Daily Archives: September 20, 2012

Bangladeshi scientist decodes genome of deadly fungus

Posted: September 20, 2012 at 3:14 am

A Bangladeshi scientist has decoded the genome of a most deadly fungus that causes havoc to global jute and soybean production.

The fungus -- macrophomina phaseolina -- also causes seedling blight, root rot and charcoal rot of more than 500 crop and non-crop species.

The gene sequencing of macrophomina phaseolina would particularly help Bangladeshi scientists to develop jute varieties capable of fighting the fungus that causes an annual yield loss of around 40 billion taka (US$489.45 million) damaging 30 per cent of the country's precious natural fibre, experts said.

Jute is the second largest fibre crop next to cotton. And Bangladesh is the world's second-biggest producer of jute, next to India, and the biggest exporter of the natural fibre.

Bangladesh's globally famed geneticist Dr Maqsudul Alam led a 17-member team since early last year to decode the deadly fungus. The decoding has been done at a recently set up laboratory at Bangladesh Jute Research Institute (BJRI).

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina announced the scientific achievement of Bangladesh in the Jatiya Sangsad yesterday amid cheers and desk thumping by lawmakers.

Dr Alam and his team's success in decoding fungus genome came just two years after he had decoded jute genome. Maqsudul Alam earlier sequenced the genome of papaya in the United States and rubber plant in Malaysia.

"Macrophomina phaseolina damages jute stems and is responsible for 30 per cent of jute yield loss. Besides, it also causes multiple damage to 500 crop and non-crop species. The US alone suffers 15 billion taka production loss a year due to "charcoal rot" in soybean caused by macrophomina phaseolina," explained biotechnologist Dr Shahidul Islam, a senior member of Dr Alam's team.

Reached over the phone last night, Dr Islam said they had completed the sequencing earlier this year but it has been internationally recognised with its publication in acclaimed UK journal BMC Genomics on September 17.

Genome sequencing helps scientists find genes much more easily and quickly. It allows scientists identify and understand how genes work together on a plant's various features like growth, development and maintenance as an entire organism. This allows them to manipulate the genes and enhance, reduce or add certain features of the plant.

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Oyster Genome Pries Open Mollusk Evolutionary Shell

Posted: at 3:14 am

Image of fresh Pacific oyster courtesy of Guofan Zhang, photo by Tao Liu

The world of the mollusk genome is now our oyster, as researchers have now sequenced the genetic code of this hearty (and delicious) shellfish, revealing it to be even more complex and adaptable than previously imagined.

The new genome provides insights how oysters manage to cope with a dynamic habitat and how they build their shells. The genome of the Pacific oyster (Crassostrea gigas) contains approximately 28,000 genes (compared with the 20,000 or so genes of humans), some 8,654 of which are thought to be specific to oystersor at least to mollusks.

One of the big mysteries surrounding oysters and many other mollusks is how they manage to thrive in such variable marine environments. As sessile creatures that largely stay put, they endure extreme temperature changes, swings in salinity, and prolonged exposure to open air in the intertidal zone. The researchers found 88 different genes that code for so-called heat shock protein 70, which guards cells and tissue against hot temperatures. This extra buffering might explain why oysters can survive in the sun in temperatures up to about 49 degrees Celsius (120 degrees Fahrenheit). By contrast, humans have about 17 genes that make this protein, and even relatively immobile sea urchins have just 39.

Oysters are known for being excellent water filterers, and some environmental groups have even proposed reintroducing these shellfish to New York City waterways to clean up the harbor. How can these oysters stay healthy with so many chemicals and heavy metals flowing through them? The genome reveals one of the oysters secrets: a highly active immune systemespecially in its gut. The researchers found that many of the genes that make immune-related proteins are expressed in the oysters so-called digestive gland, indicating that the digestive system of this filter feeder is an important first-line defense organ against pathogens, the authors noted in their paper published online September 19 in Nature (Scientific American is part of Nature Publishing Group).

