We study the problem of comparing ageing patterns lifetimes k-out-of-n systems with i.i.d. components. Mathematically, this reduces to being able decide about a stochastic ordering relationship between different order statistics. discuss such relationships respect second-order dominance, obtaining characterizations through verification relative convexity suitably chosen reference distribution f...

The Müller-Israel-Stewart second-order theory of relativistic imperfect fluids based on Grad's moment method is used to study the expansion of hot matter produced in ultrarelativistic heavy-ion collisions. The temperature evolution is investigated in the framework of the Bjorken boost-invariant scaling limit. The results of these second-order theories are compared to those of first-order theori...