Applications of local concentration sensitivities

Local sensitivity information has numerous applications in uncertainty analysis, parameter estimation, experimental design, mechanism investigation and mechanism reduction. Uncertainty analysis, a quantitative study of the effect of parameter uncertainties on the solution of models, is 

This equation is identical to equation (4.6) which has been applied to the calculation of local sensitivities, but it can also be used for finding rate-limiting steps. The rate-limiting steps of the ith species can be identified (if they exist) by searching for very large elements in the ith row of the matrix 

Interactions among parameters, as revealed by the principal component analysis, always have kinetic reasons. Such interacting parameter groups are formed by fast equilibrium conditions and the existence of quasisteady-state species. Thus, sensitivity and principal component analyses can be used for the detection of such kinetic features, although further methods for this purpose will be listed in following sections. 

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