Actual Mode Research Articles

Clinical assessment of lumbar mobility: Height of the lumbar spine and localization of L1 by ultrasound

Background Various tools for clinical assessment of lumbar mobility in the sagittal plane coexist. Their validity has been called into question in particular because of their fixed distances between their skin markers whatever the height of the subject. Objective To measure the distance between the lower margin of the Postero Superior Iliac Spines (PSIS) and the middle of the L1 spinous process and to analyze the characteristics that influence it. To check whether these new skin marks could be more reliable for developing a new clinical assessment tool for lumbar mobility. Method The distance between the lower margin of the PSIS and the L1, located by ultrasound, was taken in the standing position and analyzed on 200 participants. Results The mean PSIS-L1 distance was 13.3 ± 1.8 cm, influenced mainly by standing height. A ratio or the regression line equation, based on the relationship between standing height and PSIS-L1, were highlighted. Conclusions The actual mode of placement of skin markers for the clinical assessment tools to evaluate lumbar mobility is not valid. The PSIS-L1/standing height ratio or the regression equation are the most effective ways for predicting the location of the upper skin marker (L1) for developing a new tool.

P0003 Differential Effects of JAK Inhibitors on Epithelial-Immune Interaction in Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Abstract Background Multiple cytokines are involved in the pathogenesis of inflammatory diseases like inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and affect both immune and epithelial cells. JAK-STAT signaling plays an important role in immune responses by transmitting cytokine signals, resulting in altered gene expression and immune activation. To treat diseases like IBD, compounds that interfere with the JAK-STAT pathway, JAK inhibitors, have been developed to dampen inflammation and reduce cytokine signaling. However, these inhibitors' actual mode of action on the human colon has not been fully elucidated. Therefore, we developed a co-culture system to test the effect of different JAK inhibitors on epithelial-immune interactions. Methods Human colonoids were disrupted into single cells and seeded on Transwell® inserts in an upside-down orientation to form monolayers1,2 (Figure 1). After differentiation of the layer3, epithelial cells were either collected for qPCR analysis or fixed for immunofluorescence microscopy. To study epithelial-immune interactions co-culture experiments were performed using peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). Cells were treated with tofacitinib, filgotinib, upadacitinib, and/or different cytokines. Epithelial cells were collected for western blot analysis and PBMCs were collected for flow cytometry analysis. Results Immunofluorescence staining showed a representative number of enterocytes and goblet cells in the upside-down colonoid monolayer which was confirmed by qPCR. Co-culture of epithelial cells with activated PBMCs showed induction of the JAK-STAT pathway; both phosphorylated STAT1 (pSTAT1) and STAT3 (pSTAT3) were induced. Treatment of PBMCs with tofacitinib, upadacitinib, or filgotinib completely diminished pSTAT1 and pSTAT3 induction. In epithelial cells, treatment with tofacitinib and upadacitinib completely diminished pSTAT1 and pSTAT3 induction whereas filgotinib treatment did not. Conclusion We validated an effective method to grow monolayers from colonoid-derived human stem cells, containing differentiated epithelial enterocytes and goblet cells (1). We confirmed that epithelial-immune interactions can be studied with this model as pSTAT1 and pSTAT3 could be induced in the epithelial layer by activated PBMCs (2). pSTAT1 and pSTAT3 were completely inhibited by all inhibitors in PBMCs while epithelial cells didn’t fully respond to filgotinib, indicating that epithelial and immune cells respond differently to the inhibitors (3). We plan to capitalize on this system by unraveling the effects of multiple IBD-related cytokines and JAK inhibitors on healthy and IBD epithelial cells to improve clinical treatment strategies.

Mode of delivery and outcomes among inborn extremely preterm singletons: A cohort study.

