Cardiff University

About: Cardiff University is a education organization based out in Cardiff, United Kingdom. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Context (language use). The organization has 34188 authors who have published 82643 publications receiving 3046531 citations. The organization is also known as: University of Cardiff & University College of South Wales and Monmouthshire.

Formulaic sequences in second language teaching: principle and practice

Abstract: One important component of successful language learning is the mastery of idiomatic forms of expression, including idioms, collocations, and sentence frames (collectively referred to here as formulaic sequences). Three attempts to foreground formulaic sequences in teaching syllabuses are those of Willis (1990), Nattinger and DeCarrico (1992), and Lewis (1993). All three find themselves confronting the question of how the teaching of multi-word strings relates to the learner's accumulation of grammatical and lexical knowledge, and despite their different viewpoints and priorities, all conclude that larger units can, and should, be perceived by the learner and teacher in terms of their component parts. Yet research into the nature of formulaic sequences indicates that their form often precludes, and their function specifically circumvents, such internal inspection, for their value resides in the bypassing of the analytical processes which encode and decode strings. Thus, Willis, Nattinger and DeCarrico, and Lewis are all pursuing native-like linguistic usage by promoting entirely unnative-like processing behaviour. This non-alignment is only tractable if the classroom teaching of languages is fully acknowledged as artificial, even when the methods used appear 'naturalistic'.

The anatomical basis for disease localisation in seronegative spondyloarthropathy at entheses and related sites.

Abstract: The 2 major categories of idiopathic inflammatory arthritis are rheumatoid arthritis and the seronegative spondyloarthropathies. Whilst the synovium is the primary site of joint disease in the former, the primary site in the latter is less well defined. However, it has recently been proposed that enthesitis-associated changes in the spondyloarthropathies are primary and that all other joint manifestations are secondary. Nevertheless, some of the sites of disease localisation have not been adequately explained in terms of enthesitis. This article summarises current knowledge of the structure, function, blood supply, innervation, molecular composition and histopathology of the classic enthesis (i.e. the bony attachment of a tendon or ligament) and introduces the concept of ‘functional’ and articular ‘fibrocartilaginous’ entheses. The former are regions where tendons or ligaments wrap-around bony pulleys, but are not attached to them, and the latter are synovial joints that are lined by fibrocartilage rather than hyaline cartilage. We describe how these 3 types of entheses relate to other, and how all are prone to pathological changes in spondyloarthropathy. We propose that the inflammatory responses characteristic of spondyloarthropathies are triggered at these seemingly diverse sites, in genetically susceptible individuals, by a combination of anatomical factors which lead to higher levels of tissue microtrauma, and the deposition of microbes.

Ectopic lymphoid-like structures in infection, cancer and autoimmunity

Abstract: Ectopic lymphoid-like structures often develop at sites of inflammation where they influence the course of infection, autoimmune disease, cancer and transplant rejection. These lymphoid aggregates range from tight clusters of B cells and T cells to highly organized structures that comprise functional germinal centres. Although the mechanisms governing ectopic lymphoid neogenesis in human pathology remain poorly defined, the presence of ectopic lymphoid-like structures within inflamed tissues has been linked to both protective and deleterious outcomes in patients. In this Review, we discuss investigations in both experimental model systems and patient cohorts to provide a perspective on the formation and functions of ectopic lymphoid-like structures in human pathology, with particular reference to the clinical implications and the potential for therapeutic targeting.

Activity and mechanisms of action of selected biocidal agents on Gram-positive and -negative bacteria.

Abstract: S.E. W ALSH, J .-Y. M AILLARD, A .D. R USSELL, C .E. C ATRENICH, D .L. C HARBONNEAU A ND R . G . B A R T O L O . 2003. Aims: This study investigates the antimicrobial activity and mode of action of two natural products, eugenol and thymol, a commonly utilized biostatic agent, triclocarban (TCC), and two surfactants, didecyldimethylammonium chloride (DDDMAC) and C10–C16 alkyldimethyl amine N-oxides (ADMAO). Methods and Results: Methods used included: determination of minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs), lethal effect studies with suspension tests and the investigation of sub-MIC concentrations on growth of E. coli, Staph. aureus and Ps. aeruginosa using a Bioscreen microbiological analyser. Leakage of intracellular constituents and the effects of potentiating agents were also investigated. Only DDDMAC was bactericidal against all of the organisms tested. Eugenol, thymol and ADMAO showed bacteriostatic and bactericidal activity, but not against Ps. aeruginosa. TCC was only bacteristatic against Staph. aureus, but like the other agents, it did affect the growth of the other organisms in the Bioscreen experiments. All of the antimicrobial agents tested were potentiated by the permeabilizers to some extent and leakage of potassium was seen with all of the agents except TCC. Conclusions: DDDMAC was bactericidal against all organisms tested and all compounds had some bacteriostatic action. Low level static effects on bacterial growth were seen with sub-MIC concentrations. Membrane damage may account for at least part of the mode of action of thymol, eugenol, DDDMAC and ADMAO. Significance and Impact of the Study: The ingredients evaluated demonstrated a range of bactericidal and bacteriostatic properties against the Gram-negative and -positive organisms evaluated and the membrane (leakage of intracellular components) was implicated in the mode of action for most (except TCC). Sub-MIC levels of all ingredients did induce subtle effects on the organisms which impacted bacterial growth, even for those which had no true inhibitory effects.

Next-generation probiotics: the spectrum from probiotics to live biotherapeutics

Abstract: The leading probiotics currently available to consumers are generally drawn from a narrow range of organisms. Knowledge of the gut microbiota and its constituent actors is changing this paradigm, particularly given the phylogenetic range and relatively unknown characteristics of the organisms under investigation as novel therapeutics. For this reason, and because their development is likely to be more amenable to a pharmaceutical than a food delivery route, these organisms are often operationally referred to as next-generation probiotics, a concept that overlaps with the emerging concept of live biotherapeutic products. The latter is a class of organisms developed exclusively for pharmaceutical application. In this Perspective, we discuss what lessons have been learned from working with traditional probiotics, explore the kinds of organisms that are likely to be used as novel microbial therapeutics, discuss the regulatory framework required, and propose how scientists may meet this challenge.