This workshop was organized by the Cuban Society for Immunology (CSI) with the cooperation of the... more This workshop was organized by the Cuban Society for Immunology (CSI) with the cooperation of the Latin American Association for Immunology (ALAI), the Finlay Institute, the Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (CIGB), the American Society for Microbiology (ASM), and Alfa Universal Invest., Corp. Adjuvants help antigens to elicit an early, high and long-lasting immune response with less antigens. In recent years, adjuvants received much attention because of the development of purified recombinant and synthetic peptide vaccine candidates, many of which are poor immunogens and require adjuvants to evoke the desired immune response. Besides, for many years, the only adjuvants available for general use in human vaccines were aluminium salts; but new adjuvants like proteoliposomes are already extensively used. With the use of adjuvants the immune response can be selectively modulated to a Th1 or Th2 response which is very important for protection against diseases caused by intracellular and extracellular pathogens, respectively. To discuss updated aspects concerning the development of adjuvants of importance in human and veterinary vaccines, the Cuban Society for Immunology (CSI) organized from December 5-8 of 2001 The 1 st International and 2 nd National Workshop on Vaccine Adjuvants with the cooperation of the Finlay Institute, the Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (CIGB), The Latin American Association for Immunology (ALAI) and the American Society for Microbiology (ASM) at the Neptune-Triton Hotel in Havana, Cuba. Dr. Gustavo Sierra (President of the CSI and ALAI, Vicepresident of the Finlay Institute and President of the Expert Vaccines Committee) chaired the meeting that he organized together with Dr. Oliver Pérez (General Secretary of CSI and ALAI). The meeting was opened by stating that the discussion and proceedings should involve the screening and application of new adjuvants for many different kinds of vaccines. The program emphasized vaccination for prophylaxis or therapy in infectious diseases and in therapy of cancer. It also focused on adjuvants as carrier proteins, immunomodulators, appropriate delivery systems, whole organism vectors, liposomes and proteoliposomes. Future meetings may also consider procedures for safetly testing of new adjuvants and regulatory aspects of their application in humans as well as emphasize in vaccine adjuvants already in, or very close to, entering clinical trials. Another interesting point suggested for future meetings was the use of cytolysins as a new approach for immune deviation and the induction of CTL response in vaccine development. Topics of special interest were the role of dendritic cells as natural adjuvants, the ability of adjuvants to selectively modulate the immune response to Th1 or Th2, the advances in adjuvants for cancer vaccines, the rational design of new vectors as antigen-delivery systems, adjuvants for mucosal vaccine delivery, adjuvants that can be used in vaccines against viral or parasitic vaccines and the adjuvant capacity of liposomes and proteoliposomes. Researchers representing twenty-three different academic institutions and three pharmaceutical companies involved in adjuvant research and development attended to the meeting. The most import aim of this workshop was to discuss updated results in the field of adjuvants and to strengthen relationships between researchers and companies dedicated to research and production of new vaccines. The present report is structured in topics which include oral presentations and posters after a summarized explanation of each topic by the chairpersons.
Resumen En los últimos años el concepto de narrativa transmediática ha emergido como un objeto de... more Resumen En los últimos años el concepto de narrativa transmediática ha emergido como un objeto de estudio central para la comprensión de la nueva narrativa televisiva. Habitualmente este tipo de estudios se han centrado en la ficción, sin embargo géneros híbridos como los reality game shows, que también construyen un relato, han establecido sinergias muy significativas con la web (entre otros medios) para enriquecer el mundo narrativo que ofrecen a los espectadores. Por lo tanto, para entender en toda su extensión el fenómeno de la narrativa transmediática también es necesario analizar las estrategias de expansión de estos programas. En este contexto, esta comunicación plantea como objetivo analizar la expansión transmediática de dos de los reality game shows más populares a nivel internacional y que han utilizado estas estrategias de forma sustancial: Operación Triunfo y American Idol. Para abordar este objetivo se ha desarrollado una metodología basada en el análisis textual, que ...
