This short paper introduces an approach to simplifying cookie banners by utilising the concept of plain language within an existing consent framework. In order to study its feasibility, we present a study in which we analysed the text of cookie banners on 200 websites and, using AI-based categorisation, classified the extracted content into standardised processing purposes. By substituting complex legal terms with simplified descriptions, we successfully demonstrated that the comprehension barrier can be lowered from a college-graduate level to a 7th-grade level. At the same time our results indicate that the effectiveness of plain language is inherently constrained by the informativeness of the original content; it cannot compensate for banners that omit legally required details.

Pipe welding involves several sequential passes to create a perfect, strong weld. The welding passes refer to the order of execution required when carrying out the pipe welding process. The four passes typically used in pipe welding include the root pass, hot pass, fill-up pass and capping. Root Passes A root pass is the first step in any welding process and involves joining two pieces to form one structure. In this step, we heat the filler metal to an exceptionally high temperature and pass it through the gap between the pipes. Utilising the root pass requires more expertise than the following passes, so it is essential to exercise caution. To ensure complete fusion, the welder should use quality control measures like backing gas. In order to complete the weld pass, you must keep the root face smooth and uniform. If there are any imperfections on the weld face, you can correct them by grinding it out, so it does not have to be smooth or uniform initially. distribution of non-critical materials in industrial settings. People typically use it for transporting water, non-combustible chemicals, and other non-hazardous materials. Because its contents are not hazardous or flammable, low-pressure pipes provide a safe and cost-effective solution for many applications.

Agile metrics support empirical management in modern Information Technology (IT) projects. However, their interpretation and practical use depend strongly on project context, organizational maturity, and the selected development approach. This paper provides a structured analysis of agile metrics and develops an integrated approach to their contextual selection in IT projects. Using a design-oriented synthesis of relevant literature and official framework documentation, the study classifies agile metrics by measurement domain, including product, process, quality, project, and resource metrics, and by managerial purpose. Their application is analyzed across widely used agile approaches and frameworks, including Scrum, Kanban, Lean, the Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe), and the Dynamic Systems Development Method (DSDM). Based on this analysis, the paper proposes a structured CPV (Context-Purpose-Value) matrix that supports decisions about which metric groups and key performance indicators (KPIs) to prioritize by jointly considering project context, measurement purpose, and dominant value dimensions. A scenario-based application illustrates how the matrix can be used to derive and interpret a context-specific metric set without implying universal applicability. The synthesis indicates that no single metric can adequately represent overall IT project success. Instead, project performance should be evaluated through a combination of metrics addressing project efficiency, user impact, business success, and future readiness. The proposed framework supports a more balanced and context-aware use of agile metrics but requires external empirical validation.

This quasi-experimental study assessed the influence of introductory nutrition courses on dietary habits, nutrition knowledge, food security, attention, and wellness among international and Canadian domestic students. Participants were students from a mid-sized public college in Ontario, Canada, enrolled in the Faculty of Health Sciences. The main outcome measures included dietary behaviour, nutrition literacy, food security, attention, and wellness. Two-way repeated measures ANOVAs were used to test the difference in mean outcome measures at the different points in time (week 1 and 14) and between groups (student category). Correlations between these measures and final academic grades were determined. Post nutrition courses, there was a significant rise in nutrition literacy (p < .05) and attention (p < .05). However, these gains did not correspond to measurable changes in dietary behaviour (p > .05). Wellness scores did not significantly increase over time (p > .05); however, international students reported significantly higher wellness scores than domestic students at both measurement points (p < .05). A negative correlation (p < .05) was observed between food insecurity and academic performance. Participation in introductory nutrition courses was associated with improvements in nutrition literacy and attention among both international and domestic students. These findings support the inclusion of nutrition education within post-secondary curricula while underscoring the importance of institutional strategies that address student food insecurity.

The podocyte is a terminally differentiated cell whose foot processes and slit diaphragm form the final layer of the glomerular filtration barrier. Because podocytes are not effectively replaced after birth, and nephron number is fixed before it, their cumulative loss converts congenital and steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome, focal segmental glomerulosclerosis and Alport syndrome into a shared trajectory towards chronic kidney disease. This narrative review, based on a structured search of three databases with the cited evidence classified as pediatric, adult, mixed or preclinical, connects podocyte biology with pediatric nephrology. We follow maturation and the modules whose disruption produces disease, a genetic architecture in which diagnostic yield falls steeply with age at onset, and the convergence of genetic, mechanical, metabolic and immune insults on podocyte depletion. Single-cell and spatial atlases, organoids, glomerulus-on-a-chip systems and human tissue are compared as partly discordant platforms. A molecular result currently changes a small, defined set of clinical decisions. No podocyte-derived urinary marker has been shown in children to add information beyond proteinuria and filtration rate, anti-nephrin antibody assays are not yet standardized, and kidney biopsy remains the reference standard. We set out an integrated diagnostic pathway, state the limitations of the evidence and define research priorities.

