Article
Environmental Sciences
Mikolaj Owsianiak, Michael Z. Hauschild, Leo Posthuma, Erwan Saouter, Martina G. Vijver, Thomas Backhaus, Melanie Douziech, Tamar Schlekat, Peter Fantke
Summary: This study advances the characterization of ecotoxicity in life cycle impact assessment by proposing recommendations based on international expert workshops and work conducted under the UNEP-SETAC Life Cycle Initiative in the GLAM project. The study includes specific recommendations for expanding the assessment scope by introducing additional environmental compartments and utilizing chronic test data. The researchers propose a mathematical framework for calculating freshwater ecotoxicity characterization factors and apply it to a life cycle assessment case study on rice production and consumption. The results highlight the need for careful interpretation of life cycle assessment scores in consideration of species sensitivity distributions.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Rahul Aggarwal, Hanna Holmquist, Rickard Arvidsson, Efstathios Reppas-Chrysovitsinos, Gregory Peters
Summary: This paper addresses the lack of ecotoxicity characterization factors (CFs) for persistent and mobile chemicals in life cycle assessment, providing strategies for data harmonization and the inclusion of transformation products.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF LIFE CYCLE ASSESSMENT
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Alan M. Dunker, Uarporn Nopmongcol, Greg Yarwood
Summary: This study investigates the ability of an air quality model to predict concentration changes and estimate uncertainties, developing new equations for this purpose. The uncertainties depend on the correlation of errors in anthropogenic emissions between years and further study is needed to refine the predicted O-3 uncertainty.
ATMOSPHERIC ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Electrical & Electronic
S. Ceballes, A. Abdelkefi
Summary: The study investigates the uncertainties in the input parameters for multiple deposited nanoparticles on a carbon nanotube-based mass sensor, exploring their effects on the inherent frequency shifts. Sensitivity analysis and uncertainty quantification methods are applied to two different nominal configurations of the mass sensor, revealing the possibility of multiple particle configurations leading to identical frequency shifts. The findings provide insights for extending the usability, usefulness, and characterization of mass detection devices for other researchers.
SENSORS AND ACTUATORS A-PHYSICAL
(2021)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
SeungJin Bae, Joohee Lee, Eun-Young Bae
Summary: The study aims to describe the types of uncertainties examined in the economic evaluations submitted for reimbursement in Korea and their impact on the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER). Variables related to long-term assumptions were found to have a high level of uncertainty, suggesting caution should be exercised when using immature data.
FRONTIERS IN PHARMACOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Mechanical
Jiannan Yang
Summary: Probabilistic sensitivity analysis is used to identify influential uncertain inputs for decision-making. A general sensitivity framework is proposed, which unifies various sensitivity measures, including Fisher information. The framework is derived analytically and the sensitivity analysis is reformulated as an eigenvalue problem. The implementation of the framework involves two main steps: Monte Carlo type sampling and solving an eigenvalue equation. The resulting eigenvectors guide the simultaneous variations of input parameters and focus on perturbing uncertainty. The framework is conceptually simple and provides new sensitivity insights for applied mechanics problems.
PROBABILISTIC ENGINEERING MECHANICS
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Nobuhle P. Majozi, Chris M. Mannaerts, Abel Ramoelo, Renaud Mathieu, Wouter Verhoef
Summary: This study analyzed the uncertainty and sensitivity of core and intermediate input variables of a remote-sensing-data-based Penman-Monteith (PM-Mu) evapotranspiration (ET) model. The results showed relatively high uncertainties associated with relative humidity (RH) and the ET algorithm was most sensitive to the air-land surface temperature difference. Accurate assessment of both in situ and remotely sensed variables is crucial for reliable ET model estimates in dry regions and climates. The remote-sensing-based ET method offers a significant advantage of full area coverage compared to classic-point-based estimates.
Article
Engineering, Industrial
Satoshi Takeda, Takanori Kitada
Summary: The sensitivity coefficient is a simple yet effective method for evaluating the importance of parameters in a risk assessment model. This method is cost-effective and can directly handle the covariance of parameters, making it comparable to other methods such as Monte Carlo simulations in analyzing fault tree models.
RELIABILITY ENGINEERING & SYSTEM SAFETY
(2021)
Review
Thermodynamics
Olga Tsvetkova, Taha B. M. J. Ouarda
Summary: The review provides an overview of sensitivity analysis in wind resource assessment, highlighting the lack of consensus in defining sensitivity analysis, the prevalence of nonlinear models, and the common pitfalls in the field. It calls for a rethinking on how to conduct sensitivity analysis and includes a comparison of one-at-a-time and global sensitivity analysis methods for linear and nonlinear models.
