Single amino acid variation in MAB21L1 is dominantly associated with congenital eye defects.

BACKGROUND: Diagnosis of a genetic disease and determination of the causative molecular lesion rely on the availability of the disease-associated pedigrees. Microphthalmia is a congenital eye defect due to an insufficiently developed visual system; its prevalence is 1-3 in 10 000 live births. OBJECTIVE: We analysed a pedigree exhibiting autosomal dominant inheritance of microphthalmia to determine the genetic lesion; used AlphaFold2 to predict the changes in the protein's 3-Dimensional structure; and compared wild-type and variant proteins in cultured cells or Drosophila model was used to explore the cellular or developmental function of the encoded product. RESULTS: We identified a novel missense variation, F52L, in MAB21L1 that is absent in population databases and present exclusively in the individuals diagnosed with microphthalmia in this pedigree. Common structural changes were predicted for the disease-associated variants clustered at amino acids 49-52, and these variant products were also predominantly trapped in the cytoplasm of cultured human lens epithelia. To recapitulate its dominant effect in development, we expressed the Drosophila homologue corresponding to MAB21L1F52L and caused malformation of sensory organs. CONCLUSION: Mutations at the residues 49-52 of MAB21L1 compromise eye development. We recommend including MAB21L1 in the genetic testing panel for congenital eye disorders.

Setting goals for agricultural nitrogen emission reduction to ensure safe air and groundwater quality: A case study of Quzhou, the North China Plain.

Setting nitrogen (N) emission targets for agricultural systems is crucial to prevent to air and groundwater pollution, yet such targets are rarely defined at the county level. In this study, we employed a forecasting-and-back casting approach to establish human health-based nitrogen targets for air and groundwater quality in Quzhou county, located in the North China Plain. By adopting the World Health Organization (WHO) phase I standard for PM2.5 concentration (35 µg m-3) and a standard of 11.3 mg NO3--N L-1 for nitrate in drinking water, we found that ammonia (NH3) emissions from the entire county must be reduced by at least 3.2 kilotons year-1 in 2050 to meet the WHO's PM2.5 phase I standard. Additionally, controlling other pollutants such as sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) is necessary, with required reductions ranging from 16% to 64% during 2017-2050. Furthermore, to meet the groundwater quality standard, nitrate nitrogen (NO3--N) leaching to groundwater should not exceed 0.8 kilotons year-1 by 2050. Achieving this target would require a 50% reduction in NH3 emissions and a 21% reduction in NO3--N leaching from agriculture in Quzhou in 2050 compared to their respective levels in 2017 (5.0 and 2.1 kilotons, respectively). Our developed method and the resulting N emission targets can support the development of environmentally-friendly agriculture by facilitating the design of control strategies to minimize agricultural N losses.

Three-Dimensional Cuprous Iodide Framework with Intrinsic Broadband Red-to-Near-Infrared Light Emission.

Herein, a new organic-inorganic hybrid cuprous iodide of [(Me)2-DABCO]Cu6I8 was prepared and structurally characterized with a novel three-dimensional (3D) [Cu6I8]2- framework. Significantly, this 3D cuprous iodide displays infrequent broadband red-to-near-infrared light emission (600-1000 nm) stemming from the radiative recombination of self-trapped excitons.

Atmospheric nitrogen deposition: A review of quantification methods and its spatial pattern derived from the global monitoring networks.

Atmospheric nitrogen (N) deposition is a vital component of the global N cycle. Excessive N deposition on the Earth's surface has adverse impacts on ecosystems and humans. Quantification of atmospheric N deposition is indispensable for assessing and addressing N deposition-induced environmental issues. In the present review, we firstly summarized the current methods applied to quantify N deposition (wet, dry, and total N deposition), their advantages and major limitations. Secondly, we illustrated the long-term N deposition monitoring networks worldwide and the results attained via such long-term monitoring. Results show that China faces heavier N deposition than the United States, European countries, and other countries in East Asia. Next, we proposed a framework for estimating the atmospheric wet and dry N deposition using a combined method of surface monitoring, modeling, and satellite remote sensing. Finally, we put forth the critical research challenges and future directions of the atmospheric N deposition. CAPSULE: A review of quantification methods and the global data on nitrogen deposition and a systematic framework was proposed for quantifying nitrogen deposition.

Phosphorus flow analysis in the maize based food-feed-energy systems in China.

