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Background Existing guidelines recommend a triple immunosuppressive regimen with calcineurin inhibitors, antimetabolites, and corticosteroids for postoperative immunosuppression in renal transplant patients. However, few studies have compared cyclosporine and tacrolimus for long-term outcomes. In this study, the meta-analysis was used to compare long-term outcomes in renal transplant patients to evaluate the use of cyclosporine vs. tacrolimus. The pros and cons of suppression programs have been analyzed. Methods Cyclosporine, tacrolimus, and kidney transplantation, were used as search terms to retrieve relevant publications in PubMed, Embase, and The Cochrane library. Two independent researchers screened and evaluated the relevant results of each search using the RevMan5.4 program to make relevant charts for the meta-analysis. Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were used to report dichotomous variables, while mean differences (MD) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were used to report continuous variables. The study took tacrolimus- and cyclosporine-based maintenance immunosuppression as experimental and control groups, respectively. The graft and patient survival outcomes were followed for 5 or more years. Results Overall, thirteen studies were included in the meta-analysis, including nine randomized controlled trials and four non-randomized controlled trials. Compared with the cyclosporine group, the incidence of rejection, drug conversion, and dyslipidemia were significantly lower in the tacrolimus group. Furthermore, there was higher glomerular filtration rates and graft survival rates in the tacrolimus group than in the cyclosporine group. In contrast, there were no significant differences between the two groups in terms of patient survival, incidence of infection, hypertension and new tumors. However, the use of tacrolimus was associated with a high risk of a new onset of diabetes. Conclusion The meta-analysis showed that, compared with cyclosporine, tacrolimus increases the risk of a new-onset diabetes. However, tacrolimus had higher graft survival rate and better creatinine clearance than cyclosporine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A novel and disposable compliance pump was suggested and fabricated for supplying blood into a microfluidic channel. • Correction factor (β) was adopted for improving accuracy of fluid velocity obtained by micro-PIV technique. • A discrete fluidic circuit model was developed for obtaining flow rate and pressure in a microfluidic channel. • Four kinds of fluid property (i.e., fluidic resistance, viscosity, time constant, and compliance) was obtained by analyzing flow rate and pressure. • The proposed method was employed successfully to detect biophysical change in suspended blood. Blood viscosity is considered a promising indicator of cardiovascular disease and helps predict disease risks. However, conventional methods require two highly precise pumps to maintain consistent flow rates in co-flowing streams. In this study, a low-cost and disposable compliance pump was fabricated by inserting three components (a syringe needle, a blood-loaded syringe, and an air compliance unit [ACU]) into a three-way valve. Since the pump induces transient blood flow, accurately obtaining the transient flow rate is necessary. A correction factor was employed to improve the blood velocity obtained by microparticle image velocimetry. Air pressure inside the ACU was estimated using the ideal gas law. A discrete fluid circuit model was constructed to estimate the flow rate and pressure in a microfluidic channel. Four types of fluid physical properties (fluid resistance, fluid viscosity, time constant, and compliance coefficient) were obtained by analysing flow rate and pressure. The proposed method was employed to detect several types of suspended blood (variations in haematocrit, thermal-shocked RBCs, and RBC aggregation-enhanced blood). From the quantitative comparison, the proposed method provides better results than the previous method. Therefore, the proposed method is a promising tool for detecting biophysical variations in suspended blood. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The radiation detection performance of CZT epitaxial single crystal grown by the Close Space Sublimation (CSS) method is hindered by inherent defects. However, significant improvement in this work is achieved through annealing in a Te 2 atmosphere. The saturation channel value of the total energy peak of the detector for 241Am α-particles has shown a substantial increase from 1900 to 6000, resulting in a notable enhancement of the carrier collection efficiency. After annealing, the detector's energy resolution to 241Am gamma-rays can reach 8.3%, representing the highest energy resolution achieved by CSS growth of CZT materials. This remarkable achievement holds great promise for its potential application in the field of low-energy detection. Analysis of the laser-beam-induced current (LBIC) curve results reveals that the surface recombination of the detector is more pronounced prior to annealing, adversely affecting the transport process of photogenerated carriers. The low-temperature photoluminescence (PL) results and I–V curve demonstrate a significant compensation effect