereas the comprehensive payment system will cover the population that contain conditions that require more frequent or repetitive care for chronic conditions such as diabetes. For instance, comprehensive care payment would be made to the physician practice or health system to deal with the patients who possess presumptive underlying health conditions. Then, the episode-of-care payment would be made to a hospital if a specific patient requires surgery or any other costly treatment (Miller, 2009). Payers The Affordable Care Act (ACA) is comprised of numerous regulations that focus on the organization of healthcare like how it is delivered and then paid for. The fee-for-service system that has been the most dominant payment system is inefficient and costly to patients and payers, which is why the regulations provided the ACA must be imposed on the flaws of the US health system. As the US economy strengthens, medical prices continue to increase rapidly, and the population ages, Medicare and Medicaid are projected to grow at a quicker rate than private insurance providers (Alonso-Zaldivar, 2016). In the sense of utilizing multiple payers, healthcare providers can transform the way they deliver health care to all of its patients if enabled by the changes in payment systems as long as the payers throughout the community are required to change their payment systems as well in related ways. Additionally if the right payment is set, the health care providers will be able to deliver quality c are to the patients as needed (Yong, Saunders, Olsen, 2010). HIT and Payment Systems Health Information Technology (HIT) is contributing towards effective changes in the way payment systems are operating. HIT continues to be a vital component of directing the health care payers toward automated workflows, while improving the management of medical claims. Data can better managed through the use of HIT innovations such as the transferring of health information within and in-and-out of a health plan, which is substantially important (Patrick, 2016). New, innovative healthcare technology is allowing for the combination of managed care and any additional technology that is used in managing patient care within the patients health plan along with determining the claim payments. The large amount of data that becomes available as a result through that combination can be incorporated with various types of data such as pharmacy or health assessment resulting in a pool of data readily available to access as needed. Conclusion The various healthcare payment systems are being used to cover, coordinate, and manage the costs of care for patients are copiously complex. Only through the improvements of the payment systems have payers been able to effectively control the aspects of healthcare costs. Aging population and the increasing presence of chronic illnesses are calling for improvements to the processes of payment systems such as the implementation of multiple payment systems. The advances of Health Information Technology will be able to allow for the smooth collaboration and integration of multiple payment systems in the efforts of improving the quality of patient care. References: Alonso-Zaldivar, R. (2016). $10,345 per person: U.S. health care spending reaches new peak. Retrieved from http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown/new-peak-us-health-care-spending-10345-per-person/. McKesson. (2017). What Payment Models Exist. Retrieved from http://www.mckesson.com/population-health-management/resources/what-payment-models-exist/. Miller, H.D. (2009). From volume to value: better ways to pay for health care. Health Affairs (Millwood); 28(5):1418-28. Retrieved from http://content.healthaffairs.org/content/28/5/1418.full. Patrick, J. (2016). Is Health Information Technology Imperative for Payers? Retrieved from http://healthpayerintelligence.com/news/is-health-information-technology-imperative-for-payers. Wilson, K. B. (2016). Health Care Costs 101: ACA Spurs Modest Growth. Retrieved from http://www.chcf.org/publications/2016/12/health-care-costs-101. Yong, P.L., Saunders, R.S., and Olsen, L.A. (2010). The Healthcare Imperative: Lowering Costs and Improving Outcomes: Workshop Series Summary. Institute of Medicine (US) Roundtable on Evidence-Based Medicine. Washington (DC): National Academies Press (US); Payment and Payer-Based Strategies; 11. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK53906/.

