Majority Decision Rule Research Articles

Why a Little Diversity doesn't Go a Long Way: A Collective Moral Licensing Explanation for Homosocial Reproduction

AbstractDespite significant knowledge on the demographic composition of workgroups, the literature lacks group‐level theory that addresses the tendency of work groups with token levels of diversity to maintain their demographic imbalance over time. We explain this phenomenon by extending moral licensing theory to the group level, arguing that a token level of racial or gender diversity leads to the development of a collective moral credential. This credential provides psychological permission for groups to relax their moral strivings, such that they are less likely to question the influence of bias in group member selection decisions, and thus more likely to make subsequent homogenous group member additions. Additionally, we argue that the diversity climates within which groups are embedded can either magnify (i.e., in fairness‐focused diversity climates) or mitigate (i.e., in synergy‐focused diversity climates) the development of a collective moral credential. Further, we suggest that the effect of token levels of diversity on the development of a collective moral credential can be affected by the prevailing social norms for diversity. Finally, we theorize that the effects of this process can be accentuated by group use of a majority decision rule and attenuated by group use of a unanimous decision rule.

Iterative Soft Decoding Algorithm for DNA Storage Using Quality Score and Redecoding.

Ever since deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) was considered as a next-generation data-storage medium, lots of research efforts have been made to correct errors occurred during the synthesis, storage, and sequencing processes using error correcting codes (ECCs). Previous works on recovering the data from the sequenced DNA pool with errors have utilized hard decoding algorithms based on a majority decision rule. To improve the correction capability of ECCs and robustness of the DNA storage system, we propose a new iterative soft decoding algorithm, where soft information is obtained from FASTQ files and channel statistics. In particular, we propose a new formula for log-likelihood ratio (LLR) calculation using quality scores (Q-scores) and a redecoding method which may be suitable for the error correction and detection in the DNA sequencing area. Based on the widely adopted encoding scheme of the fountain code structure proposed by Erlich et al., we use three different sets of sequenced data to show consistency for the performance evaluation. The proposed soft decoding algorithm gives 2.3% ∼ 7.0% improvement of the reading number reduction compared to the state-of-the-art decoding method and it is shown that it can deal with erroneous sequenced oligo reads with insertion and deletion errors.

Biometrics Using Electroencephalograms Stimulated by Personal Ultrasound and Multidimensional Nonlinear Features

Biometrics such as fingerprints and iris scans has been used in authentication. However, conventional biometrics is vulnerable to identity theft, especially in user-management systems. As a new biometrics without this vulnerability, brain waves have been a focus. In this paper, brain waves (electroencephalograms (EEGs)) were measured from ten experiment subjects. Individual features were extracted from the log power spectra of the EEGs using principal component analysis, and verification was achieved using a support vector machine. It was found that, for the proposed authentication method, the equal error rate (EER) for a single electrode was about 22–32%, and that, for a multiple electrodes, was 4.4% by using the majority decision rule. Furthermore, nonlinear features based on chaos analysis were introduced for feature extraction and then extended to multidimensional ones. By fusing the results of all electrodes when using the proposed multidimensional nonlinear features and the spectral feature, an EER of 0% was achieved. As a result, it was confirmed that individuals can be authenticated using induced brain waves when they are subjected to ultrasounds.

Noise immunity of signal demodulation procedure in binary coded communication channels with a frequency-position multiplexing

The article presents the algorithms for demodulating binary channels of data transmission lines with frequency multiplexing used in remote control and warning systems. The noise immunity of the algorithms were investigated. It is shown that significant simplification and significant noise immunity increasing can be obtained by applying the majority decision rule.

A vertical ranking technique for linguistic hesitant fuzzy sets

By the help of the current contribution, we are interested to present a different technique compared to the exiting ones for ranking linguistic hesitant fuzzy sets (LHFSs). In the existing techniques that are referred hereafter to as the horizontal ranking procedures of LHFSs, we sum up all the multiplications of subscript of linguistic variable by the score value of the corresponding HFS. Meanwhile, through the vertical ranking technique of LHFSs, for a fixed subscript of linguistic variable, we compare firstly the corresponding HFSs using the existing raking methods to achieve the corresponding individual preference matrix. Then, all the individual preference matrices are multiplied by the subscript of that corresponding linguistic variable to get the aggregated and collective preference matrix. Eventually, the final ranking order of LHFSs is extracted by the use of collective majority decision rule. By the way, as will be shown later, all the horizontal ranking techniques suffer drawbacks to some extent, and this is the motivation for enriching the theory of ranking LHFSs by introducing the vertical ranking technique.

