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Pipeline transportation is an economical and effective way for transferring carbon dioxide (CO2) to the sea, serving as a key procedure for an offshore carbon capture, utilization and sequestration (CCUS) project, as well as a core technology for the large-scale construction of CCUS projects in China. This study clarifies the advantages of China in the construction of offshore CCUS projects, typical offshore carbon pipeline scenarios, and typical offshore CO2 transportation modes. It also reviews the technologies and projects in China and abroad regarding offshore CO2 transportation via pipelines. The current technologies relevant to offshore CO2 pipeline transportation are systematically reviewed. Specifically, the process technologies include CO2 fluid state analysis and flow assurance; corrosion evaluation, monitoring, and early warning; real-time monitoring of pipe leakage; and release of high-pressure CO2 and its environmental impacts. The material technologies include the fracture of pipeline materials and its mitigation, high corrosion-resistant and sealing materials, key corrosion-control techniques for the long-term operation of pipelines, and corrosion risk evaluation of CO2 injection wells. Further efforts should focus on the following aspects: material selection systems for the complex conditions during offshore CO2 pipeline transportation, full-chain intelligent management and digital twin technologies for CO2 pipelines, key technologies regarding the whole life-time operation of subsea CO2 pipelines, and evaluation and assurance techniques for the transferred transportation pipelines. Furthermore, the following suggestions are proposed to promote the high-quality development of the offshore CO2 pipeline transportation system in China: (1) promoting the planning of offshore CO2 pipeline networks, (2) expanding interdisciplinary innovations, (3) establishing standards systems that applicable to both onshore and offshore scenarios, and (4) encouraging the participation of diversified technology service enterprises.

Objective To investigate the effects of lycopene (Lyc) on hippocampal inflammation, social deficits and repetitive stereotyped behaviors in BTBR T+ Itpr3tf/J autistic mice (BTBR, a mouse strain showing lower sociability as a model for autism spectrum disorder). Methods Adult male C57BL/6J (C57) and BTBR mice aged 7-8 weeks were randomly divided into (n=8): C57+Veh group, C57+Lyc group, BTBR+Veh group and BTBR+Lyc group. The mice from the C57+Lyc group and BTBR+Lyc group were given 20 mg/kg Lyc by gavage once a day for 7 d, and those of the C57+Veh group and BTBR+Veh mice were given equal volume of corn oil. Then three-chamber social test, male-female reciprocal social interactions, self-grooming, marble buying, open field test, object recognition test, nest building, and Y-maze test were conducted in these mice. Immediately after the behavioral tests, the mice were sacrificed and their brain samples were harvested for RT-qPCR and Western blotting. Results Behavioral results showed that in the three-chamber social test, the mice of the BTBR+Veh group spent longer time in the chamber with the object, showing much curiosity about the object (P < 0.05), while the mice after Lyc treatment showed a preference for strange mice (P < 0.05). In the self-grooming and marble burying behavior test, the BTBR+Veh group showed markedly increased repeated stereotyped behaviors than the C57+Veh group mice (P < 0.05), which could be alleviated by Lyc treatment (P < 0.05). The hippocampal expression of NLRP3 at mRNA and protein levels (P < 0.05), and the mRNA levels of IL-1β, IL-18, IL-6, NF-κB, and TNF-α were significantly increased in the BTBR+Veh group mice when compared with the C57+Veh group mice, and Lyc treatment obviously reversed above changes (P < 0.05). Conclusion Lyc treatment improves three-chamber social deficits and repetitive stereotyped behaviors in BTBR mice by reducing NLRP3 inflammasome in the hippocampus of BTBR mice.

Offshore carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) is an engineering solution and technical system developed by coastal countries or regions to reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. Compared with onshore CCUS, offshore CCUS has multiple significant advantages, such as higher storage potential and safer storage environment. Offshore CCUS comprises capturing CO2 from large coastal or offshore carbon emission sources, compressing and transporting it to offshore storage platforms, and injecting it into sub-seabed geological reservoirs, to achieve permanent isolation from the atmosphere or use it to produce valuable products. This study reviews the development demand and industry status quo of offshore CCUS in China and worldwide and analyzes the technical and social values of offshore CCUS development. The development routes and trends of representative offshore CCUS technologies are summarized, including CO2 plant capture, CO2 pipeline transportation, CO2 storage in the deep saline aquifer and for petroleum displacement, CO2 chemical utilization, and several other technical frameworks. Focusing on the common problems faced by different technology systems, we propose the following suggestions for the future development of China’s offshore CCUS: strengthening the land-sea overall planning and layout, cultivating high-level research teams, and enhancing fundamental research, key technology research and development, cost control, scale expansion, and policy incentives at all stages of development.

