World War I and World War II

The period after World War I and World War II, this was approximately during the years 1919 to 1944, and after 1946, various sentiments appeared ranging from loss, death, suffering, happy to be alive and family reunions.   Since people are still experiencing the aftermath of the war, poets and authors alike were also feeling the fever. Rupert Brooke was well known for his war poems that vividly described what he saw, relating the fear and devastation he felt while fighting in the battlefield. Fiction novelist D.H. Laurence, poetess Edna St. Vincent Millay and Robert Frost became well known for their works that includes Women in Love, A Few Figs from Thistles and a   Pulitzer Award Winning collection of poems, respectively. However, other authors like John Hall Wheelock began publishing The Liberator, a weekly journal of criticizing the current society radically, where he soon became affiliated with the communist party. There were some who were not contented with the result of the war and went on to protest through their writings. Filling up the people’s mind with â€Å"what if† questions, and â€Å"if this was what they want†. This somehow changed the people’s view and a mixture of reactions was raised against their current situation. For example in the aftermath of World War II, a wave of sympathy was given to the holocaust survivors, while others, still, believed in Hitler’s ideology. From this event, numerous autobiographical accounts were published, the famous of which was The Diary of Anne Frank. Nonetheless, the conflict that arose from this era was that people became too sensitive in what was written down in journals, poems, stories or even in any articles. Such sensitivity was somehow dreadful for the literature world since authors did not have the liberty anymore to write anything out of topic and was not able to deviate from the current issues that were going on at that time. Works Cited Online Focus. War Poets. A Newshour with Jim Lehrer Transcript. February 17, 2003. November 5, 2007. http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/entertainment/jan-june03/war_poets_2-17.html World Chronology(1919, 1920). Answers.Com Website. November 5, 2007. http://www.answers.com/topic/1919?cat=technology#literature http://www.answers.com/topic/1920?cat=technology#literature  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Between The Covers Rare Books, Inc. Website. November 5, 2007. http://www.betweenthecovers.com/btc/awards/1000304   

Crime in Our Society Essay

This is a painful fact we don’t want to face. There is no effective form to change character. All those qualities in life that makes us what we are also help us become criminals. Heredity and environment, interaction of the individual in society, the totality of human nature and experience. Crime reflects more than just the pitiful few that commit it, it reflects the character of society. How did these people capable of stealing a car, or mugging a cripple become that way? All that they are and all that they have experienced is what drove them to commit a crime. Crime is not just sordid happenings, it is human nature. People commit crime. Some think that man is essentially good, and that given the chance, he will develop as a benign being. Others conceive man to be essentially evil and believe that he must be controlled for his own protection and the existence of an ordered society. Crime is a â€Å"Carry On† type industry. It never stops and always keeps growing on. The society has its own rule. Our society says that â€Å"One is innocent until he or she is proven guilty† and it never gives unusual and cruel punishment. Actually the terrific truth is that society itself creates the criminals and laws are there for them to live free. Crime does not require any kind of education or work experience and there is not that much risk, so the person who has nothing to lose can easily choose crime as his or her career. http://static.ddmcdn.com/gif/german-machine-gun.jpg http://cdn.theatlantic.com/static/mt/assets/science/gun1.jpg Gun ownership as American Gun Culture describes looks at the masculinity side of why men own guns. Also explains that family legacy of gun ownership is often a factor in determining whether one will become a gun owner. Many of young people got their first guns as gifts from parents. In the US guns are very easily and non-complicating purchase. It is legal to buy and to own a gun or any other life threatening machine. When the parent had taken more care to teach and exemplify proper gun-handling skills and other firearms knowledge, there is a much greater chance that the recipient of this legacy will embrace (rather than reject) it. Gun collecting has many aspects, but most focus on the historic, technical or artistic merits of the arms which make them appealing to collectors. Some collectors cherish a rusty bayonet, or musket ball recovered from an old battlefield. Ammunition collectors delve into the minute details and has all kinds rituals and cleaning time is greatly involves. Some collectors seek to fill a collection with arms of a single maker, others of a single historic period, some concentrate on a specific caliber, or country of origin. Many just want to own guns that they like for various reasons. Many arms collectors enjoy shooting their guns, and many people interested in living history become arms collectors as an outgrowth of that hobby. While not purely collectors, they are potential future collectors, and their experiences can provide valuable information to collectors. Hunting as indicated is a fine reason to own a gun, or several guns. According to the FBI’s national crime statistics, 1.2 million violent crimes were committed in the United States in 2010. About the same as were committed in the US in 2009. These violent crimes include such crimes as murder, rape, robbery, and aggravated assault. All saw declines nationally between 2009 and 2010. The largest decrease was in the number of reported robberies, dropping by 9.7% during this year. US crime statistics also report that property crimes saw a drop between 2009 and 2010, dropping from 9.08 million to 8.9 million in 2010. Property crimes include larceny, burglary and motor vehicle thefts. The rate of larcenies decreased the most, dropping by 6.98% since 2009. http://www.delrayrecoverycenter.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/Amphetamine-300Ãâ€"268.jpg http://www.drug-addiction-support.org/images/cocaineSmall.jpg Many people wonder about the social effects of drug abuse. Drug abuse develops the social life of the addict, tearing apart his family, friendships and professional relationships, work which links with his or her occupation and mainly the behavior of the person. Without intervention, the drug addict can wind up alone, with the drug being his only â€Å"friend.† People who are addicted very often turn to crime as a means of paying for their addiction. This can involve stealing or fraud to obtain the funds necessary to bankroll their addiction. This can start with stealing from one’s partner, family or friends but can spread to include their employer or several organizations. Another aspect is that of the cost of maintaining a police force that have to deal with the after- effects of addiction. One such example and one that we hear a great deal about in the media is that of ‘binge drinking. People who have developed an addiction to alcohol very often engage in drunken, anti-social behavior, usually in town and city centers up and down the country. The police have the job of dealing with fights or semi-conscious people lying in the street which is due to the effects of excessive alcohol consumption. The majority of crime committed is http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/pictures/2012/9/14/1347635831075/Prescribed-drugs-008.jpg Usually drug-related. Burglary, robberies are all ways of funding an addiction and the more serious the addiction the greater the chance of these being accompanied by violence. There are people who are so desperate to have a ‘fix’ or are completely controlled by their addiction that will do anything to service this. If this means using violence then they will do so. In this case their needs have overtaken any thoughts of rational or civilized behavior. They are not thinking of anyone else but themselves as they are consumed by their addiction. The changes that I think are important to focus on, and the solutions for them to tackle from bottom up are not as simple as it could be imagined. Well, I think that fixing the economy to assure as many people as possible are employed and you have much of the problem of crime resolved. Also finding a way to eliminate drugs from society would help attain the social crime issue. Think about all the crimes that can be associated with addiction: Drug trafficking. Drug dealing. Drug use, Robbery, Assault, Battery,Burglary,Rape. Domestic violence, Illegal weapons possession, Illegal weapons sales. The list goes on and on. This topic is not one of the easiest to tackle but if we eliminated one of the main reasons the crime appears in our society, it would definitely become a much safer place for us citizens to live in. http://calgarycommunities.com/content/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/a5.jpg

Why transfer Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Why transfer - Essay Example We helped raise funds in order to build the bridge, because many children die when crossing the river during flood seasons. I discovered that, though the bridge project was going well, the basic living conditions in the village had not improved.  However, when I visited another village in a different province in China, I was completely shocked to find that the people led progressive lives, while keeping their tradition and culture intact. Instead of remaining in a progressive rut, they parlayed what they knew of their traditional culture into a briskly functioning art and handicraft industry. They actually had a working business model that I did not expect to see in such a backward village. I realized that my dream to help the other village by spoon feeding them was wrong. When I explained to my father that we could actually do much more for the village than what we were already doing, he told me that I had the right idea. But without a solid foundation in Business and Economics, I would not be able to put my theories and plans into reality. Then I realized what my true calling was, and began to follow this new career path. Upon my return to UW, I enrolled in Economics courses and utilizd my free time in a manner that would allow me to mingle and discuss economic theories with my classmates and professors. My diligence and desire have a highly positive relation to the grades that I got in those Economics centered classes. I was averaging a 4.0 in my Macroeconomics, Statistics, and Business Law classes. I enjoyed dipping my feet in the School of Business and Economics pool, and my interest was further fueled by my participation in an information technology project at the Foster School of Business at UW. My impressive performance has convinced me that I am truly ready to become a Business and Economics

Curriculum and Diversity Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Curriculum and Diversity - Essay Example Laudable as these efforts are, they are yet to address the issue of teacher preparation, particularly pre-service training programs, which initially prepare teachers for teaching in primary and secondary schools. Despite the importance of initial teacher preparation in shaping the teachers' attitudes towards teaching and providing the requisite 'tools for the job' in the form of knowledge of subject matter and pedagogical skills, it is surprising that The SEN curriculum of teacher SEN has not received adequate attention from policy makers and development partners. However, the tendency to take the teacher SEN curriculum for granted and the assumption that it is suitable and appropriate to all students' and classroom realities need to be questioned. Questions should be raised with regard to the extent to which The SEN curriculum adequately prepares teachers for the realities and expectations not only of mainstream schools but also of schools for minority students. Pedagogy - the skill and knowledge of schooling and learning - that lets an educator to frequently improve and adjust his/her practice in order to constantly and successfully help student's master content and skills. (Feiman-Nemser, 2000). Diversity- pertains to the amalgamation of students from different cultures/ethnic/religious etc in the same classroom. Diversity is a very common aspect of primary classrooms in UK due to the multi-cultural aspect of UK. Plurality- refers to the majority of children in the classroom from one culture/group or ethnicity. Key stage two (primary) children learning is of strategic importance for both their future and that of the nation. Key stage 2 (primary) teachers must be prepared with the knowledge, skills, values and techniques to interact successfully with children, parents, colleagues, administrators, and others who affect children's lives. They must adapt to the interests, learning styles and needs of individual children in a complex, rapidly changing and culturally diverse society. (Garet, Porter, Desimone, Birman, Yoon, 2001) That's why teaching is a changing process for which key stage 2 (primary) teachers must be prepared. The Core Knowledge Foundation has found that a significant majority of teachers lack basic knowledge and skills needed for effective teaching in even the earliest grades. McRobbie (2000) notes that well over half of teachers get less than a day's worth of professional development annually, in contrast to teachers in other countries who engage in professional development for 10-20 hours a week. Hilliard (2000, p. 29-31), in claiming that a critical problem exists with traditional professional development activities, calls for fundamental change in how such activities are implemented. Research suggests that preserves teachers often resist new knowledge that challenges their experiences with regard to the realities of race, class, gender, sexual orientation, and ability within the classroom and society (Pattnaik & Vold, 2001). Moreover, research highlights that predominantly white preserves teachers are typically unaware of their own racial identity (Powell, 2000). In addition, many preserves teachers tend to cling to and defend discourses that privilege those of

