The Alternative Scene

The power supply is also not measurement specific. Almost all sensors, signal processors, and readouts operate from similar voltages. The power supply converts the alternating current (ac) line power (or battery power) to voltage levels needed to operate the other functional elements of the instrument. See Figure 6.6 and Workplace Scene 6.1. 

This book is mainly concerned with the treatment of opiate misuse, for the simple reason that that is the form of drug misuse for which there are the most effective clinical approaches. As we have discussed, the treatment scene for opiate misusers, in contrast to other groups, is fundamentally altered by the widespread availability of the substitution option, in the form of methadone or alternative opioids. Physical dependence is part of the rationale for that approach, and the occurrence of clear-cut withdrawal symptoms also indicates the use of drugs such as lofexidine or clonidine, followed where possible by naltrexone. For reasons of severity of dependence and treatment options, it is therefore understandable that services are inclined to have caseloads dominated by opiate users. 

In Xuezhong Du etal. (2001), Japanese Aciplex and Flemion and Chinese Shanghai alternatives to Nafion are compared with Nafion in terms of their performance, and none is overwhelming. The latter alternatives have not yet caught on in the international scene. Price comparison is not made available. 

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