Objective To investigate the effects of naringin (Nar) on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced depression-like behaviors in mice. Methods Thirty C57BL/6 male mice (8 weeks old, SPF grade, weighting 20~23 g) were randomly divided into 3 groups (n=10): control group, saline (Sal)+LPS group, and Nar+LPS group. The mice of the last group were pretreated with Nar (80 mg/kg, i.p., once a day for 8 consecutive days). The exploratory behavior and anxiety-like behavior in mice were assessed by open field test, light and dark box experiment and elevated plus maze test. Sugar water preference test, hanging tail test and forced swimming test were used to evaluate the depression-like behaviors of the mice. Immunohistochemical assay for Iba1 was adopted to detect the effects of Nar and LPS treatments on the number of microglia in the hippocampus of mice. Western blotting and qRT-PCR were performed to determine the protein expression of NF-κB and the mRNA levels of IL-1β, TNF-α and NF-κB in mouse hippocampus, respectively. Results As compared with the control group, the mice in the Sal+LPS group showed decreased preference for sugar water (P < 0.05), and increased immobile time in the forced swimming test (P < 0.01) as well as in the hanging tail test (P < 0.05). The number of microglia in the hippocampus was elevated (P < 0.01), the protein level of NF-κB and the mRNA levels of IL-1β, TNF-α and NF-κB were also up-regulated (P < 0.05). When compared with the Sal+LPS group, the mice in the Nar+LPS group presented increased preference for sugar water (P < 0.01), and decreased immobility time in the forced swimming test (P < 0.01) and hanging tail test (P < 0.05), with higher number of microglia in the hippocampus (P < 0.01), and lower protein levels of NF-κB and mRNA levels of IL-1β, TNF-α and NF-κB (P < 0.01). Conclusion Nar may ameliorate LPS-induced depression-like behaviors in mice by inhibiting inflammation in the hippocampus.

Objective To investigate the effects of Chaihu Oral Liquid (CHOL) on the neurogenesis in hippocampal dentate gyrus (DG) and short-term memory defects in BTBR T+ Itpr3tf/J (BTBR) autism model mice. Methods Healthy adult male C57BL/6J(C57) mice (7~8 weeks old, 24.72±1.35 g) and BTBR mice (7~ 8 weeks old, 27.7±1.42 g) were randomly divided into groups as follows (n=4 in each group): C57 control, C57 drug treatment, BTBR control, and BTBR drug treatment. Mice in the treatment groups were given CHOL solution gavage (10 μL/g) once a day for 7 consecutive days, while those of the control group received equal volume of normal saline. Daily changes of body weight were recorded. After the last administration, hair grooming, bead embedding, new object recognition and open field experiments were conducted on the next day and lasted for 4 d. Finally, the samples of mice brain tissue were harvested, and immunofluorescence staining was performed to detect the NeuN, DCX, SOX2/GFAP labeled nerve cells in hippocampal DG. Results Behavioral results suggested that mice in the BTBR control group showed a more obvious preference for old objects in the new object recognition experiment (P < 0.01), as compared with the C57 control group, while the new object recognition index was significantly improved in the BTBR drug treatment group (P < 0.05). Moreover, the BTBR control group presented more repetitive behavior and longer movement distance than the C57 control during the hair grooming, bead embedding and open field experiments, as well as higher body weight (P < 0.05), whereas the BTBR treatment group had no significant changes in comparison with the BTBR control regarding these aspects. There were no notable differences between the C57 control and C57 treatment groups in terms of new object recognition index, repetitive behavior, motor ability and body weight. Immunofluorescence staining results indicated that the numbers of NeuN labeled mature neurons and DCX labeled newborn neurons in hippocampal DG were greatly decreased in the BTBR control group, so as the number of SOX/GFAP labeled neural progenitor cells (P < 0.01), while the number of neurocytes was remarkably increased in the BTBR drug treatment group (P < 0.05). There were no significant differences in the numbers of NeuN, DCX and SOX2/GFAP labeled neurocytes between the C57 control and the C57 treatment groups. Conclusion CHOL promotes the generation of hippocampal DG nerve progenitor cells, new and mature neurons in adult BTBR mice, and improves the short-term learning and memory dysfunction.