Sustainable Operations Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Sustainable Operations Management - Essay Example Its main focus is on the efficiency and effectiveness of the processes involved in value creation for sustainable development and growth. The term sustainability aims at keeping a balance between the human needs and prevention of the ecosystems on which our future generation depends. In specific, it refers to the exploitation of resources with the orientation of technological changes and minimal environmental damage to the present as well as future needs. The adoption of sustainable development theory is at an ever growing pace with the increased awareness of eco-friendly environment and analysis has indicated that since after the introduction of UN Agenda 21 (Moore, pp. 20-28, 2008), things seem to accelerate significantly in this area. In order to compete with the global market, businesses are paying more attention towards the environmental consequences of their products or services. They have realized the importance of operations strategy to support the company’s objectives and corporate goals. This trend has transformed the nature of operations to green product design, triple bottom line reporting and close-loop supply chains (Lippmann, pp. 1-9, 1999). The involvement of operations management is present from strategic to tactical and operational levels. Its activities include â€Å"site location, layout and structure, inventory management, traffic and materials handling, equipment selection and maintenance, designing technology supply chains, etc† (Metz, 1998). In this regard, this paper will focus on the issues companies confront while developing their policies regarding sustainable development (Moore, pp. 29-33, 2008) in the area of supply chain management. Supply Chain Management The term supply chain interchangeably used as ‘demand chain’ or ‘value chain’ refers to the voluntary commitments made by the companies to manage better relations with the suppliers (Metz, 1998). It manages in three different directions: t he information flow in all the departments, the funds flow and the materials flow to the concerned places. As the aim of this assignment is to identify and discuss some of the key issues faced by the companies in the development of a sustainable supply chain policy, it has been an observation that companies have realized that the value they provide to their customers in the form of a product or service is not enough to survive in this competitive world (Webb, pp. 1-5, 2000). There is a constant need to address and resolve the sustainability issues throughout the supply chain. â€Å"Some of the most popular and important approaches to SCM includes collaborative planning, outsourcing, customers-suppliers partnership and ISC (integrated supply chain) design† (OECD, 1999). In specific, there are three dimensions on the basis of which a sustainable supply chain policy is developed. Particularly, UN Agenda 21 (Moore, pp. 29-33, 2008) divided the dimensions in two categories: social and economic. However, this paper has identified environmental, social, and ethical concerns that directly affect the performance and image of the company. Environmental Issues: a) the use of natural resources b) gas emissions c) waste management concerns d) harmful substances e) energy consumption f) deforestation g) global warming h) ozone depletion i) Nuclear radiation. Social Issues: a) Role and responsibility of the company towards the social

NFTS,exfs2,extfs3 Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

NFTS,exfs2,extfs3 - Article Example NTFS, on the other hand, is very useful in the event where file systems are needed in sharing files with newer Windows systems. Journaling improves data integrity and recovery, especially after unclean system shutdowns. This avoids file system checks which take so long during the next reboot following an unintended shutdown. This is because the changes that occurred since the most recent write to disk are saved and ready to be restored. Journaled file systems guarantee fast crash recovery. The journaled file system also makes it faster to scan a partition and restore a system once the system has failed, unlike non-journaled file systems that take so long. Journaled file system also ensures better performance. A journaled file system is faster due to its codes that are highly optimized (Negus & Caen, 2008). Journaled file systems are usually slower than other file systems. The slowdown is a result of the many operations that have to be performed on the journal every time there is a file system change (EMC Education Services, 2012). Journaled file systems such as Ext.3 have become important especially in Linux distributions, and knowledge of the file system is applied in recovering evidence such as deleted files and file activity. A forensic investigator will, therefore, use the first mode, called the journal to obtain the information pertaining to the activity of the file system. This facilitates the recovery of file content, with an added advantage of recovering metadata activity on the file system (Easttom, 2011). In conclusion, journaling of file systems has proved to offer more advantages, thus the suitability in forensics and investigations. Its suitability in the restoration of systems after unintended shutdowns has been a great

What is enterprise infrastructure Research Paper

What is enterprise infrastructure - Research Paper Example Enterprise infrastructure is stated to be the technology backbone of modern business (IT World Canada, 2011). According to Camp (2004), a blueprint of the enterprise infrastructure, known as enterprise architecture, forms the basis of an organisation’s Information Technology planning. A complex infrastructure is usually found in an e-business environment. Web services are being increasingly used for putting e-businesses on the Web, as well as enabling users: either humans or other Web services to use them. â€Å"Web service refers to a business or computational function delivered using standard web technology such as HTTP (Hypertext transfer protocol), XML (Extensible markup language), and SOAP (Simple object access protocol)† (Sahai & Graupner, 2005, p.5). Web services have to be interfaced with the internal business processes to receive, fulfill and deliver orders. IT World Canada (2011) states that business process improvement software, business performance management and other enterprise infrastructure software are essential for Thus, the logical business processes, the Web services and the operation of enterprise infrastructure require the support of hardware, software, as well as humans. For example, an e-business infrastructure would include â€Å"web sites, web server farms, applications servers (J2EE, .Net) and business processes execution platforms such as Process Manager, MQSeries, and Web Method (Sahai & Graupner, 2005, p.44). Further, management of enterprise infrastructure includes desktop, data storage systems, networks, and the reduction of complexity and costs including minimizing the number of people required to efficiently operate the enterprise IT sytems. This paper has higlighted enterprise infrastructure and its components; and examined the need for its management, for achieving best outcomes in e-businesses. With the transformation of information technology from

Research project Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Project - Research Paper Example The method of building residential was standard in 1970s and the mid-1980s. It was fueled by some of the second era development which encouraged by Reagan tax laws. The laws created conducive situations for the investment of real estate. The rate of construction of rental apartment collapsed in the recent past divested the idea that home is sure-fire. However, recently, multi-family construction has inclined because of more vibrant rental alternative now that is single-family homes. The rise in the number of multi-unit residential apartments is evidence that investment the residential is profitable. Multi-family is becoming very intense now. Seemingly, a significant shift might be experienced whereby most people will prefer to move to multi-family homes instead of the single-family homes, in five to ten years to come. Proprietors will be compelled to change the type of residential. It I very clear that that there is market demand for multi-family residential building. Besides the increasing love for staying in residential multi-family residential buildings, formerly Metro laundry building is located in a strategic position. It is located on Agricola in a transitioning neighborhood and lends itself very attractive retrofit into a mixed-use building. The building will be separated into sections. The ground floor will be allocated for an upscale cafà © with the residential apartment located on the second floor. Making the building, a mixed-used building will be an excellent marketing strategy for tenant in the building, as most persons would always want to get some services near their area of residence. The building will provide them with a platform to enjoy the services sold on the ground floor. Valuation is the process of determining the market value of a property using various tools. Tools that can be I would use for assessment my property include sales comparison, cost, and

Why might Livingstone and Lunts approach to infotainment be criticized Essay

Why might Livingstone and Lunts approach to infotainment be criticized from Habermas perspective on the public sphere - Essay Example These realizations led to the postulations that communication had two dimensions with one dimension covering the overall communication of human beings and the other dimension covering the characteristics of communications that result from dynamics that influence communication at a given time and space (Outhwaite 2006, p.98). Therefore, communication is not a new concept. The current approaches to communication involve the works of Jurgen Habermas who approached communication using post-modernism and argued from a philosophical perspective. Herbamas concept of communication is that it should involve a deliberate action between the communicating parties to create harmony through a process known as rationalization. In essence, communication involves actors who take it upon themselves to create harmony and to solve problems through the process of communication. In essence, communication seized to be just an avenue for people to exchange ideas but an active tool that can be used to solve the problems outlined by the English Philosopher Thomas Hobbes (Outhwaite, Habermas: a critical introduction 2009, p.70). Habermas outlines that communicative action is not just communication but that it uses the tools of communication (Outhwaite, Habermas: a critical introduction, 2009). In essence, Habermas implies that for communicative action to take place both parti es have to be active participants. A central postulation to Habermas analysis of communication is that communication has to be rational. The concept of rationality is not new in the field of philosopher and sociology dating back from the times of philosophers like Plato and Rene Descartes. Although rationality is also still surrounded by controversy in terms of definition, the paper will approach rationality as concerning sound mind and reasoning. Communication in the contemporary world has taken a dynamic dimension beginning with the mass production of print media and cable television which has been the major

The reflection of 2 group work Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