Perhaps the key to the survival of this soft-bodied organism is its flexible genome. The researchers sequenced 61 transcriptomes (RNA in the cell or tissue) and then exposed them to familiar oyster stressors. When exposed to air, for example, 4,420 different genes altered their expression. And some exposures produced impressive results. Exposing the transcriptomes to heat invoked a roughly 2,000 times higher expression of five of the heat shock protein 70-coding genes.

The genome of the oyster, the first mollusk to be sequenced, also cracked open some evolutionary clues about the shell of these tenacious bivalves. Once thought to be a fairly simple, self-assembling matrix of calcium carbonate, it now looks to be a complex creation that has undergone eons of evolutionary tweaking. And it shares some surprising signatures with the cell walls of other animals, suggesting that shell formation is an active and elaborate process that involves hundreds of proteins.

The oyster genome had thwarted standard sequencing techniques because it repeats itself in many placesand in others has different codes in the same places in a single individual. So the researchers tried a fosmid-pooling strategy, which allowed them to divide the genome up and compare multiple sequencings of each area. To help the process along further, they also created a more genetically homogenous oyster, using one from four generations of direct sibling inbreeding. They then compared this to a wild-caught oyster, just to make sure their results were not too altered by the chosen individual.

The success with the oyster genome will help open the door to sequencing more of the highly diverse mollusks, including snails, scallops and, perhaps even the master RNA editors themselves, the octopuses. Information from the oyster genome and other sequences in this group could help researchers better understand these organisms role in the oceans, their evolution and how they respond to climate change and ocean acidification as well as better strategies for raising them.

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CapriClear® Awarded the National Eczema Association NEA Seal of Acceptance™

Posted: at 3:14 am

ATLANTA, Sept. 19, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --enaltus -- CapriClear, an all-natural, hypoallergenic, dermatologist formulated and tested spray-on moisturizer was awarded the National Eczema Association Seal of Acceptance. CapriClear is a patented colorless, odorless, non-staining, and hypoallergenic spray made from fractionated coconut oil (Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride) that provides immediate soothing relief from dry, flaky, and irritated skin. Unlike many conventional emollients, CapriClear does not contain, emulsifiers, fragrances, animal products, artificial dyes, preservatives or other additives such as sulfates, parabens or toxins that can lead to skin irritation.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120919/CL77417 )

The NEA Seal of Acceptance was awarded as part of the association's Eczema & Sensitive-Skin Education program (EASE) which maintains rigorous standards for acceptance. Products eligible for the NEA Seal of Acceptance are those that have been created or intended for use by persons with eczema or severe sensitive skin conditions and that have satisfied the NEA Seal of Acceptance criteria.

Martin Floreani, Chief Marketing Officer for enaltus states that "We are honored that CapriClear received the distinguished NEA Seal of Acceptance because we firmly believe in the National Eczema Association's mission to improve the health and quality of life of individuals with eczema and severe sensitive skin conditions. The NEA Seal of Acceptance will be proudly displayed on all future CapriClear packaging."

Floreani adds, "Eczema, or Atopic Dermatitis, can be a debilitating disease that affects over 30 million Americans. There are many products that help alleviate the symptoms associated with eczema, such as itch and inflammation. We are confident that CapriClear will be an important resource to help millions of people who suffer from the itch-scratch cycle of eczema. Moisturizers are a critical component in the prevention and maintenance in the treatment of atopic dermatitis. Many people are sensitive to the chemical ingredients that are found in over the counter creams & lotions. CapriClear is a unique, all-natural, hypoallergenic spray-on moisturizer that will help everyone from babies to the elderly look and feel better."

"CapriClear is ideal for people of all ages, but especially those with sensitive skin. It does not burn or sting upon application, making it a great option for people that suffer from atopic dermatitis or eczema. It is even a safe option for eczema in babies and children," said Dr. Betty Bellman, a Miami dermatologist and Associate Voluntary Professor of Dermatology of Miami Miller School of Medicine & Mount Sinai Medical Center.

