From December 2001 to December 2004 we monitored 30–44 adult female mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) annually to assess the factors affecting survival and cause‐specific mortality. We found adult female survival of 0.63 (SE = 0.08), 0.90 (SE = 0.05), and 0.91 (SE = 0.04), 2002–2004, respectively. Starvation was the most common cause of mortality, accounting for 11/23 mortalities. Mean ingesta‐free body fat (IFBF) levels of adult females in December were low (6–9%), despite few (0–13%) lactating adult females, indicative of extremely nutritionally deficient summer—autumn ranges throughout the study site. A priori levels of IFBF and rump body condition scores (rBCS) were higher in deer that survived the following year regardless of cause of mortality. Logistical analysis indicated that models containing individual body fat, rBCS, mean population body fat, winter precipitation, precipitation during mid‐ to late gestation, and total annual precipitation were related (x2 ≥ 9.1; P ≤ 0.003) to deer survival, with individual IFBF (β =‐0.47 [SE = 0.21]; odds ratio = 0.63 [0.42‐0.94]) and population mean IFBF (β = ‐1.94 [SE = 0.68]; odds ratio = 0.14 [0.04‐0.54]) the best predictors; with either variable, probability of dying decreased as fat levels increased. Fawn production was low (2–29 fawns/100 ad F) and, combined with adult survival, resulted in estimated population rates of increase of ‐35%, ‐5%, and +6% for 2002–2004, respectively. Deer survival and population performance were limited in north‐central New Mexico, USA, due to poor condition of deer, likely a result of limited food resulting from both drought and long‐term changes in plant communities. Precipitation during mid‐ to late gestation was also important for adult female survival in north‐central New Mexico.

The purpose of the study was to determine the utility of anteroposterior (AP) pelvic radiographs in stable trauma patients who will undergo or have undergone abdominopelvic CT as part of the initial trauma imaging evaluation. Radiology reports of all stable trauma patients who underwent both abdominopelvic CT and AP pelvic radiograph from 25 January through 30 April, 2003 were reviewed for findings of acute pelvic injuries. A total of 509 consecutive patients were included in this series. Of these, 449 patients (88.2%) had no acute pelvic injury revealed by abdominopelvic CT. CT showed 163 acute injuries in 60 patients. AP radiographs showed 132 acute injuries in 52 patients. No patients with a negative CT had an acute finding on the radiograph. There were eight false-negative pelvic radiographs (negative predictive value 98.25%). CT is highly accurate in excluding acute osseous pelvic injuries. In the stable trauma patient whose CT does not reveal an acute pelvic injury or who is scheduled to undergo an abdominopelvic CT as part of the initial imaging evaluation, the pelvic radiograph may be unnecessary.

This paper presents results of a human machine interface (HMI) evaluation that examined representative flight deck tasks with a large area touchscreen installed in a ride quality simulator that replicated rotary wing vibration profiles. Touchscreens have made their way onto the flight deck of many fixed-wing aircraft and recently into rotary-wing cockpits as well. As such, there is a need to better understand how task performance is impacted by the unique vibratory environment encountered in helicopters. A large area touchscreen (LAD) was evaluated by 14 pilots conducting various touch tasks (target selection, data entry, swiping, long press and zoom), under three varying levels of vibration with and without flight gloves. Performance was assessed objectively (time to completion, touch accuracy, error rates) and subjectively (usability, musculoskeletal discomfort, and video footage). Design recommendations are made for display interface design, including target size, data entry and use of gestures. This study was reviewed and approved by an independent Institutional Review Board for the protection of human subjects.

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