The reflection of 2 group work - Essay Example The current business environment is more complicated and fueled by many things that are yet to be known. Every leader feels some pressure when it comes to generating results, building effective teams and creating a high performance environment. At the same time, most employees get tired of uncertainty and the necessity to perform better with less. It therefore causes workplace dissatisfaction. The added pressure on employees to deliver without knowing their eminent future not only tests their patience, but also that of the leaders (Bass, 2009). Patience is always a virtue and good leaders need to practice it. More so today, where everybody is getting more and more frustrated, either at work or with societal issues. Efforts to practice patience are being tested than ever before. Therefore, leaders need to do more in order to make up for followers that lost their patience along the way. Leaders need patience since they deal with people and not machines. In contrast with machines, people have so many quirks. Mostly people are reluctant when it comes to change. People will develop political affinities and alliances. People have their preferred ways of doing things, pet projects and favourite friends. It therefore takes patience to work with people effectively and accomplish the set objectives and goals. Even though some times there is a need to be impatient in order to push an agenda, a good leader needs to understand that patience is the secrete weapon behind getting things done (Hughes, 2012). The third step of leadership process is development of strategy and vision. In this step, key leaders will develop and adjust the business strategy as well as the direction the organization is taking. During this process, the vision and strategy of the organization is reviewed depending on the business realities, redefining and refocusing the strategy so that it fits competitive and marketplace demands (Boonstra,

Promote Person Centred Approaches Essay Example for Free

Promote Person Centred Approaches Essay 1.1 Person centred planning (PCP) should encompass every aspect of a service users support. Effective PCP is designed to ensure that the individual’s needs are always central when creating an effective support plan. Aspects such as an individuals goals, history, communication requirements, likes, dislikes and personal preferences should all be dutifully incorporated to create a fair, effective and unique care plan. For example, we have to respect the choices of the User. If the spiritual believes could appear not adequate for us, doesn’t mean that we are right and they are wrong. We need to do everything we can for help to promote adequate and good care for this user respecting their choices, independence and privacy. 1.2 The Care Plan is our bible. It provide all the information we need to provide the care  that the Users desire. The person is at the centre of our work, this mean we need plan and let the person to maintain their independent. Care Plans need to be review regularly to fulfil the individuals needs. Using effective care plans that apply person centres values provides the service user the chance to create a plan that it directly linked to their values and needs. Nobody likes to feel as though a generic method of care is applied when considering his or her support needs. Everyone is unique with requirements that relate exclusively to them 2.3 It is important to remain flexible when considering a service users support needs. An individual will always be changing and growing so it is important that this is reflected within their care plan. For example when I have previously supported NP goals relating to his ability to gain confidence whilst walking outside had to be met in a way that made the goal attainable. At first a goal of independent walking had been included within his IPP however any strict detail as to why and how this were to be most effectively achieved had to be assessed whilst communicating with him during our 1:1 support sessions. It turned out hat this goal was advised so that he could gain the confidence to go to work independently  without the need to get a life from his relative. As we would commonly visit the supermarket we created a method whereby the journey to the local supermarket was broken into segments where he would walk independently, slowly managing a further and further distance each week. Had I said that he should walk the entire journey by himself without breaking it down into manageable steps this goal would have not been completed. Therefore the effective completion of this goal was only attained through the needs of the individual being met on a personal level. 3.1 Mental capacity can be a complicated and ever adapting benchmark when assessing a person’s ability to do what is best for themselves. People must always be allowed to make mistakes as this will always be an inalienable human right of any individual. Ensuring that people do not put themselves or anyone else in direct  and immediate danger is the reason behind why the mental capacity act has been created. Factors such as anxiety and tiredness can affect an individuals ability to express consent which is reflective of their true needs. When a care plan is created it is always best to do it at a time and place where a service user feels relaxed and able to express their needs in a manner that is in alignment with their true feelings. For example at time times when I have supported ES he has been unable to convey a true account of his feelings due to being anxious at the time. If this is the case it is best for ES to spend some time doing relaxation exercises so that he can effectively participate in the design of his IPP. 3.3 For example when we admin Medications Stop any other activities we are doing, check and read all the information we have (care plan, MAR chart, blister pack ) Log in the LogBook. If anything happen, report immediately to line manager, inform the user and report it in the LogBook. If consent cannot be readily established an assessment of the persons capacity would need to be carried out. Firstly it would have to be considered that the individual understands what they are being asked to do, why they are being asked to do it and to what the concequences of their  choices may be. It is worth considering if they are relaxed, tired or preoccupied at this time. It can be beneficial to implement relaxation exercises to try and calm down a service user or even getting in touch with their family to ensure that their needs are fully met. If they are putting themselves or anyone else in immediate danger it can at points be necessary to contact emergency services depending on the severity of the situation. However this should always remain a the last option available when trying to diffuse a situation. 4.1 Encouraging people to do as much as possible for themselves , settings goals and task. Listening and acknowledging someone strengths and weakness. Allow individuals time to think and evolve in what they want to do. Recognising achievements however big or small they have made. If they cannot understand or make decisions by their self, the next of kin will be informed and asked. The order usually is spouses, parents, children (this may change) 5.3 Risk assessments are a vital part to an individuals care plan. It ensures that they will not be putting themselves or anyone else in danger. Whilst being an important part of any care plan they should remain as non invasive as possible to ensure that a service users retains the right to make their own choices. Certain risk assessments will contain a higher risk factor than others. It is when risks such as crossing road in a dangerous manner are enacted that the service users choice can become secondary to the fact that they are putting themselves in immediate danger. Risk factors such as ones that relate to dietary factors often have a smaller risk factor making it more possible to fully involve the service user in the decision making process when trying to effectively manage the risk in question. 5.4 Ensuring they have the correct information and know when these decision were made on their behalf. Inform them of the rights that they have. Assisting on searching of more information which that may help them make their decisions. If they would  like to make a complaint, inform them the Company policy and help them in  making the complaint if necessarily 6.1 : Personal Identity is the way we see our self and is related to our self image. This is important because it we will affect the way we feel about our self ( self esteem ) Personal Identity includes: Who we are What make us unique What are our values Physical identity Internal Identity Personals Goals 6.2 Those can be very different for different reasons but everyone can reach a good level of fulfilment. For someone could be physical or mental health. Is important that everyone knows this fact because will improve well-being and therefore our level or care. For example one person is important be eating a health meal or for another is not important. Or for an individual is important go to church but for other is more appealing watching a TV show. 6.3 When supporting an individual it is important to make sure that you can meet their needs in a way that promotes their sense of identity, self-image and self-esteem. When I have supported MC he has explained about how he has felt unfairly treated at work. This was mainly due to his lack of career progression as well a request for a transfer not being met, although having been promised. To help with this we constructed an information leaflet about his condition, which we gave to his employers so that they were fully aware of how to best interact with him. I also started communicating with his employer about getting a transfer to a branch that was closer to where he lived. As a result of this he has now been transferred closer to where he lives as well as feeling more valued as an employee. This has helped with develop his self-identity and self image through an increased sense of self worth as well as helping to improve his self-esteem. 7.1 A Risk Assessment will be done depending on the circumstances and surrounding. Like if the user live in the community or live in a care home. The risks are different in those scenarios and different actions need to be taken for make the living area safe. Risk assessments help decipher whether an individual needs 1:1 support or 2:1 support. They can also allow health  care professionals to implement safeguarding techniques to guarantee that the service user will not come into harm. This can include procedures such as giving individuals location devices if they are prone to wondering of whilst not being fully aware of their actions amongst many other advantageous practices to ensure the individuals safety. 7.2 The purpose of risk assessment is to eliminate any risk that may cause harm or loss to both service user and carer worker. However, in relation to the service user is important to remember their human rights are respected. For example the right to choose. If they are assessed also for a Mental Health Capacity and the outcome show that they are able to decide they are allow to make unwise or eccentric decisions. However it is important to identify the risk or possible outcomes, inform the Service User which will support to make a decision that will possibly involve taking some risks. 7.3 : Everyone’s circumstances could change over time in better or worse. Is important to identify any furthers changes or risks so the care plan can reflect the person immediate needs. Also people opinions and what they wants may change. Is important to keep the â€Å"person centred care approach† in mind all the times and during reviews. Also keep in mind our duty of care. the goal of effective support is help empower service users to the point where they feel able to lead an independent and rewarding life. As this is the goal of any support provider they must be aware that for one to achieve this they need to learn to manage the risks that they are subjected to in an independent manner. Therefore as a person grows and develops towards a heightened state of independence it is important to let them take control of their own lives and that means realising that risks that they may have formerly posed a threat to their well being will be withdrawn as they will know how to autonomously manage these hazards themselves.