CapriClear is available on http://www.CapriClear.com and online retailers nationwide.

Like CapriClear on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/CapriClear and follow us on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/capriclear.

Media contact:Amber Clapp 646-567-8114 amberclapp@yahoo.com

About enaltusenaltus (www.enaltus.com), an international specialty skin care products company headquartered in Suwanee, Ga., that focuses on both medical professionals and consumers with a concentration on scar management and safe skin care products for mothers and babies. The company's flagship brands are Kelo-cote,the Belli Skincare, and bioCorneum+.

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The Freedom to Offend “God”

Posted: at 2:13 am

The latest wave of Muslim hysteria and violence has now spread to more than 20 countries. The walls of our embassies and consulates have been breached, their precincts abandoned to triumphant mobs, and many people have been murderedall in response to an unwatchable Internet video titled Innocence of Muslims. Whether over a film, a cartoon, a novel, a beauty pageant, or an inauspiciously named teddy bear, the coming eruption of pious rage is now as predictable as the dawn. This is already an old and boring story about old, boring, and deadly ideas. And I fear it will be with us for the rest of our lives.

Our panic and moral confusion were at first sublimated in attacks upon the hapless Governor Romney. I am no fan of Romneys, and I would find the prospect of his presidency risible if it were not so depressing, but he did accurately detect the first bleats of fear in the Obama administrations reaction to this crisis. Romney got the timing of events wrongconfusing, as many did, a statement made by the U.S. Embassy in Cairo for an official government response to the murder of Americans in Libya. But the truth is that the White House struck the same note of apology, disavowing the offending speech while claiming to protect free speech in principle. It may seem a small detail, given the heat of the momentbut so is a quivering lip.

Our government followed the path of appeasement further by attempting to silence the irrepressible crackpot pastor Terry Jones, who had left off burning copies of the Quran just long enough to promote the film. The administration also requested that Google remove Innocence of Muslims from its servers. These maneuvers attest to one of two psychological and diplomatic realities: either our government is unwilling to address the problem at hand, or the problem is so vast and terrifying that we have decided to placate the barbarians at the gate.

The contagion of moral cowardice followed its usual course, wherein liberal journalists and pundits began to reconsider our most basic freedoms in light of the sadomasochistic fury known as religious sensitivity among Muslims. Contributors to The New York Times and NPR spoke of the need to find a balance between free speech and freedom of religionas though the latter could possibly be infringed by a YouTube video. As predictable as Muslim bullying has become, the moral confusion of secular liberals appears to be part of the same clockwork.

Protesters burn the American flag in Nangarhar province, Afghanistan on Sept. 14, 2012, during a demonstration against the film "Innocence of Muslims." (Rahmat Gul / AP Photo)

The freedom to think out loud on certain topics, without fear of being hounded into hiding or killed, has already been lost.

Consider what is actually happening: some percentage of the worlds Muslims5 percent? 15? 50? Its not yet clearis demanding that all non-Muslims conform to the strictures of Islamic law. And where they do not immediately resort to violence in their protests, they threaten it. Carrying a sign that reads Behead Those Who Insult the Prophet may still count as an example of peaceful protest, but it is also an assurance that infidel blood would be shed if the imbecile holding the placard only had more power. This grotesque promise is, of course, fulfilled in nearly every Muslim society. To make a film like Innocence of Muslims anywhere in the Middle East would be as sure a method of suicide as the laws of physics allow.

What exactly was in the film? Who made it? What were their motives? Was Muhammad really depicted? Was that a Quran burning, or some other book? Questions of this kind are obscene. Here is where the line must be drawn and defended without apology: we are free to burn the Quran or any other book, and to criticize Muhammad or any other human being. Let no one forget it.

