{"id":"https://openalex.org/W7131901203","doi":"https://doi.org/10.48550/arxiv.2602.22538","title":"RAIN-Merging: A Gradient-Free Method to Enhance Instruction Following in Large Reasoning Models with Preserved Thinking Format","display_name":"RAIN-Merging: A Gradient-Free Method to Enhance Instruction Following in Large Reasoning Models with Preserved Thinking Format","publication_year":2026,"publication_date":"2026-02-26","ids":{"openalex":"https://openalex.org/W7131901203","doi":"https://doi.org/10.48550/arxiv.2602.22538"},"language":null,"primary_location":{"id":"pmh:doi:10.48550/arxiv.2602.22538","is_oa":true,"landing_page_url":null,"pdf_url":null,"source":{"id":"https://openalex.org/S4406922384","display_name":"Open MIND","issn_l":null,"issn":null,"is_oa":false,"is_in_doaj":false,"is_core":false,"host_organization":null,"host_organization_name":null,"host_organization_lineage":[],"host_organization_lineage_names":[],"type":"repository"},"license":"publisher-specific-oa","license_id":"https://openalex.org/licenses/publisher-specific-oa","version":"submittedVersion","is_accepted":false,"is_published":false,"raw_source_name":null,"raw_type":"Article"},"type":"preprint","indexed_in":["datacite"],"open_access":{"is_oa":true,"oa_status":"green","oa_url":null,"any_repository_has_fulltext":true},"authorships":[{"author_position":"first","author":{"id":"https://openalex.org/A5046816481","display_name":"Zhehao Huang","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0739-7528"},"institutions":[],"countries":[],"is_corresponding":true,"raw_author_name":"Huang, Zhehao","raw_affiliation_strings":[],"raw_orcid":null,"affiliations":[]},{"author_position":"middle","author":{"id":"https://openalex.org/A5127189344","display_name":"Yuhang Liu","orcid":null},"institutions":[],"countries":[],"is_corresponding":false,"raw_author_name":"Liu, Yuhang","raw_affiliation_strings":[],"raw_orcid":null,"affiliations":[]},{"author_position":"middle","author":{"id":"https://openalex.org/A5127266410","display_name":"Baijiong Lin","orcid":null},"institutions":[],"countries":[],"is_corresponding":false,"raw_author_name":"Lin, Baijiong","raw_affiliation_strings":[],"raw_orcid":null,"affiliations":[]},{"author_position":"middle","author":{"id":"https://openalex.org/A5077214461","display_name":"Yixin Lou","orcid":null},"institutions":[],"countries":[],"is_corresponding":false,"raw_author_name":"Lou, Yixin","raw_affiliation_strings":[],"raw_orcid":null,"affiliations":[]},{"author_position":"middle","author":{"id":"https://openalex.org/A5016267871","display_name":"Zhengbao He","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3986-6162"},"institutions":[],"countries":[],"is_corresponding":false,"raw_author_name":"He, Zhengbao","raw_affiliation_strings":[],"raw_orcid":null,"affiliations":[]},{"author_position":"middle","author":{"id":"https://openalex.org/A5127280664","display_name":"Hanling Tian","orcid":null},"institutions":[],"countries":[],"is_corresponding":false,"raw_author_name":"Tian, Hanling","raw_affiliation_strings":[],"raw_orcid":null,"affiliations":[]},{"author_position":"middle","author":{"id":"https://openalex.org/A5127317532","display_name":"Tao Li","orcid":null},"institutions":[],"countries":[],"is_corresponding":false,"raw_author_name":"Li, Tao","raw_affiliation_strings":[],"raw_orcid":null,"affiliations":[]},{"author_position":"last","author":{"id":"https://openalex.org/A5127104312","display_name":"Xiaolin Huang","orcid":null},"institutions":[],"countries":[],"is_corresponding":false,"raw_author_name":"Huang, Xiaolin","raw_affiliation_strings":[],"raw_orcid":null,"affiliations":[]}],"institutions":[],"countries_distinct_count":0,"institutions_distinct_count":8,"corresponding_author_ids":["https://openalex.org/A5046816481"],"corresponding_institution_ids":[],"apc_list":null,"apc_paid":null,"fwci":null,"has_fulltext":false,"cited_by_count":0,"citation_normalized_percentile":null,"cited_by_percentile_year":null,"biblio":{"volume":null,"issue":null,"first_page":null,"last_page":null},"is_retracted":false,"is_paratext":false,"is_xpac":false,"primary_topic":{"id":"https://openalex.org/T11714","display_name":"Multimodal Machine Learning Applications","score":0.34389999508857727,"subfield":{"id":"https://openalex.org/subfields/1707","display_name":"Computer Vision and Pattern Recognition"},"field":{"id":"https://openalex.org/fields/17","display_name":"Computer Science"},"domain":{"id":"https://openalex.org/domains/3","display_name":"Physical Sciences"}},"topics":[{"id":"https://openalex.org/T11714","display_name":"Multimodal Machine Learning Applications","score":0.34389999508857727,"subfield":{"id":"https://openalex.org/subfields/1707","display_name":"Computer Vision and Pattern Recognition"},"field":{"id":"https://openalex.org/fields/17","display_name":"Computer Science"},"domain":{"id":"https://openalex.org/domains/3","display_name":"Physical Sciences"}},{"id":"https://openalex.org/T12026","display_name":"Explainable Artificial Intelligence (XAI)","score":0.12200000137090683,"subfield":{"id":"https://openalex.org/subfields/1702","display_name":"Artificial Intelligence"},"field":{"id":"https://openalex.org/fields/17","display_name":"Computer Science"},"domain":{"id":"https://openalex.org/domains/3","display_name":"Physical Sciences"}},{"id":"https://openalex.org/T10028","display_name":"Topic Modeling","score":0.05260000005364418,"subfield":{"id":"https://openalex.org/subfields/1702","display_name":"Artificial Intelligence"},"field":{"id":"https://openalex.org/fields/17","display_name":"Computer Science"},"domain":{"id":"https://openalex.org/domains/3","display_name":"Physical