What are the key elements of cbt

What are the key elements of cbt According to Beck, the cognitive approach to psychotherapy is best viewed as the application of the cognitive model of a particular disorder with the use of a variety of techniques designed to modify dysfunctional beliefs and faulty information processing characteristic of each disorder. At its current stage of development, CBT is considered one of the best validated psychotherapies available (Bennett-Levy et al. 2004, Salkovskis 1996), indeed, surveys indicate that CBT is fast becoming the majority orientation of practising psychologists (Gaudiano 2008). The fundamental premise of CBT is that emotional experience, behaviour and physiological sensations are influenced by individuals cognitive processes. Each of these realms of human experience is synergistically co-determining, with cognition mediating their reciprocal interrelationship (Sanders and Wills 2005); Clark Steer in Salkovskis, 1996). CBT asserts that the appraisal or meaning assigned by an individual to these processes t hat will determine their impact on psychological well-being (Beck 1976). Essentially, there may be several alternative ways of looking at experiences (Salkovskis 1996), that individuals actively construct their realities (Clark Steer in Salkovskis, 1996). The crucial role of cognitions in predisposing and maintaining psychological difficulties is emphasised, cognitive techniques are therefore viewed as a key element of the intervention process (Clark Steer in Salkovskis, 1996). The CBT model proposes that psychopathology is the product of faulty information processing that manifests itself in distorted and dysfunctional thinking which directly leads to negative emotions and maladaptive behaviours. Therapy aims to help clients identify and modify these distorted patterns of thinking (Bennett-Levy et al. 2004) by empowering them to choose alternative ways of interpreting and reacting, drawing from the fullest possible range of alternatives available. Psychopathology is conceptualise d as occurring on a continuum, symptoms being viewed as extreme variants of relatively common human experiences. For example, in anxiety disorders, cognitive models specify circumstances under which otherwise normal cognitive processes become stuck resulting in pathological levels of anxiety (Salkovskis 1996). Furthermore, CBT postulates the existence of cognitive styles and biases characteristic of particular psychological disorders known as the cognitive content specificity hypothesis. In practice, CBT is a collaborative, time limited, structured, educational, empirical and active form of therapy utilising a variety of methods, some specific to CBT, others adopted from other therapeutic approaches. Not only has CBT developed rapidly since Becks seminal work on depression, it has also changed greatly over the last 15 years with the emergence of CBTs 3rd wave approaches (Mansell 2008). Therapies falling under the CBT umbrella now include problem-solving therapy, DBT, ACT, rational-emotive behaviour therapy, cognitive processing therapy, MBCT and cognitive behavioural analysis of psychotherapy (Gaudiano 2008). Initially, this paper will explore the defining characteristics of conventional, mainstream CBT providing a brief overview of therapys structured format, its emphasis on collaborative therapeutic relationships and its cognitive and behavioural intervention techniques. The paper will endeavour to highlight throughout the defining characteristics of CBT, namely, i ts empirical, educational, parsimonious and adaptable approach to treatment using examples from a variety of clinical disorders. Examination of the main tenets of CBT will be followed by discussion of limitations associated with the approach. CBT has been criticised on multiple fronts, both from within CBT and from alternative therapeutic perspectives (Andersson and Asmundson 2008). A number of CBTs critiques will be examined including CBTs coherence as a theoretical framework, the role of the therapeutic relationship, its applicability across various populations and its current status within the broader socio-political context of mental health care provision. Limitations will be evaluated given recent developments within the discipline, primarily the emergence of the complementary therapeutic approaches heretofore mentioned. This paper will examine whether recent developments have sufficiently addressed CBTs limitations and will conclude with a discussion of possible areas of futur e research and development within the discipline. Case Conceptualisation CT is not a technique driven treatment, it should be driven by individual case conceptualisations that are based on a specific cognitive model (Wells 1997). The CBT assessment is a valuable opportunity to engage and socialise the client in the CBT approach, in which the therapist encourages the client to view therapy as a no lose experiment. In contrast to other therapeutic approaches, CBT assessments primarily focus on a detailed description of the current presenting problem (frequency, circumstances/situational aspects and associated distress levels), analysis of symptom, cognitive and behavioural details, historical and aetiological factors (primarily predisposing or triggering factors) and social/environmental influences. The majority of assessment is devoted to the identification and objectification of current presenting problems. Symptom presentation may be analysed in terms of its antecedents, associated appraisals and beliefs and emotional or behavioural consequences (Wells 1 997). In panic disorder, assessment would focus on the nature of catastrophic misinterpretations, a detailed description of the primary feared symptoms and the nature of safety and avoidance behaviours (Wells 1997). During assessment and indeed throughout the course of therapy, symptom and mood measures are used to establish base line rates and to assist in monitoring progress over time. Assessment is an important element of the formulation or cognitive case conceptualisation process. Case conceptualisation is envisaged as the process whereby client and therapist reach a shared understanding of the origins, development and maintenance of the clients problems. The formulation is an overview, essentially a working hypothesis, which is open to testing and verification throughout therapy and provides a tentative intervention plan. Conceptualisation is an active and continuing process throughout therapy, thus, the formulation is open to addition and revision as therapy proceeds (Sanders and Wills 2005). As the client becomes increasingly socialised in the CBT approach, SBs and cognitive biases may be incorporated into the initial formulation to aid clarity, understanding and planning. Crucially, the evolving formulation educates the client in the interaction between thoughts, emotions, behaviour and physiology, illustrating how the elements interact, trigger and maintain their problems. The assessment and formulation process allow the therapist to draw upon their knowledge of cognitive models of psychological difficulties, tailoring these models and associated protocols to the individuals case conceptualisation, thereby creating a bridge between theory and practice. At its simplest level, the formulation may be a diagrammatic representation of the clients problems, in which therapist and client plot the sequence of events in symptom presentation, often using vicious cycles (Wells 1997). The formulation represents the first stage in creating a cognitive set for the processing of alternative explanation of the clients problems (Wells 1997). However, there is a scarcity of evidence linking quality or style of formulation and therapeutic outcome (Sanders and Wills 2005); its value lies, from a practitioner viewpoint, in representing a roadmap of how therapy might proceed and possible intervention avenues. Structure and Format The brief nature of CBT necessitates a highly structured and goal directed format to be adopted from the outset. Through the negotiation of agendas, goals, a problem list, summaries and completion of self-guided activities (homework) (Padesky and Greenberger 1995), CBT maintains a focused, results oriented approach. At the beginning of each therapy session, an agenda is collaboratively devised and agreed upon, each session typically including a review of the clients mood, feedback, client and therapist agenda items, review and agreement of homework tasks (Sanders and Wills 2005). In early therapy sessions, the generation of a problem list (a practice inherited from behaviourism) highlights the main areas in which the client wishes to see improvement and guides target areas (Sanders and Wills 2005). Goal setting, which typically occurs at the end of the assessment, allows client and therapist to clearly define and operationalise the gains the client wishes to make by the end of therap y (Sanders and Wills 2005). A central component of CBT practice is self guided activity or homework. CBTs educational and self-help ethos seeks to empower the individual to ultimately become their own therapist, the completion of homework tasks outside session reinforce this learning experience. Homework can be enormously varied, from reading self help material to conducting behavioural experiments. Ideally, homework is devised collaboratively with a clear rationale for treatment gain. As therapy proceeds and the client becomes increasingly socialised to CBT, the client can adopt an increasingly independent role in devising homework with decreasing levels of therapist input. CBTs brief duration is greatly aided by the completion of homework outside session, enabling therapy to occur continuously in the clients own time. Successful homework completion has been associated with improved therapeutic outcomes, with clients who consistently complete homework between sessions improving more than patients who do not (B urns Auerbach in Salkovskis, 1996). Treatment including homework produced improved outcomes than treatment consisting entirely of in-session work (Kazantzis et al. 2003) Collaborative Therapeutic Alliance CBTs core competencies (Roth Pilling, 2007) affirm the importance of a collaborative therapeutic relationship within clinical practice. Competency as a CBT practitioner requires not only knowledge of cognitive models of psychopathology but also the ability to apply its theory in a structured manner. In practice, therapists must be able to formulate a useful case conceptualisation and apply empirically based clinical interventions within a collaborative therapeutic relationship (Padesky and Greenberger 1995). The collaborative element of the therapeutic relationship necessitates the adoption of a team work approach. This is underscored during therapy through the elicitation of client feedback, joint agreement of goals and frequent summaries by therapist and client to check understanding and learning. Collaboration is fostered by curiosity and inquisitiveness on the therapists behalf, both parties working in parallel towards achieving therapy goals. In contrast to alternative therapeutic approaches such as Psychodynamic, the therapeutic relationship is not conceived in of itself, to be the primary vehicle of clinical change in CBT. Beck, 1976, argued that although the qualities of a good therapeutic relationship are necessary, they are not sufficient as therapies active ingredient. Once the basic elements of the therapeutic relationship are established, CBT interventions may proceed (Burns Auerbach in Salkovskis, 1996). The importance of the therapeutic relationship within CBT has been reasserted over recent years. Demonstration that non-specific therapy factors, that is, the therapeutic relationship have an additive contribution to clinical improvement independent of CBT techniques has emphasised the importance of the alliance within CBT. These research findings illustrate that client subjective appraisal of the quality of the therapeutic relationship and therapist empathy are crucial (Squier 1990). Clients of practitioners wh o where rated as warmest and most empathic improved significantly more than patients of therapists with the lowest empathy ratings. Therefore, the quality of the therapeutic relationship, even in a technical form of therapy like CBT, has a significant impact on clinical improvement (Sanders and Wills 2005). As with other forms of therapy, the fundamental characteristics of a good therapeutic relationship such as accurate listening, empathy and congruence are vital for effective CBT practice (Sanders and Wills 2005). Guided Discovery Guided discovery, the primary learning process within CBT, teaches clients to question their own thoughts and beliefs (Padesky and Greenberger 1995). Therapists guide discovery verbally through questioning and experientially through BEs. Through this process, clients evaluate alternative perspectives or information which may be outside their immediate conscious awareness but when considered informs and impacts their existing thoughts, predictions and beliefs. Through the practice of collaborative empiricism, client and therapist adopt an experimental approach (Wells 1997), treating thoughts as hypotheses open to testing and verification (Padesky and Greenberger 1995). CBT encompasses interventions targeting cognitive content, from NATs to schema level and cognitive processes known as metacognition. Using Socratic dialogue, the therapist guides the client to uncover new information, integrating and generalizing these new insights into their thinking. The use of synthesising questions allows the therapist and client to extrapolate from the concrete to the abstract, applying information gleaned in the current discussion to previous ideas, thus facilitating generalizability and the construction of new beliefs. Socratic dialogue has been conceptualised as a means of loosening NATs, priming clients to consider alternative possibilities, increasing their range of attention, memory and highlighting cognitive biases in action. Thought records, a content focused intervention, enables the examination of evidence for and against a negative automatic thought, the identification of alternative perspectives and associated belief levels. The identification of the most salient or affect inducing thought (hot thought) focuses client and therapist on emotively charged and potentially debilitating or maintaining thoughts. Belief ratings assist in the distancing process, emphasising that thoughts are not true or false in a dichotomous sense. Moreover, thought records allow client and therapist to identify predictions which can be subjected to testing (Wells 1997). Whilst working with DAs, it may be more appropriate to emphasise the construction of new, more adaptive alternatives rather than attempting to disprove old rules using evidence for/against or examining pros/cons (Padesky and Greenberger 1995). Cognitive techniques targeting the core belief and schema levels such as positive data logs and retrospective though t records enable the generation of new helpful, alternative beliefs over a prolonged time period or the re-evaluation of past experiences using present day focus. Traditionally, CBT has tended to focus upon language content; metacognitive perspectives (thinking about thinking or the meaning of thinking) assert the importance of maladaptive cognitive processes in the development, maintenance and treatment of psychological problems. Advocates suggest that challenging of negative thoughts or beliefs targets the output or end product of dysfunctional metacognitive processes. Metacognitive awareness therefore highlights process level maintaining factors, for example, through the use of frequency counts; the client may record the number of intrusive thoughts or duration of ruminative thinking and associated impact on mood (Sanders and Wills 2005). Imagery based cognitive techniques are used when the clients thoughts and emotions present in visual rather than verbal form or when imagery is their preferred