Vietnam: The Mixture of Protests and Politics Essay -- essays research

  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The United States was unjustified in its involvement in the Vietnam War because, in my opinion, the U.S had little justification to sacrifice thousands of innocent youths for political ideals. It was the longest and most unpopular war in which the United States fought. Many Americans on the home front protested their government’s involvement in the war. Many young Americans felt that there was no reason to fight for a cause they did not believe in, especially in such a strange foreign country. The civil rights movement also strongly influenced many of the war protests. This was because such a large percentage of minority soldiers sent over to fight were being unfairly treated. The African American soldiers were being ordered to the frontlines more often than white soldiers were.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Another vigorously protested topics of the Vietnam War was Conscription. Most of two million soldiers who fought in the war were chosen through the Selective Service program. The draft policy has been an imprint of America the Civil War. This policy has been used in every major United States war since. Young adult males were required to register for the draft when they turned eighteen years old. A lottery system decided who would be called to combat. If selected for the draft, the draftee had to serve 24 months of active duty. During the Vietnam War, the hostility Americans felt towards the draft erupted and caused major protests across the nation.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  They are where many ways people protested the draft. Some eligible draft members avoided the draft by leaving the country for Canada, Sweden, and a number of other countries. Other men protested by publicly burning their draft cards.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Lyndon B. Johnson won the presidential election on November 1, 1964. Despite the tension between the â€Å"Doves† and the â€Å"Hawks†, president Lyndon B. Johnson stood by his policy of slow escalation. As he began his term in office in 1965, he was confident that his programs to better the nation would be established despite that â€Å"nagging little war in Vietnam†# as News Week reported it.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Protests have long been a way for people to display their difference in opinion and gain support. One of the many protests against the war that had a powerful effect on public opini... ...been involved in because it was against an unknown enemy in an unknown territory. The consequences of the war far exceed the benefits. The citizens during that period of time would definitely agree. The war caused a severe decrease in the countries moral. Many people no longer trusted the government and grew extremely skeptical of its actions. The recession soon after the war did not help in boosting the spirit of the country. The Vietnam war also exposed many of the United States‘ weaknesses. It showed that our government had planned poorly. It also showed that it was possible to resist the United States as a mass. There is a major difference between one disagreeing voice and a vast number of them. In the end the United States had devastating losses socially and economically. Protests and politics will always go hand in hand when the â€Å"sheep† disagree with the â€Å"herderâ€Å". Bibliography: - Nhu Tang, Truong. 1985. A Vietcong Memoir. New York: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, Publishers - Dougan C. & Lipsman S. 1984 The Vietnam Experience: A Nation Divided. Boston: Boston Publishing - McDougal Littell. 2003 World History. United States of America - http://www.pbs.org/

Mission vision Essay

Introduction This assignment is prepared to find out the mission, vision and value statements of some organizations from different industries. In this assignment I will also try to find out whether these firms put emphasize on quality in their vision and mission statement. This report looked into the mission, vision and value statements of McDonald’s, Bank of America, Rangs Group, BRAC University and IBA, University of Dhaka. Mission statement A mission statement defines the organization’s purpose and primary objective. Its function is internal; to define the key measure or measures of the organization’s success and its prime audience is the leadership team and stock holders. Vision statement A vision statement’s purpose is to explain the organization’s key values and does not refer to bottom line figures. It tells how a particular company believes things should be done. Additionally, it also gives direction to customers and employees. A vision statement also tells where the organization is heading and how it will complete its operations Value statement Value statement is an expression of a company’s or individual’s core beliefs. Companies write the statement to identify and connect with the consumer. Additionally, the declaration allows for the company’s staff to be aware of the priorities and goals of the company. Mission and vision statement of different organizations McDonald’s Mission statement â€Å"McDonald’s brand mission is to be our customer’s favorite place and way to eat. Our worldwide operations are aligned around a global strategy called The Plan to win which centers on an exceptional customer