Inputs and outputs classification in integer-valued data envelopment analysis

In conventional data envelopment analysis (DEA) models, data are usually considered as continuous measures while the role of measures from input and/or output aspects is known. However, there are situations in the real world that a measure can play either input or output roles, a flexible measure, while it can only take integer values (e.g., nurse trainees and medical interns in assessing the performance of hospitals). In the current paper, integer DEA models with flexible measures from two individual DMUs and aggregate efficiency perspectives are proposed to determine the relative efficiency of units and the role of flexible measures. Indeed, slacks are addressed and a slacks-based measure (SBM) of efficiency is defined for calculating the performance of decision making units (DMUs) in the presence of flexible and integer factors. The majority decision rule is also used to specify the role of flexible measures from the individual DMU point of view. Two examples including banks and hospitals are utilized to clarify and demonstrate the suggested approach.

Patch-based face recognition using a hierarchical multi-label matcher

This paper proposes a hierarchical multi-label matcher for patch-based face recognition. In signature generation, a face image is iteratively divided into multi-level patches. Two different types of patch divisions and signatures are introduced for 2D facial image and texture-lifted image, respectively. The matcher training consists of three steps. First, local classifiers are built to learn the local matching of each patch. Second, the hierarchical relationships defined between local patches are used to learn the global matching of each patch. Three ways are introduced to learn the global matching: majority voting, ℓ1-regularized weighting, and decision rule. Last, the global matchings of different levels are combined as the final matching. Experimental results on different face recognition tasks demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed matcher at the cost of gallery generalization. Compared with the UR2D system, the proposed matcher improves the Rank-1 accuracy significantly by 3% and 0.18% on the UHDB31 dataset and IJB-A dataset, respectively.

Metagovernance and policy forum outputs in Swiss environmental politics

ABSTRACTPolicy forums are lightly institutionalized and stable forms of governance networks that include administrative authorities, interest groups, and scientists. They are said to produce different types of outputs, from simple actor coordination to position papers and implementation documents, but their productivity has also been questioned. Metagovernance strategies can improve the capability of policy forums to produce outputs. To determine how different metagovernance strategies influence the capability of forums to produce joint position papers, 29 policy forums in the Swiss environmental sector are compared through a qualitative comparative analysis. Results indicate that metagovernance strategies such as state actors as forum members or majority decision rules need to be combined with small forum size or low actor heterogeneity. Furthermore, forum foundation by the state complicates the production of position papers.

Contractually Stable Alliances

We analyze how different rules for exiting an alliance affect the formation of strategic alliances. We adopt the concept of contractual stability to predict the alliances that are going to emerge in the long run. We find that any asymmetric alliance structure consisting of two alliances is contractually stable under the unanimity decision rule. In addition, the grand alliance which is the efficient structure is stable. If we allow for side payments to compensate former partners, then some less efficient structures that were stable without side payments are no longer stable. Moreover, we show that the stability of alliances under the unanimity rule to exit is robust to the type of firms, myopic or farsighted. Finally, there is no contractually stable alliance structure under the simple majority decision rule.

Contractually stable networks

We consider situations where players are part of a network and belong to coalitions in a given coalition structure. We propose the concept of contractual stability to predict the networks that are going to emerge at equilibrium when the consent of coalition partners is needed for adding or deleting links. Two different decision rules for consent are analyzed: simple majority and unanimity. We characterize the coalition structures that make the strongly efficient network contractually stable under the unanimity decision rule and the coalition structures that sustain some critical network as contractually stable under the simple majority decision rule and under any decision rule requiring the consent of any proportion of coalition partners. Requiring the consent of coalition members may help to reconcile stability and efficiency in some classical models of network formation.