Phosphorus (P) is an essential and limiting nutrient for agricultural systems, where the demand for agricultural products such as food, feed, and bio-fuel are the major drivers of the intensification of agricultural production systems. Globally, maize is one of three main cereal crops, a main feedstock for animal production and a substrate for the production of bio-ethanol. This study investigated P flows through the multiple utilization systems of maize (as represented by the subsystems of food, feed and energy production) at a crop level of 2016 as reference year and made future predictions of P flows for the year 2030 based on different scenarios for food-feed-energy systems in China. For 2016, the subsystem of animal production resulted in the highest waste of P due to inappropriate manure management, but the subsystem of value-added products (Bio-fuel production, distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS), maize-oil) showed the lowest P use efficiency (39%). From the value-added subsystem, 17% of P from the process flow to the subsystem of animal production as DDGS, and 61% of P is wasted associated with wastewater and sludge. Future scenarios of structural adjustments in the maize consumption system predict that the supply of maize for animal feed will be threatened if the policy of the Biofuel National Promotion before 2020 is fully implemented in China, as current maize production will not meet the future demand of food, feed and energy simultaneously. The results emphasized the use of P waste resources and better sludge management from a systems perspective. This also implied the importance of exploring coordinated development and integrated strategies for sustainable P flow management in multiple utilization systems.

Comparison between MRI FLAIR vascular hyperintensity-DWI mismatch and perfusion based triage for thrombectomy in the late time window.

Background: The clinical impact of patient selection using FLAIR vascular hyperintensity (FVH)-diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) mismatch for endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) in patients who have been symptomatic for over 6 h remains unclear. Herein, a retrospective study was conducted to compare the inter-rater reliability and clinical outcomes of patients selected for thrombectomy based on FVH-DWI mismatch with perfusion. Methods: Patients with anterior-circulation large-vessel occlusion selected simultaneously with MRI and perfusion imaging in the late time window from a single-center retrospective study were categorized into EVT-applicable (FVH-DWI mismatch on MRI or perfusion imaging meeting the DEFUSE3 standards) and EVT-inapplicable groups based on MRI and perfusion imaging. The primary outcome was the 90-day functional independence rate. Safety outcomes encompassed symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage and mortality in 90 days. We assessed the consistency of the two profiles and compared the differences in functional independence rates of EVT patients among the EVT-applicable groups determined by MRI and perfusion. Results: A total of 130 patients were enrolled, of which 114 were classified into the EVT-applicable group after triaging using MRI images. In this group, 96 patients underwent EVT, with 53 of them (55.2%) achieving functional independence. A total of 110 patients were divided into EVT-applicable group based on perfusion, among which 92 underwent EVT, with 49 of them (53.2%) achieving functional independence. The consistency of identifying EVT indication was moderate between two groups (κ = 0.42, 95% CI, 0.17-0.67). The functional independence rate was comparable between patients in the two EVT-applicable groups based on the two methods (55.2% vs. 53.2%, p = 0.789). Conclusion: MRI triaging based on FVH-DWI mismatch showed moderate inter-rater reliability compared with perfusion-based triage and comparable efficacy in predicting clinical outcomes after EVT.

[Analysis of Heavy Metal Sources in Farmland Soil of Sewage Irrigation and Industrial Complex Area Based on APCS-MLR and PMF].

The contents of eight heavy metals （Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn, Cd, Pb, As, and Hg） were determined based on the surface soil samples of sewage irrigation and industrial complex in Kaifeng City. The absolute factor analysis-multiple linear regression （APCS-MLR） model and positive matrix factorization （PMF） model were used to analyze the sources and contribution rates of heavy metals in soil combined with correlation analysis and systematic cluster analysis. The results showed that： ① The average values of ω（Cr）, ω（Ni）, ω（Cu）, ω（Zn）, ω（Cd）, ω（Pb）, ω（As）, and ω（Hg） in the study area were 52.19, 25.00, 42.03, 323.53, 1.79, 53.45, 9.43, and 0.20 mg·kg-1, respectively, and Cr, Ni, and As are lower than the background values of tidal soil. Cu, Zn, Cd, Pb, and Hg are higher than the background values of the tidal soil. ② There were four sources of the eight heavy metals： natural sources, agricultural sewage irrigation sources, industrial atmospheric sedimentation sources, and transportation sources. Cr and Ni were mainly from natural sources； Cu, Zn, Cd, and Pb were mainly from agricultural sewage irrigation and transportation sources； As was mainly from natural sources and agricultural sewage irrigation； and Hg was mainly from industrial atmospheric sedimentation. ③ The APCS-MLR and PMF source analysis results indicated that industrial and agricultural activities were the main sources of heavy metals in the soil of the study area. The average contribution rates of APCS-MLR in the nine sampling areas of the research area were 76.01% （natural sources and agricultural sewage irrigation sources）, 22.71% （industrial atmospheric sedimentation sources and transportation sources）, and 1.28% （unknown sources）. The average contribution rates of PMF were 59.66% （natural sources and agricultural sewage irrigation sources） and 40.34% （industrial atmospheric sedimentation sources and transportation sources）. The source analysis results of the LZ, XZ, NLT, PT, YLZ, and BC models were basically consistent, and WL was better in the APCS-MLR model, whereas SG and QT were better in the PMF model. The research results can provide a scientific basis for the prevention and control of soil heavy metal pollution and environmental remediation.

