Unsettling Play: Perceptions of Agonistic Games

In this paper, we propose Agonistic Games (AGs) as a serious games subcategory that can stimulate critical reflection on topics of dark heritage through multiperspectivity and unsettling play. We first discuss the emerging topic of agonism in memory studies, and then how games can be used to support its objectives. We then discuss the development of 2 original AGs: Endless Blitz and Umschlagplatz '43. We explore whether these two AGs were perceived as capable of stimulating critical reflection by collecting data from visitors to the exhibition 'Krieg. Macht. Sinn' at the Ruhr Museum in Germany where the games were installed, and from participants in an online course describing the games. From analysing data collected, we outline four factors inhibiting the capacity of AGs to stimulate critical reflection (topic, context, design, and assumptions about games) and propose strategies for overcoming these inhibitors. Our findings are valuable to scholars, game researchers, and designers, strengthening the foundations for the design and development of future AGs

Sacred springs: teaching children local history via a game jam

Game Jams are planned events in which attendees engage in practices of co-creation in an attempt to devise a game concept and prototype. They are designed to be fun, participatory, and stimulate creativity over a short intense period of time. We report on a recent Game Jam, Sacred Spring, aimed at educating children on the medical and scientific history of the Roman Baths in the city of Bath, UK. In this paper, we describe the event and its output, with some brief discussion on what we learned from organizing and running the game jam with a group of children aged 6-9 years old. Our aim is to discuss our Game Jam with the inclusive participatory design (PD) community, contextualizing novel game design and game play based learning strategies in the PD space, and devising ways to reach a broader audience in future workshops

Discovery of New Potential Anti-Infective Compounds Based on Carbonic Anhydrase Inhibitors by Rational Target-Focused Repurposing Approaches

In academia, compound recycling represents an alternative drug discovery strategy to identify new pharmaceutical targets from a library of chemical compounds available in house. Herein we report the application of a rational target-based drug-repurposing approach to find diverse applications for our in-house collection of compounds. The carbonic anhydrase (CA, EC 4.2.1.1) metalloenzyme superfamily was identified as a potential target of our compounds. The combination of a thoroughly validated docking screening protocol, together with in vitro assays against various CA families and isoforms, allowed us to identify two unprecedented chemotypes as CA inhibitors. The identified compounds have the capacity to preferentially bind pathogenic (bacterial/protozoan) CAs over human isoforms and represent excellent hits for further optimization in hit-to-lead campaigns

Agonistic games

Historical narratives of conflict typically revolve around heroes and villains or perpetrators and victims. However, this dichotomy of events and people into good and evil greatly reduces the extent to which the past can be analysed, explained, and understood. To truly understand the actions that lead to conflict, one must appreciate the dense network of relationships between social agents, each with their own personal motivations and ideals. A contemporary political viewpoint capturing this multiperspectivity is that of Agonism. Focusing on the characters and events, Agonism emphasises the socio-cultural interactions and relationships between all agents involved including bystanders and, crucially, perpetrators. We discuss two 'Games for a Social Change' that we have developed to promote an Agonistic view: Endless Blitz and Umschlag '43. We describe the games themselves, and the framework of memory studies that informs our work

Efficacy of Albumin Treatment for Patients with Cirrhosis and Infections Unrelated to Spontaneous Bacterial Peritonitis

Background & aims: We performed a randomized trial to determine whether albumin should be administered to patients with infections unrelated to spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP). Methods: We performed a multicenter, open-label trial in which 118 patients with cirrhosis, non-SBP infections, and additional risk factors for poor outcome were randomly assigned to receive antibiotics plus albumin (study group; n = 61) or antibiotics alone (control group; n = 57). The primary outcome was in-hospital mortality; secondary outcomes were effect of albumin on disease course. Results: There were no significant differences at baseline between groups in results from standard laboratory tests, serum markers of inflammation, circulatory dysfunction, or liver severity scores. However, the combined prevalence of acute on chronic liver failure (ACLF) and kidney dysfunction was significantly higher in the study group (44.3% vs 24.6% in the control group; P = .02), indicating greater baseline overall severity. There was no significant difference in the primary outcome between groups (13.1% in the study group vs 10.5% in the control group; P = .66). Circulatory and renal functions improved in only the study group. A significantly higher proportion of patients in the study group had resolution of ACLF (82.3% vs 33.3% in the control group; P = .03). A significantly lower proportion of patients in the study group developed nosocomial infections (6.6% vs 24.6% in the control group; P = .007). Conclusions: In a randomized trial of patients with advanced cirrhosis and non-SBP infections, in-hospital mortality was similar between those who received albumin plus antibiotics vs those who received only antibiotics (controls). However, patients given albumin were sicker at baseline and, during the follow-up period, a higher proportion had ACLF resolution and a lower proportion had nosocomial infections. ClinicalTrials.gov no: NCT02034279