Simon Fuller on American Idol's 'Incredible Decade'

PR Newswire

LONDON, Jan. 11, 2011

LONDON, Jan. 11, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Simon Fuller, the man behind the Idol franchise, celebrates his creation's 10th American anniversary. American Idol, the very representation of the Idol success story, has enjoyed a stream of accomplishments; from its staggering viewing figures to it being the birthplace of many popular artists. Commenting on his franchise's achievements Simon Fuller notes,

"I just can't believe we are celebrating our 10th season. It has been an incredible decade and the success we have enjoyed has eclipsed all of our wildest dreams. This anniversary season is all set to be the most enjoyable of all, we have had the most successful auditions in our history and are spoilt for choice with great talent. Our two new judges Jennifer and Steven, two enormous stars in their own right are going to have an incredible time judging this amazing crop of talented people on their debut season. With plenty of other positive changes coming, there is a renewed energy and enthusiasm in Idol world."

Simon Fuller is one of the most dynamic and influential people in the entertainment business. Creator of the TV shows that define our generation and sculpt the future of our entertainment industry, Simon Fuller's XIX Entertainment has made him the most successful British manager of all time. With figures in the media, music and sport spheres and with big names like The Spice Girls, David Beckham, Andy Murray and Cathy Dennis in his arsenal, it's no wonder iTunes have hailed Simon Fuller as the king of the digital revolution.  

Fuller is a man whose reputation precedes him. Creator of the world famous Idol franchise, which has over 100 versions worldwide and is considered by many to be the basis of our current and future pop culture, he is also the co-creator and executive producer of the Fox TV reality show, So you think you can dance, as well as successfully introducing Little Britain to the United States.  In 2010 Simon Fuller was announced as Executive Producer of Bel Ami, a new movie starring Robert Pattinson, Uma Thurman, Christina Ricci and Kristen Scott Thomas, which is set for release this year.

Fuller looks forward to another year of Idol success and tonight attends the celebrated Fox Teen Choice Awards 2011.  

SOURCE XIX Entertainment

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Strategic American Oil Corporation Enters Into Drilling Contract for Koliba #3 Well

December 14, 2010 7:30 AM EST

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas, Dec. 14, 2010 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Strategic American Oil Corporation (OTCBB: SGCA) (the "Company") is pleased to announce that the drilling contract has been executed and drilling preparations have begun for the Koliba No. 3 well, with expectations to commence drilling this month, depending on favorable weather conditions and rig availability. The Company has retained a 12.5% working interest for the well. The combined leased acreage (Koliba) consists of 79 acres covering an anticipated anticlinal structure (target) with offsetting production. The Koliba #3 is a direct offset to the Murphy Baxter, Koliba #1 well which produced from the 5,880 feet (target) zone. 

The Koliba Prospect lies in the North McFaddin Field, which, according to Texas Railroad Commission maps and records, hosts 87 productive oil and gas zones. The Company has identified 3 Frio Sand target zones at 5880', 5350', and 4930' under the Koliba leases. The Company plans to drill a direct offset to the Murphy Baxter, Koliba #1 well which produced from the 5880' (target) zone. 

The Company completed drilling the Koliba #2 prospect in Victoria County, Texas earlier this year to 6,880 feet to evaluate three Frio sand objectives and found the well to be slightly downdip structurally but still productive. Rather than completing the #2 well, the Company decided to drill the #3 well and get updip to the #1 well, thereby making better use of investment capital. 

Company V.P. of Operations, Steven Carter, who has over 25 years engineering experience in oil and gas exploration, production operations, reservoir management and drilling, will operate the well through Carter E&P, LLC, a licensed and bonded operator in the State of Texas. 

Company President and CEO, Jeremy Driver, stated, "This is an exciting time for Strategic American Oil as we currently have two projects in South Texas, the Koliba and Kenedy, with drilling operations underway. Our expectations are that initial drilling results will be finalized for each of these projects in early 2011. We look forward to seeing the results of these operations." 

About Strategic American Oil Corporation

Strategic American Oil Corporation (OTCBB: SGCA) is a growth stage oil and natural gas exploration and production company with operations in Texas, Louisiana, and Illinois. The Company's team of geologists, engineers, and executives leverage 3D seismic data and other proven exploration and production technologies to locate and produce oil and natural gas in new and underexplored areas. The Company seeks accretive acquisitions of production, reserves, or other companies that will provide significant growth potential. Further information can be found on the Company's website at www.strategicamericanoil.com.

