University of Szczecin

We investigate reversible and irreversible thermodynamic processes in cosmology and their impact on the Hubble tension through modifications to early and late-time expansion history. Gravitationally induced adiabatic matter creation/annihilation are treated as irreversible processes, while energy exchange between the cosmic bulk and horizon is modeled as reversible. We propose two thermodynamically interacting scenarios: Model I considers matter creation/annihilation across all species with energy transfer to effective entropic dark energy, while model II focuses on dark matter creation/ annihilation with energy flow from baryonic matter and radiation. Both incorporate the generalized first law of thermodynamics with matter creation/annihilation governed by Gamma((t)) = Gamma H-0 and energy transfer quantified by parameter gamma. We perform observational analysis using Pantheon+, cosmic microwave background distance priors, baryon acoustic oscillations, gamma-ray bursts, cosmic chronometers, with and without SH0ES measurements. When SH0ES data are included, matter annihilation scenarios (Gamma(0) < 0) become statistically preferred, yielding H-0 = 71.75 +/- 0.79 km s(-1) Mpc(-1) (model I) and H-0 = 71.06 +/- 0.81 km s(-1) Mpc(-1) (model II), achieving 1.2 sigma and 1.8 sigma agreement with the SH0ES measurement of H-0 = 73.17 +/- 0.86 km s(-1) Mpc(-1). Matter creation (Gamma(0) > 0) or pure energy flow [Gamma(t) = 0] scenarios show no such improvement. However, without SH0ES data, information criteria show no preference for the thermodynamically interacting models over Lambda CDM, indicating the models' performance depends critically on local distance ladder calibration. For matter annihilation scenarios with energy flow, effective entropic dark energy exhibits dynamical evolution, mimicking radiation and matter before recombination, then transitioning through quintessence toward the cosmological constant today. These results demonstrate that thermodynamically motivated interactions provide a theoretically consistent framework that accommodates tension alleviation when calibrated with SH0ES measurements, while highlighting the broader challenge of reconciling early-universe and local observational constraints

The remediation of large-areas of Cd-contaminated soil, especially agricultural land, remains a major global challenge. Phytoremediation using hyperaccumulators is an effective method for treating Cd-contaminated soils; however, its long-term effectiveness over successive growing seasons has been insufficiently investigated. This study evaluated the sustained phytoremediation capacity of the farmland weed Bidens pilosa L., a known Cd hyperaccumulator, in a three-year pot experiment using contaminated agricultural soil from the Shenyang Zhangshi Irrigation Area (2.08 mg/kg Cd). Two harvest regimes were compared: short-term (harvest at the flowering stage, 70 days) and long-term (harvest at the fruit maturity stage, 108 days). The results showed that although higher total Cd accumulation per harvest was obtained in long-term treatments, short-term experiments resulted in a 14.7% higher net removal rate per day (NR) due to their shorter growth cycle (64.8% of the long-term period). Soil extractable Cd concentrations decreased by an average of 31.2% over three consecutive years of phytoremediation, reducing environmental risk but also limiting subsequent Cd uptake by plants. These findings demonstrate that optimizing harvest timing can substantially improve remediation efficiency per unit of time without the need for soil quality improvement measures. The short growing season characteristic of weeds found in agricultural areas is a practical advantage of phytoremediation.

Modern urban transport systems face the critical challenge of fully integrating regional and international hubs into local mobility strategies. This article addresses the role of airports in shaping sustainable urban mobility, with a specific focus on their inclusion in Sustainable Urban Mobility Plans (SUMPs). Despite airports being major generators of passenger and freight traffic, they are often treated as isolated "transport islands" in spatial planning. The primary objective of this research is to develop and validate an original method for assessing the integration and transport accessibility of airports using the AirportSustainIndex. The methodology is based on a mathematical Weighted Sum Model (WSM), integrating twelve technical, economic, and environmental criteria, including travel times and costs for public vs. private transport, frequency of rail and bus connections, availability of electric vehicle infrastructure, and tariff integration. The analysis is supported by Geographic Information Systems (GIS) tools and OpenStreetMap data, allowing for a precise reflection of real-world network accessibility. The study covers two significant aviation hubs in Poland: Katowice Airport in Pyrzowice and Pozna & nacute;-& Lstrok;awica Airport. The results reveal a paradox: Katowice Airport, despite its significant distance from the agglomeration center (approx. 36 km), achieved a markedly higher sustainability index (0.554) than Pozna & nacute;-& Lstrok;awica Airport (0.301), which is located close to the city center (approx. 7 km). Key factors determining this outcome include the high frequency of metropolitan bus lines ("M" lines), the implementation of new rail infrastructure, and a coherent parking policy for low-emission vehicles. The article demonstrates that physical distance from the center is not the primary barrier to building sustainable mobility, provided that high intermodality and integration within the SUMP framework are ensured. The presented research tool is universal and can be applied by policymakers and urban planners to optimize airport-city connectivity, a necessary condition for achieving EU climate goals in the transport sector.

