The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) uses the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) to monitor adverse events resulting from pharmaceutical drug use. However, this system has limitations such as not allowing real-time data collection. To address these limitations, the FDA launched the Sentinel Initiative in 2008. This comparative case study was conducted to describe perceptions of investigating the efficacy of the Sentinel Initiative compared with the FAERS. The study was based on the theory of preemption as it emphasized the need for efficient means for providing unquestionable proof that consumers suffered adverse drug effects. The sample included interivews of 20 individuals, who worked closely with the FAERS program and were familiar with the Sentinel Initiative. In-depth key-informant interviews had been conducted to determine the perceptions of the participants regarding the challenges and benefits of the Sentinel Initiative compared with FAERS. To analyze data, content analysis was used. The study concluded that the FAERS and Sentinel Initiative provided a systematic database, which included health data, that could be used to improve public health. Due to the FAERS and Sentinel Initiative, adverse effects of drugs will be recognized and the safety of the patients and the public will be prioritized. The findings of this study have potential social impact for positive change at the societal level, organizational level, and individual level in terms of overall safety of the drugs. Sentinel initiative at its present state complements the existing FAERS and leverage its benefits by connecting at a grass roots level patients to an organization level as well as stakeholders to make an impact in providing safer drugs on the market.

Suicidal Behavior in the U.S. Army is a problem that persists despite significant efforts to promote help-seeking behaviors and the investment of millions of dollars to develop resilience-building interventions. Evidence-based literature supports the use of reasons for living as a protective factor against suicidal behavior in clinical and nonclinical samples, yet it has rarely been studied in an active duty (AD) Army population. This study examined the relationship between self-reported reasons for living and self-reported suicidal behavior, to determine if high levels of reasons for living correlated with low risk of suicidal behavior, over and above demographics, depression, stressful life events, and social support, using standardized questionnaires. The study sample consisted of 244 AD Army soldiers attending the Warrior Leadership Course in Germany. The results analysis showed that reasons for living were inversely related to suicidal behavior among this sample. Although African American soldiers scored higher on measures of reasons for living and suicidal behavior, demographic variables did not significantly predict suicidal behavior. Reasons for living accounted for a unique amount of variance in suicidal behavior; however, depression, stressful life events, and social support were better predictors. This study demonstrates the benefits of incorporating reasons for living in military research and practice, as efforts are made to identify AD Army personnel at risk for suicide. The study findings also support the claim that examining protective and risk factors supersedes efforts to study risk factors alone. It promotes positive social change by informing efforts to develop comprehensive suicide prevention policies, programs, and procedures aimed at effectively reducing the rate of suicide in the U.S. Army.

Cette thèse contient deux parties: la simulation des événements rares et le rééchantillonnage non-intrusif stratifié pour la programmation dynamique. La première partie consiste à quantifier des statistiques liées aux événements très improbables mais dont les conséquences sont sévères. Nous proposons des transformations markoviennes sur l'espace des trajectoires et nous les combinons avec les systèmes de particules en interaction et l'ergodicité de chaîne de Markov, pour proposer des méthodes performantes et applicables en grande généralité. La deuxième partie consiste à résoudre numériquement le problème de programmation dynamique dans un contexte où nous avons à disposition seulement des données historiques en faible nombre et nous ne connaissons pas les valeurs des paramètres du modèle. Nous développons et analysons un nouveau schéma composé de stratification et rééchantillonnage / This thesis contains two parts: rare events simulation and non-intrusive stratified resampler for dynamic programming. The first part consists of quantifying statistics related to events which are unlikely to happen but which have serious consequences. We propose Markovian transformation on path spaces and combine them with the theories of interacting particle system and of Markov chain ergodicity to propose methods which apply very generally and have good performance. The second part consists of resolving dynamic programming problem numerically in a context where we only have historical observations of small size and we do not know the values of model parameters. We propose and analyze a new scheme with stratification and resampling techniques.

