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The complex nature of multifactorial diseases, such as Morbus Alzheimer, has produced a strong need to design multitarget-directed ligands to address the involved complementary pathways. We performed a purposive structural modification of a tetratarget small-molecule, that is contilisant, and generated a combinatorial library of 28 substituted chromen-4-ones. The compounds comprise a basic moiety which is linker-connected to the 6-position of the heterocyclic chromenone core. The syntheses were accomplished by Mitsunobu- or Williamson-type ether formations. The resulting library members were evaluated at a panel of seven human enzymes, all of which being involved in the pathophysiology of neurodegeneration. A concomitant inhibition of human acetylcholinesterase and human monoamine oxidase B, with IC50 values of 5.58 and 7.20 μM, respectively, was achieved with the dual-target 6-(4-(piperidin-1-yl)butoxy)-4H-chromen-4-one (7).

A library of cathepsin S inhibitors of the dipeptide nitrile chemotype, bearing a bioisosteric sulfonamide moiety, was synthesized. Kinetic investigations were performed at four human cysteine proteases, i.e. cathepsins S, B, K and L. Compound 12 with a terminal 3-biphenyl sulfonamide substituent was the most potent (Ki = 4.02 nM; selectivity ratio cathepsin S/K = 5.8; S/L = 67) and 24 with a 4′-fluoro-4-biphenyl sulfonamide substituent the most selective cathepsin S inhibitor (Ki = 35.5 nM; selectivity ratio cathepsin S/K = 57; S/L = 31). In silico design and biochemical evaluation emphasized the impact of the sulfonamide linkage on selectivity and a possible switch of P2 and P3 substituents with respect to the occupation of the corresponding binding sites of cathepsin S.

A comparative analysis of the growing pains in the development of an independent and free press in South Africa and India, is the focus of this article. The two countries are from the least developed regions of the world – sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia – and are influential democracies in their respective regions. While the fight for press freedom in South Africa is more political, i.e. between a white press and a black government, the battles in India are about both politics and business, with the press occasionally criticising the government, but more often trading favours with it. The comparative study explores common challenges and unique barriers to press freedom in the two countries, by examining the impact of colonial histories, politics and business on the press. A brief overview of the current status of press freedom in Africa and Asia was also outlined to provide the context for the comparative analysis.

The four theories of the press have long dominated in journalism education and research and arguably do a good job of describing media systems in the West. However, it is hard to fit Asian media systems into the existing theories. This paper re-examines the four press theories and identifies the difficulties in using the theories as a guide to understand media systems in Asia. The purpose of this paper is to raise issues with the applicability of the theories in an Asian media context and explore a new paradigm, which would bring in cultural values from both the East and the West.

Deng Xiaoping's economic reforms and open policies have reintegrated China into the world market system. The fast growth of the Chinese economy has fueled the development of its advertising industry, including international advertising in China. To find out how international corporations advertise in China, a survey of international advertisers in China was conducted. The study has found that most of the companies surveyed use the combination strategy, that is, localizing some parts while standardizing others. The study also shows that perceptions of Chinese culture have a significant influence on the advertising strategies used.

China became the largest Internet user in the world with 420 million of its citizens connected to the new media by June 2010. This chapter investigates the social conditions and ways in which new communication technologies are transforming the politics, culture, and the society in China through analyses of uses of the Internet, differing roles played by the traditional and the new media, Internet regulations in the country, and cases catapulted to the national media spotlight by the online community, and through contrasts with the roles new communication technologies play in Western and African societies. The chapter also attempts to explore the implications of these transformations.