Intermediate Type Research Articles

Design and analysis of thickened acoustic phase reversal Fresnel lens with high-focusing performance

ABSTRACT The accurate measurement of the contact stress of an aero-engine rotor mating surface is crucial for aviation safety. The focusing performance of ultrasonic lenses directly determines the accuracy of contact stress measurement. Phase reversal Fresnel zone plate (PR-FZP) is a new ultrasonic focusing lens suitable for contact stress measurement. A thickened phase reversal Fresnel zone lens (TPR-FZL) is proposed to improve the concentration ability. The lens replaces the path of sound waves travelling through the liquid with the Fresnel lens material, which reduces the energy loss of sound waves in the liquid and the interface of different materials, thus increasing the focus sound energy. The results showed that TPR-FZL, made of polymethyl pentene (PMP) and polyethene (PE), had relatively higher focal sound intensity. The larger the diameter of the piezoelectric plate, the stronger the focusing ability of TPR-FZL. When the material of TPR-FZL is PMP, the diameter of the piezoelectric plate of the transducer is 25 mm, TPR-FZL is the intermediate transmission type, and the thickness of the body is 35 mm, the focusing ability of TPR-FZL is the strongest. This study is of great significance for accurately measuring the contact stress on the mating surface of aero-engine rotors.

Differences in target organ damage in individuals with intermediate hyperglycemia and type 2 diabetes identified by 1-hour plasma glucose during an oral glucose tolerance test

Aims: The International Diabetes Federation (IDF) has recently recommended determination of 1-hour glucose during an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) to diagnose intermediate hyperglycemia (IH) and type 2 diabetes (T2D). Herein, we investigated the implications of IDF recommendation for characterizing the risk of cardiovascular target organ damage including left ventricular mass normalized by body surface area (LVM index [LVMI]), and myocardial mechano-energetic efficiency normalized by LVM (MEEi) in individuals with IH and T2D. Methods: LVMI, and MEEi were assessed in 1847 adults classified on the basis of fasting, 1-hour and 2- hour glucose during an OGTT according to the IDF recommendation as having normal glucose tolerance (NGT, n = 736), isolated impaired fasting glucose (iIFG, n = 105), IH (n = 676), and newly diagnosed T2D (n = 330). Results: As compared with NGT group, individuals with either IH or T2D exhibited significantly higher LVMI (97 ± 26, 109 ± 30, and 116 ± g/m2, P < 0.001, respectively), and a decrease in MEEi (0.42 ± 0.11, 0.37 ± 0.10, and 0.35 ± 0.11 ml/sec*g-1, P < 0.001, respectively). LVMI, and MEEi did not differ between NGT and iIFG groups. Conclusion: The thresholds of 1-hour post-load glucose proposed by IDF as diagnostic criteria for IH and T2D are capable of detecting individuals at risk of cardiovascular target organ damage.

Co-occurrence of Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease type 1 and glomerulosclerosis in a patient with a de novo INF2 variant

BackgroundRenal disease is associated with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT), a common inherited neurological disorder. Three forms of CMT have been identified: CMT1 of the demyelinating type, CMT2 of the axonal defect type, and intermediate type (Int-CMT). INF2 is an important target for variants that cause the complex symptoms of focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) and CMT.Case presentationWe report the case of a 13-year-old female Chinese patient (born in 2011) with a rare co-occurrence of CMT1 and glomerulosclerosis (GS) (CMT1-GS). The patient presented with slowly progressive gait disorder with unsteadiness during walking, pes cavus, and kyphoscoliosis since the age of 1 year. Electrophysiological studies and brain magnetic resonance imaging revealed demyelinating features consistent with CMT1. At 12 years of age, she was hospitalised for hypertension and dizziness; her serum albumin was 27.9 g/L, serum creatinine was 87 μmol/L, estimated glomerular filtration rate was 88.6 mL/min, and 24-h urine protein was 4.95 g. A renal biopsy showed glomerulosclerosis. Renal function deteriorated further during the follow-up period, and she received a kidney transplant at the age of 13. Whole-exome sequencing identified a de novo heterozygous c.326T > G (p.Met109Arg) variant in exon 2 of INF2. The variant was classified as “pathogenic” according to the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics criteria.ConclusionsWe describe a rare clinical phenotype of CMT1-GS associated with a de novo variant of INF2. Our findings expand the phenotypic and genotypic spectrums of INF2-associated disorders.