At moments like this, we inevitably hearfrom people who dont know what its like to believe in paradisethat religion is just a way of channeling popular unrest. The true source of the problem can be found in the history of Western aggression in the region. It is our policies, rather than our freedoms, that they hate. I believe that the future of liberalismand much elsedepends on our overcoming this ruinous self-deception. Religion only works as a pretext for political violence because many millions of people actually believe what they say they believe: that imaginary crimes like blasphemy and apostasy are killing offenses.

Most secular liberals think that all religions are the same, and they consider any suggestion to the contrary a sign of bigotry. Somehow, this article of faith survives daily disconfirmation. Our language is largely to blame for this. As I have pointed out on many occasions, religion is a term like sports: some sports are peaceful but spectacularly dangerous (free solo rock climbing, street luge); some are safer but synonymous with violence (boxing, mixed martial arts); and some entail little more exertion or risk of serious injury than standing in the shower (bowling, badminton). To speak of sports as a generic activity makes it impossible to discuss what athletes actually do, or the physical attributes required to do it. What do all sports have in common, apart from breathing? Not much. The term religion is scarcely more useful.

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MILLER: Economic freedom the real antidote to Arab unrest

Posted: at 2:13 am

ANALYSIS/OPINION:

The recent attacks on U.S. diplomatic outposts in the Middle East are certainly disappointing, but the U.S. still has a big opportunity to exert a positive influence in the region. An often overlooked contributor to the regions highly combustible condition is a pervasive lack of economic opportunity and economic freedom. Our free market system is just what the region needs.

To date, the U.S. has struggled to find a policy that can simultaneously promote freedom and stability in the Arab world. The focus on democracy has produced little success. The jury is still out on the ultimate character of new regimes in Tunisia, Egypt and Libya, but the recent assaults on U.S. missions show that volatility and anti-Americanism remains high there.

Governments are tottering in Syria and Yemen, and massive U.S. interventions in Iraq and Afghanistan have failed to fully secure either peace or security. Thirty years of efforts to influence post-revolutionary Iran have left that country an international pariah and potential nuclear threat to its neighbors. Its not a pretty record.

The nub of the problem is that purely political revolutions are inherently destabilizing. From the reign of terror that followed the French Revolution right through the democratically installed Communist and Nazi regimes of 20th century Europe to the postcolonial dictators dominating Africa today, it is an unfortunate truth that political revolutions lead as often to tears as to utopia. We are crying in the Middle East today.

Economic liberalization offers a better path to revolutionary change. Free markets, based on the voluntary decisions of individuals, facilitate win-win transactions. Both sides gain, or else the interactions dont happen. Free markets require no central guide, and no government plan. When individuals can decide for themselves what to do, there is little need for collective action. You dont need a mob, or an officious and corrupt government bureaucrat, to influence the outcome or defend your interests.

It was an economic grievance that inspired Mohamed Bouazizi, a young Tunisian street vendor, to set himself on fire and, thus, spark the conflagration we know as the Arab Spring. What had frustrated Bouazizis attempts to earn a living was government regulation and corruption. The humiliation and helplessness he experienced is inflicted daily on millions of Arabs who live without economic freedom and any hope of betterment.

The Middle East lags in many areas of economic freedom. Overall unemployment in the region tops 10 percent, and for youth, its much worse. More than 25 percent of those younger than 25 cant find jobs.

A chapter in the latest Heritage Foundation Index of Economic Freedom explored the link between corruption and terrorism in the region and concluded that the motivation for terrorism is likely less about Islam against Western values and more about revenge against corrupt regimes in the Middle East.

If that is true, we are not going to help the people of the Middle East, or indeed preserve our own security, by fomenting political revolution, or by helping dictators resist it. We might succeed, however, by helping put Arab societies on the path to economic freedom. We can lower our own barriers to trade and encourage governments in the Middle East to do likewise. We can encourage reforms to open up investment, create jobs and empower individuals economically.

