Heavy smoking causes faces to look older
London: Smoker’s Face a condition where smokers look older than they are, is just one of many negative effects caused by heavy tobacco usage, researchers have warned.
“We searched across thousands of traits to identify those that may be affected by how heavily someone smokes. As well as identifying several known adverse effects such as on lung health, we also identified an adverse effect of heavier smoking on facial aging,” said study author Louise Millard from the University of Bristol in UK.
According to the study, published in the journal PLOS Genetics, some people carry one or two copies of a genetic variant that is associated with heavier tobacco use.
To simultaneously identify these two types of effects, the researchers used a novel combination of two data analysis approaches and applied them using data from people in the UK Biobank.
They separated people into two groups. The first contained people who had never smoked, and the second included current and former smokers.
The analysis searched across 18,000 traits and apart from the new finding of more rapid facial aging, also identified several previously reported effects of smoking, confirming the method’s effectiveness.
The known effects of smoking that the analysis identified included worse lung function, and higher risk of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and skin cancer.
Besides emphasising smoking’s many dangers, the study also serves as proof of principle that these data analysis tools can be used to identify effects of other exposures of interest, such as alcohol intake.
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Mangalore University, BIT sign MoU to strengthen academic and research collaboration
Mangaluru: Mangalore University and Bearys Institute of Technology (BIT) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to enhance academic, research, and cultural collaboration between the two institutions.
Mangalore University, established under the Karnataka State Universities Act, and Bearys Institute of Technology, functioning under Bearys Academy of Learning at Bearys Knowledge Campus, Inoli, Mangaluru, will jointly undertake several academic and professional initiatives under this agreement.
The MoU also aligns with global academic initiatives such as the Global Wales Programme, which aims to promote international academic collaboration, including partnerships between Welsh universities and institutions in Karnataka under the Karnataka–Wales Universities Partnership Programme.
The agreement covers a wide range of collaborative activities, including academic and cultural exchange programmes, professional and student exchange initiatives, joint research activities, participation in seminars, conferences, workshops, and training programmes.
A major focus of the collaboration is the establishment of a Research Cluster on Responsible Artificial Intelligence (AI).
The MoU further facilitates the exchange of academic materials, research publications, and educational resources, subject to applicable intellectual property laws, and the organization of short-term academic and cultural programmes for students.
Speaking on the occasion, Prof. Dharma, VC of Mangalore University, highlighted the long-term benefits of the MoU for students and faculty members, emphasising opportunities for international exposure, collaborative research, and academic excellence.
Dr. S. I. Manjur Basha, Director, Bearys Knowledge Campus, spoke about the significant contributions of the Bearys Group of Institutions in promoting quality education, research, and industry-oriented learning.
Dr. Kamalakannan C, Principal of Bearys Institute of Technology, elaborated on the research components of the MoU, stressing the importance of interdisciplinary research, innovation, and sustainable technological development.
Dr. Abdullah Gubbi, Head of the Department of Electronics and Communication Engineering, BIT, also addressed the gathering and spoke on the role of faculty-driven research, outcome-based education, and collaborative platforms in nurturing student innovation, research culture, and global competence.
The event was attended by the Registrar of Mangalore University, the Dean of the Faculty of Computer Science, the Dean of MBA, and senior faculty members from both institutions.