Si la forma como, desde ninos, construimos universos de valores y damos sentido a nuestras vidas ... more Si la forma como, desde ninos, construimos universos de valores y damos sentido a nuestras vidas esta indisolublemente unida a los medios y las obras de la cultura de masas, la teoria y metodologia del analisis del videojuego requieren, hoy en dia, un desarrollo en profundidad. En este contexto, una cuestion fundamental es la constuccion de taxonomias precisas sobre los diversos generos de videojuego. Con el objetivo de contribuir a esta tarea, en este articulo se presenta una propuesta de taxonomia modular de generos de videojuego, a traves de dos procedimientos distintivos: la busqueda de criterios de clasificacion plurales y la articulacion de perspectivas teoricas tambien plurales. Los fundamentos teoricos sobre los cuales se construye el trabajo son la psicologia y la antropologia del juego, la ludologia y la teoria del videojuego y la historia del juego.
According to J. Blumler and D. Kavanagh, since the mid nineties we are in the Third Age of Politi... more According to J. Blumler and D. Kavanagh, since the mid nineties we are in the Third Age of Political Communication, where the emergence of Internet, digital TV and infotainment and the increasing awareness of political disaffection have converged. Therefore, it is necessary to review the role of television in this new era of political communication, and at the same time we need to adapt our theoretical and methodological tools to the new reality of TV and political communication. In this context, the purpose of this research is defining a model of analysis for the study of TV construction
Finlay Institute is one of the pioneering organizations in Neisseria Vaccinology mainly by its co... more Finlay Institute is one of the pioneering organizations in Neisseria Vaccinology mainly by its contribution to N. meningitidis serogroup B outer membrane-based bivalent vaccine, VA-MENGOC-BC® (4). This was applied, intramuscularly, in more than 60 million doses. Only 10.7 millions of them correspond to Cuban young adults, children, and infants. However, most dangerous or commensally Neisseria strains enter and establish in the mucosa, where the secretory (S) IgA is the main specific guardian and is mainly induced by mucosal routes (5). In addition, colonization of young children by N. lactamica has been implicated in naturally-acquired meningococcal immunity. Nonetheless, more attention was dedicated to systemic response against Neisseria diseases. Contrary, less attention was dedicated to mucosal immune response. In addition, few mucosal vaccines exist predominantly due to the absent of safe mucosal adjuvants.
Summary Proteoliposome (AFPL1) and its derivated - Cochleate (AFCo1) contain immunopotentiating a... more Summary Proteoliposome (AFPL1) and its derivated - Cochleate (AFCo1) contain immunopotentiating and immunomodulatory properties and delivery system capacities required for a good adjuvant. In addition, they permit package of multimeric antigens and synergistic pathogen-associate molecular pattern essential to stimulate innate immunity. AFPL1 and AFCo1 is produce in GMP condition at industrial scale at Finlay Institute. Both, AFPL1 and AFCo1 contain protective anti Neisseria components. AFPL1 was used for several years as main adjuvant and antigen of Men BC combine vaccine where induces a preferential Th1 pattern of immune response. That is why, it is using in formulation against allergen to overcome the Th2 response induced by them. AFCo1 is more efficient that AFPL1 mainly for mucosal routes and a nasal vaccine is in preclinical stage of development. Preliminary results against Malaria and sexual transmitted disease are very promising. AFPL1 and AFCo1 acting directly as vaccines or...
"Desde el nacimiento del videojuego como producto de la cultura de masas en los años setenta... more "Desde el nacimiento del videojuego como producto de la cultura de masas en los años setenta, las perspectivas de análisis que han predominado sobre este se han basado en su consideración como un objeto tecnológico, como producto comercial de una nueva industria emergente, como un medio de entretenimiento, como un recurso educativo, como una influencia sobre el comportamiento de los jóvenes y, más recientemente, como un objeto cultural. Pero el diseño de videojuegos trae también consigo un nuevo lenguaje, el lenguaje del diseño de reglas de juego y de estructuras y dinámicas de interactividad lúdica. El videojuego puede y debe ser estudiado también como una obra comunicativa. Con la finalidad de realizar una contribución a esta tarea, este libro propone una exploración sobre las estructuras y los recursos expresivos que hacen del diseño de videojuegos un nuevo lenguaje, y aporta una metodología de análisis del videojuego como obra comunicativa. Paralelamente, en el trabajo se deja de manifiesto que no solo los denominados serious games o persuasive games tienen «mensaje», sino que detrás de todo videojuego, incluidos los videojuegos del mainstream comercial, hay un discurso, una determinada visión del mundo, un cierto punto de vista sobre qué es la «victoria» y qué es la «derrota», y cómo se llega a cada una de ellas. En el desarrollo del libro se integran aspectos de Ludología, Semiótica, Narratología y Psicología Cognitiva, y se aborda el análisis de algunos de los videojuegos más populares, entre ellos Los Sims, Grand Theft Auto, Half-Life y Bioshock. Para finalizar, se propone un estudio en profundidad sobre los videojuegos del diseñador Fumito Ueda, Ico y Shadow of the Colossus."