on the shallow acceptor level V Cd after annealing, leading to a reduced concentration of free carriers and subsequently leading to lower leakage current and improved signal-to-noise ratio for the detector. The concurrent reduction in leakage current and surface recombination contributes collectively to improving the radiation detection performance of the CZT detector. These findings underscore the importance of annealing in a Te 2 atmosphere as a viable method for mitigating defects and optimizing the performance of CZT epitaxial single crystals, showcasing the potential for broader applications in the field of low-energy detection. • The leakage current is reduced from 1.3 nA to 0.59 nA under the applied bias voltage of 0.5 V, which makes the detector obtain a good signal-to-noise ratio. • The surface recombination rate decreased from 13.78 × 106 cm s−1 to 3.82 × 105 cm s−1, significantly improving the carrier collection efficiency. • The energy resolution to 241Am@59.5 KeV gamma-rays of the detector reached 8.3% for the first time, which is expected to be applied in the field of low energy detection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the practical application of CdZnTe photon counting detectors, severe detector counting distortion can be caused by pulse pileup. A count rate correction method in this paper is proposed to solve this problem. In this method, the case where multi-photons are recorded by higher energy regions due to pulse pileup crossing the energy threshold is considered to calculate the true count rates under all energy bins. A verification method based on Poisson distribution is also proposed to evaluate the accuracy of the correction method. A 16-pixel linear array CdZnTe photon counting detector was used for verification. Taking the dual-energy bin as an example, this method was introduced, and the true count rates of the high- and low-energy bins are successfully calculated. The result was highly consistent with the verification result, which proves the reliability of the proposed method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coal fire sponges (CFSs) are a type of sponge-like contaminated soil bulge common in coal fire areas. However, the impacts of CFSs on the local environment are not yet understood. Thus, this study investigated soil samples from CFSs in the Wuda coalfield, Inner Mongolia, China, focusing on the acidity, sulfate, and fluorine content. The results showed that the CFSs were highly acidic, with an average pH of 0.76, and contained high levels of SO 4 2− (257.29 × 103 μg/g), total fluorine (TF, 2011.6 μg/g), and water-soluble fluorine (WF, 118.94 μg/g), significantly exceeding those in the regional background soil and indicating that CFSs are a point source of heavy pollution. Soils in the 8000 m2 reclamation zone showed elevated acidity and high SO 4 2− (129.6 × 103 μg/g), TF (1237.8 μg/g), and WF (43.05 μg/g) levels, which was likely the result of the weathering and dissemination of CFS. The CFS samples were rich in hydrogen fluoride, releasing 202.05 ppb of it when heated to 40 °C. Correlation analysis indicated that the acid sulfate soils in CFSs are likely caused by HSO 4 −/SO 4 2−. Time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry detected four characteristic ions (F−, H 3 O+, H 2 SO 4 +, and HSO 4 −) in all micro-domains of each sample, indicating that ionic fluorine compounds and sulfuric acid hydrate were found in the CFS samples. Sulfate minerals detected in CFSs included CaSO 4 , Fe 2 (SO 4) 3 , CdSO 4 , NH 4 HSO 4 , and Na 2 SO 4. Thus, the results identified CFSs as a transmission channel for contamination, with erosional surface soils as the carrier, for the first time. CFSs pose a serious threat of contamination, albeit over limited areas. [Display omitted] • Coal fire sponges (CFSs) are found globally in soft soil above burning coal seams. • Samples compared CFSs with the local coalfield area and two reference sites. • High acidity, sulfate, and fluorine levels were detected in all CFS samples. • CFSs were confirmed as a source of environmental contamination. • Contamination from air deposition is wider, but CFS intensity is higher. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The GGC repeat expansion in the 5′-untranslated region of NOTCH2NLC was recently identified as the cause of neuronal intranuclear inclusion disease (NIID). To determine if the NIID repeat expansion contributes to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), we screened 304 unrelated ALS patients and 637 healthy controls for the GGC repeat expansion in NOTCH2NLC using repeat-primed PCR and fragment analysis. None of the ALS patients carried the GGC repeat expansion. The sizes of the GGC repeats ranged from 7 to 36 in the ALS patients and 4 to 46 in the controls. The distribution of the GGC repeat sizes did not differ between the two groups. Our findings indicate that the NOTCH2NLC GGC repeat expansion is absent or extremely rare in Taiwanese patients with ALS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigated 98 Taiwanese patients with molecularly unassigned hereditary spastic paraplegia (HSP) and found none of them had the NOTCH2NLC GGC repeat expansion, which is the cause of neuronal intranuclear inclusion disease (NIID). Our findings suggest that the NOTCH2NLC GGC repeat expansion may not