Kennesaw

Researchers are studying dehydration in college students and evaluating whether a smart water bottle intervention can help increase daily fluid intake. The study focuses on the common issue that many young adults do not meet fluid intake recommendations, which can lead to health problems like obesity, diabetes, and kidney disease. The trial aims to test if prompting from a smart water bottle combined with daily self-monitoring of hydration indicators can promote healthier drinking habits during this important life stage. Participants in the intervention group will receive a smart water bottle that lights up to remind them to drink if they are behind on fluid intake goals2.5 liters daily for males and 2.0 liters for females, based on official guidelines. They will also use a mobile app linked to the bottle to log fluid intake and record daily thirst perception, morning urine color, and body mass on a paper log. The control group will continue their usual habits without the bottle or hydration tracking. The intervention lasts for 2 weeks. During the study, researchers will measure total fluid intake, 24-hour urine osmolality and volume, urine color, calorie intake, body composition, hydration knowledge and behaviors, and hormone changes before and after the 2-week intervention. Participants will track daily hydration signs themselves, while the study team monitors these objective and subjective hydration markers. The study is randomized with single masking and includes adults aged 18 to 35. The total study duration covers the 2-week intervention period and related assessments.

Researchers are investigating whether imagining fast or slow muscle contractions produces different effects on nervous system excitability and muscle function in healthy young adults aged 18 to 30. The study compares two intervention conditionsimagining fast muscle contractions and imagining slow muscle contractionswith a control condition of rest. The main questions are whether imagined fast contractions cause greater nervous system responses and improve muscle function more than slow contractions or rest. Participants will attend four laboratory visits in a randomized order, including a familiarization session, a control session with rest, and two sessions involving imagined muscle contractions. During the imagined contraction visits, participants will perform two sets of 25 repetitions of either fast less than 1 second to peak torque or slow 3 seconds to peak torque isometric elbow flexions without any physical movement. Before and after each condition, non-invasive brain stimulation using single-pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation will be applied to measure motor cortex responses, and muscle strength tests will be conducted. Throughout the study, researchers will measure changes in muscle strength, rate of torque development, and muscle activation via electromyography. Assessments include motor-evoked potentials and silent periods in the bicep muscle to evaluate corticospinal excitability and inhibition. Participants will be monitored for nervous system and muscle function changes at baseline and 20 minutes after each condition. The study is conducted by Kennesaw State University and includes healthy volunteers aged 18 to 30 years.

Researchers are evaluating the effects of combining maximal mental effort with low-intensity resistance training on strength and neuromuscular function in older adults aged 65 to 85. The study aims to determine if adding mental effort to low-intensity training improves strength and muscle function more than training alone. The research compares three groups low-intensity resistance training, low-intensity training with maximal mental effort, and a control group with no training. Participants assigned to the two training groups will complete 8 weeks of supervised low-intensity, whole-body resistance training twice a week. Each session lasts 45-60 minutes and includes five exercises such as leg press, chest press, and bicep curls. The mental effort group will focus on imagining maximal muscle contractions during each repetition, while the control group will not perform any training but will maintain their usual physical activity and diet. All participants will undergo assessments before and after the 8-week period to measure changes in strength, neuromuscular function, physical performance, and body composition. Tests include measurements of knee extensor strength, muscle activation, handgrip strength, walking speed, chair rise performance, muscle size, fat mass, and cognitive function. Monitoring will be conducted by research staff to track progress and adherence throughout the study.

Researchers are studying how daily step counts related to body fat affect body composition and cardiometabolic risk in overweight and obese adults aged 20 and older. The goal is to develop a model that helps prescribe personalized physical activity targets to achieve specific weight loss and improve health while eating normally. This study includes adults from young to older age groups and aims to better understand how step counts relative to fat mass predict weight and health outcomes. Participants will use triaxial pedometers to track their daily steps, which will be adjusted for body fat mass. The study has two phases the first phase measures the relationship between step counts and body composition over four weeks, and the second phase tests if following personalized step count targets for eight months leads to predictable weight loss and health improvements. Step counts are monitored continuously, and participants receive support and encouragement to meet their goals. During the study, participants undergo detailed body composition assessments using multiple methods including DEXA scans, and provide blood samples to measure markers related to cardiometabolic risk. They record dietary intake for analysis and attend laboratory visits at baseline, midway, and study end for follow-up measurements. Researchers track adherence to step count goals and changes in weight, body fat, and cardiometabolic health markers over the study period to evaluate outcomes.