The emergence of new media, devices, narratives and practices has compelled media literacy schola... more The emergence of new media, devices, narratives and practices has compelled media literacy scholars and professionals to review their theoretical frameworks and methodological approaches. Based on a new conception – ‘transmedia literacy’ – that moves from traditional media literacy to informal learning and participatory cultures practices, the research program behind the present article tries to understand how new generations are doing things with media outside schools and how they learnt to do the things they do. The article begins by describing the transformations of media literacy in recent years as a consequence of the mutations of the media ecology and, in that context, proposes a methodological approachfor analysing the acquisition of transmedia skills in informal learning environments by teens. The article describes, analyses and evaluates the development and initial implementation of this methodology working with teenagers in a high-school in NAME CITY. It ends with a Resear...
Convergence: The International Journal of Research into New Media Technologies, 2017
How do the most popular video games in recent years contribute to the construction of the social ... more How do the most popular video games in recent years contribute to the construction of the social imaginary of the Great Recession? The discursive struggles over the definition of crucial aspects of the recession such as austerity, the heroic ethos to face precariousness and being anti-establishment are being played not only in the political arena and ‘serious’ news genres but also in the narrations of popular culture and video games. Thus, critical analysis of the social resonances of video games on the Great Recession is a relevant exercise not only academically but also socially. To address this question, this article proposes an analysis of bestselling video games from 2009 to 2015, based on cultural studies and game studies. The analysis is organized in three case studies: (a) post-apocalyptic video games and their potential resonances regarding austerity and precariousness; (b) video games, neo-liberalism and counter neo-liberal views; and (c) video games and the representation...
An ideological analysis of video games should include both the narrative and ludic dimensions, si... more An ideological analysis of video games should include both the narrative and ludic dimensions, since there can be frictions between these two dimensions and they can even contradict one another. This article’s main aim is to analyze BioShock Infinite, an illustrative case study of these conflicts. On the one hand, it is a video game that portrays a dystopian narrative, aligning itself with this genre’s critical progressive tradition; on the other hand, its gameplay has an accentuated neoliberal bent. The analysis of BioShock Infinite also helps us to critically discuss certain trends in game design in contemporary mainstream video games that connect with and reinforce neoliberal values.
The main aim of this article is to analyze the social circulation of discourses on non-hegemonic ... more The main aim of this article is to analyze the social circulation of discourses on non-hegemonic cultural practices, in particular, on what is called “trash TV”, and how they are connected to struggles over cultural and social hierarchies. To do so, it takes a specific event as starting point: the injunction that the CNMC (the Spanish broadcasting regulatory body) filed against Mediaset (a commercial TV operator) to adjust the contents of Sálvame Diario (a celebrity gossip program frequently associated with “trash TV”) to the requirements of what is known as the “child protection time slot”. This paper uses constructionist framing to analyze how this event was discussed by different social actors. Our analysis shows that while the CNMC and the press painted the conflict as a legal issue, Sálvame and social media users focused their discussion on the social acceptability of celebrity gossip media and their viewers (specifically working-class women).
