Contact structures on open 3-manifolds

In this paper, we study contact structures on any open 3-manifold V which is the interior of a compact 3-manifold. To do this, we introduce proper contact isotopy invariants called the slope at infinity and the division number at infinity. We first prove several classification theorems for T^2 x [0, \infty), T^2 x R, and S^1 x R^2 using these concepts. This investigation yields infinitely many tight contact structures on T^2 x [0,\infty), T^2 x R, and S^1 x R^2 which admit no precompact embedding into another tight contact structure on the same space. Finally, we show that if V is irreducible and has an end of nonzero genus, then there are uncountably many tight contact structures on V that are not contactomorphic, yet are isotopic. Similarly, there are uncountably many overtwisted contact structures on V that are not contactomorphic, yet are isotopic.Comment: 18 pages, 3 figures, additions to intro, clearer statement of thm 1.1 (same proof), Modifications made to section 6 giving shorter proof of thm 1.2 and 1.

Determination of the Hubble Constant Using a Two-Parameter Luminosity Correction for Type Ia Supernovae

In this paper, we make a comprehensive determination of the Hubble constant $H_0$ by using two parameters - the B-V color and the rate of decline $\Delta m_{15}$ - to simultaneously standardize the luminosities of all nearby Cepheid-calibrated type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia) and those of a larger, more distant sample of 29 SNe Ia. Each group is treated in as similar a manner as possible in order to avoid systematic effects. A simultaneous $\chi ^2$ minimization yields a standardized absolute luminosity of the Cepheid-calibrated supernovae as well as the Hubble constant obtained from the more distant sample. We find $H_0 = 62 km/s Mpc^{-1}$ and a standardized absolute magnitude of -19.46. The sensitivity of $H_0$ to a metallicity dependence of the Cepheid-determined distances is investigated. The total uncertainty $\delta H_0$, dominated by uncertainties in the primary Cepheid distance indicator, is estimated to be 5 km/s Mpc^{-1}.Comment: To appear in Ap

Application of automobile emission control technology to light piston aircraft engines

The possibility was evaluated for achieving the EPA Standards for HC and CO emissions through the use of air-fuel ratio enleanment at selected power modes combined with improved air-fuel mixture preparation, and in some cases improved cooling. Air injection was also an effective approach for the reduction of HC and CO, particularly when combined with exhaust heat conservation techniques such as exhaust port liners

Surface roughness effects in hydrodynamic lubrication: The flow factor method

For abstract see A83-13523

Saving Special Places: Community Funding for Land Conservation

In New Hampshire communities, there is a groundswell of interest and activity in conserving land. New Hampshire currently has more than forty-five land trusts. There are conservation commissions in all but a handful of towns. Many of them are engaged in conserving their special natural lands. Over half of the towns in the state have conservation funds fueled by the Land Use Change Tax. There have been 62 applications for land conservation projects to the Land and Community Heritage Investment Program since its inception in 2000. New Hampshire voters are appropriating significant taxpayer funds to conserve undeveloped land. Twelve communities, mostly in the south central and southeastern tier of the state, including Amherst, Brookline, Newfields, and Stratham, approved bonds and appropriations totaling nearly $20.2 million in 2002 alone. New Hampshire is losing 12,000 to 15,000 acres of open space a year to development. That is equivalent to building houses, roads and shopping areas in an area half the size of an average New Hampshire town. It is open space that gives our towns their traditional character and appearance. Unless towns protect open space strategically and intentionally, it will be consumed by development. The goal of this guidebook is to help you, as a concerned citizen, elected official, or conservation commission member, achieve your town’s land conservation goals by securing local funding for land conservation in your community

Municipal Conservation Outreach and Technical Assistance, Taylor, J

The New Hampshire Estuaries project awarded a grant of $24,700 to the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests in May of 2002 for municipal conservation outreach and technical assistance in the area of municipal funds for permanent land conservation. SPNHF, working in close partnership with the Center for Land Conservation Assistance, conducted research into available mechanisms and funding sources for municipal conservation efforts. A publication summarizing the available options and providing information and case studies from a variety of New Hampshire towns was produced. Saving Special Places – Community Funding for Land Conservation, was distributed in December of 2002, just in time to assist towns seeking new municipal funding sources at the 2003 town meeting season. SPNHF/CLCA also provided a series of educational workshops on the topic of municipal fund raising for permanent land conservation. Eight workshops were held in the New Hampshire estuaries area, and seven were presented to at statewide events. Over 400 people attended the workshops. SPNHF/CLCA also provided technical assistance to twenty-four of the communities in the estuaries area over the period of the grant. Elements of the project were publicized in a wide range of print media in both statewide and estuary-area outlets.The education and outreach effort was quite successful. The number of towns applying land use change land monies to their conservation funds increased, as did the percent of the fund applied. The towns in the estuaries area that had the advantage of the new publication just as they were going into town meeting season with bond proposals in 2003 passed their bonds at a rate of 76$18,660,000 of new money available for conservation projects in those towns. Past the term of the grant, additional towns will be voting on increasing the amount of money from the Land Use Change Tax going to their conservation funds in 2004. Eight more towns in the estuaries area are considering open space bond proposals for the 2004 town meeting season, for a possible total of $19,600,000 in new funds for permanent land conservation. The coming challenge for the New Hampshire land conservation community will be to encourage the towns with these new sources of money to invest it wisely. Properties need to be selected according to guidelines that reflect a mix of natural resource values and local interests. Projects need to be conducted in a professional manner to insure long-term viability and excellent stewardship