form of expression (Sanders Wills, 2005). For example, in social phobia, the clients fear of social rejection and perceived lack of coping skills may come to mind as an image of themselves blushing and being publicly humiliated. Therapeutic interventions focus upon restructuring or altering the form or content of images. The client can be encouraged to re-imagine an image, altering its appearance or creating a new ending finishing out (Wells 1997). In PTSD, in which intrusive memories and images maintain the current threat cycle, imagery techniques are used to contextualise the trauma image, embedding it within its historical context, thereby disabling its contribution to current threat perception. Behavioural techniques Behavioural intervention techniques such as activity scheduling and BEs have been described as the most powerful means of cognitive change (Wells 1997). The effectiveness of behavioural activation (BA), graded increases in activity levels and exercise has been demonstrated, particularly in depression (Westbrook et al. 2007). BA promotes improvements in mood and feelings of self-efficacy through focus upon increasing opportunities for enjoyment, mastery and pleasure. Activity schedules enable a baseline level to be established, plan future activities, increase problem solving and demonstrate to the client their current activities and achievements (Beck in Salkovkis, 1996). BA is typically the first intervention target in depression, progressive increases in activity levels and associated improvements in mood allow therapy to proceed to more cognitively focused tasks which may have been initially impossible. BEs are experiential exercises which enable clients to test hypotheses through action, reality check their predictions and generate new perspectives thus facilitating emotionally grounded change (Bennett-Levy et al. 2004). BEs are highly adaptable in design and implementation, in which the client may be an active participant or observer, can occur independently or with therapist support either in session or in vivo. BEs are most successful, that is, produce maximum cognitive change if outcomes that support the various hypotheses are clearly operationalised, results are reviewed in detail and their impact on existing beliefs openly discussed (Bennett-Levy et al. 2004). The potency of BEs as learning experiences means that a limited number of well designed BEs can not only target NATs but also begin to undermine dysfunctional assumptions and beliefs. Informed by the experiential learning cycle and adult learning theory, BE design is envisaged as containing four key elements: planning, experiencing, observing and reflecting. Each stage represents an opportunity to question predictions, generate new ideas and test them in everyday life. Theoretical considerations of the mechanisms of change underlying BEs invoke multilevel information processing models such as Teasdales ICS model (Teasdale in Salkovskis, 1996). ICS outlines two qualitatively different information processing systems, a propositional, logical, rational, verbal, affect-free processing system and an implicational, non-linguistic, rapid, experiential, emotionally salient learning system. According to the ICS model, the value of BEs is their ability to create enactive procedures that activate different schematic models. Essentially, BEs enable enactment of different ways of being rather than solely providing evidence which when rationally considered leads to belief chang e. In contrast to the cognitive techniques previously discussed, BEs are though to operate on both the propositional and implicational levels enabling a felt sense of their results. It is assumed that verbal cognitive techniques exclusively operate on the propositional level unless affect is stimulated. Research conducted with trainee practitioners has demonstrated that BEs produce significantly greater cognitive and behavioural change than thoughts records (Bennett-Levy 2003), although evidence for their specific effectiveness is sparse (Bennett-Levy et al. 2004). CBTs oft quoted limitations have been described as myths by those within mainstream CBT (Westbrook et al. 2007), critiques have originated however both within and external to the discipline (Andersson and Asmundson 2008). The following discussion will examine some of the main themes of this somewhat polarized debate, contextualising views within the reality of present day evidence-based, cost/efficiency focused, stepped care service delivery. It will argue that recent developments within CBT have done much to counteract its limitations and that CBTs future course will be defined by its ability to integrate increasingly fragmented perspectives into its ever evolving framework. Coherence According to Salkovskis, 2002, theory and empirical evaluation are central to developments within CBT; there is a continuous reciprocal relationship between science and practice. In recent years however, the necessity of cognitive intervention techniques, one of CBTs defining characteristics which differentiates it from other therapeutic approaches has been questioned (Jacobson et al. 1996). The necessity of logico-rational strategies to directly challenge and modify maladaptive thoughts has been questioned (Longmore and Worrell 2007);(Ilardi and Craighead 1994). A number of empirical anomalies within CBTs outcome literature have inspired this debate (Hayes et al. 2004). Component analyses investigating the necessary and effective elements of CBT have in some cases failed to demonstrate added value of cognitive intervention techniques. In a study of major depression, comparison of treatment conditions comprising of BA, BA with challenging of automatic thoughts and CBT resulted in equ ivalent performance across conditions at conclusion of therapy, 6 month follow up and in relapse rates at 2 years (Jacobson et al. 1996). The ambiguity has further intensified due to CBTs delay in researching its mechanisms of change, which according to (Burns and Spangler 2001) often fail to conform to cognitive model predictions. Additionally, measuring changes in the cognitive mediators of a disorder (thoughts and beliefs implicated by a cognitive model in disorder maintenance) do not appear to precede symptomatic improvement, thereby challenging cognitions assumed mediating role in therapeutic change. The course of this ongoing debate would appear to be directly in contrast with Salkovskis description of CBTs empirical focus above. The clarification of the essential and effective components of CBT practice across ranges of severity and CBT formats appears to be required (Waddington,) This equivocation is further exacerbated by characteristics instilled by CBTs integrative development. CBTs foundations in BT and CT have resulted in the development of a diverse and at times contradictory nomenclature (Mansell 2008). Its roots in clinical observations rather than empirical research, led to a disconnect with cognitive science and neuroscience (Gaudiano 2008). Furthermore, CBT has been criticised for its inability to define itself and its lack of coherence as a theoretical framework (Mansell, 2008). Although there is general agreement on the key characteristics of CBT, outlined earlier in this paper, there is not an accepted definition of the essential elements that comprise CBT. The recent proliferation of competing theoretical frameworks such as ICS, SPAARS, S-REF RFT has propelled CBT further from its foundations and towards increasing complexity and fragmentation. A reductionistic, mechanistic model of distress CBTs opponents have argued its approach is mechanistic, overly rationalistic (Greenberg and Safran 1987), fails to address the entire individual and has limited utility for people with long term or complex problems (Gaudiano, 2010). Critics cite its focus on the here and now, its lack of attention to developmental history, interpersonal relationships and CBTs technique driven focus governed by rigid protocols (Sanders and Wills, 2005). CBTs response has been two fold, further research and refinement of its cognitive models and intervention enhancements tackling enduring and complex problems utilising Schema Focused Therapy (SFT). For example, Becks initial schematic model of depression was augmented to include the concepts of modes and charges to account for findings of diathesis-stress, the relationship between cognition and personality and the phenomena of sensitization and remission (Beck in Salkovkis, 1996). This pattern can be observed in many cognitive models in which research findings have been integrated to provide a more comprehensive account, for example, the finding that self-directed attention is a critical mediator in social phobia. Schemas are unlikely to become a primary therapeutic target in conventional, short term CBT unless necessitated by client material or pose a significant risk factor for relapse. SFT developed from studies of CT non-responders and relapsers, so called treatment failures. These individuals were characterised as having more rigid cognitive structures, a history of chronic, lifelong psychological difficulties and deeply engrained maladaptive belief systems. These schemas were formed in troubled or abusive childhoods, resulting in the childs development of maladaptive coping or survival styles. Developed for the treatment of Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD), SFT builds upon its CBT foundations assimilating elements from attachment, psychodynamic (particularly object relations) and emotion focused perspectives, incorporating a range of therapeutic techniques from these approaches (Kellogg and Young 2006). A primary mechanism of change within SFT is limited reparenting, therapist and c lient dialogues enable the nurturing of the client as an abandoned child thereby challenging harsh and punitive adult relationships from early childhood. The therapeutic relationship is the antithesis of traumatic childhood relationships, an arena for clients to identify and test beliefs about relationships, practice alternative new behaviours and learn new ways of relating (Sanders and Wills, 2005). Patients are guided to generalise what they have learned in the therapeutic relationship to relationships outside of therapy. Confrontational, adversarial and dehumanizing Critics have asserted that CBT frames the client as a passive recipient of technical interventions (Strong et al. 2008), the CBT practitioner as controlling, medicalising, concerned with employing techniques and seeking evidence (Mansell, 2008; Sanders Wills, 2005). The use of technical terminology such as administered and implemented within CBT does little to assuage these concerns. Conversely, CBT advocates maintain that it is not an assembly of techniques applied mechanistically (Salkovkis, 1996). Research has demonstrated that CBT patients rate their therapists higher on various relationship variables (interpersonal skills, accurate empathy and support) than psychodynamic therapists, their level of active listening was found to be equivalent to insight-oriented therapists (Keijsers et al. 2000). The integration of a compassion based focus within CBT has further enriched and reinforced the importance of the therapeutic alliance. Compassion focused therapy (CFT) developed from observations that people with high levels of shame and self-criticism find it difficult being warm, compassionate and kind to themselves (Gilbert 2009), that they often use a harsh, bullying manner when attempting to change their thoughts and behaviours. People who are unable to self-sooth find it difficult being reassured or remaining calm when considering alternative thoughts or engaging in new behaviours. In CFT, the role of the therapist to help the client experience safety in their interactions, to feel safe with what is explored in therapy and to ultimately replace self-criticism with self-kindness. In compassionate mind training, the client learns the skills and attributes of compassion through modelling of the therapists compassionate abilities. CFT focuses upon the client experiencing alternativ e thoughts as kind, supportive and helpful. Throughout therapy, the client is taught to use warmth, compassion and gentleness as their foundation from which to move into more challenging activities. Limited applicability to certain populations: the psychologically minded Critical evaluations of CBT have highlighted its potential weakness and limited evidence-base for children, older adults (Kazantzis et al. 2003) and people with intellectual disabilities (ID). Critics argue whether CBT models and techniques can be applied to these disparate populations or whether CBT is best suited for the population in which it was developed. The extant literature has highlighted particular characteristics that engender suitability for CBT including, the ability to access thoughts, recognise, differentiate and label emotions, link events and emotions, understand the mediating role of cognitions and assume responsibility for change (James et al, 2001). Within ID, research is required on potential barriers to treatment that may or may not arise from capacity and motivational factors. CBT being an essentially linguistic method presents unique challenges within ID, cognitive techniques being more difficult to apply as verbal ability decreases (Willner and Hatton 2006). Furthermore, there has been a paucity of research within mainstream CBT regarding the applicability and validity of CBT models to ID (Willner and Hatton 2006). NICE guidelines for children indicate CBT, in either group or individual format for depression (NICE, 2005) and moderate to severe ADHD (NICE, 2006). Research investigating child focused CBT interventions have been almost exclusively derived from adult treatment protocols, with insufficient attention devoted to their applicability to children (Cartwright-Hatton and Murray 2008) or developmentally appropriate intervention techniques (Doherr et al. 2005); (OConnor and Creswell 2008). For example, it has not yet been demonstrated, that a childs developmental stage predicts treatment outcome. The role of family in child-focused CBT is receiving increased attention. Research investigating parental cognitions as triggering or maintaining factors in childhood problems have resulted in their incorporation within child-focused models. A recent study demonstrated that socially phobic mothers encourage their infants to interact less with a friendly stranger than mothers with GAD, which is predi ctive of the extent to which the child subsequently shows anxiety in the presence of a stranger (de Rosnay et al. 2006). Parental anxiety has also been found to be a significant predictor of treatment failure of individual child treatment. Preliminary evidence suggests that treating one family member whether it is parent or child can have secondary effects on other family members difficulties. A panacea for psychological distress Clinical significance analysis reveals that one third to a half of clients achieve recovery following CBT (or any other form of psychological therapy) (Westbrook et al, 2007). Therefore, it is clear that CBT and other therapeutic approaches cannot be conceived as a panacea for psychological problems. For a number of disorders, specifically tailored variants of CBT are recommended, often in parallel with family centred approaches, for example, anorexia and bulimia nervosa (NICE, 2004). CBTs impressive evidence base for depression and anxiety disorder treatment has encouraged the creation of the Increasing Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) programme in the UK (Ghosh 2009). IAPT focuses upon rapid throughput of patients aiming to reduce waiting list times and move 50% of people treated towards recovery (Rachman and Wilson 2008). IAPT draws heavily upon the NICE depression guidelines and Layards work on happiness (Layard, 2006) which outlined the social and economic costs of depre ssion and psychological problems. Mental health research has been dominated by symptom based