Cesarean delivery is the most common mode of delivery among extremely preterm infants but there are insufficient data regarding the best mode of delivery among extremely preterm singletons. The objective of this study was to compare the rate of death or severe neurodevelopmental impairment among extremely preterm singletons by actual mode of delivery. Observational study using prospectively collected data from 25 US medical centers. We included postnatally-treated singletons with birth weight 401-1000 g, gestational age 22 + 0/7-26 + 6/7 weeks, without a major birth defect, born 2006-2016. Death or severe neurodevelopmental impairment (Bayley Scales of Infant Development-3rd edition cognitive composite score<70, cerebral palsy (Gross Motor Function Classification Scale >3), bilateral blindness, or bilateral hearing loss) at 18-26 month follow-up were compared by mode of delivery (cesarean, vaginal including vertex or breech) using propensity score analysis to adjust for baseline characteristics. There was no difference in death or severe neurodevelopmental impairment between cesarean and vaginal (vertex or breech) births (42.4% cesarean vs. 47.2% vaginal; adjusted odds ratio (aOR), 95% confidence intervals (CI); 1.03, 0.91-1.17). Both cesarean delivery (26.8% cesarean vs. 51.5% breech vaginal; aOR: 0.71; 95% CI: 0.55-0.92) and vertex vaginal delivery (28.5% vertex vaginal vs. 51.5% breech vaginal; aOR: 0.59; 95% CI: 0.45-0.76) were associated with lower mortality compared with breech vaginal delivery. Among postnatally-treated extremely preterm singletons, there was no difference in death or severe neurodevelopmental impairment between cesarean or vaginal delivery. Both vertex vaginal and cesarean delivery were associated with lower mortality compared with breech vaginal delivery.

Sufficiency, consumption patterns and limits: a survey of French households

How can the concept of consumption corridors be operationalised? This research provides socio-demographic knowledge of the setting of the upper limit. Four distinct ‘modes of consumption’ are identified, based on material consumption levels and openness to consumption limits. A survey of French households (n = 2452) reveals people are generally reluctant to accept strict consumption caps, especially binding ones. Both high and low material consumption groups strongly oppose consumption limits, suggesting that wealth does not correlate with a sense of having ‘enough’. Individuals with fewer possessions support the idea of limits to consumption, though not outright bans. Despite the cultural value placed on limitless consumption and political aversion to restrictions, actual consumption modes are inherently limited. Individuals operate within certain boundaries, whether or not acknowledged. Since perceptions of ‘enough’ are shaped by economic, social and technical contexts, urban settings and buildings could play a critical role in establishing these de facto limits. By facilitating frugal-yet-comfortable lifestyles, cities and buildings could help to restrain consumption without invoking a sense of deprivation. This approach suggests a pathway for fostering sustainable consumption corridors that feel normal rather than imposed. Practice relevance This research identifies four main modes of consumption in relation to sufficiency in mainland France. It shows that what constitutes enough is socially and economically situated and is not an external reality that would mechanically satisfy consumption needs. It also shows a general reluctance of individuals towards setting limits to individual consumption levels. To the extent that urban planning and dwelling types are already important forces in the shaping of sustainable modes of consumption, cities and buildings may prove instrumental in providing the condition of de facto upper limits to consumption. By understanding consumption modes and their relationship with sufficiency, policymakers, urban planners and architects could implement the means to conduct frugal lifestyles that do not evoke feelings of deprivation.

Data-driven fault identification method of RV reducer used in industrial robot

The RV reducers are complex and sealed mechanical systems that are difficult to conduct fault diagnosis in advance. The previous research worked on the fault identification of RV reducer were mainly carried out on the test platforms instead of real complex working conditions. Most of faults were intentionally created in laboratory instead of real malfunction caused by factory daily operation. In the present paper, the actual failure mode of RV reducer for the industrial robots in factory is taken as the goal of fault diagnosis. The constant speed segment data extraction method is designed to overcome the difficulty of frequency domain analysis caused by non-uniform rotation in working conditions and ensure the quality and effectiveness of features extraction. Several machine learning classification models are selected regarding their inherent features. The proper DNN binary classification model shows the best performance that can meet the requirements of fault identification in industrial environment.

Predominant Binding Mode of Palmatine to DNA.

Palmatine is a protoberberine alkaloid, which may produce singlet oxygen under visible light irradiation and binds to DNA. The fact that singlet oxygen activation in palmatine may be triggered by environmental conditions, and in particular its interaction with nucleic acids, makes it a most suitable candidate for photodynamic therapy and DNA-targeted noninvasive anticancer strategies. Despite these remarkable properties, the actual binding mode between palmatine and DNA has not been resolved, yet. Its elucidation has indeed led to contrasting hypotheses. In this contribution, by using long-range molecular dynamic simulations and enhanced sampling approaches, we unequivocally identify that intercalation is the dominant binding mode of palmatine with DNA, from both a thermodynamic and kinetic point of view.

