Survival-Time Distribution for Inelastic Collapse

In a recent publication [PRL {\bf 81}, 1142 (1998)] it was argued that a randomly forced particle which collides inelastically with a boundary can undergo inelastic collapse and come to rest in a finite time. Here we discuss the survival probability for the inelastic collapse transition. It is found that the collapse-time distribution behaves asymptotically as a power-law in time, and that the exponent governing this decay is non-universal. An approximate calculation of the collapse-time exponent confirms this behaviour and shows how inelastic collapse can be viewed as a generalised persistence phenomenon.Comment: 4 pages, RevTe

No Way Back: Maximizing survival time below the Schwarzschild event horizon

It has long been known that once you cross the event horizon of a black hole, your destiny lies at the central singularity, irrespective of what you do. Furthermore, your demise will occur in a finite amount of proper time. In this paper, the use of rockets in extending the amount of time before the collision with the central singularity is examined. In general, the use of such rockets can increase your remaining time, but only up to a maximum value; this is at odds with the ``more you struggle, the less time you have'' statement that is sometimes discussed in relation to black holes. The derived equations are simple to solve numerically and the framework can be employed as a teaching tool for general relativity.Comment: 7-pages, 5 figures, accepted for publication in the Publications of the Astronomical Society of Australia (Journal name corrected.

Effects of Temperature and Crowding on the Pathogenicity of Edwardsiella ictaluri in Channel Catfish (Ictalurus punctatus)

Channel catfish were injected with Edwardsiella ictaluri and stocked at increasing temperatures and densities. Bacteriological examination of kidney, liver and spleen revealed the greatest numbers of organisms in fish from the highest temperature and stocking density tested. Survival time was the shortest for fish held at the highest temperature and stocking density. Increased temperature and crowding were directly proportional to the number of organisms recovered from the organs and inversely proportional to fish survival time

Predicting Criminal Recidivism Using "Split Population" Survival Time Models

In this paper we develop a survival time model in which the probability of eventual failure is less than one, and in which both the probability of eventual failure and the timing of failure depend (separately) on individual characteristics. We apply this model to data on the tiring of return to prison for a sample of prison releasees, and we use it to make predictions of whether or not individuals return to prison. Our predictions are more accurate than previous predictions of criminal recidivism. The model we develop has potential applications in economics: far example, it could tie used to model the probability of default and the timing of default on loans.