diff --git a/app/api/routers/admin_dbops.py b/app/api/routers/admin_dbops.py
index 0f4d1f6..ce63ea2 100644
--- a/app/api/routers/admin_dbops.py
+++ b/app/api/routers/admin_dbops.py
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ import logging
 from fastapi import APIRouter, Depends, Path, Query, Request
 from sqlalchemy.ext.asyncio import AsyncSession
 
-from app.api.deps import get_api_admin_user
+from app.api.deps import get_api_admin_user, get_api_current_user
 from app.api.errors import ApiException
 from app.api.responses import success_payload
 from app.api.schemas import (
@@ -185,7 +185,7 @@ async def get_pdf_queue(
     offset: int | None = Query(default=None, ge=0),
     status: str | None = Query(default=None),
     db_session: AsyncSession = Depends(get_db_session),
-    admin_user: User = Depends(get_api_admin_user),
+    current_user: User = Depends(get_api_current_user),
 ):
     normalized_status = (status or "").strip().lower() or None
     resolved_page, resolved_limit, resolved_offset = _resolve_pdf_queue_paging(
@@ -204,7 +204,7 @@ async def get_pdf_queue(
         logger,
         "info",
         "api.admin.db.pdf_queue_listed",
-        admin_user_id=int(admin_user.id),
+        user_id=int(current_user.id),
         page=int(resolved_page),
         page_size=int(resolved_limit),
         offset=int(resolved_offset),
diff --git a/frontend/src/features/settings/SettingsAdminPanel.vue b/frontend/src/features/settings/SettingsAdminPanel.vue
index b306d1e..6e7e326 100644
--- a/frontend/src/features/settings/SettingsAdminPanel.vue
+++ b/frontend/src/features/settings/SettingsAdminPanel.vue
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 <script setup lang="ts">
-import { onMounted, ref, watch } from "vue";
+import { onMounted, watch } from "vue";
+import { ref } from "vue";
 
-import AsyncStateGate from "@/components/patterns/AsyncStateGate.vue";
 import RequestStateAlerts from "@/components/patterns/RequestStateAlerts.vue";
 import AdminIntegritySection from "@/features/settings/components/AdminIntegritySection.vue";
 import AdminPdfQueueSection from "@/features/settings/components/AdminPdfQueueSection.vue";
@@ -18,7 +18,6 @@ const props = defineProps<{
   section: "users" | "integrity" | "repairs" | "pdf";
 }>();
 
-const loading = ref(true);
 const { errorMessage, errorRequestId, successMessage, clearAlerts, assignError } = useRequestState();
 
 const usersRef = ref<InstanceType<typeof AdminUsersSection> | null>(null);
@@ -26,34 +25,21 @@ const integrityRef = ref<InstanceType<typeof AdminIntegritySection> | null>(null
 const repairsRef = ref<InstanceType<typeof AdminRepairsSection> | null>(null);
 const pdfQueueRef = ref<InstanceType<typeof AdminPdfQueueSection> | null>(null);
 
-async function refreshForSection(): Promise<void> {
-  if (props.section === SECTION_USERS && usersRef.value) {
-    await usersRef.value.load();
-    return;
-  }
-  if (props.section === SECTION_INTEGRITY && integrityRef.value) {
-    await integrityRef.value.load();
-    return;
-  }
-  if (props.section === SECTION_REPAIRS) {
-    await usersRef.value?.load();
-    await repairsRef.value?.load();
-    return;
-  }
-  if (props.section === SECTION_PDF && pdfQueueRef.value) {
-    await pdfQueueRef.value.load();
-  }
-}
-
 async function loadSection(): Promise<void> {
-  loading.value = true;
   clearAlerts();
   try {
-    await refreshForSection();
+    if (props.section === SECTION_USERS && usersRef.value) {
+      await usersRef.value.load();
+    } else if (props.section === SECTION_INTEGRITY && integrityRef.value) {
+      await integrityRef.value.load();
+    } else if (props.section === SECTION_REPAIRS) {
+      await usersRef.value?.load();
+      await repairsRef.value?.load();
+    } else if (props.section === SECTION_PDF && pdfQueueRef.value) {
+      await pdfQueueRef.value.load();
+    }
   } catch (error) {
     assignError(error, "Unable to load admin data.");
-  } finally {
-    loading.value = false;
   }
 }
 
@@ -72,11 +58,9 @@ watch(() => props.section, loadSection);
       @dismiss-success="successMessage = null"
     />
 