contribute to HSP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During X-ray scanning imaging, the X-ray dose received by CdZnTe photon counting detectors varies dynamically because of the different absorption coefficients that occur at different locations in the object being imaged. This paper explores the phenomenon of count rate relaxation in CdZnTe detectors during X-ray dose mutations and studies the intrinsic relationship of this phenomenon with the polarization effect. The characterization of the count rate relaxation processes of CdZnTe detectors at three typical X-ray doses are studied in detail. It is concluded that the count rate relaxation process of the CdZnTe detectors correspond to the polarization process, which can be divided into three stages according to the accumulation rate of space charges, and the relaxation time depends on the settling time of the polarizing electric field. In addition, the effects of temperature and bias voltage on the relaxation phenomenon of CdZnTe detectors are studied. The results show the relaxation process of the count rate can be regulated by adjusting the temperature and bias voltage of the CdZnTe detectors. Changes in temperature and bias mainly act on the trapping and de-trapping processes of deep-level traps, thereby affecting the establishment of the polarization electric field, which further proves the close relationship between the count rate relaxation phenomenon and the polarization effect. Finally, the effects of count rate relaxation on DR image quality are discussed based on self-built DR imaging system. • The relaxation phenomenon of the CdZnTe X-ray photon counting detector was proposed. • The dominant factors affecting the relaxation process at different X-ray doses was determined. • The relationship between polarization and relaxation of high-flux X-ray CdZnTe detectors was examined. • The effects of bias and temperature on the relaxation phenomenon were characterized. • The deterioration of the relaxation phenomenon on the quality of the image was shown. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Time-varying dynamic coefficients of journal bearing are estimated without the tachometers. • Instantaneous angular speed of the journal bearing-rotor system is extracted. • An iteration strategy based on the square-root cubature Kalman filter is formulated. Accurate estimation of time-varying dynamic coefficients (TVDCs) of the journal bearing is important for the dynamic characteristic analysis of rotating machinery. This paper proposes a novel estimation method to identify TVDCs of journal bearings without the tachometers. Firstly, a phase-based method is introduced to extract the instantaneous angular speed (IAS) from the shaft displacement. Secondly, an iteration strategy based on the square-root cubature Kalman filter (SRCKF) is developed to estimate the TVDCs in the time domain. The state-space model and the measured shaft displacements of the journal bearing-rotor system have been applied in the estimation process. The proposed method can estimate TVDCs of journal bearing under speed-variable conditions without a tachometer by combining the phase-based and SRCKF methods. Finally, the simulation and experiments studies are conducted to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed methods. The results show that the proposed method can efficiently estimate TVDCs of the journal bearing under speed-variable conditions and at varied measurement noise levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The plasma-silane coupling agent synergistically modified the hollow glass microsphere (HGM) process, blended with epoxy resin (EP), to prepare an acoustic matching layer suitable for the gas ultrasonic transducers. In comparison to the traditional NaOH solution stirring co-hydroxylation process, the plasma treatment method can rapidly activate the surface activity of HGM, leading to the generation of a large number of hydroxyl groups on the HGM surface. This process eliminates the need for mechanical stirring and cleaning steps, thus reducing the damage degree of HGM and the loss degree of surface hydroxyl groups. The results indicate that the amination modification effect of HGM treated with plasma is more pronounced, and the HGM/EP composite material exhibits better compatibility and density. The assembled ultrasonic transducer exhibits a sensitivity of up to 1.58 V, showing an improvement of nearly 61.2 % compared to the reference ultrasonic transducer with a sensitivity of 0.98 V. Furthermore, the calibrated testing of the gas ultrasonic flowmeter using the improved ultrasonic transducer demonstrates a percentage error absolute value below 0.7 % and a measurement result standard deviation below 0.15 %, demonstrating better measurement accuracy and consistency. This study aims to provide a new feasible process for improving the performance of gas ultrasonic transducers and ultrasonic flowmeters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Reactive multi-component and multi-phase epoxy asphalt cementitious materials are reviewed. • Structure-performances relationship and performances forming processes of epoxy asphalt binders are discussed. • Chemo-rheological and thermo-rheological characterizations of epoxy asphalt binders are reviewed. • Formulation and microstructure control principles of