Research hotspots and trends on acupuncture treatment for headache: a bibliometric analysis from 2003 to 2023.

Background: While acupuncture treatment has gained extensive usage in addressing headaches, there remains a notable gap in the literature analysis for this field. Therefore, this study aims to conduct a literature review using Citespace, VOSviewer, and Bibliometrix, aiming to examine the current status, strengths, and potential future directions in the utilization of acupuncture for headache treatment. Methods: Relevant literature on acupuncture treatment for headaches between 2003 and 2023 was retrieved from the Web of Science (WoS) core database. Utilizing CiteSpace 6.1.R6, VOSviewer 1.6.18, and Bibliometrix 4.1.4, we conducted bibliometric analyses across various categories, including countries/regions, institutions, authors, journals, references, and keywords. Results: A total of 808 research reports were included. China and the United States have significantly contributed to this field. Chengdu University of Chinese Medicine holds the record for the highest number of published papers. Liu Lu has the highest publication output, while Linde K has the highest citation rate. MEDICINE leads in publication frequency, while CEPHALALGIA holds the highest citation rate. The Long-term Effect of Acupuncture for Migraine Prophylaxis a Randomized Clinical Trial is the most cited reference. Migraine was the most researched type. Filiform needle acupuncture was the most widely used stimulation method. The safety and efficacy of acupuncture have received significant attention. Modern mechanism research shows that depression, brain functional connectivity, and neuroimaging technology have become research hotspots in the acupuncture treatment of headaches. Conclusion: Acupuncture treatment for headaches has established a stable trend with a promising developmental trajectory. Research in this field mainly focuses on different acupuncture prevention and treatment for various types of headaches, the safety and efficacy of acupuncture, etc. Research on the mechanism of action mainly focuses on interpreting bidirectional and holistic regulation between pain and emotion by acupuncture and the regulation of brain function connection and neuroimaging technology by acupuncture. Future research should expand on the advantages and indications of acupuncture treatment for different headaches and their modern mechanisms.

[Emission Inventory and Distribution Characteristics of Anthropogenic Ammonia in Quzhou County, North China Plain].

Quzhou county is a county in the North China Plain with intensive agricultural production. Based on data collected on the local anthropogenic activity level and the ammonia (NH3) emission factor, the anthropogenic NH3 emission inventory in Quzhou county from 2002 to 2019 was established using the emission factor method, and the NH3 emission inventory in 2019 was optimized using the locally measured nitrogen (N) fertilizer application NH3 emission factor and activity data from farmer surveys. We found that the total NH3 emission in Quzhou county showed a bimodal pattern: it increased from 6682.9 t in 2002 to 7195.0 t in 2004 and then decreased to 5872.0 t in 2008. The second peak occurred in 2015 (7010.5 t) and then gradually decreased to 5636.3 t in 2018. Livestock husbandry (61%-75%) and N fertilizer application (14%-28%) were the primary NH3 emission sources. In 2019, the total NH3 emission in Quzhou county was 6559.7 t, of which N fertilizer application and livestock husbandry contributed 28% and 61%, respectively. Wheat planting contributed the highest NH3 emissions, accounting for 40% of the total NH3 emission of crop production. Laying hens had the largest NH3 emission in livestock production, contributing 40% of the total emissions. NH3 emissions were higher in the south than those in the north at the county level, with the average NH3 emission intensity reaching 13.5 t·km-2. Nanliyue and Baizhai towns were hot spots of NH3 emission. Taken together NH3 emission reduction in wheat production and layer hen breeding will help to control atmospheric NH3 pollution in the North China Plain.