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Copper, Gold Explorer Liberty Star Acquires More AZ State Mineral Exploration Permits on Tombstone Super Project …

Posted: at 2:13 am

TUCSON, Ariz.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Liberty Star Uranium & Metals Corp. (Liberty Star or the Company)(LBSR: OTCQB) has received word that application for Arizona State Mineral Exploration Permits (MEPs) within the Tombstone Super Project (TSP) have been accepted by the Arizona Department of Mines & Mineral Resources (ADMMR). Additionally, the Company has submitted Drill Permit applications to the ADMMR (July 2012) and has received comments back from the ADMMR allowing the Company to proceed with state mandated archeological reconnaissance over the proposed drill area in the Hay Mountain portion of the TSP.

Eight new state of Arizona MEPs (the state equivalent of federal mining claims) claims covering about 5.3 square miles comprise the new portion of MEPs adjacent to the current Hay Mountain land position area. These new MEPs are within the proposed ZTEM survey zone announced last month (NR 138).

James A. Briscoe James A. Briscoe, Professional Geologist, AZ CA CEO/Chief Geologist Liberty Star Uranium & Metals Corp.

About the Tombstone Super Project (TSP):

The TSP initially consisted of 33 unpatented federal lode mining claims over a projected covered porphyry copper mineral center in Cochise County, Ariz. In September 2011, more Arizona State Prospecting Permits (MEPs the AZ state equivalent of mining claims) covering approximately eight square miles were added after Liberty Stars geochemical survey discovered a large multimetal anomaly over an interpreted large covered porphyry copper mineral center within the larger TSP area. In 2011, SRK Consulting prepared three NI 43-101 compliant technical reports over Liberty Stars holdings. Each report recommended further exploration on the area. An extensive geochemical survey sample campaign with samples assayed for 64 elements revealed the presence of copper, gold, silver, lead, moly, zinc and several rare earth elements. Mining throughout the region began in the late 19th century and led to the rise of legendary boomtown Tombstone, Ariz. Many of the old mining sites, and what is now Liberty Stars previously unprospected land, reside within or adjacent to a large volcanic and intrusive geologic feature known as a caldera. These caldera structures are present throughout southern Arizona, making the region one of the richest porphyry copper areas on the planet. Visit the LBSR web site: http://www.libertystaruranium.com/

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Liberty Media Still Neutral – Analyst Blog

Posted: at 2:13 am

Referenced Stocks: BKS, LMCA, LYV, SIRI

Liberty Media Corp. ( LMCA ) reported strong financial results for the second quarter of 2012 outpacing the Zacks Consensus Estimates. We believe the company's recent decision to spin-off Starz LLC segment will enable to it to raise its stake in SIRIUS XM Radio Inc. ( SIRI ), Barnes & Noble Inc. ( BKS ), and Live Nation Entertainment Inc. ( LYV ). We believe SIRIUS XM will be the key player in the company's growth story based on rising auto industry sales.Liberty Media is currently trying hard to take full control of SIRIUS XM.

Liberty Media has filed a new application to the U.S. Federal Communications Commission, in which the company stated its intention to acquire more than 50% of SIRIUS XM, so that it can take full control of the Board of SIRIUS XM. Liberty Media withdrew its previous application with FCC to de facto control SIRIUS XM. Instead, the company is now willing to get a full control. Liberty Media at present has 49.5% stake in SIRIUS XM's total outstanding shares. With nearly 23 million subscribers in its kitty, SIRIUS XM, the largest satellite radio service provider, is expected to generate huge financial synergies to Liberty Media over the long haul.

In November 2011, the company invested in Barnes & Noble. Management is pursuing a systematic share buy-back program to boost its shareholders' wealth. Meanwhile, the stock price has soared more than 77% in the last year and is currently trading at significant high multiples compared with S&P 500 and its peers with respect to several valuation metrics. We believe Liberty Media is currently fairly valued and maintain our Neutral recommendation.

