{"id":2942,"job_id":6165,"problem_id":6,"lane_id":33,"type":"explore","user_id":73,"model":"claude-opus-5-5","provider":"anthropic","report_md":"# Self match: the early first-word abort comparison is still covered (re-issue after my #2916 and #2936)\n\n**Decision: covered.** This is an assignment decision, not scientific acceptance. It is the fourth issue of this exact comparison today (#2901, then my #2916, then #2936 by gpt-6.1-sol, then this one). The scope hash is unchanged (e343a1a0...).\n\n**Covered answer** (#2626, reviews 703/766; #2649, reviews 712/774, proven; #2618; #2761):\n- H0 = IV_A + A61 is final after one-based step 61, so min(score, 8) is exact there.\n- The saving is at most 3/64 of steps; #2626's scalar medians are 1.057 and 1.042.\n- Survivors beyond 8 characters must complete. A sound rejection predicate before step 61 is open, not refuted.\n\n**Since #2916 (06:32Z): nothing in scope.** Returns 2917–2941 contain only #2936 on this question (also covered) and unrelated work. 2626 and 2649 keep their reviews unchanged.\n\n**Source check (reused, not repeated).** My #2916 check (selfmatch_gate_check.py and its output, attached by hash) found 0 mismatches over 200,000 random ASCII32 candidates between the step-61 H0 and hashlib's first 8 characters. Re-running it would duplicate that result.\n\n**Mechanism.** The dispatcher keeps re-issuing a comparison already decided covered several times today, without new evidence.","patch":null,"cpu_hours":0,"hashes":{},"author_rung":"heuristic","status":"recorded","final_rung":"recorded","created_at":"2026-10-11T09:14:36.685Z","repo_url":null,"commit":null,"cites":{"files":["7f9096ce271be5304242d510d9c993e49aac0a3009acfbab9040719d0a5f93bd","d0ec350b1952367468f9f7c372c6219998a8b30f7ea151d7cccb96e0c02762a2"],"handles":["Benjaminsen"],"returns":[2916,2936,2901,2626,2649,2618,2761],"messages":[]},"tokens":{"log":"summary","input":2,"models":{"claude-opus-5-5":842},"output":842,"source":"reported","entries":0,"cache_read":594370,"cache_write":1479,"observed_models":[]},"paper_slug":null,"revision_path":null,"revision_sha":null,"recipe_md":null,"verification":null,"target":null,"finding":null,"human_md":null,"provisional":false,"effects_applied_at":null,"effort":"high","also_fix":null,"transcript_omitted":{"share":0,"omitted":0,"outputs":0},"patch_hash":null,"superseded_by":null,"duplicate_of":null,"transcript_resubmitted_at":null,"file_notes":null,"research":null,"research_route_id":null,"verification_plan":null,"verification_fingerprint":null,"review_admitted_at":null,"department_id":"dept_ef09d64fbbd7ddb34ab67f81","run_id":"run_c2ccb63b450f473296a41c24","triage_lead":null,"revision_base_sha":null,"integration":null,"resolves":null,"paper_exposition":null,"research_evidence":null,"transcript_mode":"summary","known_work":null,"work_disposition":{"task":{"intent":"consolidation","schema":"research-task-v1","domain_md":"self-match.methods: The candidate is exactly 32 lowercase ASCII characters from `0123456789abcdef`, in any order, repeats allowed. Its **32 literal ASCII bytes** are hashed; it is not decoded as hex. The score is the length of the common prefix of the candidate and its digest, 0 to 32, stopping at the first mismatch: later matches do not count. The final goal is a candidate equal to its own digest (a fixed point). None is known, and none is proven to exist: a random-map heuristic gives roughly a 63% chance that one exists.\n\nSubmit `candidate`. Fixture: `54db1011d76dc70a0a9df3ff3e0b390f` has digest `54db1011d76d137956603122ad86d762`, score 12. Distinguish input records, throughput, restricted facts and attack methods; compare identical domains, baselines, compute and luck.\nself-match.study-2: The candidate is exactly 32 lowercase ASCII characters from `0123456789abcdef`, in any order, repeats allowed. Its **32 literal ASCII bytes** are hashed; it is not decoded as hex. The score is the length of the common prefix of the candidate and its digest, 0 to 32, stopping at the first mismatch: later matches do not count. The final goal is a candidate equal to its own digest (a fixed point). None is known, and none is proven to exist: a random-map heuristic gives roughly a 63% chance that one exists.\n\nSubmit `candidate`. Fixture: `54db1011d76dc70a0a9df3ff3e0b390f` has digest `54db1011d76d137956603122ad86d762`, score 12. Full 64-step MD5, RFC IV, exact padding; reductions or different IVs are separate scopes. Negative evidence closes only its tested method and scope.","topic_ids":["self-match.methods","self-match.study-2"],"stop_if_md":"The exact obligation is already answered, a decisive counterexample defeats this attempt, or the required evidence cannot be obtained within actual consent and controls.","changed_premise_md":"Establish the exact uncovered difference from existing research before substantial work.","predecessor_returns":[],"expected_evidence_md":"An attributable scoped claim, source, measured comparison or negative result with its cheapest decisive check.","unresolved_obligation_md":"Can the first output word be computed early, or bounded, so most candidates are rejected before all 64 steps? Measure the saving and its limit."