The Strategic American Oil Corporation logo is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=6891

Safe Harbor Statements

Except for the statements of historical fact contained herein, the information presented in this news release constitutes "forward-looking statements" as such term is used in applicable United States and Canadian laws.  These statements relate to analyses and other information that are based on forecasts of future results, estimates of amounts not yet determinable and assumptions of management.  Any other statements that express or involve discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance (often, but not always, using words or phrases such as "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", "plans, "estimates" or "intends", or stating that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and should be viewed as "forward-looking statements". Such forward looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such risks and other factors include, among others, the actual results of exploration activities, variations in the underlying assumptions associated with the estimation or realization of mineral resources, the availability of capital to fund programs and the resulting dilution caused by the raising of capital through the sale of shares, accidents, labour disputes and other risks of the mining industry including, without limitation, those associated with the environment, delays in obtaining governmental approvals, permits or financing or in the completion of development or construction activities, title disputes or claims limitations on insurance coverage. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended.  There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements.  Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements contained in this news release and in any document referred to in this news release.

CONTACT: Strategic American Oil Corporation Corporate Offices: 600 Leopard Street, Suite 2015 Corpus Christi, Texas 78401 Investor Awareness, Inc. Investor Relations: Tony Schor James Foy 847-945-2222 www.InvestorAwareness.comSource: Strategic American Oil Corporation
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Artificial kidney made by Indian American awaits human trials

Washington: A coffee cup sized implantable artificial kidney being developed by a US researcher of Indian origin, is awaiting animal and human trials to bring affordable treatment to millions of kidney failure patients worldwide.

Shuvo Roy, working with a team of engineers, biologists and physicians at the University of California, San Francisco, to shrink the device to the size of a coffee cup, is "excited about advancing it towards large animal and human trials".

"Obviously, a key requirement is financial support and the team. We have most of the latter in place, and the former is a work-in-progress," Roy, an associate professor in the UCSF School of Pharmacy who specialises in developing micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) technology for biomedical applications, told IANS.

"There are almost 1.5 million people worldwide on dialysis. The primary cause of end stage renal disease (ESRD) is diabetes and hypertension, which are both growing problems in South Asia," noted Roy who has a connection with both India and Bangladesh.

Born in what is now Bangladesh, Roy spent part of his childhood in India and Bangladesh and received most of his education in Uganda, where his father worked as a public health physician. He later obtained his undergraduate degree from Mount Union College in Alliance, Ohio.

"As it turns out, most of my father's family is in India, while most of my mother's side is in Bangladesh," he said.

The ideal treatment for kidney failure patients is transplant, but there is a shortage and the patients require expensive drugs and dialysis costs $9,000-14,000 per patient in India assuming dialysis twice a week instead of three times as in the US, said Roy.

Given "the shortage of transplant kidneys and associated complications like transmission of infectious agents from donor to patient and ethics, our device might provide some benefits", he said.

"With the right financial support, I think we could reach clinical trials in as little as five years," Roy said. But "it's hard to say how long after that it becomes commercially available due to the uncertainties of the FDA and commercialisation prospects".

He said it was hard to predict how much it would cost "as we just don't know the development costs associated with regulatory and reimbursement issues. We think the device cost should be less than $25,000 in the United States."

The artificial kidney that would do away with the need for dialysis would include thousands of microscopic filters to remove toxins from the blood and a bioreactor to mimic the metabolic and water-balancing roles of a real kidney.

So far Roy's team has done trials using a large system called Renal Assist Device or RAD built using off-the-shelf components in human patients with acute renal failure.

The trial led by David Humes of the University of Michigan was designed to test whether the concept of a hemofilter plus cell bioreactor could provide a benefit over conventional renal replacement therapy.

In his peer-reviewed publications, Humes reported that the RAD conferred a significant survival benefit relative to conventional therapy.

"Based on these results, we undertook a miniaturisation effort towards an implantable device using silicon membrane technology," Roy said.

"The efficiency of our membranes allows for a smaller package that can operate at lower driving pressures comparable to blood pressure. We have tested the scaled-down versions of our silicon membrane technology in small animals."

"To get to patients, we will need to build scaled-up versions and test safety first in large animals and then patients," he said.

Roy, whose background is in the development of medical devices using micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) technology, has also worked on the development of miniature wireless sensors for remote monitoring of physiological parameters such as pressure and catheter-based ultrasound imaging chips for assessment of coronary plaque for accurate deployment of stents.

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