Towards Robust Fact-Checking: A Multi-Agent System with Advanced Evidence Retrieval (2506.17878v1)

Abstract: The rapid spread of misinformation in the digital era poses significant challenges to public discourse, necessitating robust and scalable fact-checking solutions. Traditional human-led fact-checking methods, while credible, struggle with the volume and velocity of online content, prompting the integration of automated systems powered by LLMs. However, existing automated approaches often face limitations, such as handling complex claims, ensuring source credibility, and maintaining transparency. This paper proposes a novel multi-agent system for automated fact-checking that enhances accuracy, efficiency, and explainability. The system comprises four specialized agents: an Input Ingestion Agent for claim decomposition, a Query Generation Agent for formulating targeted subqueries, an Evidence Retrieval Agent for sourcing credible evidence, and a Verdict Prediction Agent for synthesizing veracity judgments with human-interpretable explanations. Evaluated on benchmark datasets (FEVEROUS, HOVER, SciFact), the proposed system achieves a 12.3% improvement in Macro F1-score over baseline methods. The system effectively decomposes complex claims, retrieves reliable evidence from trusted sources, and generates transparent explanations for verification decisions. Our approach contributes to the growing field of automated fact-checking by providing a more accurate, efficient, and transparent verification methodology that aligns with human fact-checking practices while maintaining scalability for real-world applications. Our source code is available at https://github.com/HySonLab/FactAgent

Review of the IEEEtran LaTeX Template Documentation

The document titled "How to Use the IEEEtran LaTeX Templates," authored by the IEEE Publication Technology Department, primarily serves as a comprehensive guide intended for researchers and authors preparing manuscripts for submission to the IEEE. It delineates the utilization of the IEEEtran class in LaTeX, aiming to facilitate the creation of documents that adhere to IEEE's publication standards. This essay provides a detailed examination of the document's content, highlighting its utility in academic publishing and considering its broader implications for automated typesetting and structured documentation in the field of computer science.

Structural Overview

The document meticulously outlines the procedure for utilizing the IEEEtran LaTeX class, a pivotal tool for authors within the IEEE publication ecosystem. It addresses:

1. Template Structure: The document includes several example templates, each tailored to different types of IEEE publications such as journals, conferences, and technical notes. This facilitates the understanding of document skeletons for authors.
2. Document Elements: Comprehensive sections are dedicated to guiding users through the layout of common document elements, such as titles, author affiliations, abstracts, and keywords. The guide emphasizes best practices for maintaining the integrity and appearance of these elements across various publication formats.
3. Body and Back Matter Components: Authors are instructed on forming document sections, subsections, equations, figures, tables, and reference lists. These guidelines ensure the production of well-organized, professional papers.
4. Advanced Features: The document elucidates on more complex features like multicolumn layouts, mathematical typography, and subnumbering of equations. It also advises on the appropriate use of LaTeX packages to enhance document preparation.

Technical Details and Implications

From a technical perspective, the IEEEtran templates are engineered to approximate the final presentation of an article or paper, providing authors with an accurate preview of their submission’s format and page count. This functionality is crucial for adhering to conference or journal submission guidelines. The document emphasizes the use of LaTeX for typesetting, which remains prevalent in academia due to its power in handling complex scientific notations and graphics.

The instruction manual also addresses common issues encountered in document preparation, advising authors on solutions for typographical errors, improper use of environments, and reference management. This reflects an ongoing trend towards more robust error checking and user-friendly tools within document preparation systems, potentially leading to enhancements in collaborative writing platforms that incorporate LaTeX's sophisticated typesetting capabilities.

Practical and Theoretical Implications

Practically, the IEEEtran templates serve as an essential resource for authors striving for publication in IEEE venues, enabling uniformity in document structure and facilitating the peer review and publication workflow. The clarity and specificity of the document ensure that content adheres to IEEE standards, reducing the likelihood of reformatting requirements post-submission.

Theoretically, this document underscores the ongoing necessity for standardized typesetting templates in academic communications. As artificial intelligence and machine learning technologies advance in understanding and generating human-like text, there is potential for the development of intelligent tools that assist in format compliance and even manuscript revision, offering new efficiencies in academic writing.

Conclusion and Future Directions

In conclusion, the "How to Use the IEEEtran LaTeX Templates" document is a crucial instrument for researchers navigating the IEEE publication landscape. By providing precise instructions and examples, it streamlines the document preparation process, ensuring compliance with established publication standards. Future developments could explore AI-assisted document editing and real-time compliance checking, expanding the utility of such templates in academic and professional settings.