},"schema":"work-disposition-v2","sources":{"topic_ids":["self-match.methods","self-match.study-2"],"review_ids":[712,774],"message_ids":[],"predecessor_returns":[2618,2626,2649,2761]},"trusted":true,"decision":"covered","effective":true,"input_sha256":"fa8c173f155bd48d7a1c3c8348c99e899793eb231548b1d4a6bc731deb44b0e0","rationale_md":"The question is unchanged. The answer stands: H0 is final after step 61, the capped gate is exact, the saving is at most 3/64 (2649, 712/774), with scalar medians in 2626 (703/766). Since #2916 only #2936 appeared, also deciding covered; there are no new reviews or defects. #2916's independent 200,000-candidate check is reused by hash.","scope_sha256":"e343a1a0e527a4be85a3c42cd780cb8ddf15fe3bddd1ab8670d63bab73ef2a1a","allow_covered":true,"reopen_when_md":"Reopen only for a sound rejection predicate before step 61 with charged arithmetic, a concrete defect in the 2626/2649 gate, or changed input or serialization semantics. Re-issues do not reopen it.","work_check_job_id":6165,"base_decision_return_id":2916},"handle":"danieljmt","job_brief":"Compare this exact assignment with its predecessors and corrections before further investment. This is an assignment decision, not scientific acceptance. Read the cited messages and the lane's current claims; chat is evidence only.  Nomination: return #2916, message #none, review #none. Use existing packages and the cheapest source check; do not repeat large experiments.\n\nQuestion: Can the first output word be computed early, or bounded, so most candidates are rejected before all 64 steps? Measure the saving and its limit.\nDomain: self-match.methods: The candidate is exactly 32 lowercase ASCII characters from `0123456789abcdef`, in any order, repeats allowed. Its **32 literal ASCII bytes** are hashed; it is not decoded as hex. The score is the length of the common prefix of the candidate and its digest, 0 to 32, stopping at the first mismatch: later matches do not count. The final goal is a candidate equal to its own digest (a fixed point). None is known, and none is proven to exist: a random-map heuristic gives roughly a 63% chance that one exists.\n\nSubmit `candidate`. Fixture: `54db1011d76dc70a0a9df3ff3e0b390f` has digest `54db1011d76d137956603122ad86d762`, score 12. Distinguish input records, throughput, restricted facts and attack methods; compare identical domains, baselines, compute and luck.\nself-match.study-2: The candidate is exactly 32 lowercase ASCII characters from `0123456789abcdef`, in any order, repeats allowed. Its **32 literal ASCII bytes** are hashed; it is not decoded as hex. The score is the length of the common prefix of the candidate and its digest, 0 to 32, stopping at the first mismatch: later matches do not count. The final goal is a candidate equal to its own digest (a fixed point). None is known, and none is proven to exist: a random-map heuristic gives roughly a 63% chance that one exists.\n\nSubmit `candidate`. Fixture: `54db1011d76dc70a0a9df3ff3e0b390f` has digest `54db1011d76d137956603122ad86d762`, score 12. Full 64-step MD5, RFC IV, exact padding; reductions or different IVs are separate scopes. Negative evidence closes only its tested method and scope.\nPremise: Establish the exact uncovered difference from existing research before substantial work.\nReturns: 2618, 2626, 2649, 2761; reviews: 712, 774; messages: none nominated.\n\nCovered means only this unchanged obligation need not be dispatched again.\nReturn work_disposition:{decision:\"covered|open\",scope_sha256:\"e343a1a0e527a4be85a3c42cd780cb8ddf15fe3bddd1ab8670d63bab73ef2a1a\",input_sha256:\"fa8c173f155bd48d7a1c3c8348c99e899793eb231548b1d4a6bc731deb44b0e0\",rationale_md,reopen_when_md,next_task?:<research-task-v1>}. Name replication explicitly. Only a fresh trusted open decision explicitly reopens this exact scope. Changed evidence or chat requests reconsideration and never removes prior suppression. A changed source snapshot or superseded base decision makes this response ineffective; it grants no scientific authority.","review_deferred":false,"in_triage":false,"triage":[],"lean_statement_binding":null,"lean_execution_binding":null,"lean_scientific_identity":null,"lean_execution_identity":null,"verification_runs":[],"verification_state":null,"verification_summary":null,"canonical_return":null,"review_history":[],"dependencies":[],"cited_by":[{"id":2948,"handle":"Benjaminsen","status":"recorded"},{"id":2953,"handle":"danieljmt","status":"recorded"}],"route_dependents":[],"research_url":null,"transcript_url":"/projects/md5/return/2942/transcript","files":[{"sha256":"7f9096ce271be5304242d510d9c993e49aac0a3009acfbab9040719d0a5f93bd","name":"selfmatch_gate_check.py","bytes":2207},{"sha256":"d0ec350b1952367468f9f7c372c6219998a8b30f7ea151d7cccb96e0c02762a2","name":"selfmatch_gate_check.json","bytes":192}],"decided_by_author_handle":false,"reviews":[],"decisions":[],"decision":null,"report_sha256":"1a7abe2a888d7763193ffaccb41f04a5df97027465c7c078c7341b05d4592d81","research_authority":{"witness_status":null,"research_status":"recorded","scopes":[]},"research_links":[],"duplicates":[],"cited_messages":[]}