A comparative morphology of trichobothrial bases in araneoid spiders and its significance for the phylogeny and system of the superfamily Araneoidea (Arachnida, Araneae).

Bothrial morphology was studied by SEM in 137 araneoid genera representing all 22 currently recognized extant families and all 42 conventional subfamilies of the Araneoidea. The ancestral type in the superfamily Araneoidea is a 'hooded' bothrium with a single well-developed transverse ridge, dividing its proximal and distal plates ('Erigone-type'); the advanced type is a solid dome-like bothrium without vestiges of the ridge ('Theridion-type'); there are several intermediate types reflecting various pathways and stages of the ridge reduction (united here as 'Argiope-type'). The parallel trends in bothrial evolution, recognized as continuous series from the ancestral type up to the advanced one through some intermediate stages, are distinguished in each of the seven main phylogenetic lineages of the superfamily: 'tetragnathoids', 'araneoids', 'cyatholipoids', and 'theridioids' possess a complete set of the three types, while 'malkariods', 'symphytognathoids'. and 'linyphioids' lack the advanced, dome-like type ('Theridion-type'). Only three taxa have been proposed earlier as the sister group of the superfamily Araneoidea: Nicodamoidea, Deinopoidea, and Leptonetoidea; morphology of bothria, as well as other cuticular microstructures, clearly supports the araneoid-nicodamoid relationship hypothesis, purely 'molecular' to date. Bothrial morphology provides the additional arguments for several taxonomic acts, e.g., for the reranking the Agnarsson's (2004) 'clade 35' (Theonoe, Carniella, Robertus, and Pholcomma) up to the Theonoeinae Simon, 1894, stat. nov., and for the revalidation the micropholcommatid Plectochetos Butler, 1932, gen. revalid. and zygiellid Parazygiella Wunderlich, 2004, gen. revalid.

Exploring the relationships between chronotypes, attachment styles, and mental health in flight attendants

ABSTRACT Circadian rhythm-related individual differences such as chronotypes (morningness/eveningness) are associated with mental health though not elucidated in circadian-disrupted populations such as flight attendants. International flight attendants (n = 288) aged 21 to 55 (70.8% female, 76.4% white) completed an online survey assessing chronotypes, attachment, depression, and anxiety to investigate the associations between these variables. Results showed a prevalence of intermediate (41.6%) and evening types (40.6%). Evening chronotype was associated with and significantly predicted depression but not anxiety. Individuals who scored higher in attachment anxiety or avoidance had higher levels of depression and anxiety. Exploratory mediation showed that attachment avoidance partially mediated the relationship between anxiety and depression. Overall, chronotypes and attachment are implied as transdiagnostic factors for mental health outcomes and highlighted using a Chrono-Attachment Health Model. Further research is needed to confirm these findings among flight attendants and shift workers.

Application and evaluation knitted electrodes for body signal measurement using adhesive intermediate electrode

Textile electrode is capable of measuring the myoelectric potentials of skeletal muscles such as electromyography (EMG), owing to their outstanding low weight, flexibility, breathability, and comfort properties. Nonetheless, textile surfaces often exhibit intermittent adhesion between the electrode surface and the skin, which can result in fluctuations in electrical resistivity due to the inherent characteristics of textiles. This study aimed to suggest the solutions to improve adhesive of textile electrode for the improvement of electrode performance with high quality signal by minimizing these intermittent contacts. For this, an adhesive intermediate, two different conductive materials, between the skin and the textile electrode was introduced to improve the instability skin contact, respectively. To assess the impact of various adhesive intermediates on knitted electrodes, two different types of adhesive intermediates were utilized: a conductive hydrogel-based adhesive intermediate and a conductive paste-based adhesive intermediate. Moreover, the durability of knitted electrodes with adhesive intermediate was evaluated by assessing the changes of signal quality during drying time for 180 min. As a results of sEMG measurement, it was confirmed that the sEMG signal was stably detecting by applying the adhesive intermediate. Both types of adhesive intermediate significantly increased the signal acquisition performance of knitted electrodes by more than threefold. After five washing cycle, the knitted electrodes with two types of adhesive intermediate maintained approximately 80% of their initial SNR values. Therefore, the use of the adhesive intermediate presented in this study not only improves the performance of the electrode but also ensures reusability.

