The 'long' 16th century : a key period of animal husbandry change in England

Although many historians have extensively discussed the agricultural history of England between the Late Middle Ages and the Modern Era, this period of crucial changes has received less attention by archaeologists. In this paper, zooarchaeological evidence dated between the Late Middle Ages and the Early Modern period is analysed to investigate changes in animal husbandry during the ‘long’ sixteenth century. The size and shape of the main domestic animals (cattle, sheep, pig and chicken) is explored through biometrical data and discussed in line with evidence of taxonomic frequencies, ageing and sex ratios. Data from 12 sites with relevant chronologies and located in different areas of the country are considered. The results show that, although a remarkable size increase of animals occurred in England throughout the post-medieval period, much of this improvement occurred as early as the sixteenth century. The nature and causes of such improvement are discussed, with the aim of understanding the development of Early Modern farming and the foundations of the so-called Agricultural Revolution

Toward a User-Driven Approach to Radiology Software Solutions: Putting the Wag Back in the Dog

The relationship between healthcare providers and the software industry is evolving. In many cases, industry's traditional, market-driven model is failing to meet the increasingly sophisticated and appropriately individualized needs of providers. Advances in both technology infrastructure and development methodologies have set the stage for the transition from a vendor-driven to a more user-driven process of solution engineering. To make this transition, providers must take an active role in the development process and vendors must provide flexible frameworks on which to build. Only then can the provider/vendor relationship mature from a purchaser/supplier to a codesigner/partner model, where true insight and innovation can occur