A fault-tolerant structural health monitoring protocol using wireless sensor networks

In wireless sensor network-based event detection approaches, when the decision is taken based on the measurements of sensors, sensor-fault and noise-related measurement error should be taken into account. Using Bayesian approach to form a judgment is problematic without additional information or assumptions (for example, the difficulty of knowing prior probabilities in practice). In making the final decision using the majority decision rule (as well as the k-out-of-n rule), measurement of every sensor is considered as fully reliable. However, due to sensor fault and environmental noise, the preciseness of all measurements may not be guaranteed in real-life applications. This paper presents a Dempster–Shafer theory of evidence-based structural health monitoring protocol using wireless sensor networks that overcome these limitations. Our proposal effectively discounts the unreliable observer’s (sensor’s) measurements. Extensive simulations show significant improvement in terms of detection accuracy as compared to other well-known approaches.

Stable and efficient coalitional networks

We develop a theoretical framework that allows us to study which bilateral links and coalition structures are going to emerge at equilibrium. We define the notion of coalitional network to represent a network and a coalition structure, where the network specifies the nature of the relationship each individual has with her coalition members and with individuals outside her coalition. To predict the coalitional networks that are going to emerge at equilibrium we propose the concepts of strong stability and of contractual stability. Contractual stability imposes that any change made to the coalitional network needs the consent of both the deviating players and their original coalition partners. Requiring the consent of coalition members under the simple majority or unanimity decision rule may help to reconcile stability and efficiency. Moreover, this new framework can provide insights that one cannot obtain if coalition formation and network formation are tackled separately and independently.

Willingness to Pay for Recycling Food Waste in the Brisbane Region

Kerbside recycling in Australia has focused on paper, cardboard, plastics and bottles and in some areas green waste. Another area for potential kerbside recycling is organic waste. This study uses a dichotomous choice contingent valuation format with follow-up open-ended willingness to pay question to estimate the household willingness to pay for the introduction of a kerbside recycling scheme for kitchen waste. Two provision rules were used. The first sample split contained a majority decision rule while the second sample split contained a provision rule where participation is voluntary. Households across the Brisbane statistical sub-division currently pay in the order of $250 per annum for their kerbside waste collection scheme. This study indicates that on average Brisbane households would be WTP an additional $32 to $35 per year for a general waste bin where food waste is split from general waste. There was no significant difference in results between sample splits with majority or voluntary provision rules. Whether the provision of a food waste recycling scheme is economically efficient requires a consideration of all the potential costs and benefits. Other relevant costs and benefits for inclusion in a benefit cost analysis would include those associated with bin replacement, any additional collection and transport costs, composting costs, revenues from compost sales and avoided landfill costs. If a compulsory food waste recycling scheme could be provided to all households for less than $32 to $35 per household per annum then the benefits of the scheme would exceed the costs and would be considered to be economically efficient and desirable from a community welfare perspective. Given the difficulties of estimating precise WTP values from dichotomous choice data, any BCA of a compulsory scheme incorporating the results of this study should undertake sensitivity testing that includes the range of values reported including dichotomous choice and open-ended means to determine the robustness of BCA results to variations in the welfare estimate. Notwithstanding, the results of any BCA, decision-makers also need to be cognisant of the high proportion of respondents who did not support a kerbside food waste recycling scheme. The data from the study could also be used to undertake a BCA of a voluntary scheme.

Neural decoding of collective wisdom with multi-brain computing

Group decisions and even aggregation of multiple opinions lead to greater decision accuracy, a phenomenon known as collective wisdom. Little is known about the neural basis of collective wisdom and whether its benefits arise in late decision stages or in early sensory coding. Here, we use electroencephalography and multi-brain computing with twenty humans making perceptual decisions to show that combining neural activity across brains increases decision accuracy paralleling the improvements shown by aggregating the observers' opinions. Although the largest gains result from an optimal linear combination of neural decision variables across brains, a simpler neural majority decision rule, ubiquitous in human behavior, results in substantial benefits. In contrast, an extreme neural response rule, akin to a group following the most extreme opinion, results in the least improvement with group size. Analyses controlling for number of electrodes and time-points while increasing number of brains demonstrate unique benefits arising from integrating neural activity across different brains. The benefits of multi-brain integration are present in neural activity as early as 200 ms after stimulus presentation in lateral occipital sites and no additional benefits arise in decision related neural activity. Sensory-related neural activity can predict collective choices reached by aggregating individual opinions, voting results, and decision confidence as accurately as neural activity related to decision components. Estimation of the potential for the collective to execute fast decisions by combining information across numerous brains, a strategy prevalent in many animals, shows large time-savings. Together, the findings suggest that for perceptual decisions the neural activity supporting collective wisdom and decisions arises in early sensory stages and that many properties of collective cognition are explainable by the neural coding of information across multiple brains. Finally, our methods highlight the potential of multi-brain computing as a technique to rapidly and in parallel gather increased information about the environment as well as to access collective perceptual/cognitive choices and mental states.