American journal of reproductive immunology (New York, N.Y. : 1989), 2018
Immunocastration or vaccination against the GnRH-I hormone is a promising alternative to reproduc... more Immunocastration or vaccination against the GnRH-I hormone is a promising alternative to reproductive control in different animal species. Given the low immunogenicity of this hormone, the use of adjuvants becomes necessary. This study evaluated the effects of three adjuvants that induce different immune response profiles over gonadal function, fertility, and expression of GnRH-I. Female mice (n = 6) were vaccinated at days 1 and 30 with a recombinant antigen for immunocastration and different adjuvants that induced preferentially Th1/Th2, Th2, and Th1 immune profiles. Th1/Th2 response is the most efficient to block reproductive activity in vaccinated animals, reducing the number of luteal bodies and pre-ovulatory follicles. Th2 and Th1/Th2 responses induced an increase in GnRH-I at the hypothalamus. The immune profile induced by different adjuvants is essential on the effects over fertility, gonadal function, and hypothalamic GnRH-I expression in immunocastrated animals.
The proteoliposome (PL) of Neisseria meningitidis serogroup B has been reported as a safe and pot... more The proteoliposome (PL) of Neisseria meningitidis serogroup B has been reported as a safe and potent vaccine adjuvant, inducing a T H 1-skewed response. The present study describes a pre-clinical safety evaluation of an allergy therapeutic vaccine candidate based on purified allergens from Dermatophagoides siboney house dust mite and PL as adjuvant, both components adsorbed onto aluminum hydroxide gel. Two separate studies of acute toxicity evaluation were performed in mice and rabbits, and two repeatdose studies were conducted in non-sensitized and allergen-sensitized Balb/c mice, respectively. The study in sensitized mice intends to model a therapeutic setting. Aerosolized allergen challenge was used in both settings to model natural respiratory exposure. In the therapeutic setting, mice were administered with three doses containing 2 lg allergen at weekly intervals [subcutaneous route] and subsequently challenged with aerosolized allergen for 6 consecutive days. Parameters of general toxicity effects were assessed via measures of behavior, body weight, food and water consumption, and macroscopic evaluation of organs. Histological examination of organs and the injection site was performed. Potential immunotoxicity effects at the systemic level were assessed by blood eosinophil counting and serum allergen specific IgE by ELISA The vaccine did not produce general or functional toxic effects of significance, at a dose up to 100 lg allergen per kg body weight. An expected local reaction at the injection site was observed, which could be attributed mostly to the immunological effect of aluminum hydroxide. The models implemented here suggest an acceptable safety profile of this vaccine for testing in clinical trials of allergy immunotherapy.
Convergence: The International Journal of Research into New Media Technologies, 2016
This article aims to identify the relationship between video games and neoliberal values. To fulf... more This article aims to identify the relationship between video games and neoliberal values. To fulfil this aim, it analyses the covers of the 20 top-selling video games in the United States each year from 2010 to 2014 (a total of 80 different games). Video game covers are a type of paratext, that is, texts that accompany another text to promote it and to guide its reading. Thus, video game covers choose and highlight some of the games’ features over others, and by doing that they construct a discourse. In this article, it is argued that regardless of genre, the covers analysed convey and promote neoliberal values, such as freedom and choice, entrepreneurship, consumption and accumulation of goods, customization, novelty, individualism and meritocracy. This promotion of neoliberal values is combined with an appeal to the concerns of ‘risk society’. Thus, the covers of the top-selling video games play on fears linked to the new context created by the economic crisis while at the same ti...
The commercial emergence of "indie games" since 2008 represents a fundamental challenge for conte... more The commercial emergence of "indie games" since 2008 represents a fundamental challenge for contemporary game studies. As we still do not have a clear definition of the indie game, its popularity and commercial success have made the conceptualization of this type of game even more complex. Far from being a pure videogame model, completely separated from the mainstream sphere, indie games often involve hybridizations and ambiguities between the alternative and the mainstream. Thus this article aims to problematize the neat conceptualizations of indie games as an opposing "genre" to mainstream games by exploring the many tensions and nuances between the alternative and mainstream dimensions that can be identified within indie game production, culture and design. The first part of the article focuses on the production and distribution issues, as well as on the cultural construction and artistic legitimation of indie games. The article then posits a design-centered analytical approach to indie games inspired by Kellner (1995) and based on "procedural rhetorics" (Bogost, 2006; Flanagan and Nissenbaum, 2014). This approach is used to look at commercially successful indie games, which we consider to be an especially suitable object of study for exploring and understanding contemporary culture through the frictions between hegemonic culture and counter-culture, progressivism and conservatism, capitalism and anti-capitalism, as well as the way we conceive these notions.