Studies on the interaction mechanism between xanthine oxidase and osmundacetone: Molecular docking, multi-spectroscopy and dynamical simulation.

Xanthine oxidase (XO) is a key enzyme in uric acid production, and its molybdopterin (Mo-Pt) domain is an important catalytic center when xanthine and hypoxanthine are oxidated. It is found that the extract of Inonotus obliquus has an inhibitory effect on XO. In this study, five key chemical compounds were initially identified using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS), and two compounds, osmundacetone ((3E)-4-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-3-buten-2-one) and protocatechuic aldehyde (3,4-dihydroxybenzaldehyde), were screened as the XO inhibitors by ultrafiltration technology. Osmundacetone bound XO strongly and competitively inhibited XO with a half-maximal inhibitory concentration of 129.08 ± 1.71 µM, and its inhibition mechanism, was investigated. Osmundacetone and XO via static quenching and spontaneously bound with XO with high affinity, primarily via hydrophobic interactions and hydrogen bonds. Molecular docking studies showed that osmundacetone was inserted into the Mo-Pt center and interacted with hydrophobic residues of Phe911, Gly913, Phe914, Ser1008, Phe1009, Thr1010, Val1011, and Ala1079 of XO. In summary, these findings suggest that provide theoretical basis for the research and development of XO inhibitors from Inonotus obliquus.

Toward the sustainable use of mineral phosphorus fertilizers for crop production in China: From primary resource demand to final agricultural use.

Sustainable phosphorus (P) management is crucial to both food security and environmental conservation. The optimization of P input from mineral fertilizers has been advocated as an effective approach to improve P use efficiency. However, strategies for maximizing P use efficiency by linking soil-crop systems and fertilizer types with the P flow, from a whole P supply chain perspective, are lacking. In this study, a meta-analysis and substance flow analysis (SFA) were employed to evaluate the effects of different mineral P fertilizer types on crop yield and P flow from rock phosphate (RP) exploitation to P use in China. Compared to single superphosphate (SSP), triple superphosphate (TSP), and calcium magnesium phosphate (CMP), a significantly higher yield was obtained when diammonium phosphate (DAP) and monoammonium phosphate (MAP) were used 2005 onwards. However, P loss, from RP extraction to application, was 24% higher for DAP and MAP than for SSP, TSP, and CMP. DAP and MAP use led to a 6% larger P footprint than SSP, TSP, and CMP use. The P use efficiency could be improved by 22%, 36%, and 40% in wheat, maize, and rice production, respectively, by integrating the soil-crop system with mineral P fertilizer types, while P loss and P footprint could be reduced by 13% and 17%, respectively. These results indicate that P use efficiency can be significantly improved by integrating mineral P fertilizer types with soil-crop systems, providing an effective approach for RP exploitation to improve P use efficiency and alleviate the overexploitation of RP.

Integrating life cycle assessment and a farmer survey of management practices to study environmental impacts of peach production in Beijing, China.

While intensive peach production has expanded rapidly in recent years, few studies have explored the environmental impacts associated with specific regional systems or the optimal management strategies to minimize associated environmental risks. Here, data from a survey of 290 native farmers were used to conduct a life cycle assessment to quantify the acidification potential (AP), global warming potential (GWP), eutrophication potential (EP), and reactive nitrogen (Nr) losses in peach production in Pinggu District, Beijing. Total annual Nr losses, and GWP, AP, and EP values for peach production in Pinggu District were respectively 10.7 kg N t-1, 857 kg CO2-eq t-1, 12.9 kg SO2-eq t-1, and 4.1 kg PO4-eq t-1. The principal driving factors were fertilizer production, transportation, and application, which together accounted for 94%, 67%, 75%, and 94% of Nr losses, GWP, AP, and EP, respectively. In the high yield, high nitrogen-use efficiency (HH) group, relative values of Nr losses, GWP, AP, and EP were respectively 33%, 25%, 39%, and 32% lower than the overall averages for 290 orchards. Further analyses indicate that improved farming practices such as decreasing application rates of fertilizers, increasing proportion of base fertilization rate, and proper fertilization frequency in the HH group were the main reasons for these orchards' better performance in peach yields and partial factor productivity of nitrogen fertilizer, and their reduced environmental impacts. These results highlight the need to optimize nutrient management in peach production in order simultaneously to realize both environmental sustainability and high productivity in the peach production system.

