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The interpretation of archaeological heritage encounters inherent challenges due to the fragmentation and contextual loss of the physical site. Virtual reality has emerged as an innovative medium for enhancing user engagement and promoting meaningful dissemination of culture. This exploratory study investigates the design and preliminary expert-based evaluation of arkeOyun, a virtual reality game created to better understand archaeological sites’ spatial and cultural significance, by sampling the Kültepe Archaeological Site. The aim of this study is to evaluate the usefulness of virtual game-based approaches in the dissemination of cultural heritage and user interaction, emphasising spatial clarity, narrative integration, and immersive engagement. Our study incorporates qualitative and quantitative methods, utilising concurrent think-aloud and heuristic evaluation with participants who were selected due to their expertise in heritage, design, and human–computer interaction domains. Participants engaged with arkeOyun via a head-mounted display, and their real-time comments and post-experience evaluations were systematically evaluated. Results indicate that although participants responded positively to the game’s immersive design, interface simplicity, and spatial organisation, notable deficiencies were seen in narrative coherence, emotional resonance, and multimodal feedback. Navigation and the presentation of informative content were seen as critical areas requiring improvement. The data triangulation revealed both consistent and varying assessments, highlighting the need for context-specific support, varied task structures, and emotionally compelling narratives for enhanced interpretation of cultural significance. The findings of our study illustrate the potential of virtual reality games as a medium for cultural heritage interpretation via arkeOyun. For experiences to evolve from immersive simulations to major interpretative platforms, it is vital to integrate narrative frameworks, multimodal scaffolding, and user-centred interaction tactics more deeply. The results of this exploratory pilot study present preliminary findings on integrating virtual reality games in archaeological heritage interpretation and contribute to further projects. Full article

While the One Health issues of intensive animal farming are commonly discussed, keeping companion animals is less associated with the interspecies headway of antimicrobial resistance. With the constant advance in veterinary standards, antibiotics are regularly applied in companion animal medicine. Due to the close coexistence of dogs and humans, dog bites and other casual encounters with dog saliva (e.g., licking the owner) are common. According to our metagenome study, based on 26 new generation sequencing canine saliva datasets from 2020 and 2021 reposited in NCBI SRA by The 10,000 Dog Genome Consortium and the Broad Institute within Darwin’s Ark project, canine saliva is rich in bacteria with predictably transferable antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs). In the genome of potentially pathogenic Bacteroides, Capnocytophaga, Corynebacterium, Fusobacterium, Pasteurella, Porphyromonas, Staphylococcus and Streptococcus species, which are some of the most relevant bacteria in dog bite infections, ARGs against aminoglycosides, carbapenems, cephalosporins, glycylcyclines, lincosamides, macrolides, oxazolidinone, penams, phenicols, pleuromutilins, streptogramins, sulfonamides and tetracyclines could be identified. Several ARGs, including ones against amoxicillin–clavulanate, the most commonly applied antimicrobial agent for dog bites, were predicted to be potentially transferable based on their association with mobile genetic elements (e.g., plasmids, prophages and integrated mobile genetic elements). According to our findings, canine saliva may be a source of transfer for ARG-rich bacteria that can either colonize the human body or transport ARGs to the host bacteriota, and thus can be considered as a risk in the spread of antimicrobial resistance. Full article

Myths are open storylines that invite elaboration and modification. The flood narrative of Genesis 6–9, for example, has been readily employed to motivate endangered species protection and to reflect on the rising seas and mass extinctions associated with climate change. The distinctive features of any retelling of the Noah’s ark story reflect the needs of historically situated and culturally embedded audiences. This paper focuses on four versions of Noah’s story: in Genesis, in the Qur’an, at Ark Encounter theme park, and in Darren Aronofsky’s film Noah. Analysis identifies the narrative choices that align each telling with its cultural context and draws out insights for adapting the story for the contemporary climate crisis. A conclusion addresses issues of race and racial injustice in traditional interpretations of Noah’s story, and highlights approaches to redress those inequities in new imaginings of the flood narrative. Full article