Sciences"}}],"keywords":[{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/task","display_name":"Task (project management)","score":0.7139000296592712},{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/projection","display_name":"Projection (relational algebra)","score":0.5325000286102295},{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/linear-subspace","display_name":"Linear subspace","score":0.5009999871253967},{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/key","display_name":"Key (lock)","score":0.4778999984264374},{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/principal","display_name":"Principal (computer security)","score":0.45590001344680786},{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/calibration","display_name":"Calibration","score":0.43529999256134033},{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/case-based-reasoning","display_name":"Case-based reasoning","score":0.42489999532699585},{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/qualitative-reasoning","display_name":"Qualitative reasoning","score":0.3903000056743622},{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/analytic-reasoning","display_name":"Analytic reasoning","score":0.38760000467300415}],"concepts":[{"id":"https://openalex.org/C41008148","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q21198","display_name":"Computer science","level":0,"score":0.7228999733924866},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C2780451532","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q759676","display_name":"Task (project management)","level":2,"score":0.7139000296592712},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C57493831","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q3134666","display_name":"Projection (relational algebra)","level":2,"score":0.5325000286102295},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C12362212","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q728435","display_name":"Linear subspace","level":2,"score":0.5009999871253967},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C26517878","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q228039","display_name":"Key (lock)","level":2,"score":0.4778999984264374},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C154945302","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q11660","display_name":"Artificial intelligence","level":1,"score":0.4731999933719635},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C144559511","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q2986279","display_name":"Principal (computer security)","level":2,"score":0.45590001344680786},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C165838908","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q736777","display_name":"Calibration","level":2,"score":0.43529999256134033},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C20162079","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1151406","display_name":"Case-based reasoning","level":2,"score":0.42489999532699585},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C83725634","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q7268699","display_name":"Qualitative reasoning","level":2,"score":0.3903000056743622},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C103057564","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q4751139","display_name":"Analytic reasoning","level":3,"score":0.38760000467300415},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C89288958","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q7301504","display_name":"Reasoning system","level":2,"score":0.3799000084400177},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C2778572836","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q380933","display_name":"Space (punctuation)","level":2,"score":0.36970001459121704},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C204321447","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q30642","display_name":"Natural language processing","level":1,"score":0.3522000014781952},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C2777034806","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q7250356","display_name":"Proportional reasoning","level":2,"score":0.34860000014305115},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C91682802","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q620538","display_name":"Multidimensional scaling","level":2,"score":0.3440000116825104},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C99844830","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q102441924","display_name":"Scaling","level":2,"score":0.3352999985218048},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C119857082","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q2539","display_name":"Machine learning","level":1,"score":0.29760000109672546},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C175154964","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q380077","display_name":"Task analysis","level":3,"score":0.2955000102519989},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C195344581","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q2555318","display_name":"Automated reasoning","level":2,"score":0.29170000553131104},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C33676613","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q13415176","display_name":"Dimension (graph theory)","level":2,"score":0.2702000141143799},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C175694140","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q980329","display_name":"Orthographic