Clinical Research Directory

Time Onset Sweat Sodium (TOSS) Study

Prior to each trial, you will be provided with urine jugs and food/fluid logs to record food and drink intake for 24hr. You will be asked to log food/fluid intake 24hr leading into trials. We ask that you match your diet for both trials, as much as possible. Also, we ask that you match caffeine consumption prior to trials. Lastly, we ask that you refrain from strenuous exercise and alcohol consumption for at least 12hrs leading into trials. Either of these exclude your participation in the study for safety reasons. You will be asked to provide a small urine sample upon arrival to the lab before trials. The purpose of this is to verify hydration prior to exercise in the heat. If you are not hydrated upon arrival, you will be provided and asked to drink 16oz (a bottle) of water prior to the trial. Just prior to, and following each long trial, you will be asked to provide a small saliva sample. To do this, you will be asked to actively produce saliva and guide it into a small container. This process takes \<5min. Next, you will have your nude body mass measured and you will be instrumented with a labbased sweat collection patch (large band-aid on the forearm), and the Hdrop sweat detection device on your left upper arm. The Hdrop will be synced with electronic applications (phone apps) to assure data collection. You will then self-insert a rectal thermistor \~15 cm past the anal sphincter to monitor core temperature throughout exercise (for safety purposes). You will also be fitted with a heart rate strap that goes around your chest. You will then be asked to enter the environmental chamber and exercise for 30min. This will serve as the short exercise trial aiming to assure comfort with the 120min exercise trials. Data will be collected during the short trial and comparisons will be made for the longer, 120min trials. The environmental chamber will maintain a consistent temperature (80-100 degrees F) and humidity (40 to 60 % relative humidity). You will be monitored for safety throughout exercise in all 3 trials, and you will be allowed to cycle (stationary bike) or run or walk (treadmill) at your own pace/intensity. Pace and intensity will be recorded during the first trial and attempts will be made to match exercise intensity for subsequent trials. Fluid consumption will be allowed during trials and will be matched between trials. In both trials, you will be allowed to drink for a 5min period at each 30min interval (30-35min, 60-65min and 90-95min). We will provide a sport drink of your flavor choice during exercise.

Beat the Heat Boston

The goal of this stepped wedge trial is to assess the practical effects of air conditioners on hot weather impacts among older adults. The main questions it aims to answer are: How does the presence of an air conditioning unit affect heat stress, heat strain, mental health, and healthcare utilization among older adults who did not previously have access to air conditioning? How, and in what conditioners, do older adults use air conditioning once it is installed in their home? Researchers will compare participants in arms with (A) and without (B) air conditioning units in the first summer season; this will allow them to assess the effect of air conditioners. In the second summer season, both arms will have air conditioning units, but those in the year two distribution arm (B) will receive an electricity subsidy, while those in the year one AC distribution arm (A) will not, allowing researchers to assess the effect of an electricity subsidy. Participants will be randomized to receive an air conditioner and financial support for electricity costs in either the first summer season or the second summer season of the study. * Heat stress, heat strain, mental health, and healthcare utilization will be assessed via participant survey. * Air conditioner utilization will be assessed via continuous load monitoring devices. * Indoor air temperature will be assessed via continuous data loggers.

Heat Adaptation Through Community-based Approaches and Research at SEACO: Structural and Behavioural Interventions (Heat Care)

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if structural and behavioral interventions can mitigate the health effects of extreme heat in rural Malaysian communities. The study focuses on implementing cool roofs (a passive cooling system) and heat literacy education to improve heat adaptation behaviors. The main questions it aims to answer are: * Does the implementation of cool roofs reduce indoor temperatures and related heat stress in rural households? * Does heat literacy education improve community awareness and behaviors related to coping with extreme heat? Researchers will compare four groups: one receiving both cool roofs and heat literacy interventions, one receiving only the cool roof intervention, one receiving only heat literacy education, and a control group receiving neither intervention. Participants will be asked to: * Have their roofs painted with UV-resistant white paint (for cool roof intervention groups). * Participate in educational sessions and training on heat-related health risks and coping strategies (for heat literacy intervention groups). * Complete baseline and follow-up surveys at 3, 6, and 12 months. * Wear a Garmin Vivosmart 5 sensor for two weeks during each data collection period to monitor heart rate, physical activity, and sleep patterns.