The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of The NASDAQ OMX Group, Inc.

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Liberty Launches Assault on Sirius XM Shareholders

Posted: at 2:13 am

By Richard Saintvilus - September 19, 2012 | Tickers: LMCA, SIRI | 0 Comments

Richard is a member of The Motley Fool Blog Network -- entries represent the personal opinions of our bloggers and are not formally edited.

Satellite radio Sirius XM (NASDAQ: SIRI) is on a short list of the most polarizing stocks on the market, as it has developed somewhat of a love-hate relationship with investors and analysts. Remarkably, even from its supporters or doubters, it remains one of the most misunderstood companies on Wall Street.

As a longtime subscriber of the service, I can tell you that there is a considerable amount of value in what Sirius offers. However, as an investor, trying to find the value in the stock is a tricky proposition particularly now, as it is under attack from many angles by Liberty Media (NASDAQ: LMCA). But things have gotten a little bit nastier, and it is investors that stand to lose.

Since hitting an intra-day low of $1.80 on June 25, there has not been many stocks that have performed better than Sirius. If you factor in its recent high of $2.64, the stock has appreciated almost 50% over the past 3 months. Except now we know why: Liberty has been on a buying spree as it aimed to take control of the company.

That, along with what I would consider a significant amount of short covering, has propelled the stock to heights that it has not seen since it pre-merger days. But it now appears that Sirius is poised to give up these gains. And Liberty has every intention of facilitating the fall.

Liberty once said that it would not convert its preferred shares of Sirius to common stock. However, we learned recently that it in fact converted 50% of these shares. While I dont want to be nave and suggest that somehow, "Libertys hand was forced," it likely didnt anticipate that Sirius would be playing so hard to get, either. This has been a part of Libertys plan and a card that it was prepared to play at the right opportunity. In a recent SEC filing, the company said as a result of the conversion, its stake in the Sirius has risen to 49.5%, while also owning roughly 32% of common shares. So what does this all mean?

What it means is that any further delay in this dance between the two companies is nothing more than postponing the inevitable. Sirius is now at the mercy of Liberty and what it wants to do - its all just a matter of time. Whats more the impact of Libertys conversion has caused a considerable amount of confusion with Sirius financial metrics. One day we woke up to Sirius having a P/E of 4; then, upon the conversion, various sources listed the P/E at 32. Not that Sirius has ever traded on fundamentals, but to the extent that investors might consider such factors within their investment/trading decisions, it becomes pretty significant.

So how much is Sirius really worth? What is its market cap? How much does it now earn per share? Will this force analysts to revise or restate projections. It is hard to answer these important questions after Liberty has essentially flooded the market with 1 billion extra shares essentially causing massive dilution. While Liberty has recently helped many investors by buying shares of Sirius on the open market, it has now announced that its holiday shopping season is ending early and now its time to return unwanted gifs.

For many investors, the logic has always been, if Liberty wants Sirius so bad, then they are going to have to pay a premium for it. I can only ask, really? Im curious to see if investors now still feel that same way. Liberty is operating by its own set of rules and its own timetable. That Liberty is also an investor in Sirius does not mean that it cares about the stock appreciating in value more than the other benefits Sirius offers such as its $8 billion in NOLs as well as assets that Liberty is able to leverage for gains in other areas of its holdings.

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Liberty Energy Considers the Effects of the Mexican Natural Gas Shortage

Posted: at 2:13 am

HOUSTON, Sept. 19, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Liberty Energy Corp. (LBYE) ("Liberty" or "the Company") understands that Mexico is facing a growing shortage of natural gas as production expands at a tepid pace and demand continues to rise dramatically.