The Lightweight Cars Competitors And Their Structures Engineering Essay

The Lightweight Cars Competitors And Their Structures Engineering Essay The Atom prototype chassis was tested to determine the value of its global torsional stiffness. This value was calculated to be 1330Nm/deg. This value was to be improved upon by the following method: The creation of a Finite Element baseline validation model using MSC Patran/Nastran software compared favourably with the physical test results with a torsional stiffness value of 1352Nm/deg for a mass of 47 Kg and an efficiency of 88g/Nm/deg. The discussed modifications had been suggested to Atom upon initial appraisal of the chassis were incorporated into this baseline model and resulted in increases in both torsional stiffness and efficiency. Further, the design improvement study performed resulted in a maximum torsional stiffness of 6448Nm/deg, an increase of 377% over the baseline model. A maximum increase in efficiency of 286% to 23g/Nm/deg for a mass of 148.3Kg accompanied this increase in torsional stiffness. Following optimisation of the model to gain minimum mass for a stiffness of 6000Nm/deg a torsional stiffness of 6030Nm/deg was realised for a mass of 127Kg, giving an increase in efficiency of 322% over the baseline model to 20.99g/Nm/deg. ACKNOLEDGMENTS First, I would like to thank my parents for their support and encouragement throughout my university career. I would like to sincerely thank my supervisor Mr. Mike Dickison for his continual support and enthusiasm for this thesis. Thanks to Brunthinthorpe Car Ltd for providing a very interesting design project and great support throughout. Finally, a special thanks to all my friends at Coventry who have made this such a great year. INTRODUCTION 1.1 Bruntingthorpe Sports Cars Ltd Bruntingthorpe Sports Cars Ltd has been involved in the Lightweight car industry for a number of years. They have produced work for many other companies. 1.2 Aims of Project The purpose of the design project: To perform a torsion test on the prototype chassis to determine its torsional stiffness; To create a finite element model of the chassis; To incorporate a design improvement study and note the effects on the global torsional stiffness of the chassis; To attempt an optimisation for maximum efficiency. The following limitations are given for this project: The body shape is fixed and therefore the overall external shape of the chassis must not be altered; Overview of Chassis Types Definition of a Chassis The chassis is the framework to which everything is attached in a vehicle. In a modern vehicle, it is expected to fulfil the following functions: Provide mounting points for the suspensions, the steering mechanism, the engine and gearbox, the final drive, the fuel tank and the seating for the occupants; Provide rigidity for accurate handling; Protect the occupants against external impact. While fulfilling these functions, the chassis should be light enough to reduce inertia and offer satisfactory performance. It should also be tough enough to resist fatigue loads that are produced due to the interaction between the driver, the engine and power transmission and the road. Ladder frame The history of the ladder frame chassis dates back to the times of the horse drawn carriage. It was used for the construction of body on chassis vehicles, which meant a separately constructed body was mounted on a rolling chassis. The chassis consisted of two parallel beams mounted down each side of the car where the front and rear axles were leaf sprung beam axles. The beams were mainly channel sections with lateral cross members, hence the name. The main factor influencing the design was resistance to bending but there was no consideration of torsional stiffness. A ladder frame acts as a grillage structure with the beams resisting the shear forces and bending loads. To increase the torsional stiffness of the ladder chassis cruciform bracing was added in the 1930s. The torque in the chassis is reacted by placing the cruciform members in bending, although the connections between the beams and the cruciform must be rigid. Ladder frames were used in car construction until the 1950s but in racing only until the mid 1930s . A typical ladder frame is shown below. ladder Fig. 1 [Ref. 2] Twin tube The ladder frame chassis became obsolete in the mid 1930s with the advent of all-round independent suspension, pioneered by Mercedes Benz and Auto Union. The suspension was unable to operate effectively due to the lack of torsional stiffness. The ladder frame was modified to overcome these failings by making the side rails deeper and boxing them. A closed section has approximately one thousand times the torsional stiffness of an open section. Mercedes initially chose rectangular section, later switching to oval section, which has high torsional stiffness and high bending stiffness due to increased section depth, while Auto Union used tubular section. The original Mercedes design was further improved by mounting the cross members through the side rails and welding on both sides. The efficiency of twin tube chassis is usually low due to the weight of the large tubes. They were still in use into the 1950s, the 1958 Lister-Jaguar being an example of this type . Fig. 2 [Ref. 2] Four tube As designers sought to improve the bending stiffness of a chassis, the twin tube chassis evolved into the four tube chassis. The original twin tube design was modified by adding two more longitudinal tubes that ran from the front of the car, around the cockpit opening and on to the rear of the car. The top and bottom side rails are connected by vertical or diagonal members, essentially creating a very deep side rail and thus improving the bending characteristics. The two sides are joined by a series of bulkheads, normally located at the front, footwells, dash area, seatback, and rear of the chassis. A significant increase in bending stiffness was realised but there is little increase in the torsional stiffness due to the lack of triangulation causing lozenge of the bays. lotus21formula1_1961 Fig. 3 Lotus 21 [Ref. 4] Backbone The backbone chassis has a long history in automobile design with its origins credited to Hans Ledwinka, an engineer with Czech automaker Tatra. Ferdinand Porsche worked with Ledwinka in the 1920s and arguably learned much of his craft from him. When a chassis derives its torsional stiffness from one large central tube running the length of the car, the resistance to twist depends almost entirely on the cross-sectional area of that tube. Clearly, that cross section can be much larger than the typical drive shaft tunnel. Depending on the vehicle configuration it is possible to arrange for an approximately rectangular tube of substantial dimensions. This arrangement fits in well with conventional side-by-side seating, with the large central spine forming a centre console. Such an arrangement was utilised by Colin Chapman on the Lotus Elan . backbone_elan_1962 Fig. 4 1962 Lotus Elan backbone chassis [Ref.4] Spaceframe Although the spaceframe demonstrated a logical development of the four-tube chassis, the space frame differs in several key areas and offers enormous advantages over its predecessors. A spaceframe is one in which many straight tubes are arranged so that the loads experienced all act in either tension or compression. This is a major advantage, since none of the tubes are subject to a bending load. Since space frames are inherently stiff in torsion, very little material is needed so they can be lightweight. The growing realisation of the need for increased chassis torsional stiffness in the years following World War II led to the space frame, or a variation of it, becoming universal among European road race cars following its appearance on both the Lotus Mk IV and the Mercedes 300 SL in 1952. While these cars were not strictly the first to use space frames, they were widely successful, and the attention they received popularised the idea. lotusmarkVI_1952 Fig. 5 1952 Lotus Mk.IV spaceframe Stressed skin The next logical step for chassis development was the stressed skin design. This is more difficult to construct than a spaceframe with the accurate folding, forming, drilling and riveting of sheet steel or modern composite materials. The lessons learnt in the aircraft industry do not usually apply directly in automotive practice. The loads on aircraft are widely distributed the lift that holds a plane up, for example, is spread over the entire area of its wings. On a race/sports car, the loads are much more concentrated, being focused on the suspension mounting points. Even when a method is developed to accept forces and spread them over a load bearing skin, it becomes extremely inconvenient to make any modifications and may even require a major redesign. Analysis of the stresses in stressed skin construction is more difficult. The continuous surface considerably complicates access for repair or replacement of the cars mechanical components. This may also explain why stressed skin construction was virtually unheard of in race cars before the modern mid-engine configuration. The majority of mid-engine race cars end their stressed skin construction at the back of the cockpit, with either a space frame or the engine itself forming the remainder of the structure. For all these drawbacks, stressed skin construction can potentially outperform any other form of race car construction in terms of torsional stiffness. Load Cases A chassis is subjected to three load cases: bending, torsion and dynamic loads. The bending (vertical symmetrical) load case occurs when both wheels on one axle of the vehicle encounter a symmetrical bump simultaneously. The suspension on this axle is displaced, and the compression of the springs causes an upward force on the suspension mounting points. This applies a bending moment to the chassis about a lateral axis. bending Fig. 6 Bending Load case [Ref. 2] The torsion (vertical asymmetric) load case occurs when one wheel on an axle strikes a bump. This loads the chassis in torsion as well as bending. It has been found both in theory and in practice that torsion is a more severe load case than bending. torsion2 Fig. 7 Torsion Load case [Ref. 2] The dynamic load case comprises longitudinal and lateral loads during acceleration, braking and cornering. These loads are usually ignored when analysing structural performance. A torsionally stiff chassis offers a number of advantages: