The EIP has beneficial effects on neonatal neurobehavioural development and maternal mental health of low birthweight infants with cerebral injuries. This evidence suggests that short-term changes in maternal mental health and infant neurobehaviour promoted by an EIP may serve to initiate a positive interaction between parents and infants.

We examined the characteristics of spontaneous movements at 9-20 weeks postterm age in very low birth-weight infants who later developed autism spectrum disorder (ASD). We analyzed video recordings of spontaneous movements of 39 children who had no clinical issues [typically developing (TD) group], 21 children who showed developmental delay, and 14 children who were diagnosed with ASD (ASD group) at 6 years of age. Head position in each video frame was classified by visual inspection. The percentage of midline head position (PMHP) and number of changes in head position were calculated. Spontaneous limb movements were quantified using six indices. The values of PMHP were significantly lower in the ASD group than in the TD group. The lower PMHP during early infancy is associated with later development of ASD. Poorer performance in maintaining midline position of the head at this period may distinguish infants who later develop ASD from those who show TD.

This study's aim was to evaluate the characteristics of newborn and young infants' spontaneous lower extremity movements by using dynamical systems analysis. Participants were 8 healthy full-term newborn infants (3 boys, 5 girls, mean birth weight and gestational age were 3070.6 g and 39 weeks). A tri-axial accelerometer measured limb movement acceleration in 3-dimensional space. Movement acceleration signals were recorded during 200 s from just below the ankle when the infant was in an active alert state and lying supine (sampling rate 200 Hz). Data were analyzed linearly and nonlinearly. As a result, the optimal embedding dimension showed more than 5 at all times. Time dependent changes started at 6 or 7, and over the next four months decreased to 5 and from 6 months old, increased. The maximal Lyapnov exponent was positive for all segments. The mutual information is at its greatest range at 0 months. Between 3 and 4 months the range in results is narrowest and lowest in value. The mean coefficient of correlation for the x-axis component was negative and y-axis component changed to a positive value between 1 month old and 4 months old. Nonlinear time series analysis suggested that newborn and young infants' spontaneous lower extremity movements are characterized by a nonlinear chaotic dynamics with 5 to 7 embedding dimensions. Developmental changes of an optimal embedding dimension showed a U-shaped phenomenon. In addition, the maximal Lyapnov exponents were positive for all segments (0.79-2.99). Infants' spontaneous movement involves chaotic dynamic systems that are capable of generating voluntary skill movements.

We present the early-phase spectra and the light curves of the broad-lined supernova (SN) 2016coi from t = 7 to 67 days after the estimated explosion date. This SN was initially reported as a broadlined Type SN Ic (SN Ic-BL). However, we found that spectra up to t = 12 days exhibited the He i λ5876, λ6678, and λ7065 absorption lines. We show that the smoothed and blueshifted spectra of normal SNe Ib are remarkably similar to the observed spectrum of SN 2016coi. The line velocities of SN 2016coi were similar to those of SNe Ic-BL and significantly faster than those of SNe Ib. Analyses of the line velocity and light curve suggest that the kinetic energy and the total ejecta mass of SN 2016coi are similar to those of SNe Ic-BL. Together with broad-lined SNe 2009bb and 2012ap for which the detection of He i were also reported, these SNe could be transitional objects between SNe Ic-BL and SNe Ib, and be classified as broad-lined Type 'Ib' SNe (SNe 'Ib'-BL). Our work demonstrates the diversity of the outermost layer in broad-lined SNe, which should be related to the variety of the evolutionary paths. Subject headings: supernovae: general -supernovae: individual (SN 2016coi) -supernovae: individual (SNe