epoxy asphalt binders are presented. • Future outlooks of epoxy asphalt binders are highlighted. Epoxy asphalt cementitious material is a reactive multi-component and multi-phase chemically-modified binder. It bonds the aggregates together by utilizing polyaddition and homopolymerization reactions between epoxy resins and their curing agents, obtaining epoxy asphalt concrete with excellent service performances, which has been universally used in the construction of the demands-rigorous orthotropic steel deck bridges. In this review, the formation of microstructure networks was presented to help designing the formulation and forecasting their final thermo-rheological properties. And the control principle of gel point of epoxies curing reactions that dominates the epoxy asphalt binder recipes were considered, followed by a discussion on their curing agents' formulating methods and their curing mechanism. Then, the chemo-rheological, mechanical, and thermo-rheological properties before and after the curing of epoxy asphalt binders were thoroughly examined as a scientific guidance for the application process of epoxy asphalt binders, respectively. And finally, potential future research fields are highlighted. This review attempts to understand the epoxy asphalt binders from the viewpoint of formulation and their rheology, aiming to support the further development and application of epoxy asphalt in academic research and industry practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rainbow refractometry can offer simultaneous measurement of refractive index and size of droplets and has recently undergone interesting developments in spray measurement applications. Nevertheless, recording of incomplete rainbow signals from droplets with varying refractive index or at long working distances is often encountered, and these incomplete signals are usually considered invalid and are rejected. This study develops rainbow measurement using incomplete signals by systematically investigating the feasibility and accuracy. The partial degree of the rainbow signal was quantified by the newly defined dimensionless signal partial ratio (S P R). Simulations and inversions of typical incomplete standard rainbow and global rainbow patterns of droplets with three size distributions (normal, log-normal and bimodal normal) at various S P R were conducted. The retrieved refractive indices, size or size distributions and fitted signals were analyzed. S P R = 1 is the threshold for the deterioration of inversion quality. Inversion using signal fitting is far superior to the approaches using only specific characteristic points in terms of accuracy and precision. The above conclusions were also verified in laboratory experiments. For S P R ≤ 1, rainbow refractometry can achieve absolute and relative errors of refractive index and size within 6 × 1 0 − 4 , 3% for monodisperse droplet and 2 × 1 0 − 4 , 8% for spray droplets. [Display omitted] • Study feasibility and accuracy of rainbow refractometry using incomplete signals. • Partial degree of rainbow signal is quantified by a newly defined variable (S P R). • S P R = 1 (primary peak position) is threshold for deterioration of inversion quality. • Inversion using full signal fitting is far superior to characteristic point methods. • Simulation conclusions are verified by experiments on monodisperse/spray droplets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Rainbow signal inversion algorithm based on ResNet and multi-objective regression. • The algorithm is comparable in accuracy to traditional ones but three times faster. • The structure and hyperparameters of the algorithm are determined in detail. • Loss competition relationship between droplet size and refractive index is studied. • An experimental validation system was built to verify the generalizability. Traditional standard rainbow inversion algorithms for retrieving droplet size and refractive index require time-consuming complex data pre-processing and multiple calculations, while optimized. This paper proposes a novel standard rainbow signal inversion algorithm based on residual networks and multi-objective regression. The algorithm requires only simple data pre-processing and is tested on a simulated data set covering representative signals from droplets with refractive indices of 1.33–1.35 and sizes of 60–240 μm. The average absolute error of the refractive index and average relative error of the droplet size are 9.16 × 10−5 and 0.55%, respectively. Experimental validations were carried under laboratory conditions on streams of mondisperse droplets and the robustness of the algorithm was verified under two conditions. In addition to its satisfactory inversion accuracy, the speed of each signal inversion is three times faster than traditional algorithms. The proposed algorithm meets the requirements of engineering applications and scientific research in terms of accuracy and real-time performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Biogenic K-jarosite coatings were synthesized to inhibit pyrite oxidation. • Coated pyrite can resist both chemical and biological oxidation. • Biogenic K-jarosite coatings were stable even when pH < 3. • It is a promising method to prevent AMD production. This study proposes a novel method by forming biogenic K-jarosite coatings on pyrite surfaces driven by Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans (A. ferrooxidans) to reduce heavy metal release and prevent acid mine drainage (AMD) production. Different thicknesses of K-jarosite coatings (0.7 to 1.1 μm) were able to form on pyrite surfaces in the presence of A. ferrooxidans , which positively correlated with the initial addition of Fe2+ and K+ concentrations. The inhibiting effect of K-jarosite coatings on pyrite oxidation was studied by electrochemical measurements, chemical oxidation tests, and bio-oxidation tests. The experimental results showed that the best passivation performance was achieved when 20 mM Fe2+ and 6.7 mM K+ were initially introduced with a bacterial concentration of 4 × 108 cells·mL−1, reducing chemical and biological oxidation by 70 % and 98 %, respectively (based on the concentration of total iron dissolved into the solution by pyrite oxidation). Similarly, bio-oxidation tests of two mine waste samples also showed sound inhibition effects, which offers a preliminary demonstration of the potential applicability of this method to actual waste rock. This study presents a new perspective on passivating the oxidation of metal sulfide tailings or waste and preventing AMD. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pressure evolution in the process of an underwater-detonation gas jet is experimentally researched in this study. The pressure-test experimental system is established to analyze the propagation laws of shock waves and the morphological changes of bubble pulsation. The results show that the peak pressure attenuation of the shock wave gradually slows down as the propagation distance increases. Owing to the blockage of water, a high-pressure zone is formed near the tube exit (HPZ-NE). The shock wave continues to propagate downstream after separating from the HPZ-NE, with a high-pressure zone behind the wave (HPZ-BW). The HPZ-NE has a longer duration (approximately 3.7 ms) and higher initial pressure than the HPZ-BW, and its position does not move with the shock wave. After propagation of the shock wave, the gas jet in the detonation tube continuously penetrates the water, leading to the formation of a bubble. The bubble develops in an approximate spherical shape during the first pulsation period, which is divided into four stages: rapid expansion, slow expansion, slow contraction, and rapid contraction. The expansion and contraction processes account for half of the pulsation duration, respectively. The inertia and the pressure difference alternately become the main factors of morphological changes. When the bubble contracts to the minimum volume, a new shock wave is formed by the centroid. The bubble experiences several pulsation periods in the subsequent development, accompanied by a process whereby the centroid gradually moves away from the tube exit. • The pressure evolution in the process of an underwater-detonation gas jet is experimentally researched. • The propagation laws of shock waves and the morphological changes of bubble pulsation are analyzed experimentally. • The laws of shock wave propagation and interaction are researched, and the evolution mechanism of the bubble is revealed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The three pulsations of the gas bubble of the underwater detonation tube are captured by high speed photography. • The frequency spectrum and energy distribution of the signals in water and in the air are obtained by wavelet transform and fast Fourier transform. • The transmission characteristics of the pulsating signal and the shock wave degenerated by the detonation wave on the water–air interface have been preliminarily analyzed, which proves that the low-frequency pulsating signal has a stronger transmission ability. An underwater detonation tube (DT) experiment is carried out to investigate the pressure field characteristics of the detonation gas jet propagating under and above a free surface. In the experiment, a 0.78 L DT filled with 0.12 MPa methane-oxygen mixture is detonated. The evolution of jet shape and pressure field are recorded using high-speed photography, pressure sensors, hydrophones and microphones. There are mainly three bubble pulsation periods determined from the bubble evolution and field pressure evolution, and the bubble shape tends to be stable after the pulsation ends. The fast Fourier Transform and Wavelet Transform method are adopted to analyze the frequency characteristics and energy distribution of the pressure signals. The energy of the bubble pulsation and the energy of the shock wave have different contributions in different media. Specifically, the high-frequency energy formed by reverberation contributes more in water, while the low-frequency energy formed by bubble pulsation is the main part of the energy in the air. The shock wave formed by the decoupling of the detonation wave attenuates sharply during its propagation. The distribution characteristics of the detonation acoustic signal in the air are analyzed using the band-pass filter pair, and the transmission coefficient is defined to study the ability of the detonation acoustic signal to transmit through the water–air interface. The result indicates that the low-frequency signals, such as bubble pulsations, can transmit out of the water–air interface at a larger transmission angle more easily than the