On the Nature of Digital Rights and Low-volatile Digital Currencies

The article discusses topical issues related to the nature of tokens. First, the author pays attention to the proximity of the legal nature of tokens to uncertified securities, which are also a mechanism for accounting for property rights, and not an independent type of property right. Secondly, the author resorts to a comparative legal method when studying the institute and points to the existence of a mechanism for creating digital forms of certification of property pairs in France and Germany. Thirdly, the article contains special interpreted phrases “without reference to a third party” of article 141.1, paragraph 1, of the Civil Code of the Russian Federation, which does not impose prohibitions on any types of intermediation in the market of tokens. Fourthly, the article analyzes the ratio of low-volatile digital currencies to tokens, indicates the difference in their legal nature.

Clinicopathological features of epithelioid hemangioma of 43 patients with long-term follow-up: A two-center retrospective study.

Epithelioid hemangioma (EH) is a rare angioproliferative disorder for which histopathology is the main approach to diagnosis. The tendency to recur is of concern to clinicians and patients. The factors associated with recurrence have been sporadically reported and a large-scale cohort study has been lacking. This study aims to investigate the clinicopathological characteristics and long-term clinical outcomes of EH patients from two tertiary care hospitals. A two-center retrospective cohort study of 43 patients with a diagnosis of EH between 2013 and 2023 was evaluated at follow-up. A comprehensive and detailed review of clinical and pathological data with long-term follow-up was performed. Information on prognosis was available for 43, and 8 (8/43, 18.6%) experienced local recurrence. Facial (Cramer's V = 0.405, P = 0.029) and multiple (relative risk [RR] 4.306, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.213, 15.282, Phi = 0.369, P = 0.016) lesions, subcutaneous involvement (RR 5.063, 95% CI 1.157, 22.151, Phi = 0.374, P = 0.014), and the presence of lymphoid follicles (RR 9.750, 95% CI 3.853, 24.671, Phi = 0.670, P < 0.001) were associated with higher recurrence rates. According to the presence or absence of well-differentiated angiogenesis, EH can be pathologically classified into vascular, cellular, and intermediate types, while the depth, degree, and pattern of inflammation, tissue eosinophilia, eosinophilic microabscesses, and hobnail endothelial cells differed significantly between cellular and vascular types. The characteristics of EH are distinguished by different pathological subtypes. This study provides insight into the clinicopathological features and outcome of EH to assist clinicians in the diagnosis and management of this rare condition.

Different Pathways of Skin Aging: Objective Instrumental Evaluation.

Background/Objectives: Hypertrophic and atrophic skin aging represent two distinct phenotypes: hypertrophic aging is marked by deep wrinkles and a leathery texture, whereas atrophic aging is characterized by overall skin thinning, increased vascularity, and a higher risk of non-melanoma skin cancers. This study aims to elucidate the characteristics and differences between hypertrophic and atrophic facial aging subtypes using two non-invasive imaging devices: VISIA® and dynamic optical coherence tomography (D-OCT). Methods: We retrospectively evaluated patients who had presented to the outpatient dermatological clinic at Policlinico Umberto I hospital in Rome, Italy for a non-invasive facial imaging check-up. We included 40 patients aged 60-75 who were imaged with VISIA® and dynamic optical coherence tomography (D-OCT). Based on the number of UV spots and amount of red found on VISIA®, subjects were grouped into four subgroups (PIGM, RED, CONTROL, PIGM + RED), and trends among them were analyzed. Results: We found a strong correlation between VISIA® red area scores and D-OCT vascular density at 300 µm depth, confirming VISIA®'s effectiveness for assessing facial vascularity. Wrinkle count was highest in areas with UV spots, particularly in the PIGM and PIGM + RED groups. Conversely, low attenuation coefficients and dermal density were observed in regions with low UV spots but high red areas. Intermediate subgroups (CONTROL and PIGM + RED) displayed varying parameters. Conclusions: Non-invasive imaging devices are effective in evaluating facial aging and distinguishing between aging subtypes. This study identified two intermediate aging types in addition to the hypertrophic and atrophic subtypes.