A Method for the Coefficient Superposition Buckling Bearing Capacity of Thin-Walled Members

Axial compression tests were conducted on short rhombic tubes of different cross-sectional shapes. The deformation modes of the rhombic short tubes were obtained. To induce a finite element model with deformation modes consistent with the actual working conditions, buckling modes are introduced into the model as the initial imperfections of the structure. However, the buckling modes resulting from finite element buckling analyses often do not meet the needs of actual crushing modes. A coefficient superposition method of solution is proposed to derive modal characteristics consistent with the actual deformation modes by linear superposition of the buckling modes. Through the study of three aspects of theory, test, and simulation, and the comparison and verification of this method with the simulation results of related literature, the results show that the indexes derived from this method are closer to the actual circumstances and are more expandable, which provides a reference for the project.

Investigating Drivers’ Awareness of Automated Vehicle Modes Using the State Diagram Method

Driving automation introduces multiple driving modes to maximize the system’s benefits, but drivers must monitor and stay aware of these modes, which can sometimes lead to mode confusion. We modified Degani and Heymann’s state diagram method to assess the mode structure of a hypothetical driving automation system and the likelihood of discrepancies between drivers’ mode awareness and the system’s actual mode. We used the modified method and driving simulation data from participants who weren’t fully informed about all automation modes. The modified method visualized all possible combinations of automation modes and drivers’ mode awareness, highlighting where they diverge and estimating the frequency of the divergence. The diagram identified areas where human-machine interface (HMI) design can help drivers maintain accurate mode awareness. The modified state diagram method provides actionable insights for designing HMIs to reduce mode confusion and can be used to develop computational models of automation mode structures.

Real-time control action formation for predicting post-accident electrical modes considering permissible stability margins

The object of the research is an emergency control system for ensuring the stability of electric power systems (EPS) in case of emergency unbalances. The relevance of the problem of ensuring EPS stability is due to the need to improve the efficiency of emergency control to reduce the risk of system accidents with significant damage. To solve this problem, we propose an algorithm for selecting the volume of control actions based on the principles of adaptive control for predicting the post-emergency mode with an acceptable stability margin. The algorithm of forming the volume of control actions is based on the dependence of the value of control actions on the value of stability reserves estimation by the value of the Jacobi determinant. To build this dependence, the algorithm of searching for the limiting mode by the trajectory of change in the equilibrium position of the steady state of the system from the initial to the limiting one is used. In contrast to the existing algorithms, the proposed algorithm establishes a functional dependence of the control value on the current parameters of the regime or the stability margin, which increases the efficiency of calculations for selecting control actions. Realization of the proposed algorithm is carried out on the basis of the functional scheme according to the data of the vector measurement system. The advantage and novelty of the proposed algorithm is the possibility of eliminating the disadvantages of existing systems of mode automation, the main of which are: – the necessity to perform numerous variant calculations for selecting the volume of control actions; – possible excessive volume of control actions in case of a mismatch of the actual mode with the calculated one

Optimization Strategies and Application of Information-assisted Decision-making System for Centralized Procurement of Drugs Under the Normalization of Collective Procurement Policy

Objective: Our hospital has developed a centralized procurement drug information-assisted decision-making system based on our actual operation mode and the current usage status of centrally procured drugs. We aimed to optimize and upgrade this system based on its original foundation. Methods: We addressed practical issues by adding corresponding modules, such as a demand forecasting module, a clinical task allocation informationized module, and a real-time monitoring and calculation module for surplus fund retention amounts. Results: The optimized system can reduce subjective errors in our hospital's reporting, intelligently allocate clinical department tasks, and provide real-time monitoring of abnormal indicators and surplus fund retention amounts. Conclusion: The optimization of the centralized procurement drug information-assisted decision-making system effectively addresses the urgent needs of our hospital s current drug procurement implementation, enabling the sustainable implementation of our hospital s procurement work.

Determining Quasi-Static Load Carrying Capacity of Composite Sandwich Rotor Blades for Copter-Type Drones

The development of light composite rotor blades with acceptable load carrying capacity is an essential issue to be dealt with in the design of relatively large copter-type drones. In this paper, a method is established to determine the quasi-static blade load carrying capacity which is vital to drone reliability. The proposed method, which provides a systematic procedure to determine blade load carrying capacity, consists of three parts, namely, a procedure to determine the distributed quasi-static blade aerodynamic load via the Blade Element Momentum (BEM) approach, a finite element-based failure analysis method to identify the actual blade failure mode, and an optimization method to determine the actual blade load carrying capacity. The experimental failure characteristics (failure mode, failure thrust, failure location) of two types of composite sandwich rotor blades with different skin lamination arrangements have been used to verify the accuracy of the theoretical results obtained using the proposed load carrying capacity determination method. The skin lamination arrangement for attaining the optimal blade-specific load carrying capacity and the blade incipient rotational speed for safe drone operation has been determined using the proposed method.