Nitrogen losses from food production in the North China Plain: A case study for Quzhou.

Nitrogen (N) management is essential for food security. The North China Plain is an important food producing region, but also a hotspot of N losses to the environment. This results in water, soil, and air pollution. In this study, we aim to quantify the relative contribution of different crops and animals to N losses, by taking the Quzhou county as a typical example in the North China Plain. We developed and applied a new version of the NUtrient flows in Food chains, Environment, and Resource use (NUFER) model. Our model is based on updated information for N losses in Quzhou. Our results show that N losses to the environment from crop and animal production in Quzhou were approximately 9 kton in 2017. These high N losses can be explained by the low N use efficiency in food production because of poor N management. For crop production, wheat, maize, and vegetables contributed 80% to N losses. Ammonia emissions and N leaching have dominant shares in these N losses. Pigs and laying hens were responsible for 74% of N losses from animal production. Ammonia emissions to air and direct discharges of manure to water were the main contributors to these N losses. Effective reduction of N losses requires improving the nutrient management in crop (wheat, maize, vegetables) and animal (pigs, laying hens) production. Our work could support the Agricultural Green Development in the North China Plain.

Warm acupuncture therapy for Primary sciatica: A protocol of systematic review and meta-analysis.

INTRODUCTION: This meta-analysis aims to assess the effectiveness and safety of warm acupuncture therapy for treating Primary sciatica. METHODS: The following 9 databases will be search from their inception to December 6, 2020: MEDLINE, EMBASE, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), the Chinese Biomedical Literature Database (CBM), the Chinese Medical Current Content (CMCC), the Wan-Fang Database and the China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI). Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of warm acupuncture for treating Primary sciatica, Chinese or Japanese without restriction of publication status will be included. Two researchers will independently undertake study selection, extraction of data and assessment of study quality. Meta-analysis will be conducted after screening of studies. Data will be analyzed using risk ratio for dichotomous data, and standardized mean difference or weighted mean difference for continuous data. DISSEMINATION: This meta-analysis will be disseminated electronically through a peer-reviewed publication or conference presentations. CONCLUSION: This study will provide evidence to judge whether warm acupuncture. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: INPLASY2020120109.

Enhancement of the photoluminescence efficiency of hybrid manganese halides through rational structural design.

Five new zero-dimensional hybrid manganese halides based on discrete [MnCl4]2- tetrahedrons were prepared and used as highly efficient green-light emitters. Through rational management of organic cations to tailor the MnMn separation distances between neighboring [MnCl4]2- tetrahedrons, the photoluminescence quantum yield increased significantly from 7.98% to 81.11%.

(5,5'-Dicarboxy-biphenyl-2,2'-dicarboxyl-ato-κO,O)bis-(1,10-phenanthroline-κN,N')cobalt(II) dihydrate.

In the title compound, [Co(C(16)H(8)O(8))(C(12)H(8)N(2))(2)]·2H(2)O, the Co atom located on a twofold rotation axis. It is six-coordinated by two O atoms from one 5,5'-dicarboxy-biphenyl-2,2'-dicarboxyl-ate anion and four N atoms from two 1,10-phenanthroline mol-ecules in a distorted octa-hedral environment. The crystal packing is stabilized by O-H⋯O hydrogen bonds.

Bis[4-(chloro-acet-yl)phenyl] ether.

The title compound, C(16)H(12)Cl(2)O(3), crystallizes with two independent mol-ecules in the asymmetric unit. The dihedral angles between the planes of the benzene rings in the two independent mol-ecules are 68.65 (2) and 68.47 (3)°. The short distance of 3.899 (5) Šbetween the centroids of the benzene rings of neighbouring mol-ecules indicate π-π inter-actions. The crystal structure is stabilized by a network of intermolecular C-H⋯O hydrogen bonds.

(5,5'-Dicarboxy-biphenyl-2,2'-dicarboxyl-ato-κO,O)bis-(1,10-phenanthroline-κN,N')zinc(II) dihydrate.

In the title compound, [Zn(C(16)H(8)O(8))(C(12)H(8)N(2))(2)]·2H(2)O, the Zn(II) atom is located on a twofold rotation axis and is six-coordinated by two O atoms from a 5,5'-dicarboxy-biphenyl-2,2'-dicarboxyl-ate ligand and four N atoms from two 1,10-phenanthroline mol-ecules in a distorted octa-hedral geometry. The crystal structure involves O-H⋯O hydrogen bonds.

