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In this article, painter Max Guala’s experience during the Great War is reconstructed for the first time by connecting the words of his war diaries with the images of 162 graphic works now preserved in the Historical Collections of Milan. The first-person narration and the narrative elaborated by the history museum are two moments of the same memorial process that transformed ego-documents into civic monuments for eternal preservation. The museum history of the Guala’s words and images allows us to reconsider this process, to overcome the grand narrative and reflect on the museology of history.

Epidural electrical spinal stimulation can facilitate recovery of volitional motor control in individuals that have been completely paralyzed for more than a year. We recently reported a novel neuromodulation method named Dynamic Stimulation (DS), which short-lastingly increased spinal excitability and generated a robust modulation of locomotor networks in fully-anesthetized intact adult rats. In the present study, we applied repetitive DS patterns to four lumbosacral segments acutely after a contusive injury at lumbar level. Repetitive DS delivery restored the spinally-evoked motor EMG responses that were previously suppressed by a calibrated spinal cord contusion. Sham experiments without DS delivery did not allow any spontaneous recovery. Thus, DS uniquely provides the potential for a greater long-term functional recovery after paralysis.

BACKGROUND:Potentiation of synaptic activity in spinal networks is reflected in the magnitude of modulation of motor responses evoked by spinal and cortical input. After spinal cord injury, motor evoked responses can be facilitated by pairing cortical and peripheral nerve stimuli. OBJECTIVE:To facilitate synaptic potentiation of cortico-spinal input with epidural electrical stimulation, we designed a novel neuromodulation method called dynamic stimulation (DS), using patterns derived from hind limb EMG signal during stepping. METHODS:DS was applied dorsally to the lumbar enlargement through a high-density epidural array composed of independent platinum-based micro-electrodes. RESULTS:In fully anesthetized intact adult rats, at the interface array/spinal cord, the temporal and spatial features of DS neuromodulation affected the entire lumbosacral network, particularly the most rostral and caudal segments covered by the array. DS induced a transient (at least 1 min) increase in spinal cord excitability and, compared to tonic stimulation, generated a more robust potentiation of the motor output evoked by single pulses applied to the spinal cord. When sub-threshold pulses were selectively applied to a cortical motor area, EMG responses from the contralateral leg were facilitated by the delivery of DS to the lumbosacral cord. Finally, based on motor-evoked responses, DS was linked to a greater amplitude of motor output shortly after a calibrated spinal cord contusion. CONCLUSION:Compared to traditional tonic waveforms, DS amplifies both spinal and cortico-spinal input aimed at spinal networks, thus significantly increasing the potential and accelerating the rate of functional recovery after a severe spinal lesion.

Le riflessioni del contributo provano a esaminare l'opera Quarto Stato, grazie a un questionario, in relazione ai futuri docenti e al ricordo di come questo quadro è stato proposto nei loro percorsi scolastici. Lo scritto presenta alcuni dei dibattiti attuali maturati sulla partecipazione al patrimonio culturale.

Il volume, di solido impianto scientifico ma taglio divulgativo, presenta i risultati inediti del progetto interdisciplinare Mobartech (finanziato da Regione Lombardia nell’ambito di un ampio intervento nel quadro dei Fondi Europei di Sviluppo Regionale, FESR, previsto nel Programma Operativo Nazionale) per il caso di studio Quarto Stato di Giuseppe Pellizza da Volpedo. Al progetto prendono parte quattro dipartimenti dell’Università di Milano-Bicocca in partnership con altre importanti istituzioni italiane di ricerca scientifica: l’Università di Milano, l’Università Cattolica, l’Istituto IBFM del Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, CNR, l’Istituto Eucentre, che svolge attività di ricerca, sviluppo e innovazione nel settore del patrimonio culturale, dell’ingegneria sismica e, più in generale, dell’ingegneria della sicurezza, la XGLab del gruppo Bruker, che sviluppa strumentazione scientifica in particolare nell’analisi elementare e la società Space, impresa che opera nel settore delle tecnologie dell’informazione applicate alla valorizzazione e gestione del patrimonio culturale. L’opera viene studiata da vari punti di vista: i) storico e sociale, approfondendo il suo significato nel contesto di produzione e di uso pubblico; ii) materico e composizionale, studiando le tecniche e i materiali con i quali è stata realizzata; iii) di interazione con l’ambiente e il pubblico, elaborando prospettive di conservazione e valorizzazione. Il volume si articola in tre parti: nella prima si affronta il significato proprio dell’opera nei suoi contesti prima di produzione quindi nei successivi museali ed espositivi; nella seconda parte si illustrano le diverse modalità di studio dello spazio di conservazione, degli elementi materiali dell’opera e la fruizione da parte del pubblico contemporaneo; infine, nella terza parte si avanzano alcune proposte per la migliore conservazione e fruizione dell’opera. Gli autori dei contributi sono ricercatori afferenti al progetto e altri e