-    <AsyncStateGate :loading="loading" :loading-lines="10" :show-empty="false">
-      <AdminUsersSection v-if="props.section === SECTION_USERS || props.section === SECTION_REPAIRS" v-show="props.section === SECTION_USERS" ref="usersRef" />
-      <AdminIntegritySection v-if="props.section === SECTION_INTEGRITY" ref="integrityRef" />
-      <AdminRepairsSection v-if="props.section === SECTION_REPAIRS" ref="repairsRef" :users="usersRef?.users ?? []" />
-      <AdminPdfQueueSection v-if="props.section === SECTION_PDF" ref="pdfQueueRef" />
-    </AsyncStateGate>
+    <AdminUsersSection v-if="props.section === SECTION_USERS || props.section === SECTION_REPAIRS" v-show="props.section === SECTION_USERS" ref="usersRef" />
+    <AdminIntegritySection v-if="props.section === SECTION_INTEGRITY" ref="integrityRef" />
+    <AdminRepairsSection v-if="props.section === SECTION_REPAIRS" ref="repairsRef" :users="usersRef?.users ?? []" />
+    <AdminPdfQueueSection v-if="props.section === SECTION_PDF" ref="pdfQueueRef" />
   </section>
 </template>
diff --git a/frontend/src/features/settings/components/AdminPdfQueueSection.vue b/frontend/src/features/settings/components/AdminPdfQueueSection.vue
index fdeb98a..91ec2a9 100644
--- a/frontend/src/features/settings/components/AdminPdfQueueSection.vue
+++ b/frontend/src/features/settings/components/AdminPdfQueueSection.vue
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 <script setup lang="ts">
 import { computed, ref } from "vue";
+import { useAuthStore } from "@/stores/auth";
 import AppBadge from "@/components/ui/AppBadge.vue";
 import AppButton from "@/components/ui/AppButton.vue";
 import AppCard from "@/components/ui/AppCard.vue";
@@ -17,6 +18,7 @@ import {
 import { useRequestState } from "@/composables/useRequestState";
 
 const { errorMessage, errorRequestId, successMessage, clearAlerts, assignError, setSuccess } = useRequestState();
+const auth = useAuthStore();
 
 const refreshingPdfQueue = ref(false);
 const requeueingPublicationId = ref<number | null>(null);
@@ -162,7 +164,7 @@ defineExpose({ load });
           <option value="50">50 / page</option>
           <option value="100">100 / page</option>
         </AppSelect>
-        <AppButton variant="secondary" class="!min-h-8 whitespace-nowrap !px-2.5 !py-1 !text-xs" :disabled="requeueingAllPdfs" title="Queue all missing PDFs" @click="onRequeueAllPdfs">
+        <AppButton v-if="auth.isAdmin" variant="secondary" class="!min-h-8 whitespace-nowrap !px-2.5 !py-1 !text-xs" :disabled="requeueingAllPdfs" title="Queue all missing PDFs" @click="onRequeueAllPdfs">
           {{ requeueingAllPdfs ? "Queueing..." : "Queue all" }}
         </AppButton>
         <AppRefreshButton variant="secondary" size="sm" :loading="refreshingPdfQueue" title="Refresh PDF queue" loading-title="Refreshing PDF queue" @click="refreshPdfQueue" />
@@ -194,7 +196,7 @@ defineExpose({ load });
           <td>{{ formatTimestamp(item.last_attempt_at) }}</td>
           <td>{{ formatTimestamp(item.resolved_at) }}</td>
           <td>
-            <AppButton variant="ghost" :disabled="requeueingPublicationId === item.publication_id || !canRequeuePdf(item)" @click="onRequeuePdf(item)">
+            <AppButton v-if="auth.isAdmin" variant="ghost" :disabled="requeueingPublicationId === item.publication_id || !canRequeuePdf(item)" @click="onRequeuePdf(item)">
               {{ requeueingPublicationId === item.publication_id ? "Requeueing..." : "Requeue" }}
             </AppButton>
           </td>
diff --git a/frontend/src/pages/DashboardPage.vue b/frontend/src/pages/DashboardPage.vue
index 8623927..c7da221 100644
--- a/frontend/src/pages/DashboardPage.vue
+++ b/frontend/src/pages/DashboardPage.vue
@@ -404,7 +404,7 @@ watch(
                     </div>
                     <div class="flex items-center gap-2">
                       <AppButton
-                        v-if="auth.isAdmin && runStatus.isLikelyRunning"
+                        v-if="runStatus.isLikelyRunning"
                         variant="danger"
                         :disabled="!activeRunId || isCancelAnimating"
                         @click="onCancelRun"
@@ -420,7 +420,6 @@ watch(
                         </span>
                       </AppButton>
                       <AppButton
-                        v-if="auth.isAdmin"
                         :disabled="isStartBlocked"
                         :title="startCheckDisabledReason || undefined"
                         :class="isStartCheckAnimating ? 'shadow-[0_0_0_1px_var(--color-state-info-border)]' : ''"
diff --git a/frontend/src/pages/SettingsPage.vue b/frontend/src/pages/SettingsPage.vue
index 4040f0e..e1c0e2b 100644
--- a/frontend/src/pages/SettingsPage.vue
+++ b/frontend/src/pages/SettingsPage.vue
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ const savingScholarHttp = ref(false);
 const updatingPassword = ref(false);
 