Les événements extrêmes sont l'expression de la variabilité climatique naturelle. Puisque les émissions anthropiques affectent le climat mondial, il est naturel de se demander si les événements extrêmes observés récemment sont une manifestation du changement climatique. Cette thèse se propose de contribuer à la compréhension de l'influence du changement climatique anthropique sur les événements extrêmes observés, tout en évaluant si et comment cette information scientifique - et plus généralement, l'attribution d'événements extrêmes (AEE) - pourrait être utile à la société. Je propose des outils statistiques et j'utilise un ensemble d'entretiens qualitatifs pour répondre à ces questions.La partie statistique s'applique aux vagues de chaleur européennes. Je quantifie le rôle joué par la circulation atmosphérique dans l'intensité de quatre vagues de chaleur récente. Cette analyse s'appuie sur des analogues de circulations, qui identifient des jours ayant une circulation similaire à celle de l'événement étudié. Ensuite, je dissocie l'influence du changement climatique sur les processus dynamiques et non dynamiques menant aux vagues de chaleur. Je calcule des tendances sur l'occurrence de circulations favorisant les fortes chaleurs et sur la température pour une circulation fixée, pour les vagues de chaleur de 2003 en Europe de l'Ouest et de 2010 en Russie. Je trouve que la significativité des résultats dépend de l'événement étudié, ce qui montre l'intérêt de calculer des tendances pour des types de circulation atmosphérique précis.La partie épistémologique analyse les utilisations sociales potentielles de l'AEE. Je mesure comment elle pourrait informer les négociations internationales sur le climat, en particulier les pertes et préjudices, en réponse à des arguments de scientifiques dans ce sens. Je trouve que le seul rôle que l'AEE puisse jouer pour renforcer les pertes et préjudices est un rôle de sensibilisation des politiques, en marge du processus de négociations. Je compare également les motivations avancées par les scientifiques dans les entretiens avec les résultats existants sur l'utilité sociale de ce type d'information scientifique. Je montre que la pertinence sociale des résultats d'AEE est ambiguë, et qu'il y a un manque de données empiriques pour mieux comprendre comment différents acteurs s'approprient et réagissent à cette information. / Extreme events are an expression of natural climate variability. Since anthropogenic emissions affect global climate, it is natural to wonder whether recent observed extreme events are a manifestation of anthropogenic climate change. This thesis aims at contributing to the understanding of the influence of anthopogenic climate change on observed extreme events, while assessing whether and how this scientific information - and more generally, the science of extreme event attribution (EEA) - could be useful for society. I propose statistical tools to achieve the former, while relying on qualitative interviews for the latter.The statistical part focuses on European heatwaves. I quantify the role played by the atmospheric circulation in the intensity of four recent heatwaves. This analysis is based on flow analogues, which identify days with a similar circulation pattern than the event of interest. I then disentangle the influence of climate change on the dynamical and non-dynamical processes leading to heatwaves. I calculate trends in the occurrence of circulation patterns leading to high temperatures and trends in temperature for a fixed circulation pattern, applied to the 2003 Western Europe and 2010 Russia heatwaves. I find that the significance of the results depend on the event of interest, highlighting the value of calculating trends for very specific types of circulation.The epistemological part evaluates the potential social uses of extreme event attribution. I assess how it could inform international climate negotiations, more specifically loss and damage, in response to a number of claims from scientists going in this direction. I find that the only potential role EEA could play to boost the loss and damage agenda would be to raise awareness for policy makers, aside from the negotiation process itself. I also evaluate how the different motivations stated by EEA scientists in interviews fare compared to the existing evidence on social use of this type of scientific information. I show that the social relevance of EEA results is ambiguous, and that there is a lack of empirical data to better understand how different non-scientific stakeholders react and appropriate EEA information.

Title: Problems of sustainable development in sport Objectives: The main objective is to write a research thesis with a compilation character. The thesis will describe and discuss the issue of sustainable development in sport based on available materials. Methods: To create this theoretical research paper, the method of document analysis and study of secondary data was used. With the help of the compilation method, a synthesis of the available knowledge is formed and with the help of the comparison method is created a comparing of the studied data. Results: The study and analysis of the documents showed a wide involvement of stakeholders in the issue of sustainable development in sport. To a large extent, sustainability strategies are implemented. The reference is made to sustainability principles in the described areas (sports organisations, events, facilities, etc.). The issue of sustainable development is nowadays a widespread topic that permeates the functioning of sport at various levels and thus provides many opportunities for further study. Keywords: sport events, sport tourism, pillars of sustainability, theories of sustainable development

