The influence of publication delays on the observed aging distribution of scientific literature

Observed aging curves are influenced by publication delays. In this article, we show how the “undisturbed” aging function and the publication delay combine to give the observed aging function. This combination is performed by a mathematical operation known as convolution. Examples are given, such as the convolution of two Poisson distributions, two exponential distributions, and two lognormal distributions. A paradox is observed between theory and real data.