According to vehicle dynamics principles for predictable and safe handling the geometry of the suspension and steering must remain as designed. For instance the camber, castor and toe angles could change with torsional twist or the steering geometry could change causing bump steer. Once again according to vehicle dynamics principles a suspension should be stiff and well damped to obtain good handling. To this end the front suspension, chassis and the rear suspension can be seen as three springs in series as shown in Fig. 8. If the chassis is not sufficiently stiff in torsion then any advantages gained by stiff suspension will be lost. Furthermore, a chassis without adequate stiffness can make the suspension and handling unpredictable, as it acts as an undamped spring. Rear Suspension Front Suspension Chassis Fig. 8 Chassis and suspension as springs Movement of the chassis can also cause squeaks and rattles, which are unacceptable in modern vehicles. Simple Structural Surfaces: The simple structural surfaces method SSS originated from the work of Pawlowski and is described in the notes by Brown and the book by Brown, Robertson and Serpento. These references should be consulted for a thorough understanding of this approach. The SSS method provides a simple way of determining load paths through a structure. Each surface is assumed only to have in-plane stiffness and no out-of-plane stiffness. Each surface is acted on by forces, e.g. the engine mounts. For equilibrium, adjacent surfaces must provide reactions. This process is continued throughout the structure and determines the load on each SSS. It can then be realised if an SSS has insufficient supports or reactions and therefore determines the continuity of load paths and the structures overall integrity. ssssss Fig. 9 [Ref. 2] Fig. 10 [Ref. 2] As can be seen in the SSS example in Fig. 9 the box structure is loaded in torsion by the moment Ms, which causes the shear forces Q1 and Q3. All the surfaces are in complementary shear, and the structure is stiff in torsion. If one shear surface is removed, none of the complementary shear forces can exist. The torsion load is then transferred to the floor of the box via the edge forces Q, so the floor panel is loaded out of plane rather than in complementary shear The Lightweight cars competitors and their structures Atom Car Atom car is a brilliant example of the lightweight sports car philosophy. You strip out all the heavy crap that sits in the big fat sports cars, put in a small, light but powerful engine, and you have something you can have tremendous fun in. The Atom, like its fellow lightweights the Caterhams and the Elises, delivers high thrills for low costs. This is a brilliant weekend car, a trackday car, that you can go very fast in very easily. And I like doing that (on the track obviously) which is why this takes my third and final garage space. Ariel Atom 500 V8 built to celebrate 10th birthday To mark the occasion, Ariel employees assembled an example of their upcoming Ariel Atom 500 V8 high performance car in a personal record of five hours, fifteen minutes. The Ariel Atom 500 V8 is a highly-anticipated ultra light-weight sports car that has been in the making for around two years. The car, although its not your conventional car perse, is more of a superbike with four wheels. Ariel has confirmed the car will use a 500 horsepower thats 373kW V8 in the car that will weigh around 500kg. With a superbike like power-to-weight, the Ariel Atom 500 V8 is sure to be the scariest car ever to hit the market. The engine will be a 32-valve Hartley 3.0 -litre V8 which was derived from merging two Suzuki Hayabusa 1300cc superbike four-cylinder engines together. The engine is said to spin to 16,500rpm, like a superbike. And with a gearbox that allows flat-shifting, like a superbike, Ariel says the car will easily achieve 0-160km/h in under six seconds and go on to a top speed of 270km/ hà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ like a superbike. In a recent Autocar report, Atom designer Simon Saunders summed up the Atom 500 V8 build in a few words, The GT-R is the daily driven car that performs excellent everywhere. The Zonda F is the supercar for the long exploration trips through Europe. The Atom is the little insane car for scaring the crap out of yourself LOTUS EVORN: http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2008/09/evora-chassis.jpg Lotus is increasingly building on its 60 year history of creating more with less with all its recent efforts on electric and hybrid drive cars. Besides the power train work, Lotus has plenty of experience with lightweight structures. The latest evolution of that is the architecture of the new Evora sports car that debuted at the London Motor Show this summer. Lotus has now won an award for the aluminium chassis of the Evora at the Aluminium 2008 trade fair at Messe Essen in Germany. The Lotus architecture is comprised mainly of aluminium extrusions combined with some casting. The components are in part riveted together but are primarily joined by adhesive bonding. Lotus developed much of the technology while creating the Elise and has created structures with greater strength and lower weight. With the combination of aluminium structures and the expertise that Lotus also has in advanced composites, car makers can tap into a lot of technology to help reduce weight and improve fuel effi ciency. Lotus provides an automotive structure with a unique approach. They combined adhesive bonding techniques with mechanical joining, resulting in innovative and creative solutions. Lotus used their expertise in lightweight materials to complete this structure, achieving a low weight and a high structural stiffness and therefore ensuring a major impact on environmental and sustainable performance. The Lotus Evora demonstrates an accumulation of our core competencies in aluminum and composite body engineering, jointing techniques and vehicle systems integration. Lotus pioneered the technology of bonded aluminum extrusions for use in road vehicles and has successfully developed high performance cars for other car companies around the world. One great advantage of our low volume vehicle architecture technology is that it can be used by one car manufacturer looking to develop a range of niche products, or by a group of car manufacturers looking to share investment, but still retain a high de gree of end product separation. The Evoras chassis is an evolution of the Lotus vehicle architecture from the Lotus aluminum crossover concept vehicle previously showcased at the Geneva Motor show, and allows for the development of a range of vehicles up to a gross vehicle weight of 1,900 kg. This architecture has been designed to be more applicable to mid-volume applications by utilizing low capital investment manufacturing processes. The Evora structure progresses the Lotus bonded and riveted technology used in the Elise family of vehicles with unique extrusions and folded panels, whilst providing contemporary ease of ingress/egress, build modularity and improved, lower cost repairs. The Lotus Evora employs a composite roof as a stressed structural member to give an exceptional vehicle stiffness of 26,000 Nm per degree, thanks in part to the seatbelt anchorage frames secondary function as a roll over structure, and partly because the high-tech composite body panels are stressed it ems. However, despite this high stiffness, the complete chassis and modules weigh just 200 kg (prototype weight), helping to keep the weight of the whole car to just 1350 kg (prototype weight). To deliver this high performance structure, bonded and riveted high grade aluminum extrusions and simple, elegant folded sheet elements are used in the lower structure, which complements the stressed composite roof upper structure. Attached to the high strength central tub are sacrificial energy absorbing sub frames of extruded aluminum at the front and lightweight welded steel at the rear. These sub frame modules also offer advantages in terms of convenience and low cost of repair, and during manufacturing can be brought to the production line fully assembled, ready to be attached to the fully assembled tub. LUSO LM23: Luso Motors is a Portuguese car design and development house which has brought us a lightweight sports car LM 23. This design inspired from the Lotus 23b. The Luso Motors 23 is powered by a 150-horsepower 1.0-litre Honda CBR1000 engine, is mated to a six-speed sequential transmission. According to LusoMotors founder Ernesto Freitas says customers can choose a number of different engines, including a Subaru turbo boxer. This sport car features a steel tube frame chassis, double skin aluminium alloy sheets, riveted and glued with inner foam reinforcements, the outer skin is made out of fibreglass and carbon fibre components. It weighs just 881 pounds, a lightweight sports car, and 150 hp! The car will start at à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬15,000(about $23,600). Deronda G400: (http://www.sportscarzone.com/deronda-g400-a-race-bred-exotic-sports-car/) Close your eyes and build the ultimate two-seat sports car. Start with a lightweight, tube-frame chassis and then add race-bred suspension and oversized brakes. Wrap the vehicle in an aero-inspired carbon fiber body shell, but keep the generous cockpit open for wind-in-your-hair enjoyment. Lastly, wedge a huge, torque-laden, tire-shredding engine into the middle of the chassis, and tune the exhaust note so it scares the gophers out of your neighbors front lawn. Now, open your eyes and take a look at the Deronda G400. We recently had an afternoon with this exceptional hand-built brute in the mountains above Malibu. With a mid-mounted V8 sourced from a Chevrolet Corvette and the curb weight of a Smart fortwo, the Deronda seems powerful enough to move the economy. Whats the story behind the car? Who makes it, and how? Most importantly, can the Deronda be tamed? Read our full adventure after the jump. The Deronda was originally developed in the United Kingdom by Andy Round, a successful aeronautical engineer. Round wanted to purchase a lightweight high-performance road car, but was frustrated and dissatisfied with what he found after looking at offerings from Caterham, Ultima and Westfield. In a bold move, Round decided to build his own sports car using the most advanced components and materials he could get his hands on. Driving dynamics and safety were key priorities, while