Computational Analysis of Flow Around Two Wall-Mounted Trapezoidal Bluff Bodies Arranged in Tandem Position

Abstract Flow around two identical wall-mounted trapezoidal bluff bodies, arranged in tandem, is numerically investigated at a Reynolds number of 750,000. The investigation employs Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes (RANS) equations and the k–ω SST turbulence model. The effect due to the change of the angular orientation of the inclined faces (α) of this bluff body and the pitch distance (L/D) on hydrodynamic quantities and turbulence quantities is investigated. Furthermore, the drag coefficient and Strouhal number have also been evaluated to understand the vortex shedding and flow pattern-related phenomena. For d and intermediate types of bluff bodies, the streamwise mean velocity, cross-stream mean velocity, turbulence kinetic energy, and recirculation length decrease with the increase of α or L/D. Significant changes are also observed in the case of Strouhal number. Reduction in drag coefficient and recirculation length is observed with increased L/D at a constant α for d-type bluff bodies. The change of α and L/D also creates the formation of a periodic von Kármán vortex street at downstream of the second bluff body in the case of L/D = 7, making the flows more complex and unstable. The maximum size of the recirculation bubble occurs in the case of L/D = 10 at α = 30 deg. The investigation provides valuable insight into the complex dynamics of tandem configurations of wall-mounted bluff bodies.

Comparison of chronotype and learning motivation in medical university students

BackgroundPeople differ in their preferred time for intellectual activities. Morningness-eveningness preferences describe the preferred time for performing daily activities and are determined by chronotype. Chronotype reflects circadian preference in humans and is divided into morning, intermediate, and evening types. Learning motivation is a key predictor of student success and may influence learning and study, academic performance, intention to continue medical research, and well-being. Helping students develop learning motivation may improve their educational achievement and health. There are opposing studies regarding chronotype and academic achievement. We hypothesized that chronotype affects the learning motivation of medical school students.MethodsWe used the reduced Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire (rMEQ), and the Motivated Strategies for Learning Questionnaire (MSLQ) for Russian, Polish, Japanese, and Australian students in the first and second years of medical university. A total of 540 medical students answered the questionnaires. The MSLQ contains six subscales: intrinsic goal orientation, extrinsic goal orientation, self-efficacy for learning and performance, control of learning beliefs, task value, and test anxiety.ResultsThe rMEQ was used to classify the students into three types, which were morning (26.7%), intermediate (60.5%), or evening chronotypes (12.7%) based on their scores. The learning motivation scores for the intrinsic and extrinsic goal orientations, task value, and self-efficacy were lower in evening chronotypes.ConclusionsOur findings suggest that the evening chronotype had a lower learning motivation than the morning chronotype. Evening-oriented students may need a more flexible schedule, and a shift of the most important courses in the university to the afternoon may help them to attain higher motivation for learning medicine.

FeOx-carbon composite-based catalytic degradation of bisphenol-A in heterogeneous Fenton system: Structure regulation mechanism of different Fe precursors and natural organic acids

Bisphenol A (BPA) is ubiquitous in the environment and can cause human health risks; therefore, its efficient removal from the environment is an essential issue. Catalytic degradation of BPA in heterogeneous Fenton oxidation system (HFO) is of great concern; however, trials for improving the reactivity of HFO are needed. The impacts of Fe precursors and crystalline structure of Fe oxides on the reactivity of FeOx-based carbon composites (FeCC) and their efficient catalytic degradation of BPA have not yet been explored. Also, the promoting effect of different natural organic acids (NOAs) on the degradation mechanisms of BPA using FeCC in HFO has not yet been verified. Therefore, five FeOx-carbon (biochar; BC) composites i.e. FeCl3@BC, FeCl2@BC, FeNO3@BC, Fe2(SO4)3@BC, and FeSO4@BC derived from different Fe salt (e.g. FeCl3, FeCl2, FeNO3, Fe2(SO4)3, and FeSO4, respectively) were prepared, characterized using advanced techniques, and used as catalysts for BPA degradation in HFO, as affected by NOAs addition. FeCl3@BC showed the highest BPA degradation efficiency (＞99.9 %), within 1 min; while it was <20 %, within 10 min, for all FeCC, particularly FeSO4@BC (<10 %). BPA degradation using FeCl3@BC was ＞ 99.9 % at pH = 3, 38.5 % at pH = 5, and <1.0 % at pH = 7–9. Addition of NOAs significantly improved the efficiency of FeSO4@BC for BPA degradation under a wide range of pH (3–9). The complexation and reduction capacities of NOAs significantly promoted the Fe3+/Fe2+ cycle, improving the degradation efficiency of BPA. Four types of reaction intermediates (C15H16O3, C15H16O4, C9H12O3, C9H10O4) were generated during degradation. This work sheds lights on development of FeCC for BPA catalytic degradation.

