Dominant Components of the Giant Panda Seminal Plasma Metabolome, Characterized by 1H-NMR Spectroscopy

Simple Summary As China's flagship animal, the giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) attracts much attention due to its small population and low natural reproductive rate. Therefore, artificial insemination has become the leading practical approach in the captive breeding programs of giant pandas worldwide. Seminal plasma acts as a medium between spermatozoa and the external stimuli, and its characteristics have been directly linked to fertility in both artificial insemination and natural fertilization. The current work, for the first time, attempts to characterize, by proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (H-1-NMR), the metabolome of healthy giant panda seminal plasma. A total of 35 molecules were quantified, with distinct age-related trends highlighted by a multivariate analysis, and the concentrations of 2,3-butanediol were significantly different between individuals younger than 8 years and older than 13 years. In addition, isopropanol's concentration was significantly linked to estrus stages. Besides, the variations in the metabolome's profile with storage time were also evaluated. This study may serve as a reference for research wishing to shed light on the biological mechanisms affecting giant panda sperm's overall quality and may ultimately lead to novel approaches to giant panda artificial insemination. As an assisted breeding technique, artificial insemination has become the main effective practical approach in the captive breeding programs of giant panda worldwide. The composition of seminal plasma plays an important role in the success of breeding. The present work is the first attempt to characterize, by proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (H-1-NMR), the metabolome of healthy giant panda seminal plasma. A total of 35 molecules were quantified, with the concentration of 2,3-butanediol being significantly different between individuals younger than 8 years and older than 13 years, and other distinct age-related trends were highlighted by a multivariate analysis. Isopropanol's concentration was significantly linked to estrus stages. Besides, the variations in the metabolome's profile during storage were also evaluated. This study may serve as a reference for further research wishing to shed light on the biological mechanisms affecting giant panda sperm's overall quality and may ultimately lead to novel approaches to giant panda artificial insemination

Measurement of the branching fractions of psi(2S) -> 3(pi+pi-) and J/psi -> 2(pi+pi-)

Using data samples collected at sqrt(s) = 3.686GeV and 3.650GeV by the BESII detector at the BEPC, the branching fraction of psi(2S) -> 3(pi+pi-) is measured to be [4.83 +- 0.38(stat) +- 0.69(syst)] x 10^-4, and the relative branching fraction of J/psi -> 2(pi+pi-) to that of J/psi -> mu+mu- is measured to be [5.86 +- 0.19(stat) +- 0.39(syst)]% via psi(2S) -> (pi+pi-)J/psi, J/psi -> 2(pi+pi-). The electromagnetic form factor of 3(pi+pi-) is determined to be 0.21 +- 0.02 and 0.20 +- 0.01 at sqrt(s) = 3.686GeV and 3.650GeV, respectively.Comment: 17pages, 7 figures, submitted to Phys. Rev.

Evidence for nodeless superconducting gap in NaFe1−x_{1-x}Cox_xAs from low-temperature thermal conductivity measurements

The thermal conductivity of optimally doped NaFe$_{0.972}$Co$_{0.028}$As ($T_c \sim$ 20 K) and overdoped NaFe$_{0.925}$Co$_{0.075}$As ($T_c \sim$ 11 K) single crystals were measured down to 50 mK. No residual linear term $\kappa_0/T$ is found in zero magnetic field for both compounds, which is an evidence for nodeless superconducting gap. Applying field up to $H$ = 9 T ($\approx H_{c2}/4$) does not noticeably increase $\kappa_0/T$ in NaFe$_{1.972}$Co$_{0.028}$As, which is consistent with multiple isotropic gaps with similar magnitudes. The $\kappa_0/T$ of overdoped NaFe$_{1.925}$Co$_{0.075}$As shows a relatively faster field dependence, indicating the increase of the ratio between the magnitudes of different gaps, or the enhancement of gap anisotropy upon increasing doping.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figure

Observation of p pbar pi^0 and p pbar eta in psi' decays

The processes psi'-->p pbar pi^0 and psi'-->p pbar eta are studied using a sample of 14 million psi' decays collected with the Beijing Spectrometer at the Beijing Electron-Positron Collider. The branching fraction of psi'-->p pbar pi^0 is measured with improved precision as (13.2\pm 1.0\pm 1.5)\times 10^{-5}, and psi'-->p pbar eta is observed for the first time with a branching fraction of (5.8\pm 1.1\pm 0.7)\times 10^{-5}, where the first errors are statistical and the second ones are systematic.Comment: 15 pages, 8 figures and 3 table

Measurement of the final states ωπ0\omega \pi^0, ρη\rho \eta, and ρη′\rho \eta^{'} from \psip electromagnetic decays and \ee annihilations

Cross sections and form factors for \ee \to \wpi, $\rho\eta$, and \rho\etap at center of mass energies of 3.650, 3.686, and 3.773 GeV are measured using data samples collected with the BESII detector at the BEPC. Also, the branching fractions of \psi(2S) \rar \wpi, $\rho\eta$, and \rho\etap are determined to be $(1.87^{+0.68}_{-0.62}\pm0.28)\times 10^{-5}$, $(1.78^{+0.67}_{-0.62}\pm0.17)\times 10^{-5}$, and $(1.87^{+1.64}_{-1.11}\pm0.33)\times10^{-5}$, respectively.Comment: 8 pages, 4 figures, 4 table

Measurements of J/psi decays into phi pi^0, phi eta, and phi eta^prime

Based on 5.8x10^7 J/psi events detected in BESII, the branching fractions of J/psi--> phi eta and phi eta^prime are measured for different eta and eta^prime decay modes. The results are significantly higher than previous measurements. An upper limit on B(J/psi--> phi pi^0) is also obtained.Comment: 9 pages, 10 figure

Search for psi(3770)\ra\rho\pi at the BESII detector at the Beijing Electron-Positron Collider

Non-$D\bar{D}$ decay \psppto \rhopi is searched for using a data sample of $(17.3\pm 0.5) pb^{-1}$ taken at the center-of-mass energy of 3.773 GeV by the BESII detector at the BEPC. No \rhopi signal is observed, and the upper limit of the cross section is measured to be \sigma(\EETO \rhopi)<6.0 pb at 90% C. L. Considering the interference between the continuum amplitude and the \pspp resonance amplitude, the branching fraction of \pspp decays to $\rho\pi$ is determined to be \BR(\pspp\ra\rho\pi)\in(6.0\times10^{-6}, 2.4\times10^{-3}) at 90% C. L. This is in agreement with the prediction of the $S$- and $D$-wave mixing scheme of the charmonium states for solving the ``\rhopi puzzle'' between \jpsi and \psp decays.Comment: 15 pages, 5 figure