projection","level":2,"score":0.26649999618530273},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C107848011","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q4680756","display_name":"Adaptive reasoning","level":4,"score":0.2653000056743622},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C97364631","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q484284","display_name":"Deductive reasoning","level":2,"score":0.257099986076355},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C37335422","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q6888134","display_name":"Model-based reasoning","level":3,"score":0.2547000050544739}],"mesh":[],"locations_count":2,"locations":[{"id":"pmh:doi:10.48550/arxiv.2602.22538","is_oa":true,"landing_page_url":null,"pdf_url":null,"source":{"id":"https://openalex.org/S4406922384","display_name":"Open MIND","issn_l":null,"issn":null,"is_oa":false,"is_in_doaj":false,"is_core":false,"host_organization":null,"host_organization_name":null,"host_organization_lineage":[],"host_organization_lineage_names":[],"type":"repository"},"license":"publisher-specific-oa","license_id":"https://openalex.org/licenses/publisher-specific-oa","version":"submittedVersion","is_accepted":false,"is_published":false,"raw_source_name":null,"raw_type":"Article"},{"id":"doi:10.48550/arxiv.2602.22538","is_oa":true,"landing_page_url":"https://doi.org/10.48550/arxiv.2602.22538","pdf_url":null,"source":{"id":"https://openalex.org/S4306400194","display_name":"arXiv (Cornell University)","issn_l":null,"issn":null,"is_oa":true,"is_in_doaj":false,"is_core":false,"host_organization":"https://openalex.org/I205783295","host_organization_name":"Cornell University","host_organization_lineage":["https://openalex.org/I205783295"],"host_organization_lineage_names":[],"type":"repository"},"license":null,"license_id":null,"version":null,"is_accepted":false,"is_published":null,"raw_source_name":null,"raw_type":"article"}],"best_oa_location":{"id":"pmh:doi:10.48550/arxiv.2602.22538","is_oa":true,"landing_page_url":null,"pdf_url":null,"source":{"id":"https://openalex.org/S4406922384","display_name":"Open MIND","issn_l":null,"issn":null,"is_oa":false,"is_in_doaj":false,"is_core":false,"host_organization":null,"host_organization_name":null,"host_organization_lineage":[],"host_organization_lineage_names":[],"type":"repository"},"license":"publisher-specific-oa","license_id":"https://openalex.org/licenses/publisher-specific-oa","version":"submittedVersion","is_accepted":false,"is_published":false,"raw_source_name":null,"raw_type":"Article"},"sustainable_development_goals":[],"awards":[],"funders":[],"has_content":{"grobid_xml":false,"pdf":false},"content_urls":null,"referenced_works_count":0,"referenced_works":[],"related_works":[],"abstract_inverted_index":{"Large":[0],"reasoning":[1,10,118,124,149,179,191],"models":[2],"(LRMs)":[3],"excel":[4],"at":[5,140],"a":[6,64,106,122,153],"long":[7],"chain":[8],"of":[9,137],"but":[11],"often":[12],"fail":[13],"to":[14,162,203],"faithfully":[15],"follow":[16],"instructions":[17],"regarding":[18],"output":[19,83],"format,":[20],"constraints,":[21],"or":[22],"specific":[23],"requirements.":[24],"We":[25,97],"investigate":[26],"whether":[27],"this":[28],"gap":[29],"can":[30],"be":[31],"closed":[32],"by":[33],"integrating":[34],"an":[35,40],"instruction-tuned":[36],"model":[37,198],"(ITM)":[38],"into":[39],"LRM.":[41],"Analyzing":[42],"their":[43,54],"differences":[44],"in":[45,206],"parameter":[46],"space,":[47],"namely":[48],"task":[49,131],"vectors,":[50],"we":[51,71,127,158],"find":[52],"that":[53,74,109,166],"principal":[55],"subspaces":[56],"are":[57,77,195],"nearly":[58],"orthogonal":[59],"across":[60,197],"key":[61],"modules,":[62],"suggesting":[63],"lightweight":[65],"merging":[66],"with":[67,121],"minimal":[68],"interference.":[69],"However,":[70],"also":[72],"demonstrate":[73],"naive":[75],"merges":[76],"fragile":[78],"because":[79],"they":[80],"overlook":[81],"the":[82,129,134,146],"format":[84,116],"mismatch":[85],"between":[86],"LRMs":[87],"(with":[88],"explicit":[89],"thinking":[90,115,141],"and":[91,94,117,170,177,200],"response":[92],"segments)":[93],"ITMs":[95],"(answers-only).":[96],"introduce":[98],"RAIN-Merging":[99,184],"(Reasoning-Aware":[100],"Instruction-attention":[101],"guided":[102],"Null-space":[103],"projection":[104],"Merging),":[105],"gradient-free":[107],"method":[108],"integrates":[110],"instruction":[111,155,160,187],"following":[112],"while":[113,189],"preserving":[114],"performance.":[119],"First,":[120],"small":[123,154],"calibration":[125,156],"set,":[126,157],"project":[128],"ITM":[130],"vector":[132],"onto":[133],"null":[135],"space":[136],"forward":[138],"features":[139],"special":[142],"tokens,":[143],"which":[144],"preserves":[145],"LRM's":[147],"structured":[148],"mechanisms.":[150],"Second,":[151],"using":[152],"estimate":[159],"attention":[161],"derive":[163],"module-specific":[164],"scaling":[165],"amplifies":[167],"instruction-relevant":[168],"components":[169],"suppresses":[171],"leakage.":[172],"Across":[173],"four":[174],"instruction-following":[175],"benchmarks":[176],"nine":[178],"&amp;":[180],"general":[181],"capability":[182],"benchmarks,":[183],"substantially":[185],"improves":[186],"adherence":[188],"maintaining":[190],"quality.":[192],"The":[193],"gains":[194],"consistent":[196],"scales":[199],"architectures,":[201],"translating":[202],"improved":[204],"performance":[205],"agent":[207],"settings.":[208]},"counts_by_year":[],"updated_date":"2026-05-05T08:41:31.759640","created_date":"2026-02-28T00:00:00"}