Featured Application The integrated analysis of gene expression and cytokine concentrations, specifically TNF-alpha and IL-4, offers a dual-layer approach to monitoring training status. Practically, the observed rapid resolution of TNF-alpha protein and stable IL-4 expression 48 h post-exercise in athletes could serve as a "recovery benchmark." Monitoring these markers during micro-cycles could help identify individuals with "delayed inflammatory resolution," indicating a risk of cumulative fatigue or overreaching. Furthermore, the multi-point correlation between leukocyte indices and IL-4/TNF-alpha in trained individuals suggests that routine, low-cost hematological tests could be calibrated against molecular signatures to provide a more accessible, daily monitoring tool for assessing "immune readiness" and individualizing training loads in professional soccer. Background: Acute exercise induces measurable inflammatory and hematological responses, which may differ according to training status. Methods: Trained soccer players and sedentary controls completed a progressive exercise test until exhaustion. Blood samples were collected at six time points (up to 48 h post-exercise). Gene expression was assessed using real-time PCR, protein concentration via ELISA, and leukocyte, lymphocyte and neutrophil counts through routine hematology. Analyses included between-group comparisons, within-group time effects, and gene-protein correlations. Results: Sedentary individuals showed delayed increases in TNF-alpha mRNA (p < 0.05), whereas athletes maintained stable levels. Athletes exhibited consistently higher TNFR-1 expression (p < 0.05), while TNFR-2 showed no differences between groups. IL-4 expression was higher in athletes 30 min (p = 0.038) and 24 h after test (p = 0.002), whereas IL-4 protein decreased in sedentary subjects after 6 h (p = 0.009) and 24 h (p = 0.019). IL-4R alpha was transiently elevated post-exercise in sedentary individuals and briefly suppressed in athletes (p = 0.041). Hematological responses showed stronger leukocytosis and neutrophilia in sedentary individuals. Conclusions: The temporal inflammatory patterns differed substantially between groups, indicating more efficient resolution dynamics in trained individuals. These findings highlight practical value for monitoring adaptation and recovery.

Purpose This study aims to examine how European universities implement and communicate University Social Responsibility and Sustainable Development (USR/SD) principles. It introduces an original analytical framework and evaluation matrix to examine institutional strategies, structures, communication and reporting practices. Design/methodology/approach The research analyzes 130 universities from 39 European countries, selected based on participation in international USR/SD rankings. Using desk research and content analysis of HEIs’ documents and their English-language websites, the authors developed a 16-criterion matrix covering strategic approach, governance and reporting quality. Deductive analysis was conducted, and a comparative study of universities based on the obtained data for 2,080 cases was empirically verified and evaluated on a scale of 0–3 by expert cross-checking. Findings Results show substantial variation in the implementation of USR/SD. Only a few universities, mainly in the UK, Finland and Germany, demonstrated strategic integration and strong stakeholder engagement. Many institutions, especially in Central and Eastern Europe, lacked structured approaches, transparency or consistent communication. A gap was found between universities’ ranking visibility and declared commitment to USR/SD. Originality/value To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is one of the first cross-national assessments offering a structured, multidimensional analysis of USR/SD in European higher education. The study stresses the need for clear strategies, funding and transparent communication to enhance impact and stakeholder trust. Universities can use the framework to benchmark USR/SD efforts. Moreover, the proposed tool is replicable for comparative research and institutional self-assessment.