The black hole retention fraction in star clusters

Context. Recent research has been constraining the retention fraction of black holes (BHs) in globular clusters by comparing the degree of mass segregation with N-body simulations. They are consistent with an upper limit of the retention fraction being 50% or less. Aims. In this work, we focus on direct simulations of the dynamics of BHs in star clusters. We aim to constrain the effective distribution of natal kicks that BHs receive during supernova (SN) explosions and to estimate the BH retention fraction.Methods. We used the collisional N-body code nbody6 to measure the retention fraction of BHs for a given set of parameters, which are: the initial mass of a star cluster, the initial half-mass radius, and σBH, which sets the effective Maxwellian BH velocity kick distribution. We compare these direct N-body models with our analytic estimates and newest observational constraints. Results. The numerical simulations show that for the one-dimensional velocity kick dispersion σBH < 50 km s−1, clusters with radii of 2 pc and that are initially more massive than 5 × 103 M⊙ retain more than 20% of BHs within their half-mass radii. Our simple analytic model yields a number of retained BHs that is in good agreement with the N-body models. Furthermore, the analytic estimates show that ultra-compact dwarf galaxies should have retained more than 80% of their BHs for σBH ≤ 190 km s−1. Although our models do not contain primordial binaries, in the most compact clusters with 103 stars, we have found evidence of delayed SN explosions producing a surplus of BHs compared to the IMF due to dynamically formed binary stars. These cases do not occur in the more populous or expanded clusters.

Correlation of myocardial necrosis with kinetics of 111In-labeled myosin-specific antibody in isolated rabbit septum

Radiolabeled monoclonal antibody fragments to myosin, specifically 111In-labeled antimyosin, have been shown to be effective for imaging areas of myocardial infarct. To determine if 111In-labeled antimyosin can be used to assess the extent of necrosis, we compared the tissue retention fraction of 111In-labeled antimyosin with the amount of creatine kinase (CK) released from the isolated, perfused, interventricular rabbit septum after an intervention to induce tissue necrosis. 111In-labeled antimyosin was injected and tissue radioactivity was monitored for a 60-min period under control conditions. Effluent samples were also collected during this period and assayed for CK content. After a period of Ca2+ depletion followed by Ca2+ repletion, 111In-labeled antimyosin was again injected, and washout and CK data were collected. Comparison of the changes in 111In-labeled antimyosin retention fraction from control to intervention with the corresponding increase in CK released during intervention resulted in a correlation coefficient of 0.83. To corroborate the findings of the Ca2+ depletion followed by repletion experiments, further experiments were conducted in which zero-flow ischemia followed by reperfusion was used as a means of introducing necrosis in the septum. The resulting correlation coefficient between CK release and 111In-labeled antimyosin retention fraction was 0.82. The results of these experiments indicate that 111In-labeled antimyosin can be used to quantitatively estimate the extent of necrosis in the rabbit septum, as determined by CK release, and endorse the potential use of tracer kinetics in humans for quantitation of myocardial necrosis in vivo.