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Abstract The purpose of this cumulative dissertation is to introduce service, conceptualized by service-dominant logic, as a new explanatory framework to improve the understanding of sustainable development. Sustainability is a megatrend that challenges business and marketers to act upon and respond to global social and environmental problems. Even after over more than five decades of research related to sustainability there is a gap in the transformation to sustainable development of firms and society in large. Specifically, there appears to be a significant gap between sustainable awareness and the actual sustainable behavior of actors and organizations. A systematic approach to the topic of greenwashing is provided, including relevant approaches for its avoidance. Furthermore, the dissertation urges the need of a systematic and more general theoretic framework to connect marketing as a social science with sustainable development instead of fragmenting marketing in sub-disciplines (e.g., sustainable marketing, societal marketing, marketing ethics, etc.). S-D logic is proposed as model of marketing covering three dichotomies: (1) micro/macro, (2) positive (questioning what is?) / normative (questioning what ought to be), and (3) profit sector/nonprofit sector. S-D logic´s narrative is the continuing story of actors interacting, resource integrating and exchanging service, and co-creating value through service ecosystems, governed and evaluated through their institutional arrangements. Though with regards to sustainable development the reflection on conceptualizing value co-destruction is critical. For instance, through the value co-creation process negative value might be created for one actor, both actors, third parties, society, or nature. A strong conceptual link between the process of co-creation of value and the process of value co destruction is ascertainable in the sense of contra indication. In addition, the findings of a literature review indicate that further attention should be paid to imbalance, conflict and power relations between actors and the service ecosystem. Furthermore, the concept of service is extended beyond the human-created phenomenon, by observing that ecosystem services exist in the natural world. A change of perspective on nature is proposed to see nature no longer as a source of resource or a simple resource but as a services provider. Thus, the underlying human-nature relationships may improve.:Abstract III I Table of contents IV II List of Publications: VI III List of Figures VII IV List of Tables VIII 1 General Introduction 1 1.1 Purpose and scope 1 1.2 Theoretical introduction 3 1.2.1 Reason for a new theoretical framework for sustainable development 4 1.2.2 Service as the underlying process for sustainable development 7 1.2.3 S-D logic´s evolvement to a concept of service ecosystem 9 1.2.4 Conceptualizing value co-destruction 11 1.3 Structure of the dissertation 22 1.4 General Summary 24 1.4.1 Summarizing the implications of S-D logic and sustainable development 24 1.4.2 Outlook on general future research for evolving S-D logic in the field of sustainable development 26 1.4.2.1 Creation of value and well-being through fast, sacrifice, or renouncement 27 1.4.2.2 Improve the understanding for micro-macro paradox 27 1.4.2.3 Extension of the human-centric S-D logic to a more general service concept 28 1.4.2.4 Conceptualization of power relations in a service ecosystem 28 1.4.2.5 Pursuing the idea of destructive co-creation of value 30 2 Die normative Ordnung der service-dominierten Logik für ein komplexes Wertnetzwerk–ein innovativer Weg zu mehr Nachhaltigkeit? 32 2.1 Einführung 32 2.2 Das Triple-Bottom-Line-Konzept 34 2.3 Die S-D Logik und die Chance zur normativen Ordnung eines komplexen Wertnetzwerks für mehr Nachhaltigkeit 40 2.3.1 Verbesserung der normativen Ordnung für ein innovatives Nachhaltigkeitskonzept 40 2.3.2 Normative Ordnung im sozialen Raum 42 2.3.3 Einführung in die S-D Logik 44 2.3.4 S-D Logik und nachhaltige Entwicklung 49 2.4 Zusammenfassung und Ausblick 53 3 Avoiding Greenwashing in Event Marketing: An Exploration of Concepts, Literature and Methods 56 3.1 Introduction 57 3.2 Literature review 59 3.2.1 Characteristics of greenwashing in event marketing 59 3.2.2 Current approaches to avoid greenwashing in event marketing 61 3.2.2.1 Identifying greenwashing and its impacts through measurement 63 3.2.2.2 Developing and applying internal rules 65 3.2.2.3 Creating a (multi-)stakeholder approach 66 3.2.2.4 Realignment according to laws and statutory regulations 68 3.2.2.5 Applying eco-labelling 69 3.3 Discussion, implications and further research 73 3.3.1 Discussion 73 3.3.2 Theoretical contributions and practical implications 75 3.3.3 Limitations and future research 78 4 Service Dominant Logic as a New Fundamental Framework for Analyzing Event Sustainability: A Case Study from the German Meetings Industry 80 4.1 Introduction 80 4.2 Literature review 84 4.2.1 S-D Logic as a new approach for the sustainable development of events 84 4.2.2 Events and the Service Dominant logic 84 4.3 S-D Logic and (event) sustainability 89 4.4 Case study 92 4.4.1 Case study context 92 4.4.2 Data collection 93 4.4.3 Data analysis 94 4.4.4 Findings 95 4.4.4.1 Micro level 96 4.4.4.2 Meso level 99 4.4.4.3 Macro level 102 4.5 Discussion 106 4.5.1 Theoretical contributions 109 4.5.2 Practical implications 110 4.5.3 Limitations and future research 111 References 114 Darstellung des wissenschaftlichen Werdegangs 137 Selbständigkeitserklärung 139 Bibliographische Darstellung 140