ENERGY CONVERSION AND MANAGEMENT
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
A. Dell'Oca
Summary: Modeling is important for understanding environmental systems and can be enhanced by global sensitivity analysis (GSA). GSA strategies currently do not differentiate between stochastic and operational variables. We propose a method to separate the variability of these variables and assess model sensitivity towards operational variables. Two operational sensitivity indices are introduced to quantify the intensity and fluctuation of the model output with respect to operational variables. We demonstrate the importance of operational GSA in two scenarios.
WATER RESOURCES RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Optics
Renju Peng, Jie Jiang, Haojing Wang, Shuangfeng Wei, Yufu Qu
Summary: Semiconductor manufacturing requires precise measurements on critical geometric parameters of nano-scaled targets for process control. This paper proposes an optimization method based on sensitivity analysis to decrease coupling effects and uncertainties in multi-measurands metrology.
OPTICS AND LASERS IN ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Nestor Sanchez, Ruth Ruiz, Anne Roedl, Martha Cobo
Summary: The study demonstrates the effective use of sugarcane press-mud as feedstock to produce power in a fuel cell using hydrogen, achieving efficient energy utilization and environmental benefits. Through life cycle assessment, the technology showed high energy efficiency, renewability, and low carbon footprint, contributing positively to the environment.
Article
Engineering, Electrical & Electronic
Gabriele Bandini, Alberto Landi, Ferruccio Santini, Alessio Basolo, Mirko Marracci, Paolo Piaggi
Summary: The aim of this study is to investigate the sensitivity of a Whole-room indirect calorimeter (WRIC) system to determine the optimal experimental conditions for accurate metabolic measurements. The results suggest that maintaining a fractional concentration of carbon dioxide inside the calorimeter >0.2% can lead to a relative uncertainty <5% for outcome metabolic measurements, assuming an accuracy class of 1% for gas analyzer instruments.
IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON INSTRUMENTATION AND MEASUREMENT
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Multidisciplinary
Renata Troian
Summary: This research aims to analyze the behavior of structures under variable impact loading. Structural impacts pose potential hazards, and deterministic models lack the capability of reliability analysis for impacted structures, requiring the consideration of environmental and material uncertainties. Model sensitivity, as well as the influence of impact force, duration, position, and beam material on structural behavior, are studied. Uncertainty analysis is conducted for single and multiple impacts, providing insights for modeling structures under debris loading with uncertainties.
OPTIMIZATION AND ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Chihiro Nakajima, Hisanao Ouchi, Machiko Tamaki, Koya Akamine, Mizuki Sato, Satoshi Ohtsuki, Motoyoshi Naiki
Summary: This study demonstrates through uncertainty analysis and parameter sensitivity analysis that reducing the uncertainties of gas relative permeability and residual gas saturation is essential for more reliable numerical simulations and predictions.
Article
Agronomy
Zijian Li, Peter Fantke
Summary: This study proposes a framework for defining consistent maximum residue levels (MRLs) for pesticides in animal feed and evaluates the impact of these MRLs on the upstream and downstream sectors of the livestock-product supply chain.
PEST MANAGEMENT SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Mikolaj Owsianiak, Michael Z. Hauschild, Leo Posthuma, Erwan Saouter, Martina G. Vijver, Thomas Backhaus, Melanie Douziech, Tamar Schlekat, Peter Fantke
Summary: This study advances the characterization of ecotoxicity in life cycle impact assessment by proposing recommendations based on international expert workshops and work conducted under the UNEP-SETAC Life Cycle Initiative in the GLAM project. The study includes specific recommendations for expanding the assessment scope by introducing additional environmental compartments and utilizing chronic test data. The researchers propose a mathematical framework for calculating freshwater ecotoxicity characterization factors and apply it to a life cycle assessment case study on rice production and consumption. The results highlight the need for careful interpretation of life cycle assessment scores in consideration of species sensitivity distributions.
Review
Environmental Sciences
Susan A. Oginah, Leo Posthuma, Lorraine Maltby, Michael Hauschild, Peter Fantke
Summary: Freshwater ecosystems face threats from chemical pollution, and there is a need for mechanistic models and frameworks to translate ecotoxicity data into damage on species diversity, functional diversity, and ecosystem services. This paper proposes an evaluation of available approaches to characterize the damage of chemical pollution on freshwater ecosystem services, and presents possible stepwise approaches to link ecotoxicity effects to species loss, functional diversity loss, and damage on ecosystem services. Harmonization of assumptions and boundary conditions is needed to integrate this pathway into life cycle assessment and other comparative frameworks.
ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL
(2023)
Editorial Material
Environmental Sciences
Peter Fantke, Natalie von Goetz, Matti Jantunen
ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Yasmine Emara, Olivier Jolliet, Matthias Finkbeiner, Stefanie Hess, Marissa Kosnik, Peter Fantke
Summary: To guide environmental and public health policies, it is important to assess antibiotic resistance selection pressure under measured environmental concentrations (MECs) and compare mitigation strategies. This study aims to derive minimum selective concentrations (MSCs) and species sensitivity distributions (SSDs) for different antibiotics. The results highlight specific environmental compartments and antibiotics that should be examined for their role in resistance dissemination.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2023)
Review
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Periklis Charalampous, Juanita A. Haagsma, Lea S. Jakobsen, Vanessa Gorasso, Isabel Noguer, Alicia Padron-Monedero, Rodrigo Sarmiento, Joao Vasco Santos, Scott A. McDonald, Dietrich Plass, Grant M. A. Wyper, Ricardo Assuncao, Elena von der Lippe, Balazs Adam, Ala'a AlKerwi, Jalal Arabloo, Ana Lucia Baltazar, Boris Bikbov, Maria Borrell-Pages, Iris Brus, Genc Burazeri, Serafeim C. Chaintoutis, Jose Chen-Xu, Nino Chkhaberidze, Seila Cilovic-Lagarija, Barbara Corso, Sarah Cuschieri, Carlotta Di Bari, Keren Dopelt, Mary Economou, Theophilus Emeto, Peter Fantke, Florian Fischer, Alberto Freitas, Juan Manuel Garcia-Gonzalez, Federica Gazzelloni, Mika Gissler, Artemis Gkitakou, Hakan Gulmez, Sezgin Gunes, Sebastian Haller, Romana Haneef, Cesar A. Hincapie, Paul Hynds, Jane Idavain, Milena Ilic, Irena Ilic, Gaetano Isola, Zubair Kabir, Maria Kamusheva, Pavel Kolkhir, Naime Meric Konar, Polychronis Kostoulas, Mukhtar Kulimbet, Carlo La Vecchia, Paolo Lauriola, Miriam Levi, Marjeta Majer, Enkeleint A. Mechili, Lorenzo Monasta, Stefania Mondello, Javier Munoz Laguna, Evangelia Nena, Edmond S. W. Ng, Paul Nguewa, Vikram Niranjan, Iskra Alexandra Nola, Ronan O'Caoimh, Marija Obradovic, Elena Pallari, Mariana Peyroteo, Vera Pinheiro, Nurka Pranjic, Miguel Reina Ortiz, Silvia Riva, Cornelia Melinda Adi Santoso, Milena Santric Milicevic, Tugce Schmitt, Niko Speybroeck, Maximilian Sprugel, Paschalis Steiropoulos, Aleksandar Stevanovic, Lau Caspar Thygesen, Fimka Tozija, Brigid Unim, Hilal Bektas Uysal, Orsolya Varga, Milena Vasic, Rafael Jose Vieira, Vahit Yigit, Brecht Devleesschauwer, Sara M. Pires
Summary: This systematic literature review provides an overview of studies applying the disability-adjusted life years (DALY) concept for infectious diseases in European countries. Among the 105 included studies, food- and water-borne diseases were the most frequently studied. The number of burden of infectious disease studies has increased over time, but there is less consensus in methodological approaches.
EPIDEMIOLOGY AND INFECTION
(2023)
Article
Agronomy
Zijian Li, Peter Fantke
Summary: The degradation kinetics of pesticides in plants play a crucial role in modeling pesticide residual concentrations. This study proposes a modeling approach using potatoes as a model crop to estimate the degradation rate constants of pesticides in plants. The simulations show that the growth dynamics of potatoes and variations in weather conditions and soil properties can significantly affect the degradation kinetics of pesticides in plants.