Trial of labour after caesarean section in Sub‐Saharan Africa: A systematic review and meta‐analysis

AbstractObjectiveThe objective of this study is to determine the proportion of women undergoing trial of labour after caesarean (TOLAC) and vaginal birth after caesarean (VBAC) in Sub‐Saharan Africa (SSA), and to estimate associated adverse events.MethodsWe searched PubMed, MEDLINE, CAB, EMBASE and African‐specific databases from 1966 to July 2023, including SSA studies reporting on women with previous caesarean section (CS). We extracted data on study design, planned (TOLAC versus elective repeat CS (ERCS)) and actual delivery mode, and adverse outcomes. We calculated mean TOLAC and VBAC proportions, and pooled proportion of adverse events, comparing between TOLAC and ERCS where available. We assessed bias using the methodological index for nonrandomized studies.ResultsFrom 62 studies with 36 611 births, the estimated proportion undergoing TOLAC and achieving VBAC, adjusted for study variability, were 79% (95% confidence interval [95% CI]: 74%, 85%) and 47% (95% CI: 42%, 51%), respectively, for all births. Mean estimated uterine rupture proportion and maternal mortality were 2.1% (95% CI: 1.1%, 3.2%) and 0.1% (95% CI: 0.02%, 0.2%) respectively. We found no differences between TOLAC and ERCS for uterine rupture (1.2% vs. 0.2%, pooled odds ratio [OR]: 1.54; 95% CI: 0.63, 3.8) or maternal mortality (0.3% vs. &lt;0.1%, pooled OR: 0.77; 95% CI: 0.30, 2.0), respectively. However perinatal mortality was higher with TOLAC compared to ERCS (5% vs. 1%; pooled OR: 3.3; 95% CI: 1.5, 6.9).DiscussionWe found high proportions of women undergoing TOLAC and moderate proportions of successful VBAC across SSA, with a higher perinatal mortality associated with TOLAC. Few studies reported on adverse outcomes and used inconsistent definitions. Further research is needed to understand outcomes in this population of women in these settings.RegistrationThe study protocol was registered with PROSPERO (CRD42020175434).

Description of the spatial variability of concrete via composite random field and failure analysis of chimney

The inherent variability of concrete significantly affects the structural safety and performance. The variability of concrete is a complex phenomenon influenced by multiple factors, including material properties, production processes, and environmental conditions. Understanding and quantifying the variability of concrete is crucial for reliable and safe structural design. Probabilistic methods are commonly used to account for concrete variability in structural design. In this paper, a composite random field approach combined with a hierarchy model is used to consider the multi-scale spatial variability of concrete. The random field of compressive strength is expressed as a sum of independent component random fields. To investigate the impact of concrete's spatial variability on structural response and failure modes, the failure analysis of a 115-m-tall chimney was conducted. The results indicate that the composite random field approach proves to be a valuable method for incorporating concrete's spatial variability at different scales. The spatial variability of concrete exerts a substantial influence on the potential positions where severe compressive damage might occur. Additionally, the failure modes are also affected by the spatial variability of concrete. When taking into account the spatial variability of concrete, an extra collapse mode emerges, aligning more closely with the chimney's actual collapse mode during an earthquake. Furthermore, the spatial variability of concrete also moderately impacts the variability of the base shear force and the maximum inter-section drift angle. Notably, improper approaches to considering the spatial variability of concrete significantly impact the concrete's compressive damage and structural response.

On the out-of-plane buckling of RHS X-joints – Analytical and numerical approaches

Out-of-plane buckling (OPB) is not widely known failure mechanism in tubular X-joints with equal brace and chord widths (β = b1/b0 = 1.0) but it can occur in the chord member of tubular X-joints axially compressed by the brace members. The OPB consists of distortional and torsional deformations in the chord member, but only the distortional mode is involved in elastic energy of the system. In this work, an analytical formulation for the critical OPB capacity is established by the deformed shape in a beam on elastic foundation (BEF). A theoretical model for the ideal-elastic buckling capacity is computed by considering the in-plane bending of the chord faces and elastic bending of the cross-section as the frame structure. The obtained critical buckling loads are compared with numerical results obtained using linear buckling analyses by finite element (FE) models. The theoretical model provided a reasonable agreement with the numerically obtained eigenvalues with a tendency to slightly underestimate load-carrying capacity. The FE results showed that the OPB of X-joint can be the critical ideal-elastic failure mode in the wide range of various joint geometries and thus be regarded as a competitive failure mechanism for the widely known chord sidewall buckling. However, the results were obtained for the ideal-elastic buckling modes and, eventually, the actual failure mode is highly depended on the existing geometrical imperfections. Nevertheless, experimental tests have also indicated an existence of the OPB mode, and structural designers and analysts of tubular connections should be aware of this potential failure mode.