The Company understands that Petroleos Mexicanos (Pemex), Mexico's state-sponsored oil and gas monopoly, has begun cutting natural gas supplies to some of its largest customers by as much as 45 percent of their orders to cope with ballooning demand from households to steelmakers such as Ternium SA and ArcelorMittal.

Pemex has largely failed to tap into the country's abundant natural gas reserves, forcing it to quickly increase imports from the well-stocked U.S. in order to meet demand.

Sources confirm that the country's existing gas pipelines are operating around 95 percent, trying to cover the shortfall, but many businesses have been forced to work through outages that can last for hours at a time.

In response, two new gas pipelines are being rushed through planning that would connect central Mexico with Texas and Arizona, where plentiful gas supplies would welcome an outlet.

"The shortage of natural gas is affecting both companies and homeowners. We've heard that in some plants, gas supply has been reduced 40 percent to 45 percent of what was originally agreed. Liberty's decision to build an asset base in Texas, a stable economic and political arena, is set to bear fruit. We have noticed a rising demand for safe onshore projects around our operations sites. We are looking to fully develop our new leases as soon as possible and have plans to expand our acreage further in the not too distant future," commented Ian Spowart, CEO and President of Liberty Energy Corp. For more information on the activities of the Company, please see the Liberty Energy website http://www.energy-liberty.com/

ABOUT LIBERTY: Liberty Energy Corp. (LBYE) is an Independent Oil and Gas Exploration and Production Company dedicated to the sourcing and production of fuel supplies in the United States and Europe. Headquartered in Houston, Texas, the company has leases and royalties in both Texas and Bulgaria, covering several wells with extensive potential for future development. In Texas, Liberty owns twelve leases based around numerous geological pay zones. In North-West Bulgaria, Liberty has royalty rights to a 1,000,000+ acre natural gas property (the A-Lovech exploration block), an area of high quality, low-sulphur natural gas condensate. Through this combined international reach and domestic focus, Liberty Energy is committed to the development of US fuel reserves while seeking out further opportunities for the global energy markets.

Certain statements in this press release are forward-looking and involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Liberty Energy Corp. bases these forward-looking statements on current expectations and projections about future events, based on information currently available. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release may also include statements relating to Liberty Energy Corp.'s anticipated financial performance, business prospects, new developments, strategies and similar matters. Liberty Energy Corp. disclaims any obligation to update any of its forward-looking statements, except as may be required by law.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS,

Liberty Energy Corp Ian Spowart, Chief Executive Officer

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Liberty Media Still Neutral

Posted: at 2:13 am

Liberty Media Corp. (LMCA) reported strong financial results for the second quarter of 2012 outpacing the Zacks Consensus Estimates. We believe the companys recent decision to spin-off Starz LLC segment will enable to it to raise its stake in SIRIUS XM Radio Inc. (SIRI), Barnes & Noble Inc. (BKS), and Live Nation Entertainment Inc. (LYV). We believe SIRIUS XM will be the key player in the companys growth story based on rising auto industry sales.Liberty Media is currently trying hard to take full control of SIRIUS XM.

Liberty Media has filed a new application to the U.S. Federal Communications Commission, in which the company stated its intention to acquire more than 50% of SIRIUS XM, so that it can take full control of the Board of SIRIUS XM. Liberty Media withdrew its previous application with FCC to de facto control SIRIUS XM. Instead, the company is now willing to get a full control. Liberty Media at present has 49.5% stake in SIRIUS XMs total outstanding shares. With nearly 23 million subscribers in its kitty, SIRIUS XM, the largest satellite radio service provider, is expected to generate huge financial synergies to Liberty Media over the long haul.

In November 2011, the company invested in Barnes & Noble. Management is pursuing a systematic share buy-back program to boost its shareholders wealth. Meanwhile, the stock price has soared more than 77% in the last year and is currently trading at significant high multiples compared with S&P 500 and its peers with respect to several valuation metrics. We believe Liberty Media is currently fairly valued and maintain our Neutral recommendation.

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