Epidural electrical spinal stimulation can facilitate recovery of volitional motor control in individuals that have been completely paralyzed for more than a year. We recently reported a novel neuromodulation method named Dynamic Stimulation (DS), which short-lastingly increased spinal excitability and generated a robust modulation of locomotor networks in fully-anesthetized intact adult rats. In the present study, we applied repetitive DS patterns to four lumbosacral segments acutely after a contusive injury at lumbar level. Repetitive DS delivery restored the spinally-evoked motor EMG responses that were previously suppressed by a calibrated spinal cord contusion. Sham experiments without DS delivery did not allow any spontaneous recovery. Thus, DS uniquely provides the potential for a greater long-term functional recovery after paralysis.

BACKGROUND:Potentiation of synaptic activity in spinal networks is reflected in the magnitude of modulation of motor responses evoked by spinal and cortical input. After spinal cord injury, motor evoked responses can be facilitated by pairing cortical and peripheral nerve stimuli. OBJECTIVE:To facilitate synaptic potentiation of cortico-spinal input with epidural electrical stimulation, we designed a novel neuromodulation method called dynamic stimulation (DS), using patterns derived from hind limb EMG signal during stepping. METHODS:DS was applied dorsally to the lumbar enlargement through a high-density epidural array composed of independent platinum-based micro-electrodes. RESULTS:In fully anesthetized intact adult rats, at the interface array/spinal cord, the temporal and spatial features of DS neuromodulation affected the entire lumbosacral network, particularly the most rostral and caudal segments covered by the array. DS induced a transient (at least 1 min) increase in spinal cord excitability and, compared to tonic stimulation, generated a more robust potentiation of the motor output evoked by single pulses applied to the spinal cord. When sub-threshold pulses were selectively applied to a cortical motor area, EMG responses from the contralateral leg were facilitated by the delivery of DS to the lumbosacral cord. Finally, based on motor-evoked responses, DS was linked to a greater amplitude of motor output shortly after a calibrated spinal cord contusion. CONCLUSION:Compared to traditional tonic waveforms, DS amplifies both spinal and cortico-spinal input aimed at spinal networks, thus significantly increasing the potential and accelerating the rate of functional recovery after a severe spinal lesion.

Avvalendosi dell’informatica la storiografia ha potuto elaborare grandi quantità di dati che, grazie alla pubblicazione infotelematica, possono essere confrontati attraverso reti di relazioni non predeterminate. La condivisione e l’accumulazione delle conoscenze prodotte mediante le digital technologies è però ostacolata dalla disomogeneità nelle pratiche di raccolta e trasmissione dei big data. Questo contributo nasce da un caso di studio di ambito museale per dimostrare le potenzialità del digital storytelling nell’integrare in modo scientifico, accessibile ed efficace le basi di dati elaborate per rispondere alle necessità di pubblici differenziati. Il Museo del Risorgimento di Milano possiede una serie di registri iniziata nel 1884 e tuttora aperta, nella quale sono annotati i materiali che entrano a far parte del patrimonio eterogeneo dell’istituto (collezioni settoriali, biblioteca e archivio). A questa continuità nella prassi amministrativa si è contrapposta nel tempo una discontinuità nell’organizzazione delle raccolte, che ha ottenebrato i nessi originari tra gli oggetti, cioè la storia che è loro propria. L’uso di software diversi per la descrizione dei beni culturali e la pubblicazione in rete ha confermato la difficoltà di integrare big data strutturati in modo difforme con insufficiente attenzione per la dimensione gerarchica. Nell’era digitale il professionista in public history può avvalersi dello storytelling per ricostruire l’informazione frammentata in diversi repository di big data. Trasformando in affabulazione le reti di relazioni è possibile integrare le conoscenze in schemi coerenti per suscitare nei pubblici la percezione della realtà come complesso di fattori talvolta in contraddizione ma senza rinunciare agli strumenti di verificabilità del racconto.