Contractually Stable Networks

We develop a theoretical framework that allows us to study which bilateral links and coalition structures are going to emerge at equilibrium. We define the notion of coalitional network to represent a network and a coalition structure, where the network specifies the nature of the relationship each individual has with his coalition members and with individuals outside his coalition. To predict the coalitional networks that are going to emerge at equilibrium we propose the concept of contractual stability which requires that any change made to the coalitional network needs the consent of both the deviating players and their original coalition partners. We show that there always exists a contractually stable coalitional network under the simple majority decision rule and the component-wise egalitarian or majoritarian allocation rules. Moreover, requiring the consent of group members may help to reconcile stability and efficiency.

Evolutionary Design of Cellular Automata using Knowledge-based Genetic Algorithms

In this paper, we address a solution to density classification tasks using knowledge-based genetic algorithms. Cellular automata (CAs) are used as models of self -organization and emergent computation, and known to have capacity to solve complex problems. It is, however, very difficult to design transition rules that respond to the user's requests, and it prevents the practical application of CAs. Therefore automatic generation of transition rules is studied. We propose a new method to obtain transition rules using knowledge-based genetic algorithms. The knowledge here is a candidate partial solution of the final solution. As a result of infection, the genes of a partial solution are substituted for those of an individual. The purpose of this study is to obtain rules faster than traditional methods. We use the majority decision rule for the knowledge. Experimental results for density classification tasks prove that the proposed method is faster than a conventional method. In addition, the evidence is given that the best transition rules emerge by the partial evolution of the majority decision rule.

A general class of simple majority decision rules based on linguistic opinions

In this paper we have introduced a class of decision rules related to simple majority, by considering individual intensities of preference. These intensities will be shown by means of linguistic labels. In order to compare the amount of opinion obtained by each alternative, we have considered the total ordered monoid generated by the sums of the original labels, according to an addition and an ordering. In this general framework different sets of linguistic labels can be employed and these sets can be represented by means of diverse mathematical objects. Moreover, on these mathematical representations of linguistic labels several orderings can be considered. Thus, flexibility is an important feature of this new class of group decision making procedures. Some examples of putting in practice the simple majority decision rules based on linguistic labels are provided, and the main properties of these voting systems are analyzed. It is worth emphasizing that these properties are satisfied for any total ordered monoid, regardless of the mathematical representation of linguistic labels or the ordering used to compare collective opinions.

Analysis of QM rules in the draft constitution for Europe proposed by the European Convention, 2003

We analyse and evaluate the qualified majority (QM) decision rules for the Council of Ministers of the EU that are included in the Draft Constitution for Europe proposed by the European Convention [5]. We use a method similar to the one we used in [9] for the QM prescriptions made in the Treaty of Nice.

Effects of group decision rules on decisions involving continuous alternatives: The unanimity rule and extreme decisions in mock civil juries

Two experiments examined the effects of majority and unanimity decision rules on group decisions involving continuous alternatives. Each experiment used mock civil juries to test three hypotheses related to the claim that when the distribution of group members’ initial preferences is skewed, the group’s decision will be influenced more by the presence of outlier members under unanimity rule than under majority rule. Experiment 1 tested the hypotheses using a punitive damages case and positively skewed preference distributions. Experiment 2 tested the hypotheses using a compensatory damages case and manipulating the skewness of preference distributions in a 2 (group decision rule) × 2 (valence of skewness) factorial design. In both experiments, the extreme (outlier) member’s individual preference was significantly correlated with the group decision only under unanimity rule. A simple thought experiment based on the experimental results is suggested regarding the implications of using unanimity or majority rule for making decisions in civil juries.

An investigation of changes in attitude over time of GDSS groups under unanimity and majority decision rules

Under controlled laboratory conditions, we examine the effects of variations in decision rules on attitudes of individuals operating within groups. We find that significant changes in satisfaction and commitment occur across sessions when groups operate under a unanimity decision rule, but not when groups operate under a majority decision rule. We also observe that these two DRs produce opposing results both when there is membership continuity and when there is membership change.