A highly sensitive flavin adenine dinucleotide-3'-phosphate (FADP)-based enzyme amplification cascade has been developed for determining alkaline phosphatase (ALP; EC 3.1.3.1). The cascade detects ALP via the dephosphorylation of the novel substrate FADP to produce the cofactor FAD, which binds stoichiometrically to inactive apo D-amino acid oxidase (D-AAO). The resulting active holo D-AAO oxidizes D-proline to produce hydrogen peroxide, which is quantified by the horseradish peroxidase-mediated conversion of 3,5-dichloro-2-hydroxybenzenesulfonic acid and 4-aminoantipyrine to a colored product. The FADP-based enzyme amplification cascade has been used in a novel releasable linker immunoassay (RELIA) to quantify thyrotropin (TSH). In the assay, TSH is first captured onto antibody-coated chromium dioxide particles. After formation of an antibody-TSH sandwich with a dethiobiotinylated second antibody, the complex is reacted with a streptavidin-ALP conjugate. Biotin is then used to release the conjugate into solution, and ALP is quantified in an automated version of the FADP-based amplification cascade on the aca discrete clinical analyzer (Du Pont). The sensitivity of the colorimetric RELIA assay for TSH (less than 0.1 milli-int. unit/L) is comparable with that of fluorometric assays. This technology provides a way to adapt to the aca high-sensitivity immunoassays for a wide range of analytes via colorimetric detection.

To investigate the effects of the destruction of a chlorine cylinder containing 1000 kg of chlorine, lost by a vessel and residing on the bottom of the sea at a depth of approximately 25 m, some experiments were carried out. The results of these experiments are reported in this paper. The main conclusion is that the container can be destroyed safely with a heavy explosive charge, provided that the area that can be cleared from ships is sufficiently large. The experiments have shown that a circular area around the source with a radius of approximately 10 km should be large enough.