[Study on Cellular Immunity Mechanisms of Suspended Moxibustion for Treating Neutrophilic Asthma in Rats].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the influence of suspended moxibustion on neutrophilic asthma related signal factors in asthma rats. METHODS: Thirty-two SD rats were randomly divided into normal control, model, dexamethasone(DEX) and suspended moxibustion (MOX) groups, with 8 rats in each group. The neutrophil granulocyte asthma model was made by intranasal instillation of lipopolysaccharide (LPS), intraperitoneal injection of ovalbumin(OVA) and inhalation of OVA, once a day for 14 d. After modeling, rats of the DEX group received intraperitoneal injection of DEX (0.5 mg/kg), once daily for 14 d, and those of the MOX group treated by suspended MOX at "Danzhong" (CV 17), and bilateral "Feishu" (BL 13), "Pishu" (BL 20), and "Shen-shu" (BL 23) for 40 min, once a day, for 14 d. The total number of leukocytes and Wright's stain-displayed differential counts in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were counted, and the content of IL-17 in the BALF was assayed by ELISA. The contents of T-helper 17 (Th 17) cells in the spleen and peripheral blood were detected using flow cytometry, and the expression of retinoic acid-related orphan receptor gamma t (ROR-γt) mRNA and protein in the inferior lobe of the right lung were detected by quantitative real-time PCR, immunohistochemical stain and Western blot, respectively. RESULTS: Compared with the normal control group, the total number of leukocytes, the percentages of neutrophils, eosinophilis and lymphcytes and IL-17 content in the BALF, and Th 17 contents in the peripheral blood and spleen tissue were significantly increased in the model group (P<0.01). After the treatment, the total numbers of leukocytes, the percentages of neutrophils, eosinophils and lymphocytes and IL-17 contents in the BALF, and Th 17 contents in the peripheral blood and spleen tissues were down-regulated considerably in both the DEX and MOX groups (P<0.05, P<0.01). Immunohistochemical stain, real-time PCR and Western blot measurements showed that the expression levels of ROR-γt protein and mRNA in the lung tissues were notably higher in the model group than in the normal control group (P<0.01), and significantly down-regulated in both DEX and MOX groups relevant to the model group (P<0.05, P<0.01). No significant differences were found between the DEX and MOX groups in all the aforementioned indexes (P<0.05), except plasma Th 17 (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Suspended moxibustion, being comparable to DEX treatment, can reduce the inflammatory reactions of neutrophilic asthma rats by down-regulating the expression of ROR -γt in the lung, and lowering IL-17 and neutrophils levels in the airway, and Th 17 in the peripheral blood and spleen.

Antioxidant and immunobiological activity of water-soluble polysaccharide fractions purified from Acanthopanax senticosu.

A water-soluble polysaccharide obtained from Acanthopanax senticosus leaves (ASL), was fractionated by DEAE-Sepharose fast-flow column chromatography, and purified by Sephadex G-75 gel-permeation column chromatography. The characteristics of ASP-2-1 were determined by chemical analysis, high-performance capillary electrophoresis (HPCE), high-performance gel-permeation chromatography (HPGPC). The results show that ASP-2-1 contained 89.47% carbohydrate, 7.45% uronic acid, 2.16% protein and seven kinds of monosaccharides including rhamnose, xylose, glucose, mannose, arabinose, galactose and glucuronic acid in a molar ratio of 7.45:18.63:25.15:0.93:8.35:2.79:5.69, with an average molecular weight of about 14,573Da. Furthermore, the immunobiological and antioxidant activities, in vitro, of ASP-2-1 were evaluated by MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assay and ferric-reducing antioxidant power assay (FRAP), 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH()), superoxide radical (()O(2)(-)) and hydroxyl radical (()OH) free radical-scavenging assay, respectively. The results showed that ASP-2-1 exhibited significantly higher immunomodulatory activities against the lymphocyte proliferation in vitro, pronounced reductive power (FRAP value: 785.1µM at 0.2mg/ml), strong hydroxyl radical (89.56% at 1mg/ml) scavenging activity, moderate superoxide radicals (65.32% at 1mg/ml) and DPPH radicals (68.9% at 1mg/ml) scavenging activities. ASP-2-1 should be explored as a novel and potential natural antioxidant and immunostimulating agent for use in functional foods or medicine.