 const autoRunEnabled = ref(false);
-const runIntervalMinutes = ref("60");
+const runIntervalHours = ref("1");
 const requestDelaySeconds = ref("2");
 const navVisiblePages = ref<string[]>([]);
 const openalexApiKey = ref("");
@@ -77,13 +77,13 @@ const tabItems = computed<AppTabItem[]>(() => {
   const tabs: AppTabItem[] = [
     { id: TAB_CHECKING, label: "Checking" },
     { id: TAB_ACCOUNT, label: "Account" },
+    { id: TAB_ADMIN_PDF, label: "PDF Queue" },
   ];
   if (auth.isAdmin) {
     tabs.push(
       { id: TAB_ADMIN_USERS, label: "Users" },
       { id: TAB_ADMIN_INTEGRITY, label: "Integrity" },
       { id: TAB_ADMIN_REPAIRS, label: "Repairs" },
-      { id: TAB_ADMIN_PDF, label: "PDF Queue" },
       { id: TAB_ADMIN_INTEGRATIONS, label: "Integrations" },
     );
   }
@@ -138,7 +138,7 @@ function hydrateSettings(settings: UserSettings): void {
   manualRunAllowed.value = Boolean(settings.policy?.manual_run_allowed ?? true);
 
   autoRunEnabled.value = Boolean(settings.auto_run_enabled) && automationAllowed.value;
-  runIntervalMinutes.value = String(settings.run_interval_minutes);
+  runIntervalHours.value = String(Number(settings.run_interval_minutes) / 60);
   requestDelaySeconds.value = String(settings.request_delay_seconds);
   navVisiblePages.value = normalizeUserNavVisiblePages(settings.nav_visible_pages);
 
@@ -168,6 +168,18 @@ function parseBoundedInteger(value: string, label: string, minimum: number): num
   return parsed;
 }
 
+function parseHoursToMinutes(value: string, minMinutes: number): number {
+  const hours = Number(value);
+  if (!Number.isFinite(hours) || hours <= 0) {
+    throw new Error("Check interval must be a positive number of hours.");
+  }
+  const minutes = Math.round(hours * 60);
+  if (minutes < minMinutes) {
+    throw new Error(`Check interval must be at least ${minMinutes / 60} hours.`);
+  }
+  return minutes;
+}
+
 async function loadSettings(): Promise<void> {
   loading.value = true;
   errorMessage.value = null;
@@ -225,9 +237,8 @@ async function onSaveSettings(): Promise<void> {
   try {
     const payload: UserSettingsUpdate = {
       auto_run_enabled: autoRunEnabled.value,
-      run_interval_minutes: parseBoundedInteger(
-        runIntervalMinutes.value,
-        "Check interval (minutes)",
+      run_interval_minutes: parseHoursToMinutes(
+        runIntervalHours.value,
         minCheckIntervalMinutes.value,
       ),
       request_delay_seconds: parseBoundedInteger(
@@ -357,11 +368,11 @@ onMounted(async () => {
 
             <label class="grid gap-2 text-sm font-medium text-ink-secondary">
               <span class="inline-flex items-center gap-1">
-                Check interval (minutes)
+                Check interval (hours)
                 <AppHelpHint text="Minimum is controlled by server policy." />
               </span>
-              <AppInput v-model="runIntervalMinutes" inputmode="numeric" />
-              <span class="text-xs text-secondary">Minimum: {{ minCheckIntervalMinutes }}</span>
+              <AppInput v-model="runIntervalHours" inputmode="decimal" />
+              <span class="text-xs text-secondary">Minimum: {{ minCheckIntervalMinutes / 60 }} hours</span>
             </label>
 
             <label class="grid gap-2 text-sm font-medium text-ink-secondary">