A unique study has confirmed a link between depression and low levels of folate, a vitamin which comes from vegetables. Depression may soon become the second leading cause of disability worldwide. It affects between 5% and 10% of individuals and is the third most common reason for consultation in primary care.

In a host of neurological diseases, including multiple sclerosis (MS) and several neuropathies, the protective covering surrounding the nerves -- an insulating material called myelin -- is damaged. Scientists have now provided a vital insight into the mechanism by which glial cells recognize and myelinate axons -- a discovery that may aid in restoring the normal function of the affected nerve fibers.

By applying sophisticated genetic analysis to samples of a year's worth baby poop, researchers have developed a detailed picture of how an astonishing number of bacteria come and go in the intestinal tract during a child's first year of life.

Filed under: Desktops, Laptops

Just when you thought the bickering over Vista's search capabilities were finished, along comes Google to fuel the nearly extinguished flame. Apparently, Microsoft's actual filing that spelled out its intentions to alter the search functionality within Vista wasn't as clear cut as previously understood, and now Google is out for even more blood. Google's chief legal officer, David Drummond, called the remedies "a step in the right direction," but also declared that the changes "should be improved further to give consumers greater access to alternate desktop-search providers." Essentially, it seems like Google will be barking up Redmond's proverbial tree until Microsoft allows users to disable Vista's built-in search (or better yet, choose Google) entirely. Oh, the drama.

[Via Slashdot]

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Office Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!

Filed under: Transportation

While we've seen everything from brilliant engineering to run-of-the-mill hacks enable vehicles to squeeze every last inch out of a tank of fuel, it looks like the Senate is taking larger strides in order to raise the MPG bar. The US Senate has reportedly passed an energy bill that would raise fuel efficiency standards to an average of 35 miles-per-gallon, create additional provisions that make it unlawful to charge "unconscionably excessive" prices for oil products, and establish new appliance and lighting efficiency standards to accelerate the use of more efficient lighting in public buildings. Lastly, there was purportedly verbiage that provided "grants, loan guarantees, and other assistance to promote research into fuel efficient vehicles." Of course, the bill still has quite a ways to go before it gets set in stone, and while upping the standard sure seems novel, a quick glance around existing lots will show that quite a few whips sold today aren't quite living up to the 22.7 mpg standard that's already in place.

[Via Digg, image courtesy of MPGStickers]

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Office Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!

Researchers have devised dendrimer nanoparticle systems which are able to seek out and specifically bind to cancer cells. Scientists have designed dendrimer nanoparticle systems that are stable, water soluble, and biocompatible.

Mushrooms might serve as biofactories for the production of various beneficial human drugs, according to plant pathologists who have inserted new genes into mushrooms.

More bad weather in Florida may force NASA to try to land the shuttle in California instead

Schedule tweaked, moles claim

AMD is on track to release four processor models under its eagerly anticipated Phenom brand during Q4, it has been claimed. That's a quarter later than previous reports had suggested.

On the eve of announcing a change in Vista that people have clamored for, the company reverses course and then clams up.

Safe gene therapy may be effective staving off worsening Parkinson's according to the first scientific review of a dozen patients who have received the treatment over the last three years.

Equal treatment for all our big brothers

EU privacy worrywarts will expand their investigation into Google to other search engines' data retention policies.

Vim users stick with Vim in no small part because muscle memory is so powerful -- once you've learned Vim's keybindings, it's possible to be extremely productive in Vim without ever taking your hands off the keyboard. If you'd like to imbue Firefox with Vim power, embrace the Vimperator extension. Vimperator turns Firefox into a no-nonsense, modal Web browser.