Microfinance Providers and Rural Lending in the Province of Carniola Before 1914: a Case Study of the District Credit Cooperative Litija

The study provides new insights and compares two different types of microfinance intermediaries and their role and impact on the economic and financial situation of the rural population before the beginning of World War I. The abolition of serfdom in the Habsburg monarchy in 1848 had a significant impact on traditional life in the second half of the 19th century. Peasants became landowners, and their participation in the market and monetary economy became crucial. The development of microfinance intermediaries, such as savings banks and credit cooperatives, was essential for the financial inclusion of the rural population. The article shows the development of credit operations in a rural environment using the example of the District Credit Cooperative Litija.

An evaluation of sleep quality and nutritional status in nurses with different chronotypes

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of shift work on the sleep quality and nutritional status of nurses with different chronotypes. The study was designed to include 21 people from each chronotype and was completed with 60 participants. The participants were asked to record their food consumption during three different types of shifts they worked over a period of three days. We found that the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) score of the evening types was higher than that of the morning types (p < 0.05). The evening types had significantly higher weight, BMI, waist circumference, hip circumference, waist-to-height ratio and neck circumference measurements than the morning types (p < 0.05). The daily energy, fat and SFA intakes of the morning types were significantly higher for those working 16:00–08:00 and 08:00–08:00 compared to those working 08:00–16:00 (p < 0.05). The highest carbohydrate intake was between 08:00–08:00. The amount of carbohydrate, energy and SFA consumed by the intermediate types between 08:00 and 08:00 was significantly higher than that consumed between 08:00 and 16:00. Chronotype and shift hours should also be taken into account when developing nutrition plans for participants who work shifts.

Contribution of the arterial cells to atherosclerosis and plaque formation.

Atherosclerosis is commonly known as an inflammatory disease that is characterized by lipid deposition in the arterial wall, causing gradual restriction or complete blockade of blood flow, which can cause complications such as myocardial infarction, stroke, or peripheral artery disease. Several factors contribute to initiation and progression of atherosclerotic plaque formation. The role of macrophages and leukocytes in atherosclerosis has been well explored. Here, we provide an overview of what has been reported on the role and impact of the arterial cells on plaque formation, and vice versa. The atherogenic environment can trigger transformation and dedifferentiation of the endothelial cells (ECs), smooth muscle cells, and fibroblasts (FBs) whereby they can either directly contribute to plaque formation or influence its composition. Recent studies have demonstrated the plasticity in the identity of the arterial cells, the formation of intermediate cell types that share the characteristics of multiple cell types, and have revealed novel roles and functions for these cells in atherosclerosis. The potential for all vascular cells to cross-transdifferentiate, and detection of cells with mosaic characteristics in the atherosclerotic plaques reveal that the plaque environment is a complex and dynamic environment that could regulate the disease progression independent from the circulating lipid levels. We will also provide an overview on the interplay between sex and atherosclerosis, which has remained an underexplored area.

Interregional Migration of Youth in the Russian Federation

The subject of the study is interregional migration of young people in the Russian Federation during the period of obtaining higher education; The topic of the study is the change in the migration attractiveness of regions for higher education; research hypothesis: there has been a change in the centers of gravity of migration flows and the status of regions from 2017 to 2020 and 2023 due to the impact of the pandemic and government measures to increase the attractiveness of universities in the regions. Source data includes official government statistics for the period from 2017 to 2023. The article identifies limitations on the use of this source (migration of 18-year-olds and migration of 21-year-olds is not identical to direct and return educational migration) and formulates a thesis about the need to use aggregated data of «digital traces» of applicants and graduates and federal information systems. An assessment of changes in the status of regions for 2017, 2020 and 2023 was carried out. The study makes assumptions about the possibility of using tools for objective monitoring of interregional educational migration of applicants to improve the work of universities. It is necessary to concentrate the efforts of the regional authorities of the «donor» region and the regional university community on first obtaining «transit» status for the university and the region, followed by transition to the «acceptor» category. For 2017, the author identified 12 «acceptor» territories, 59 «donor territories» (the rest were mixed and intermediate forms). In 2020, there were only 30 «donors», 12 «acceptors», 37– they reached conditional «balance» positions– this is how the COVID-2019 pandemic affected interregional migration. In 2023, there were 12 «acceptors» in the Russian Federation (the list has changed slightly), the number of «donors» was 46, 21 territories reached a «balance» state, the rest still belong to intermediate types.

