A programmable environment for shape optimization and shapeshifting problems.

Soft materials underpin many domains of science and engineering, including soft robotics, structured fluids, and biological and particulate media. In response to applied mechanical, electromagnetic or chemical stimuli, such materials typically change shape, often dramatically. Predicting their structure is of great interest to facilitate design and mechanistic understanding, and can be cast as an optimization problem where a given energy function describing the physics of the material is minimized with respect to the shape of the domain and additional fields.

Effect of low-volume exercise on hepatic steatosis in adults with obesity plus normal glucose, prediabetes or type 2 diabetes: a randomised controlled trial.

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of a novel, low-volume combined high-intensity interval training (HIIT) and progressive resistance training (PRT) in overweight/obese adults.

Methods: This randomised control trial compared the effect of regular supervised HIIT combined with PRT (Exercise) with an unsupervised stretching intervention (Control), in previously inactive adults with either normal glucose (NG), pre-diabetes or type 2 diabetes (T2DM) with body mass index of >25 kg/m. Participants were randomly allocated (1:1) to receive low-volume exercise or control by an online randomisation tool.

Circulating CD31 Angiogenic T cells are reduced in prediabetes and increase with exercise training.

Aims: To investigate circulating angiogenic cells in adults with prediabetes and the effect of a structured exercise program.

Methods: A cohort of adults with overweight/obesity and either normal glucose (NG) or prediabetes were randomised to receive exercise (Exercise) (as twice weekly supervised combined high intensity aerobic exercise and progressive resistance training, and once weekly home-based aerobic exercise) or an unsupervised stretching intervention (Control) for 12 weeks. Circulating angiogenic T cells, muscle strength, and cardiovascular disease risk factors, including blood lipids, arterial stiffness, central haemodynamic responses, and cardiorespiratory fitness (VOpeak) in those with prediabetes (n = 35, 16 Control, 19 Exercise) and NG (n = 37, 17 Control, 20 Exercise) were analysed at baseline and after the 12-week intervention.

The metabolic consequences of 'yo-yo' dieting are markedly influenced by genetic diversity.

Background: Weight loss can improve the metabolic complications of obesity. However, it is unclear whether insulin resistance persists despite weight loss and whether any protective benefits are preserved following weight regain (weight cycling). The impact of genetic background on weight cycling is undocumented.

Reducing cardiometabolic risk with semaglutide in type 1 diabetes (RESET1): Study protocol of a phase 2 double-blinded randomised placebo-controlled trial.

Background: Premature cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in people living with type 1 diabetes. Therapies are urgently needed to address cardiovascular risk in this group. Semaglutide, a long-acting glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist, has been shown to reduce cardiovascular events and improve weight and glycaemia in type 2 diabetes.