Rising caesarean section rates and factors affecting women’s decision-making about mode of birth in Indonesia: a longitudinal qualitative study

IntroductionCaesarean section (CS) rates in Indonesia are increasing rapidly. Understanding women’s preferences about mode of birth is important to help contextualise these rising rates and can help develop interventions to...

Inline Monitoring of continous Ultrasonic Welding Processes of Thermoplastic Composites via a custom polyCMUT based Ultrasound Array

Ultrasonic welding (UW) of thermoplastic composites (TCs) is an emerging technology in the field of composite joining techniques in the aerospace sector. Through a mechanical oscillator, ultrasound at a frequency of 20kHz is induced into the material via a welding horn, where microscopic friction and damping effects melt the thermoplastic. Under further pressure the weld area cools down, permanently joining both parts together. Like all joining processes in the aerospace industry the resulting joints need to be tested for their quality and structural integrity. The traditional testing method using water-coupled ultrasound includes extra steps. This process could be considerably improved by assessing the quality of the weld directly after or even during the welding process, allowing for immediate rework or discard of the parts in question. Ultrasound is still the best solution for this quality assessment, being inexpensive, well understood, and able to create B-Mode images, allowing a look into the cross-section of the weld. However, there are several major problems: To increase the system complexity as little as possible it is necessary to attach the ultrasound unit next to the welding equipment, and as close to the welding horn and compactor as possible to save space and keep the end- effector manoeuvrable. This brings problems for classic piezoelectric ultrasonic arrays: The low welding frequency and its resonance modes reach into the lower resonance modes of the piezoelectric sensors leading to immense noise, hiding any potential echo from the welding zone. Classic piezoelectric crystals are also very brittle and can suffer damage from sustained exposure to this violent environment. The authors present a novel solution: a custom-made polymer-based capacitive micromachined ultrasonic transducer array (polyCMUT). polyCMUTs are tiny drums with two electrodes. One on the bottom and the other suspended over a cavity sandwiched between two layers of polymers. By applying a DC-bias an electrical field is created and the membrane is set under tension. If then an AC voltage is applied, the strength of the electric field decreases, allowing the membrane to snap back into its original position. If done at the resonance frequency of the membrane, a strong ultrasonic signal is created. To receive this signal the polyCMUT is charged with a DC-bias, allowing it to receive the echo of the transmitted signal by measuring the changing capacitance. Not only is the polymer robust and inexpensive to fabricate, the general architecture of CMUTs also allows a design where the first mode of resonance is the actual mode the CMUT is operating in. By designing for a resonance frequency over 5 MHz all noise from the initial welding process is ignored, leading to a working pulse echo imaging system. The array is then mounted onto a PEEK block attached to the compactor unit of the welding end-effector. This publication is intended to present initial results, the design process of the custom array and the tests leading there.

Digital health's influence on the association between birth preference and vaginal birth.

Women's preferred mode of birth during pregnancy is predictive of their actual mode of birth. Digital prenatal care services are a promising method for educating women on mode of birth to reduce elective cesareans. This study aimed to evaluate the influence of digital health on the association between birth preference and mode of birth. Data come from 5409 pregnant women enrolled in a digital platform for women's and family health. Multi-trajectory modeling identified trajectories of digital health usage throughout pregnancy. Adjusted logistic regression models tested associations between birth preferences and mode of birth. The modifying effect of digital health usage on the association between birth preference and mode of birth was assessed on the multiplicative scale. Four distinct trajectories of digital service usage were identified and labeled as: (1) baseline users (52%): the reference group; (2) just-in timers (16%): high usage during the third trimester; (3) learners (26%): high educational resource usage (e.g., articles and classes) throughout pregnancy; and (4) super users (6%): high usage of both education and care resources throughout pregnancy. Overall, preferred mode of birth at enrollment was predictive of actual mode of birth; however, digital health usage moderated this association, whereby super users and learners who preferred a cesarean at enrollment were more likely to deliver vaginally, compared to baseline users who preferred a cesarean. For the increasing proportion of women considering an elective cesarean, education through a prenatal digital health platform may help to encourage vaginal birth and reduce cesarean births.