This workshop was organized by the Cuban Society for Immunology (CSI) with the cooperation of the... more This workshop was organized by the Cuban Society for Immunology (CSI) with the cooperation of the Latin American Association for Immunology (ALAI), the Finlay Institute, the Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (CIGB), the American Society for Microbiology (ASM), and Alfa Universal Invest., Corp. Adjuvants help antigens to elicit an early, high and long-lasting immune response with less antigens. In recent years, adjuvants received much attention because of the development of purified recombinant and synthetic peptide vaccine candidates, many of which are poor immunogens and require adjuvants to evoke the desired immune response. Besides, for many years, the only adjuvants available for general use in human vaccines were aluminium salts; but new adjuvants like proteoliposomes are already extensively used. With the use of adjuvants the immune response can be selectively modulated to a Th1 or Th2 response which is very important for protection against diseases caused by intracellular and extracellular pathogens, respectively. To discuss updated aspects concerning the development of adjuvants of importance in human and veterinary vaccines, the Cuban Society for Immunology (CSI) organized from December 5-8 of 2001 The 1 st International and 2 nd National Workshop on Vaccine Adjuvants with the cooperation of the Finlay Institute, the Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (CIGB), The Latin American Association for Immunology (ALAI) and the American Society for Microbiology (ASM) at the Neptune-Triton Hotel in Havana, Cuba. Dr. Gustavo Sierra (President of the CSI and ALAI, Vicepresident of the Finlay Institute and President of the Expert Vaccines Committee) chaired the meeting that he organized together with Dr. Oliver Pérez (General Secretary of CSI and ALAI). The meeting was opened by stating that the discussion and proceedings should involve the screening and application of new adjuvants for many different kinds of vaccines. The program emphasized vaccination for prophylaxis or therapy in infectious diseases and in therapy of cancer. It also focused on adjuvants as carrier proteins, immunomodulators, appropriate delivery systems, whole organism vectors, liposomes and proteoliposomes. Future meetings may also consider procedures for safetly testing of new adjuvants and regulatory aspects of their application in humans as well as emphasize in vaccine adjuvants already in, or very close to, entering clinical trials. Another interesting point suggested for future meetings was the use of cytolysins as a new approach for immune deviation and the induction of CTL response in vaccine development. Topics of special interest were the role of dendritic cells as natural adjuvants, the ability of adjuvants to selectively modulate the immune response to Th1 or Th2, the advances in adjuvants for cancer vaccines, the rational design of new vectors as antigen-delivery systems, adjuvants for mucosal vaccine delivery, adjuvants that can be used in vaccines against viral or parasitic vaccines and the adjuvant capacity of liposomes and proteoliposomes. Researchers representing twenty-three different academic institutions and three pharmaceutical companies involved in adjuvant research and development attended to the meeting. The most import aim of this workshop was to discuss updated results in the field of adjuvants and to strengthen relationships between researchers and companies dedicated to research and production of new vaccines. The present report is structured in topics which include oral presentations and posters after a summarized explanation of each topic by the chairpersons.
Resumen En los últimos años el concepto de narrativa transmediática ha emergido como un objeto de... more Resumen En los últimos años el concepto de narrativa transmediática ha emergido como un objeto de estudio central para la comprensión de la nueva narrativa televisiva. Habitualmente este tipo de estudios se han centrado en la ficción, sin embargo géneros híbridos como los reality game shows, que también construyen un relato, han establecido sinergias muy significativas con la web (entre otros medios) para enriquecer el mundo narrativo que ofrecen a los espectadores. Por lo tanto, para entender en toda su extensión el fenómeno de la narrativa transmediática también es necesario analizar las estrategias de expansión de estos programas. En este contexto, esta comunicación plantea como objetivo analizar la expansión transmediática de dos de los reality game shows más populares a nivel internacional y que han utilizado estas estrategias de forma sustancial: Operación Triunfo y American Idol. Para abordar este objetivo se ha desarrollado una metodología basada en el análisis textual, que ...