experience- People, Products, Place, Price and Promotion. We are committed to continuously improving our operations and enhancing our customers’ experience† Value Statement We place the customer experience at the core of all we do We are committed to our people We believe in the McDonald’s System We operate our business ethically We give back to our communities We grow our business profitably We strive continually to improve Comments McDonald’s doesn’t have a specific written vision statement. McDonald’s value statement specifically mentions the organizations commitment to quality service. McDonalds considers quality as key to ensuring positive consumer experience. McDonalds considers quality, commitment to its staff suppliers and shareholders, ethical business practices and CSR as integral to maintaining its spot as the industry leader. IBA, University of Dhaka Vision Statement â€Å"We strive to be visible among the respected business schools in the world, as we relentlessly pursue the goal of transforming the individual into a caring professional, who can make society just a little better† Comments IBA does not have a specific mission and value statements. The vision statement of IBA does not make any mention of quality. However, the goals stated in the statement require a strong emphasis on quality in order to achieve them. North South University Vision statement The vision of North South University (NSU) is to become a leading university and remain as a top center of excellence in higher education and research. It aims at attracting brilliant students, teachers, scholars, and from all over the world. Mission statement The mission of NSU is to produce highly skilled manpower, visionary professional leaders and responsible and enlightened citizens. This mission is achieved by imparting high quality higher education, and training, and by conducting useful research so that individuals can achieve their intellectual, social, and personal potentials. NSU is committed to developing human capital by sharpening creative thinking. In addition to creation and dissemination of knowledge, its mission includes promotion of humanism and peace through higher education. As a social institution, NSU endeavors to induce changes for betterment of the society as a whole through public services, and through promotion of ethical behavior and social justice. Comments NSU emphasized on quality in their mission statement. They have stated several long term targets for their organization in their vision statement and they have planned to achieve those by imparting higher quality higher education. Bank of America Mission Statement â€Å"Bank of America is all about providing people, companies and institutional investors the financial products and services they need to help achieve their goals at every stage of their financial lives. Our deep experience, broad range of services and global capabilities allow us to deliver comprehensive solutions that help customers and clients succeed in today’s market and prepare for the future.† Vision Statement â€Å"Our vision is to become the world’s finest financial services company.† Value Statement/ Core Values We deliver for our customers, clients and shareholders. We trust in our team. We embrace the power of our people. We act responsibly. We promote opportunity. Comments Bank of America emphasized a lot about quality in their value statement. Bank of America’s core value statement makes a declaration of quality in the form of consistency to all its constituents. Since, quality is considered a core value by the Bank of America; Rangs Group Mission and Vision Statement â€Å"Provide the population of Bangladesh with modern technology by offering quality products and proper after-sales-service through multi distribution channels to make their lives easier, more comfortable and convenient.The objective of our mission is by establishing a congenial working place with content employees and by offering quality products at reasonable prices we want to create a bond with every customer in order to maximize profit through perfect competition.† Comments Rangs group does not have a formal value statement. Rangs group places high emphasis on providing quality products and after sales service to its consumers. The group mission and vision statements are stated together. Besides they have emphasized on the modernization of technology.

Part Six Chapter IV

IV The police had picked up Krystal Weedon at last as she ran hopelessly along the river bank on the very edge of Pagford, still calling her brother in a cracked voice. The policewoman who approached her addressed her by name, and tried to break the news to her gently, but she still tried to beat the woman away from her, and in the end the policewoman had almost to wrestle her into the car. Krystal had not noticed Fats melting away into the trees; he did not exist to her any more. The police drove Krystal home, but when they knocked on the front door Terri refused to answer. She had glimpsed them through an upstairs window, and thought that Krystal had done the one unthinkable and unforgivable thing, and told the pigs about the hold-alls full of Obbo's hash. She dragged the heavy bags upstairs while the police hammered at the door, and only opened up when she considered that it had become unavoidable. ‘Whatcha wan'?' she shouted, through an inch-wide gap in the door. The policewoman asked to come in three times and Terri refused, still