Intermediate type cystinosis with a novel CTNS variant in a child: a case report

Cystinosis is a rare lysosomal storage disorder caused by a variant in the CTNS gene that leads to the accumulation of cystine in the body’s tissues. It has been classified into three subtypes based on its clinical presentation: severe infantile nephropathic cystinosis, intermediate mild form, and ocular non-nephropathic adult form. We report a teenage girl who presented with end stage kidney disease as her first presentation and was found to have corneal cystine crystals upon ophthalmic evaluation. Genetic testing confirmed that she has a CTNS variant, a CTNS variant c.520A > C p.(Ser174Arg) never described in the literature previously. Full family genetic screening supported the diagnosis. She was started on oral and ocular cysteamine and maintained on peritoneal dialysis for a few months and eventually underwent a successful deceased donor kidney transplantation. These findings expand the spectrum of CTNS gene variants and highlight the potential of atypical and severe presentations of this variant during adolescence.

Pathophysiological characteristics of subjects with intermediate hyperglycemia and type 2 diabetes identified by 1-hour plasma glucose during an oral glucose tolerance test

AimsThe International Diabetes Federation (IDF) has recently recommended determination of 1-hour plasma glucose (1-hPG) during an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) to diagnose intermediate hyperglycemia (IH) and type 2 diabetes (T2DM). Herein, we investigated the cardiometabolic characteristics of individuals with IH and T2DM according to IDF criteria. MethodsWe studied 3086 individuals stratified on the basis of fasting, 1-hPG and 2-hPG in four groups: 1) normal glucose tolerance (NGT), 2) isolated impaired fasting glucose (iIFG,), 3) IH (fasting glucose < 126 mg/dL, 1-hPG 155–208 mg/dL, and/or 2-hPG 140–199 mg/dL, and 4) newly diagnosed T2DM (fasting glucose, 1-hPG and/or 2-hPG≥126 mg/dL, 209 mg/dL and 200 mg/dL, respectively). ResultsIndividuals with IH and T2DM exhibited higher adiposity, blood pressure, uric acid, a worse lipid and inflammatory profile and a progressive reduction in Matsuda index of insulin sensitivity, insulinogenic index, and disposition index as compared to the NGT group. Moreover, individuals with IH and T2DM exhibited lower Matsuda, insulinogenic, and disposition indexes as compared to the iIFG group. Conclusions1-h PG-based criteria for diagnosis of IH and diabetes identify individuals having an unfavorable cardiometabolic risk profile with a progressive reduction in insulin sensitivity associated with impaired β cell function.

Intermediate spectral statistics of rational triangular quantum billiards.

Triangular billiards whose angles are rational multiples of π are one of the simplest examples of pseudo-integrable models with intriguing classical and quantum properties. We perform an extensive numerical study of spectral statistics of eight quantized rational triangles, six belonging to the family of right-angled Veech triangles and two obtuse rational triangles. Large spectral samples of up to one million energy levels were calculated for each triangle, which permits one to determine their spectral statistics with great accuracy. It is demonstrated that they are of the intermediate type, sharing some features with chaotic systems, like level repulsion, and some with integrable systems, like exponential tails of the level spacing distributions. Another distinctive feature of intermediate spectral statistics is a finite value of the level compressibility. The short-range statistics such as the level spacing distributions, and long-range statistics such as the number variance and spectral form factors were analyzed in detail. An excellent agreement between the numerical data and the model of gamma distributions is revealed.

Signaling under double-crossing preferences: The case of discrete types

The class of double-crossing preferences, where signaling is cheaper for higher types than for lower types at low signaling levels and the opposite is true at high signaling levels, underlines the phenomenon of countersignaling, with intermediate types choosing higher actions than higher and lower types. We provide an algorithm to systematically construct an equilibrium and thus establish equilibrium existence for this general class of preferences with an arbitrary discrete-type distribution. Our analysis sheds light on the connection between discrete-type and continuous-type models and clarifies robust predictions of signaling under double-crossing preferences.