PEST MANAGEMENT SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Toxicology
Beate I. Escher, Rolf Altenburger, Matthias Blueher, John K. Colbourne, Ralf Ebinghaus, Peter Fantke, Michaela Hein, Wolfgang Koeck, Klaus Kuemmerer, Sina Leipold, Xiaojing Li, Martin Scheringer, Stefan Scholz, Michael Schloter, Pia-Johanna Schweizer, Tamara Tal, Igor Tetko, Claudia Traidl-Hoffmann, Lukas Y. Wick, Kathrin Fenner
Summary: The assessment of persistence, bioaccumulation, and toxicity is crucial for ensuring chemical safety and is a cornerstone of the EU's chemicals regulation. Existing methods for PBT assessment are complex, inaccurate, and rely on animal testing. New-approach methodologies propose innovative hazard indicators, CTE and PTE, which can be measured using high throughput in vitro bioassays.
ARCHIVES OF TOXICOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Nicolo Aurisano, Olivier Jolliet, Weihsueh A. Chiu, Richard Judson, Suji Jang, Aswani Unnikrishnan, Marissa B. Kosnik, Peter Fantke
Summary: This study developed a semi-automated approach to determine surrogate oral route point of departure (POD) values and corresponding toxicity values for chemicals without regulatory assessments. By using data from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Toxicity Value Database, the researchers were able to significantly expand the coverage of chemicals for risk assessment and management purposes.
ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVES
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Susan Anyango Oginah, Leo Posthuma, Michael Hauschild, Jaap Slootweg, Marissa Kosnik, Peter Fantke
Summary: Bridging applied ecology and ecotoxicology is crucial for ecosystem protection. Splitting species sensitivity distributions (SSDs) can improve pollution impact assessments, especially for chemicals with specific modes of action and narcotic chemicals. This study provides a potential framework for using split SSDs in environmental protection, life cycle assessment, and freshwater ecosystem management, with significant implications for decision-support globally.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Zhehan Huang, Gael Kijko, Kelly Scanlon, Shannon Lloyd, Andrew Henderson, Peter Fantke, Olivier Jolliet, Shaobin Li
Summary: This study proposes a system approach and new data set to characterize and evaluate occupational health impacts in work environments, aiming to improve the comprehensiveness of life cycle assessment methods. The study finds that the data set of characterization factors for occupational health impacts varies significantly by industry, indicating that occupational health impacts are concentrated in a small portion of industries. A case study demonstrates the feasibility and importance of incorporating occupational health impacts into life cycle impact assessment methods.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Vanessa Gorasso, Joana Nazare Morgado, Periklis Charalampous, Sara M. Pires, Juanita A. Haagsma, Joao Vasco Santos, Jane Idavain, Che Henry Ngwa, Isabel Noguer, Alicia Padron-Monedero, Rodrigo Sarmiento, Vera Pinheiro, Elena Von der Lippe, Lea Sletting Jakobsen, Brecht Devleesschauwer, Dietrich Plass
Summary: Within the framework of the burden of disease (BoD) approach, this study reviewed the methods used in BoD assessments and risk assessments in Europe. The results showed substantial variation in the methods used in comparative risk assessment (CRA), which can affect the comparability of estimates.
ARCHIVES OF PUBLIC HEALTH
(2023)
Review
Biodiversity Conservation
Hongdou Liu, Lizhen Cui, Tong Li, Calogero Schillaci, Xiufang Song, Paolo Pastorino, Hongtao Zou, Xiaoyong Cui, Zhihong Xu, Peter Fantke
Summary: This study conducts a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of research on micro-and nanoplastics in soil, revealing trends, key authors and institutions, and international collaborations. The research findings demonstrate a growing interest in studying MNPs pollution in soil over the past decade, highlighting the need for interdisciplinary approaches to address this complex challenge.
ECOLOGICAL INDICATORS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Zijian Li, Peter Fantke
Summary: Although models of pesticide uptake into plants exist, there is a lack of modeling studies on the bioconcentration of metabolites in plants. This study offers a metabolite-based plant uptake model to predict the bioconcentration of parent compounds and their metabolites. The findings show that soil properties, dissipation half-life in soil, and metabolic half-life in the plant significantly impact the concentration of metabolites in potatoes. The proposed model effectively predicts the concentration of metabolites in potatoes compared to a non-metabolite model.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE-PROCESSES & IMPACTS
(2023)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Tong Li, Lizhen Cui, Zhihong Xu, Hongdou Liu, Xiaoyong Cui, Peter Fantke
Summary: Soil ecosystems are facing increasing pressure from human activities, including the introduction of micro-and nanoplastics (MNPs), which have become prevalent worldwide. However, the environmental impact of MNPs on soil ecosystem services has not been adequately addressed in current Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methods. This study provides an overview of the current understanding of MNPs in soil ecosystems and proposes a conceptual approach to link MNPs impacts to soil ecosystem services damage.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)