Si la forma como, desde ninos, construimos universos de valores y damos sentido a nuestras vidas ... more Si la forma como, desde ninos, construimos universos de valores y damos sentido a nuestras vidas esta indisolublemente unida a los medios y las obras de la cultura de masas, la teoria y metodologia del analisis del videojuego requieren, hoy en dia, un desarrollo en profundidad. En este contexto, una cuestion fundamental es la constuccion de taxonomias precisas sobre los diversos generos de videojuego. Con el objetivo de contribuir a esta tarea, en este articulo se presenta una propuesta de taxonomia modular de generos de videojuego, a traves de dos procedimientos distintivos: la busqueda de criterios de clasificacion plurales y la articulacion de perspectivas teoricas tambien plurales. Los fundamentos teoricos sobre los cuales se construye el trabajo son la psicologia y la antropologia del juego, la ludologia y la teoria del videojuego y la historia del juego.
According to J. Blumler and D. Kavanagh, since the mid nineties we are in the Third Age of Politi... more According to J. Blumler and D. Kavanagh, since the mid nineties we are in the Third Age of Political Communication, where the emergence of Internet, digital TV and infotainment and the increasing awareness of political disaffection have converged. Therefore, it is necessary to review the role of television in this new era of political communication, and at the same time we need to adapt our theoretical and methodological tools to the new reality of TV and political communication. In this context, the purpose of this research is defining a model of analysis for the study of TV construction
Finlay Institute is one of the pioneering organizations in Neisseria Vaccinology mainly by its co... more Finlay Institute is one of the pioneering organizations in Neisseria Vaccinology mainly by its contribution to N. meningitidis serogroup B outer membrane-based bivalent vaccine, VA-MENGOC-BC® (4). This was applied, intramuscularly, in more than 60 million doses. Only 10.7 millions of them correspond to Cuban young adults, children, and infants. However, most dangerous or commensally Neisseria strains enter and establish in the mucosa, where the secretory (S) IgA is the main specific guardian and is mainly induced by mucosal routes (5). In addition, colonization of young children by N. lactamica has been implicated in naturally-acquired meningococcal immunity. Nonetheless, more attention was dedicated to systemic response against Neisseria diseases. Contrary, less attention was dedicated to mucosal immune response. In addition, few mucosal vaccines exist predominantly due to the absent of safe mucosal adjuvants.
Summary Proteoliposome (AFPL1) and its derivated - Cochleate (AFCo1) contain immunopotentiating a... more Summary Proteoliposome (AFPL1) and its derivated - Cochleate (AFCo1) contain immunopotentiating and immunomodulatory properties and delivery system capacities required for a good adjuvant. In addition, they permit package of multimeric antigens and synergistic pathogen-associate molecular pattern essential to stimulate innate immunity. AFPL1 and AFCo1 is produce in GMP condition at industrial scale at Finlay Institute. Both, AFPL1 and AFCo1 contain protective anti Neisseria components. AFPL1 was used for several years as main adjuvant and antigen of Men BC combine vaccine where induces a preferential Th1 pattern of immune response. That is why, it is using in formulation against allergen to overcome the Th2 response induced by them. AFCo1 is more efficient that AFPL1 mainly for mucosal routes and a nasal vaccine is in preclinical stage of development. Preliminary results against Malaria and sexual transmitted disease are very promising. AFPL1 and AFCo1 acting directly as vaccines or...
"Desde el nacimiento del videojuego como producto de la cultura de masas en los años setenta... more "Desde el nacimiento del videojuego como producto de la cultura de masas en los años setenta, las perspectivas de análisis que han predominado sobre este se han basado en su consideración como un objeto tecnológico, como producto comercial de una nueva industria emergente, como un medio de entretenimiento, como un recurso educativo, como una influencia sobre el comportamiento de los jóvenes y, más recientemente, como un objeto cultural. Pero el diseño de videojuegos trae también consigo un nuevo lenguaje, el lenguaje del diseño de reglas de juego y de estructuras y dinámicas de interactividad lúdica. El videojuego puede y debe ser estudiado también como una obra comunicativa. Con la finalidad de realizar una contribución a esta tarea, este libro propone una exploración sobre las estructuras y los recursos expresivos que hacen del diseño de videojuegos un nuevo lenguaje, y aporta una metodología de análisis del videojuego como obra comunicativa. Paralelamente, en el trabajo se deja de manifiesto que no solo los denominados serious games o persuasive games tienen «mensaje», sino que detrás de todo videojuego, incluidos los videojuegos del mainstream comercial, hay un discurso, una determinada visión del mundo, un cierto punto de vista sobre qué es la «victoria» y qué es la «derrota», y cómo se llega a cada una de ellas. En el desarrollo del libro se integran aspectos de Ludología, Semiótica, Narratología y Psicología Cognitiva, y se aborda el análisis de algunos de los videojuegos más populares, entre ellos Los Sims, Grand Theft Auto, Half-Life y Bioshock. Para finalizar, se propone un estudio en profundidad sobre los videojuegos del diseñador Fumito Ueda, Ico y Shadow of the Colossus."