Dynamic embedding of effective harmonic normal mode vibrations in all-atomistic energy gap fluctuations: Case study of light harvesting 2 complex.

Environmental effects in excitation energy transfer have mostly been modeled by baths of harmonic oscillators, but to what extent such modeling provides a reliable description of actual interactions between molecular systems and environments remains an open issue. We address this issue by investigating fluctuations in the excitation energies of the light harvesting 2 complex using a realistic all-atomistic simulation of the potential energy surface. Our analyses reveal that molecular motions exhibit significant anharmonic features, even for underdamped intramolecular vibrations. In particular, we find that the anharmonicity contributes to the broadening of spectral densities and substantial overlaps between neighboring peaks, which complicates the meaning of mode frequencies constituting a bath model. Thus, we develop a strategy to construct a minimally underdamped harmonic bath that has a clear connection to all-atomistic dynamics by utilizing actual normal modes of molecules but optimizing their frequencies such that the resulting bath model can best reproduce the all-atomistic simulation results. By subtracting the underdamped contribution from the entire fluctuations, we also show that identifying a residual spectral density representing all other contributions with overdamped behavior is possible. We find that this can be fitted well with a well-established analytic form of a spectral density function or, alternatively, modeled as explicit time dependent fluctuations with muti-exponential or power law type correlation functions. We provide an assessment and the implications of these possibilities. The approach presented here can also serve as a general strategy to construct a simplified bath model that can effectively represent the underlying all-atomistic bath dynamics.

Study on the mechanical properties and optimization methods of high-strength high-modulus carbon fibre composite with the cap structure

The application of high-strength, high-modulus carbon fiber with excellent properties such as high modulus, conductivity, and thermal conductivity has been increasingly widespread in aerospace flight, deep space exploration, and near-space vehicles. In recent years, with the continuous enhancement of functional requirements for products in these domains, there is a growing need to optimize the typical structure of such carbon fibers to enhance their load-bearing capacity. Therefore, in this study, we first conducted basic mechanical performance tests on specimens of T1100/5405 composite materials to obtain fundamental mechanical performance parameters of the material. Subsequently, compression and bending performance tests were performed on a typical hat-shaped structure to understand its actual load-bearing capacity and failure modes. The results indicate that the compressive failure load and bending failure load of the hat-shaped structure are 474.44 kN and 27.365 kN, respectively. Additionally, by combining the fundamental mechanical performance parameters of the composite material, the mechanical performance of the hat-shaped structure was simulated and verified using finite element analysis software, with the model validated using experimental data. Finally, layering parameters of the established finite element model were optimized, resulting in an increase of the structure’s load-bearing capacity under compression and bending loads to 662.629 kN and 31.9059 kN, respectively. In conclusion, the optimization approach presented in this paper for the T1100/5405 composite material’s hat-shaped structure is efficient. It yields noticeable improvements, significantly enhancing the load-bearing capacity of the typical structure in various application scenarios.

Two Signaling Modes Are Better than One: Flux-Independent Signaling by Ionotropic Glutamate Receptors Is Coming of Age.

Glutamate is the major excitatory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system. Glutamatergic transmission can be mediated by ionotropic glutamate receptors (iGluRs), which mediate rapid synaptic depolarization that can be associated with Ca2+ entry and activity-dependent change in the strength of synaptic transmission, as well as by metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs), which mediate slower postsynaptic responses through the recruitment of second messenger systems. A wealth of evidence reported over the last three decades has shown that this dogmatic subdivision between iGluRs and mGluRs may not reflect the actual physiological signaling mode of the iGluRs, i.e., α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxasolepropionic acid (AMPA) receptors (AMPAR), kainate receptors (KARs), and N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors (NMDARs). Herein, we review the evidence available supporting the notion that the canonical iGluRs can recruit flux-independent signaling pathways not only in neurons, but also in brain astrocytes and cerebrovascular endothelial cells. Understanding the signaling versatility of iGluRs can exert a profound impact on our understanding of glutamatergic synapses. Furthermore, it may shed light on novel neuroprotective strategies against brain disorders.