The charge burn characteristics of a port-injected spark ignition engine with a pentroof combustion chamber and variable valve timing have been investigated experimentally. The engine was run under stoichiometric mixture operating conditions over ranges of intake and exhaust valve timings, engine speed, and engine load. Empirical functions have been developed for the 0-90 per cent mass fraction burned angle and the form factor, which define Wiebe function fits to the mass fraction burned variation in the crank angle domain. The burn angle and form factor have been related to the level of charge dilution by burned gas, engine speed, ignition timing, and charge density at spark timing. The dilution level has the strongest influence on the burn rate and profile. The dilution level varied with intake and exhaust valve timings, external exhaust gas recirculation, and engine load. The results indicate that intake and exhaust valve timings influence combustion primarily by modifying the charge dilution with burned gas and charge density.

Introduction Individuals with dementia residing in care homes can rely heavily on care staff to access activities and meaningful interactions. Previous research suggests that care home interactions can be short, fragmented and task-orientated due to staff workload and residents’ language impairments. However, music has the potential to be an alternative communication form that remains intact in the later stages of dementia. This systematic review aims to explore how care home music interventions can facilitate social interactions. Methods A narrative synthesis was conducted to explore the mechanisms behind how and why care home music intervention facilitate social interactions. The four-element framework guided analysis; (1) Developing a theory, (2) Developing a preliminary synthesis, (3) Exploring relationships, (4) Assessing robustness. Findings The final synthesis included 23 articles. The studies consisted of music therapy sessions, personalised music listening, structured music singing or instrument playing sessions and music therapeutic care. Despite the difference in music interventions, most studies reported an increase in residents’ sociable verbal and non-verbal communication and a decrease in unsociable communication. Music interventions allowed residents to reminisce, express themselves, focus and connect with others. Discussion The studies highlighted music interventions are accessible to all residents with dementia despite their impairments. The adaptability allows individuals to continue to connect and express themselves even when language deteriorates. More research is needed into the enablers and barriers to implementing interventions into practice, as this systematic review has highlighted that some form of music intervention for all residents can be highly beneficial. Care homes use of music could increase social interactions and meaningful activities.

Background Previous research has suggested that care home interactions need significant improvements, especially those between staff and residents with dementia. Reasons for the lack of interactions are staff time pressures and residents’ language impairments. Although residents may experience reduced language abilities, they can continue to communicate through other forms, including nonverbal communication and music. Person Attuned Musical Interactions (PAMI) is a staff training tool that provides staff with music therapy skill-sharing to promote high-quality interactions between staff and residents using nonverbal communication and music. The tool was originally developed in Denmark. To ensure that the tool is appropriate for UK care homes, a team of researchers in the United Kingdom have culturally adapted the tool. Objective This study aims to investigate the appropriateness of the adapted UK manual for UK care homes and to explore the impact of PAMI on residents with dementia and care staff. Methods The project consists of 2 phases, a qualitative field-testing study and a mixed methods evaluation study, which have been developed following the Medical Research Council’s guidelines for complex interventions. Care staff and residents with dementia will be recruited from care homes in Lincolnshire, where the care staff will be trained in the PAMI intervention before implementing the intervention in their daily routines. Fortnightly reflective sessions will be provided throughout the phases to provide supervision and monitoring. The qualitative methods include interviews, reflective session transcripts, diary entries, and resident experience questionnaires. The quantitative outcome measures are residents’ music engagement, staff’s dementia competence, residents’ quality of life, and staff burden. The resident’s music engagement will be administered at 9 fortnightly time points. Staff’s dementia competence, resident’s quality of life, and staff burden will be administered at preintervention and postintervention time points. Results The study has been funded by The Music Therapy Charity as part of a PhD studentship. The study began recruiting in September 2021. The research team aims to publish the results of the first phase in July to September 2023 and those of the second phase in October to December 2023. Conclusions This study will be the first to investigate the culturally adapted UK PAMI. Therefore, it will provide feedback on the appropriateness of the manual for UK care homes. The PAMI intervention has the potential to offer high-quality music intervention training to a larger population of care homes who may currently be restricted by finances, the availability of time, and a lack of training opportunities. International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID) DERR1-10.2196/43408

BACKGROUND Previous research has suggested care home interactions need significant improvements, especially between staff and residents with dementia. Reasons for the lack of interactions are staff time pressures and residents’ language impairments. Although residents may experience reduced language abilities, they can continue to communicate through other forms, including non-verbal communication and music. Person Attuned Musical Interactions (PAMI) is a staff training tool that provides staff with music therapy skills-sharing skills to promote high-quality interactions between staff and residents using non-verbal communication and music. The tool was originally developed in Denmark. To ensure the tool is appropriate for UK care homes a team of researchers in the UK have culturally adapted the tool. OBJECTIVE This study aims to investigate the appropriateness of the adapted UK manual for UK care homes and to explore the impact of PAMI on residents with dementia and care staff. METHODS The project consists of two phases, a qualitative field-testing study and a mixed-methods evaluation study which have been developed following the medical research council’s guidelines for complex interventions. Care staff and residents with dementia will be recruited from care homes in Lincolnshire, where the care staff will be trained in the PAMI intervention before implementing the intervention into their daily routines. Fortnightly reflective sessions will be provided throughout the studies to provide supervision and monitoring. The qualitative methods include interviews, reflective session transcripts, diary entries and resident experience questionnaires. The quantitative outcome measures will measure residents’ music engagement, staff’s dementia competence, residents’ quality of life and staff burden. The resident’s music engagement will be administered at 9 fortnightly time points. Staff’s dementia competence, resident’s quality of life and staff burden will be administered at pre and post timepoints. RESULTS The studies have been funded by The Music Therapy Charity as part of a PhD studentship. The studies received ethical approval on the 21st of June 2021 (Reference Number:21/LO/0283). The study began recruiting in September 2021, with plans for the evaluation study to end by 2023. CONCLUSIONS The study will be the first to investigate the culturally adapted UK PAMI. Therefore, it will provide feedback on the appropriateness of the manual for UK care homes. The PAMI intervention has the potential to offer high-quality music intervention training to a larger population of care homes that may currently be restricted by finances, available time, and a lack of training opportunities.