styling was to be influenced by Formula 1 and Le Mans Series race cars. The first prototype, manufactured by Fabrication Techniques, was called the Deronda F400. Powered by a turbocharged Audi 1.8-liter four-cylinder rated at 210 hp, Rounds new open-cockpit sports car made its debut at the 2004 Auto sport International Racing Car Show in the UK. At this point, Auto sport Development, a North American manufacturer and importer of unique street and race cars, was sufficiently impressed with the engineering and design of the Deronda that it wanted to build it. Discussions ensued, and the company licensed the rights to build and sell the car on this continent. Before production started, the team of engineers at Auto sport made a few changes in order to appeal to American drivers. The small 1.8-liter Audi engine was dropped, and a Corvette-sourced 6.0-liter V-8 took its place. To accommodate the much larger power plant, the team stretched the wheelbase by five inches (increasing overall length by eight inches). The brakes were upgraded, and the suspension was modified to accept the new running gear. The finished product was called the Deronda G400. Available directly from Sirius Motorsports, it is sold turn-key and according to the company, it is 50-state street legal (when licensed as a component car). Each Deronda begins as a pile of two-inch diameter (.095 wall) 4130 chromium molybdenum tubes. Stronger and more durable than standard 1020 steel, chrome moly is steel that has been alloyed with small amounts of chromium and molybdenum to increase its strength. The tubing is precisely cut and placed on a large jig where it is TIG-welded by hand. Safety is principal, so the frame is engineered with double side-impact protection tubing, and double rollover hoops (four in total). Crash structures are built into the front and rear for additional occupant protection. Once complete, the intricate frame weighs 650 pounds bare. A custom suspension, comprised of unequal-length control arms with horizontal mounted shocks, is bolted to the rigid platform. Massive cross-drilled Baer rotors are installed with dual-piston caliper Corvette C5 brakes up front (CNC-milled with the Deronda logo) and single-piston C5 calipers on the rear. Aluminum alloy front wheels measure 18ÃÆ'-9-inches (wearing 235/30R18 rubber), while the rears measure 18ÃÆ'-10-inches (with 285/35R18 tires). Placed mid-engine in the chassis is a new 6.0-liter LS2 engine (as used in the Corvette C6), mated to a durable Porsche G50 five-speed transaxle, with power delivered to the rear wheels. With stock headers, and environmentally-friendly catalytic converters, the engine is rated at 400 hp and 400 lb-ft of torque. A 14-gallon foam-filled ATL fuel cell keeps the power plant fed, and increases safety (a tank-fed fire-suppression system is optional). The exhaust is fitted with a muffler, but it still lets plenty of the engines anger out the back end. The skin of each Deronda is comprised of a mixture of fiberglass and carbon fiber body panels. The head rest, dashboard, rear wing, and fenders are all carbon fiber. Twin minimally-padded fiberglass seats with six-point harnesses are installed, and the windshield is DOT-legal single-piece of laminated glass with a windshield wiper. The entire build process, from tubing to a finished vehicle, takes about eight weeks. The final curb weight is a mere 1,890 pounds. Simple, yet functional, is the best way to describe the cabin. The dashboard presents only the most critical information. While the vehicle obviously lacks doors and a roof, heat arrives from air spilled around the front-mounted radiator. Small vents, not unlike ports found on light private aircraft, are able to bleed fresh air into the foot wells. Modeled with dimensions similar to the Porsche 996, the cockpit is accommodating even for someone who is 62à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ³ tall or taller. The seats and pedals are both adjustable for a custom fit to accommodate nearly everyone. After a perplexing process of flipping switches and pushing buttons, the brawny V8 spins to life and settles to a smooth idle. Stock Corvette headers dump hot gasses into the cats before they are expelled out twin howitzer-looking mufflers. The sound that penetrates the air is a deep irate rumble that will send chills up your spine. With the clutch fully depressed, we slip the milled aluminum shifter into first gear and slowly release the clutch. Without drama, we pull away. Lacking power steering, the small, flat-bottomed Sparco steering wheel is very heavy at low speeds. The driveway to the main road is steep, but the needle nose of the Deronda offers surprisingly generous ground clearance. As the traffic breaks, we pull into traffic pointing the car down Californias famed Mulholland Drive towards the Santa Monica Mountains. Warned about the power under our right foot, we treat the gas pedal as if it were a made from blown glass we dont need to spin this vehicle just outside the gate. With the road clear, we goose the accelerator. It is immediately apparent that this could be the quickest car weve ever driven. The engine spools to the called-for throttle input as if the transmission is in neutral, yet the car is firmly in gear. A light touch on the gas pedal is met by the white needles on the primary gauges rapidly sprinting clockwise around their dials. Behind you, the roar of the LS2 seems to scorch the pavement like the DeLorean in Back to the Future. Gearing doesnt seem to have much effect on the acceleration, either. Whether the transmission is engaged in second or fifth gear, 400 lb.-ft. of torque propels the lightweight G400 as if it were being launched from a 12-gauge shotgun. On public roads, with the wheels wrapped in street tires, the Deronda is seriously challenged for grip (the car is equipped with an adjustable electronic traction control that can be completely defeated). The wide Toyo Proxes T1R rubber on the rears immediately spins under full throttle initiating the electronic reigns, so we simply avoid the last 40% of the accelerators travel. Even driven at only 6/10ths, the car offers more power than nearly everything else on the road. The company doesnt have cited official 0-60 mph times, but under the right conditions were sure its comfortably in the low three-second range. Deronda says the G400 runs out of gears at an ample 183 mph well above the top ends of most minimalist competitors. Redline is a tick under 6,000 rpm, but you simply dont need to go there. The car pulls all the time, regardless of the engine speed or gear. Lug it around town in fourth at 1,200 rpm and it will deliver enough torque to annihilate the random Subaru WRX that begs to race. For all of its power, the engine is surprisingly tractable and easy to control. Drive it gently, and you flow with the traffic without concern. Step on the gas and the Deronda growls before it rips your head off. Rarely do you find a car with a bite that so exactly matches its bark. Blinding acceleration aside, the overall impression is that the Deronda drives much more like a race car than a street car. Without power assisted steering or brakes, the primary controls feel much heavier that those on any high performance road vehicle. Both hands, and both feet, are constantly interacting with the wheel, clutch, brake, and accelerator. Involving would be a supreme understatement. derondafd 02 opt Deronda G400 A race bred exotic sports car! After time spent following the roads curving through the mountains, we became much more comfortable in the Deronda. Excellent front visibility allows the driver to precisely place the wheels exactly where intended. While the steering was a chore at low speeds, the effort eased as our velocity increased. The lack of assist soon becomes an asset as the steering feels quick, accurate and very direct. Our insatiable appetite for the accelerator pedal kept us off the brakes, but eventually traffic forced us to call them to duty. As our speeds were relatively low (50-70 mph in the canyons), we couldnt get a lot of heat into the pad compound. The initial application of the pedal seemed futile as the drilled rotors continued to slide between the pads. Only when our foot really got on it hard did the Corvette-sourced stoppers feel strong. This car is fitted with generous rotors and track-ready pads, but it was clear we were underutilizing them. It also needed softer street pads (while there is a cockpit-adjustable brake-bias knob, we didnt touch it). Open to the world, the cabin was surprisingly comfortable at speed. The driver and passenger sit low in the chassis, and the large, canopy-like windscreen does an excellent job deflecting the slip stream around the cockpit. It was cool outside, but we could feel some warm air spilling into the foot wells. Rearward visibility was poor, even through the tunnel-vision exterior mirrors, and all you can see is the jet-black carbon fiber wing (visibility really didnt matter, as nobody passed us). However, even though the Deronda is smaller than most of the other traffic on the road, we never had an overbearing feeling of being undersized. Quite the opposite, actually, as the incredible power delivery and nimble handling made us feel as confident in traffic as a squirrel running from a small child. We never tired of darting through the canyons in the needle-nose Deronda. In fact, we felt like a fighter pilot. Our forward view was through a large glass canopy, we were strapped down with thick shoulder harnesses, and the engines loud roar filled the void left by our wake. Like a jet, the G400 is agile, powerful, and built for speed. Without a doubt, a prepared Deronda would dominate most conventional sports cars on a race track a thought that has already crossed the minds of the team at Autosport Development. With a safe, strong, and proven chassis already developed, a closed -cockpit monocoque body for the platform wouldnt be too much of a stretch. We wouldnt be surprised to see something rolling out of the factory in the near future wearing competition attire. derondafd 13 opt Deronda G400 A race bred exotic sports car! If you have to question the styling, the choice of power plant, or whether the seats have enough padding, the Deronda G400 is not for you. With a base price of $64,000 (most customers spend about $95,000 by the time they get done customizing), it may be out of reach. If it is in your budget, take note, Sirius Motorsports is on track to han