Diagnosing fatal hypothermia remains a forensic challenge due to the lack of specific postmortem markers. This study investigates the potential of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1 (ERK) and atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) as biochemical indicators in hypothermia-related deaths, particularly under the influence of ethanol and diazepam. A randomized experimental study was conducted in rats approximately 3.5 months old and weighing 200–240 grams, which were randomized into the control group (n=7), the ethanol-treated group (n=7), and the diazepam-treated group (n=7). Survival time was measured from the point of immersion in 7°C water until the animals’ death. Hypothermia was induced, and serum and muscle levels of ERK1 and ANP were measured using ELISA. Serum ERK1 levels differed significantly across groups (p = 0.039), with a similar changes in Control and Ethanol groups, while Diazepam decreased. ANP levels showed no significant changes across groups or time points. Muscle concentrations of both markers remained stable. The observed alterations in ERK1 levels may indicate a possible association with stress responses during hypothermia, although the findings should be considered exploratory due to limited statistical significance after multiple-comparison correction. ANP showed limited diagnostic utility under the study conditions. Further research incorporating histological validation and larger cohorts is needed to confirm these findings and improve forensic applications.

Introduction: Acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) remains a major cause of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Despite successful primary percutaneous coronary intervention (pPCI), early myocardial injury and stress may contribute to left ventricular dysfunction. The optimal timing of biomarker assessment after STEMI remains uncertain. Objective: To characterize the early kinetics of soluble suppression of tumorigenicity-2 (sST2), galectin-3 (Gal-3), mid-regional pro-adrenomedullin (MR-proADM), and growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF-15) during the first 96 h after STEMI and identify potentially informative sampling time points for future prognostic assessment. Secondary, exploratory objectives were to evaluate differences in biomarker concentrations according to symptom duration, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), and infarct-related artery. Methods: In this prospective, single-center, exploratory pilot study, patients aged 18–75 years with first STEMI treated with pPCI within 6 h of symptom onset were enrolled between September 2024 and November 2025. Blood samples were collected at admission and 12 ± 4, 24 ± 4, 48 ± 8, and 96 ± 8 h after pPCI. Biomarkers were measured by ELISA, with high-sensitivity cardiac troponin I (hs-cTnI) as a reference marker of myocardial injury. Results: Of 46 enrolled patients, 16 were excluded, mostly due to early discharge, and 30 patients with complete samples at all five time points were included in the analysis (mean age 57.9 ± 11.1 years; 66.7% male). sST2, MR-proADM, and hs-cTnI showed significant temporal variation (all p < 0.001), with the highest measured concentrations of sST2 at 12 h and of MR-proADM at 24 h. No significant change over time was found for Gal-3 and GDF-15. In exploratory analyses, sST2 and MR-proADM concentrations were higher in patients with LVEF < 40%, and sST2 concentrations were higher in patients with left anterior descending artery (LAD) infarction. Symptom duration was not associated with biomarker concentrations. Conclusions: sST2 and MR-proADM show distinct early post-STEMI kinetics, suggesting potentially informative sampling windows for future prognostic studies. Larger prospective studies are needed to confirm these kinetics and the exploratory differences according to left ventricular function and infarct location, and to evaluate the prognostic value of these sampling windows with echocardiographic and clinical follow-up.

Objectives: Adult posterior cervical spinal dysraphism, including meningocele (MC), myelomeningocele (MMC), and myelocystocele (MyCC) is exceptionally rare and remains insufficiently characterised. This study aimed to conduct the first systematic review of the literature on adult cases and report an additional illustrative case. Methods: A PRISMA 2020 systematic review of PubMed/MEDLINE, Web of Science and Scopus was conducted (PROSPERO CRD420261426944). Data were extracted at case level, grouped by the lesion label used by the original authors, and synthesised narratively. Results: Nineteen studies (18 case reports and one case series) described 23 adults (median age 24 years; 19 male): 16 MC, one MyCC and six MMC. An objective neurological abnormality was documented in 14 of 21 examined patients. Nineteen patients were operated on; among 17 with a classified outcome, ten improved, five were intact and two were stable, and none were reported worse (median follow-up 12 months). The additional case was a 62-year-old man with a radiologically diagnosed C4–C5 lesion most consistent with MMC and no objective neurological deficit, managed by observation (3 months of follow-up). Conclusions: The evidence is sparse, heterogeneous and prone to publication bias, and it is insufficient to establish natural history, optimal management or the relative merits of surgery and observation. Standardised terminology, multicentre registries and long-term follow-up are needed.

Lactate is a key biomarker of tissue metabolism and oxygenation, yet clinical assessment still relies on intermittent blood tests that overlook rapid metabolic dynamics and disrupt clinical workflows. Continuous transdermal monitoring of lactate in interstitial fluid (ISF) offers a minimally invasive approach for real-time monitoring of metabolic status, particularly in conditions associated with metabolic syndrome such as obesity and diabetes. Here we report a proof-of-concept transdermal lactate biosensor based on a fenestrated microneedle array (F-MNA), consisting of a polymeric MNA enclosed within a fenestrated polymeric shell that protects the biosensing layer while retaining access to ISF. Under controlled anesthetized conditions, the biosensor differentiated ISF lactate profiles between healthy and diabetic-obese (db/db) mice, with the db/db group exhibiting higher baseline lactate concentrations. In fasted healthy mice subjected to subcutaneous glucose challenge, the biosensor captured transient increases in ISF lactate followed by partial recovery over the 2 h monitoring period. Biosensor-derived ISF lactate showed strong temporal association with paired blood lactate measurements while exhibiting a systematic positive ISF-to-blood concentration offset. These findings establish proof-of-concept continuous transdermal ISF lactate monitoring under controlled in vivo conditions.