© 2017 The Authors Preclinical and clinical neurophysiological and neurorehabilitation research has generated rather surprising levels of recovery of volitional sensory-motor function in persons with chronic motor paralysis following a spinal cord injury. The key factor in this recovery is largely activity-dependent plasticity of spinal and supraspinal networks. This key factor can be triggered by neuromodulation of these networks with electrical and pharmacological interventions. This review addresses some of the systems-level physiological mechanisms that might explain the effects of electrical modulation and how repetitive training facilitates the recovery of volitional motor control. In particular, we substantiate the hypotheses that: (1) in the majority of spinal lesions, a critical number and type of neurons in the region of the injury survive, but cannot conduct action potentials, and thus are electrically non-responsive; (2) these neuronal networks within the lesioned area can be neuromodulated to a transformed state of electrical competency; (3) these two factors enable the potential for extensive activity-dependent reorganization of neuronal networks in the spinal cord and brain, and (4) propriospinal networks play a critical role in driving this activity-dependent reorganization after injury. Real-time proprioceptive input to spinal networks provides the template for reorganization of spinal networks that play a leading role in the level of coordination of motor pools required to perform a given functional task. Repetitive exposure of multi-segmental sensory-motor networks to the dynamics of task-specific sensory input as occurs with repetitive training can functionally reshape spinal and supraspinal connectivity thus re-enabling one to perform complex motor tasks, even years post injury.

© 2017 The Authors Preclinical and clinical neurophysiological and neurorehabilitation research has generated rather surprising levels of recovery of volitional sensory-motor function in persons with chronic motor paralysis following a spinal cord injury. The key factor in this recovery is largely activity-dependent plasticity of spinal and supraspinal networks. This key factor can be triggered by neuromodulation of these networks with electrical and pharmacological interventions. This review addresses some of the systems-level physiological mechanisms that might explain the effects of electrical modulation and how repetitive training facilitates the recovery of volitional motor control. In particular, we substantiate the hypotheses that: (1) in the majority of spinal lesions, a critical number and type of neurons in the region of the injury survive, but cannot conduct action potentials, and thus are electrically non-responsive; (2) these neuronal networks within the lesioned area can be neuromodulated to a transformed state of electrical competency; (3) these two factors enable the potential for extensive activity-dependent reorganization of neuronal networks in the spinal cord and brain, and (4) propriospinal networks play a critical role in driving this activity-dependent reorganization after injury. Real-time proprioceptive input to spinal networks provides the template for reorganization of spinal networks that play a leading role in the level of coordination of motor pools required to perform a given functional task. Repetitive exposure of multi-segmental sensory-motor networks to the dynamics of task-specific sensory input as occurs with repetitive training can functionally reshape spinal and supraspinal connectivity thus re-enabling one to perform complex motor tasks, even years post injury.

Hyperexcitability of dorsal horn neurons has been shown to play a key role in neuropathic pain following chronic experimental spinal cord injury. With a neonatal in vitro spinal cord injury model, we show that a chemically-induced lesion leads to rapid gain-of-function of sublesional dorsal horn networks biased to hyperexcitation. The expression of the GABA synthetic enzyme GAD65 was significantly reduced at the same level of the spinal cord, suggesting a compromised inhibitory system. We propose that our model could be useful to test early approaches to contrast spinal cord injury-induced central sensitization of dorsal horn circuits.

The regenerative capacity of the peripheral nervous system is largely related to Schwann cells undergoing proliferation and migration after injury and forming growth-supporting substrates for severed axons. Novel data show that fibroblasts to a certain extent regulate the pro-regenerative behavior of Schwann cells. In the setting of peripheral nerve injury, the fibroblasts that form the epineurium come into close contact with both Schwann cells and peripheral axons, but the potential influence on these latter two cell types has not been studied yet. In the present study we explored whether culture media, conditioned by epineurial fibroblasts can influence Schwann cells and/or neurite outgrowth from dorsal root ganglia neurons in vitro. Our data indicate that epineurial fibroblast-conditioned culture media substantially increase Schwann cell migration and the outgrowth of neurites. Schwann cell proliferation remained largely unaffected. These same read-out parameters were assayed in a condition where epineurial fibroblasts were subjected to stretch-cell-stress, a mechanical stressor that plays an important role in traumatic peripheral nerve injuries. Stretch-cell-stress of epineurial fibroblasts did not further change the positive effects of conditioned media on Schwann cell migration and neurite outgrowth. From these data we conclude that an as yet unknown pro-regenerative role can be attributed to epineurial fibroblasts, implying that such cells may affect the outcome of severe peripheral nerve injury.