demanding to know what they wanted. A few neighbours had begun to peer through windows. Even when the policewoman said, ‘It's about your son, Robbie,' Terri did not realize. †E's fine. There's nuthin' wrong with ‘im. Krystal's got ‘im.' But then she saw Krystal, who had refused to stay in the car, and had walked halfway up the garden path. Terri's gaze trickled down her daughter's body to the place where Robbie should have been clinging to her, frightened by the strange men. Terri flew from her house like a fury, with her hands outstretched like claws, and the policewoman had to catch her round the middle and swing her away from Krystal, whose face she was trying to lacerate. ‘Yeh little bitch, yeh little bitch, what've yeh done ter Robbie?' Krystal dodged the struggling pair, darted into the house and slammed the front door behind her. ‘For fuck's sake,' muttered the policeman under his breath. Miles away in Hope Street, Kay and Gaia Bawden faced each other in the dark hallway. Neither of them was tall enough to replace the light bulb that had been dead for days, and they had no ladder. All day long, they had argued and almost made up, then argued again. Finally, at the moment when reconciliation seemed within touching distance, when Kay had agreed that she too hated Pagford, that it had all been a mistake, and that she would try and get them both back to London, her mobile had rung. ‘Krystal Weedon's brother's drowned,' whispered Kay, as she cut Tessa's call. ‘Oh,' said Gaia. Knowing that she ought to express pity, but frightened to let discussion of London drop before she had her mother's firm commitment, she added, in a tight little voice, ‘That's sad.' ‘It happened here in Pagford,' said Kay. ‘Along the road. Krystal was with Tessa Wall's son.' Gaia felt even more ashamed of letting Fats Wall kiss her. He had tasted horrible, of lager and cigarettes, and he had tried to feel her up. She was worth much more than Fats Wall, she knew that. If it had even been Andy Price, she would have felt better about it. Sukhvinder had not returned one of her calls, all day long. ‘She'll be absolutely broken up,' said Kay, her eyes unfocused. ‘But there's nothing you can do,' said Gaia. ‘Is there?' ‘Well †¦' said Kay. ‘Not again!' cried Gaia. ‘It's always, always the same! You're not her social worker any more! What,' she shouted, stamping her foot as she had done when she was a little girl, ‘about me?' The police officer in Foley Road had already called a duty social worker. Terri was writhing and screaming and trying to beat at the front door, while from behind it came the sounds of furniture being dragged to form a barricade. Neighbours were coming out onto their doorsteps, a fascinated audience to Terri's meltdown. Somehow the cause of it was transmitted through the watchers, from Terri's incoherent shouts and the attitudes of the ominous police. ‘The boy's dead,' they told each other. Nobody stepped forward to comfort or calm. Terri Weedon had no friends. ‘Come with me,' Kay begged her mutinous daughter. ‘I'll go to the house and see if I can do anything. I got on with Krystal. She's got nobody.' ‘I bet she was shagging Fats Wall when it happened!' shouted Gaia; but it was her final protest, and a few minutes later she was buckling herself into Kay's old Vauxhall, glad, in spite of everything, that Kay had asked her along. But by the time they had reached the bypass, Krystal had found what she was looking for: a bag of heroin concealed in the airing cupboard; the second of two that Obbo had given Terri in payment for Tessa Wall's watch. She took it, with Terri's works, into the bathroom, the only room that had a lock on the door. Her aunt Cheryl must have heard what had happened, because Krystal could hear her distinctive raucous yell, added to Terri's screams, even through the two doors. ‘You little bitch, open the door! Letcha mother see ya!' And the police shouting, trying to shut the two women up. Krystal had never shot up before, but she had watched it happen many times. She knew about longboats, and how to make a model volcano, and she knew how to heat the spoon, and about the tiny little ball of cotton wool you used to soak up the dissolved smack, and act as a filter when you were filling the syringe. She knew that the crook of the arm was the best place to find a vein, and she knew to lay the needle as flat as possible against the skin. She knew, because she had heard it said, many times, that first-timers could not take what addicts could manage, and that was good, because she did not want to take it. Robbie was dead, and it was her fault. In trying to save him, she had killed him. Flickering images filled her mind as her fingers worked to achieve what must be done. Mr Fairbrother, running alongside the canal bank in his tracksuit as the crew rowed. Nana Cath's face, fierce with pain and love. Robbie, waiting for her at the window of his foster home, unnaturally clean, jumping up and down with excitement as she approached the front door †¦ She could hear the policeman calling to her through the letter box not to be a silly girl, and the policewoman trying to quieten Terri and Cheryl. The needle slid easily into Krystal's vein. She pressed the plunger down hard, in hope and without regret. By the time Kay and Gaia arrived, and the police decided to force their way in, Krystal Weedon had achieved her only ambition: she had joined her brother where nobody could part them.