high-frequency signals. The signal of bubble pulsation has a stronger transmission ability through the water–air interface compared to the shock wave. Combining the bubble evolution and pressure evolution is helpful to analyze the different signal components in the water and air, which plays an important role in the analysis of the pressure field characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of cisplatin is restricted by systemic toxicity and drug resistance. Supramolecular nano-drug delivery systems involving drugs as building blocks circumvent these limitations promisingly. Herein, we describe a novel supramolecular system [Pt(IV)-SSNPs] based on poly(β-cyclodextrin), which was synthesized for efficient loading of adamantly-functionalized platinum(IV) prodrug [Pt(IV)-ADA 2 ] via the host-guest interaction between β-cyclodextrin and adamantyl. Pt(IV)-ADA 2 can be converted to active cisplatin in reducing environment in cancer cells, which further reduces systemic toxicity. The introduction of the adamantane group-tethered mPEG 2k endowed the Pt(IV)-SSNPs with a longer blood circulation time. In vitro assays exhibited that the Pt(IV)-SSNPs could be uptaken by CT26 cells, resulting in cell cycle arrest in the G2/M and S phases, together with apoptosis. Furthermore, the Pt(IV)-SSNPs showed effective tumor accumulation, better antitumor effect, and negligible cytotoxicity to major organs. These results indicate that supramolecular nanoparticles are a promising platform for efficient cisplatin delivery and cancer treatment. Composition and preparation of Pt(IV)-SSNPs and the possible mechanism of the in vivo drug release and anticancer treatment: accumulation in tumor cell; cell uptake; GSH-activated drug release; DNA binding inducing cell apoptosis. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Retinoic acid receptor related orphan receptor γt (RORγt), identified as the essential functional regulator of IL-17 producing Th17 cells, is an attractive drug target for treating autoimmune diseases. Starting from the reported GSK2981278 (Phase II), we structurally modified and synthesized a series of 2 H -chromone-4-one based sulfonamide derivatives as novel RORγt inverse agonists, which significantly improved their human metabolic stabilities while maintaining a potent RORγt inverse agonist profile. Efforts in reducing the lipophilicity and improving the LLE values led to the discovery of c9 , which demonstrated potent RORγt inverse agonistic activity and consistent metabolic stability. During in vivo studies, oral administration of compound c9 exhibited a robust and dose-dependent inhibition of IL-17A cytokine expression and significantly lessened the skin inflammatory symptoms in the mouse imiquimod-induced skin inflammation model. Docking analysis of the binding mode revealed that c9 can suitably occupy the active pocket, and the introduction of the morpholine pyridine group can interact with Leu396, His479, and Cys393. Thus, compound c9 was selected as a preclinical compound for treating Th17-driven autoimmune diseases. [Display omitted] • 45 RORγt inverse agonists were synthesized and evaluated the biological activities. • c9 has better pharmacokinetic profile than GSK2981278. • c9 significantly lessened the skin inflammatory symptoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A reduced chemical kinetic model is proposed for the oxidation mechanism of ethanol-gasoline blending fuels. • The simulated results have been verified with the experimental data under different conditions. • The water content effects on the combustion of ethanol has been analyzed. As a renewable energy, ethanol has attacked increasingly attention for spark-ignition engines due to its characteristics of high octane number and valuable oxygen content (34.74% v/v). However, little research expounds the fundamental of ethanol-gasoline blends in SI engines because of its complicated and changeable chemical kinetics mechanism. In this investigation, a reduced chemical kinetic model is proposed for the oxidation mechanism of ethanol-toluene reference fuels (TRF) blending fuels using the method of semi-decoupling methodology. The small molecule (H2 / CO / C1) mechanism is taken as the kernel in this model, and integrated the skeleton mechanism of ethanol into the TRF mechanism of gasoline surrogate as well, called E-TRF model, which contains 64 species and 194 elementary reactions. The simulated results of ignition delay times, laminar burning velocity, and in-cylinder pressure and heat release rate have been verified with the experimental data available in other literature under different operation conditions, respectively. The result shows that the E-TRF model could accurately predict the combustion characteristics of the ethanol-gasoline fuel. In addition, the water content effects on the combustion of ethanol has been also analyzed. It is found that an increase of water content leads to a decline of the critical radical production and burning temperature, which suppresses the combustion progress and eventually results in a decrease of laminar burning velocity. Moreover, the physical effect of water is more than 90% on laminar burning velocity and the physical effect of water at different temperatures is more than 80% on ignition delay times. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]