Large language model based mutations in genetic improvement.

Ever since the first large language models (LLMs) have become available, both academics and practitioners have used them to aid software engineering tasks. However, little research as yet has been done in combining search-based software engineering (SBSE) and LLMs. In this paper, we evaluate the use of LLMs as mutation operators for genetic improvement (GI), an SBSE approach, to improve the GI search process.

Test-based patch clustering for automatically-generated patches assessment.

Previous studies have shown that Automated Program Repair (apr) techniques suffer from the overfitting problem. Overfitting happens when a patch is run and the test suite does not reveal any error, but the patch actually does not fix the underlying bug or it introduces a new defect that is not covered by the test suite. Therefore, the patches generated by apr tools need to be validated by human programmers, which can be very costly, and prevents apr tool adoption in practice.

Epilogue to the Gerald Maggiora Festschrift: a tribute to an exemplary mentor, colleague, collaborator, and innovator.

In May 2022, JCAMD published a Special Issue in honor of Gerald (Gerry) Maggiora, whose scientific leadership over many decades advanced the fields of computational chemistry and chemoinformatics for drug discovery. Along the way, he has impacted many researchers in both academia and the pharmaceutical industry. In this Epilogue, we explain the origins of the Festschrift and present a series of first-hand vignettes, in approximate chronological sequence, that together paint a picture of this remarkable man.

How do Android developers improve non-functional properties of software?

Nowadays there is an increased pressure on mobile app developers to take non-functional properties into account. An app that is too slow or uses much bandwidth will decrease user satisfaction, and thus can lead to users simply abandoning the app. Although automated software improvement techniques exist for traditional software, these are not as prevalent in the mobile domain.

Piperazine imidazo[1,5-a]quinoxaline ureas as high-affinity GABAA ligands of dual functionality.

A series of imidazo[1,5-a]quinoxaline piperazine ureas appended with a tert-butyl ester side chain at the 3-position was developed. Analogues within this series have high affinity for the gamma-aminobutyric acid A (GABAA)/benzodiazepine receptor complex with efficacies ranging from inverse agonists to full agonists. Many analogues were found to be partial agonists as indicated by [35S]TBPS and Cl- current ratios.