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Primer to get you started with Optimization and Mathematical Programming in R #rstats

CRAN Task View: Optimization and Mathematical Programming
This CRAN Task View contains a list of packages that offer facilities for solving optimization problems. Although every regression model in statistics solves an optimization problem, they are not part of this view. If you are looking for regression methods, the following views will also contain useful starting points: MachineLearning, Econometrics, Robust Packages are categorized according to the following sections. See also the “Related Links” and “Other Resources” sections at the end.

IFDECORATOR: Wrapping Instruction Following Reinforcement Learning with Verifiable Rewards
Xu Guo, Tianyi Liang, Tong Jian, Xiaogui Yang, Ling-I Wu, Chenhui Li, Zhihui Lu, Qipeng Guo, Kai Chen
https://arxiv.org/abs/2508.04632

IFDECORATOR: Wrapping Instruction Following Reinforcement Learning with Verifiable Rewards
Reinforcement Learning with Verifiable Rewards (RLVR) improves instruction following capabilities of large language models (LLMs), but suffers from training inefficiency due to inadequate difficulty assessment. Moreover, RLVR is prone to over-optimization, where LLMs exploit verification shortcuts without aligning to the actual intent of user instructions. We introduce Instruction Following Decorator (IFDecorator}, a framework that wraps RLVR training into a robust and sample-efficient pipeline…

Sources: EchoStar is considering filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy to protect its valuable wireless spectrum licenses from potential revocation by the FCC (Wall Street Journal)
https://www.wsj.com/articles/echosta…

Spyware maker cuts ties with Italy after government refused audit into hack of journalist’s phone https://therecord.media/paragon-spyware-maker-cuts-ties-italy-government

Sources: EchoStar is considering filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy to protect its valuable wireless spectrum licenses from potential revocation by the FCC (Wall Street Journal)
https://www.wsj.com/articles/echosta…

Faster Estimation of the Average Degree of a Graph Using Random Edges and Structural Queries
Lorenzo Beretta, Deeparnab Chakrabarty, C. Seshadhri
https://arxiv.org/abs/2507.06925 …

Faster Estimation of the Average Degree of a Graph Using Random Edges and Structural Queries
We revisit the problem of designing sublinear algorithms for estimating the average degree of an $n$-vertex graph. The standard access model for graphs allows for the following queries: sampling a uniform random vertex, the degree of a vertex, sampling a uniform random neighbor of a vertex, and ``pair queries'' which determine if a pair of vertices form an edge. In this model, original results [Goldreich-Ron, RSA 2008; Eden-Ron-Seshadhri, SIDMA 2019] on this problem prove that the complexity of…

#EroticMusings Week 6 (July 6-12) Setting: Do you prefer to work with constrained settings or expansive? Revisit locations or move on?
Expansive locations, with some recurring. I want to evoke a sense of familiarity and homecoming - describing a place for the second, third, fourth time giving the reader a cozy feeling of having been there so often, that every part of the place is kn…

Change Data Capture is a powerful technique enabling organisations to respond to real-time data changes. At Berlin Buzzwords, Muhammet Orazov explored FlinkCDC, a component of Apache Flink and discussed how it uses Flink's robust stream processing capabilities to provide a CDC pattern.
Watch the full session: https://

Filing: VOA Director Michael Abramowitz has been fired after refusing what he called an "illegal" reassignment to run a broadcasting station in North Carolina (Scott Nover/Washington Post)
https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2025/08/04/voa-abramowit…

VOA director fired after declining reassignment to low-level post
Kari Lake tried to dispatch Michael Abramowitz to North Carolina. When he refused, she fired him.