[en] Equations for calculating the loss coefficient in combining flows in tee functions are obtained by an integral linear momentum balance. It is a practice, when solving this type of problem, to neglect the pressure difference in the upstream location as well as the wall-fluid interaction in the lateral branch of the junction. In this work it is demonstrated the influence of the above parameters on the loss coefficient based on experimental values and by apropriate algebraic manipulation of the loss coefficient values published by previous investigators. (Author)

[en] The results of an experimental investigation in divided-flow fittings head loss are presented. The main purposes are to verify the minimum value of the coefficient and to see it as a Carnot-Borda head-loss. The Reynolds number influence on head loss coefficients were qualitatively identified. The 90 degrees cross section fittings used in this experiment had a unitary area ratio. (Author)

[en] Background and purpose: Up to now, evidence about survival of patients with non-small-cell lung cancer treated with radiation therapy alone is only available from clinical studies. The authors analyzed survival experience depending on several prognostic factors from a population-based cancer registry and compared this to survival data from the literature. Patients and methods: Between April 1996 and September 1999, 1,696 patients with lung cancer were recruited by the Halle Lung Cancer (HALLUCA) Study. 1,183 patients were diagnosed as having non-small-cell lung cancer, and 188 in clinical stages I-IIIb (15.9%) were treated with radiation therapy alone. Results: The median survival time of all patients was 10.2 months, the 2-year overall survival rate amounted to 15.8%. Besides tumor stage, radiation dose was found to be a statistically significant prognostic factor for survival in univariate analysis. The median survival time was 4.2 months for 66 patients treated with <50 Gy, 10.7 months for 80 patients treated with 50 to <60 Gy, and 18.9 months for 42 patients treated with ≥60 Gy; the corresponding 2-year overall survival rates were 8.7%, 13.4%, and 35.2%. The significant influence of dose persisted even after adjustment for different confounders in a Cox regression model. Conclusion: Patients treated with 50 to <60 Gy under a potentially curative therapeutic regimen had a significantly lower survival, compared to patients treated with ≥60 Gy. In terms of quality assurance, the large proportion of patients treated with radiation doses below the curative range of ≥60 Gy was unexpected. (orig.)