The emergence of new media, devices, narratives and practices has compelled media literacy schola... more The emergence of new media, devices, narratives and practices has compelled media literacy scholars and professionals to review their theoretical frameworks and methodological approaches. Based on a new conception – ‘transmedia literacy’ – that moves from traditional media literacy to informal learning and participatory cultures practices, the research program behind the present article tries to understand how new generations are doing things with media outside schools and how they learnt to do the things they do. The article begins by describing the transformations of media literacy in recent years as a consequence of the mutations of the media ecology and, in that context, proposes a methodological approachfor analysing the acquisition of transmedia skills in informal learning environments by teens. The article describes, analyses and evaluates the development and initial implementation of this methodology working with teenagers in a high-school in NAME CITY. It ends with a Resear...
Convergence: The International Journal of Research into New Media Technologies, 2017
How do the most popular video games in recent years contribute to the construction of the social ... more How do the most popular video games in recent years contribute to the construction of the social imaginary of the Great Recession? The discursive struggles over the definition of crucial aspects of the recession such as austerity, the heroic ethos to face precariousness and being anti-establishment are being played not only in the political arena and ‘serious’ news genres but also in the narrations of popular culture and video games. Thus, critical analysis of the social resonances of video games on the Great Recession is a relevant exercise not only academically but also socially. To address this question, this article proposes an analysis of bestselling video games from 2009 to 2015, based on cultural studies and game studies. The analysis is organized in three case studies: (a) post-apocalyptic video games and their potential resonances regarding austerity and precariousness; (b) video games, neo-liberalism and counter neo-liberal views; and (c) video games and the representation...
An ideological analysis of video games should include both the narrative and ludic dimensions, si... more An ideological analysis of video games should include both the narrative and ludic dimensions, since there can be frictions between these two dimensions and they can even contradict one another. This article’s main aim is to analyze BioShock Infinite, an illustrative case study of these conflicts. On the one hand, it is a video game that portrays a dystopian narrative, aligning itself with this genre’s critical progressive tradition; on the other hand, its gameplay has an accentuated neoliberal bent. The analysis of BioShock Infinite also helps us to critically discuss certain trends in game design in contemporary mainstream video games that connect with and reinforce neoliberal values.
The main aim of this article is to analyze the social circulation of discourses on non-hegemonic ... more The main aim of this article is to analyze the social circulation of discourses on non-hegemonic cultural practices, in particular, on what is called “trash TV”, and how they are connected to struggles over cultural and social hierarchies. To do so, it takes a specific event as starting point: the injunction that the CNMC (the Spanish broadcasting regulatory body) filed against Mediaset (a commercial TV operator) to adjust the contents of Sálvame Diario (a celebrity gossip program frequently associated with “trash TV”) to the requirements of what is known as the “child protection time slot”. This paper uses constructionist framing to analyze how this event was discussed by different social actors. Our analysis shows that while the CNMC and the press painted the conflict as a legal issue, Sálvame and social media users focused their discussion on the social acceptability of celebrity gossip media and their viewers (specifically working-class women).
American journal of reproductive immunology (New York, N.Y. : 1989), 2018
Immunocastration or vaccination against the GnRH-I hormone is a promising alternative to reproduc... more Immunocastration or vaccination against the GnRH-I hormone is a promising alternative to reproductive control in different animal species. Given the low immunogenicity of this hormone, the use of adjuvants becomes necessary. This study evaluated the effects of three adjuvants that induce different immune response profiles over gonadal function, fertility, and expression of GnRH-I. Female mice (n = 6) were vaccinated at days 1 and 30 with a recombinant antigen for immunocastration and different adjuvants that induced preferentially Th1/Th2, Th2, and Th1 immune profiles. Th1/Th2 response is the most efficient to block reproductive activity in vaccinated animals, reducing the number of luteal bodies and pre-ovulatory follicles. Th2 and Th1/Th2 responses induced an increase in GnRH-I at the hypothalamus. The immune profile induced by different adjuvants is essential on the effects over fertility, gonadal function, and hypothalamic GnRH-I expression in immunocastrated animals.
