Risk Factors of Language Delay at Two Years of Corrected Age among Very-Low-Birth-Weight Preterm Infants: A Population-Based Study.

Language delays are often underestimated in very-low-birth-weight (VLBW) preterm infants. We aimed to identify the risk factors of language delay at two years of corrected age in this vulnerable population. VLBW infants, who were assessed at two years of corrected age using the Bayley Scale of Infant Development, third edition, were included using a population-based cohort database. Language delay was defined as mild to moderate if the composite score was between 70 and 85 and severe if the score was < 70. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to identify the perinatal risk factors associated with language delay. The study comprised 3797 VLBW preterm infants; 678 (18%) had a mild to moderate delay and 235 (6%) had a severe delay. After adjusting for confounding factors, low maternal education level, low maternal socioeconomic status, extremely low birth weight, male sex, and severe intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) and/or cystic periventricular leukomalacia (PVL) were found to be significantly associated with both mild to moderate and severe delays. Resuscitation at delivery, necrotizing enterocolitis, and patent ductus arteriosus requiring ligation showed significant associations with severe delay. The strongest factors predicting both mild to moderate and severe language delays were the male sex and severe IVH and/or cystic PVL; thus, early targeted intervention is warranted in these populations.

Liquid-phase non-thermal plasma-prepared N-doped TiO(2) for azo dye degradation with the catalyst separation system by ceramic membranes.

This study strived to improve the photocatalytic activity by using liquid-phase non-thermal plasma (LPNTP) technology for preparing N-doping TiO(2) as well as to separate/recover the N-dope TiO(2) particles by using ceramic ultrafiltration membrane process. The yellow color N-doped TiO(2) photocatalysts, obtained through the LPNTP process, were characterized with UV-Vis spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and electron spectroscopy for chemical analysis (ESCA). The UV-Vis spectrum of N-doped TiO(2) showed that the absorption band was shifted to 439 nm and the band gap was reduced to 2.82 eV. The structure analysis of XRD spectra showed that the peak positions and the crystal structure remained unchanged as anatase after plasma-treating at 13.5 W for 40 min. The photocatalytic activity of N-doped TiO(2) was evaluated by azo dyes under visible light, and 63% of them was degraded after 16 hours in a continuous-flow photocatalytic system. For membrane separation/recover system, the recovery efficiency reached 99.5% after the ultrafiltration had been carried out for 90 min, and the result indicated that the photocatalyst was able to be separated/recovered completely.