The proteoliposome (PL) of Neisseria meningitidis serogroup B has been reported as a safe and pot... more The proteoliposome (PL) of Neisseria meningitidis serogroup B has been reported as a safe and potent vaccine adjuvant, inducing a T H 1-skewed response. The present study describes a pre-clinical safety evaluation of an allergy therapeutic vaccine candidate based on purified allergens from Dermatophagoides siboney house dust mite and PL as adjuvant, both components adsorbed onto aluminum hydroxide gel. Two separate studies of acute toxicity evaluation were performed in mice and rabbits, and two repeatdose studies were conducted in non-sensitized and allergen-sensitized Balb/c mice, respectively. The study in sensitized mice intends to model a therapeutic setting. Aerosolized allergen challenge was used in both settings to model natural respiratory exposure. In the therapeutic setting, mice were administered with three doses containing 2 lg allergen at weekly intervals [subcutaneous route] and subsequently challenged with aerosolized allergen for 6 consecutive days. Parameters of general toxicity effects were assessed via measures of behavior, body weight, food and water consumption, and macroscopic evaluation of organs. Histological examination of organs and the injection site was performed. Potential immunotoxicity effects at the systemic level were assessed by blood eosinophil counting and serum allergen specific IgE by ELISA The vaccine did not produce general or functional toxic effects of significance, at a dose up to 100 lg allergen per kg body weight. An expected local reaction at the injection site was observed, which could be attributed mostly to the immunological effect of aluminum hydroxide. The models implemented here suggest an acceptable safety profile of this vaccine for testing in clinical trials of allergy immunotherapy.
Convergence: The International Journal of Research into New Media Technologies, 2016
This article aims to identify the relationship between video games and neoliberal values. To fulf... more This article aims to identify the relationship between video games and neoliberal values. To fulfil this aim, it analyses the covers of the 20 top-selling video games in the United States each year from 2010 to 2014 (a total of 80 different games). Video game covers are a type of paratext, that is, texts that accompany another text to promote it and to guide its reading. Thus, video game covers choose and highlight some of the games’ features over others, and by doing that they construct a discourse. In this article, it is argued that regardless of genre, the covers analysed convey and promote neoliberal values, such as freedom and choice, entrepreneurship, consumption and accumulation of goods, customization, novelty, individualism and meritocracy. This promotion of neoliberal values is combined with an appeal to the concerns of ‘risk society’. Thus, the covers of the top-selling video games play on fears linked to the new context created by the economic crisis while at the same ti...
The commercial emergence of "indie games" since 2008 represents a fundamental challenge for conte... more The commercial emergence of "indie games" since 2008 represents a fundamental challenge for contemporary game studies. As we still do not have a clear definition of the indie game, its popularity and commercial success have made the conceptualization of this type of game even more complex. Far from being a pure videogame model, completely separated from the mainstream sphere, indie games often involve hybridizations and ambiguities between the alternative and the mainstream. Thus this article aims to problematize the neat conceptualizations of indie games as an opposing "genre" to mainstream games by exploring the many tensions and nuances between the alternative and mainstream dimensions that can be identified within indie game production, culture and design. The first part of the article focuses on the production and distribution issues, as well as on the cultural construction and artistic legitimation of indie games. The article then posits a design-centered analytical approach to indie games inspired by Kellner (1995) and based on "procedural rhetorics" (Bogost, 2006; Flanagan and Nissenbaum, 2014). This approach is used to look at commercially successful indie games, which we consider to be an especially suitable object of study for exploring and understanding contemporary culture through the frictions between hegemonic culture and counter-culture, progressivism and conservatism, capitalism and anti-capitalism, as well as the way we conceive these notions.
Uploads
Papers by Oliver Perez