Summary This paper develops algorithms and investigates various classifiers to determine the authenticity of short social network postings, an average of 20.6 words, from Facebook. This paper presents and discusses several experiments using a variety of classifiers. The goal of this research is to determine the degree to which such postings can be authenticated as coming from the purported user and not from an intruder. Various sets of stylometry and ad hoc social networking features were developed to categorize 9259 posts from 30 Facebook authors as authentic or non‐authentic. An algorithm to utilize machine‐learning classifiers for investigating this problem is described, and an additional voting algorithm that combines three classifiers is investigated. This research is one of the first works that focused on authorship authentication in short messages, such as postings on social network sites. The challenges of applying traditional stylometry techniques on short messages are discussed. Experimental results demonstrate an average accuracy rate of 79.6% among 30 users. Further empirical analyses evaluate the effect of sample size, feature selection, user writing style, and classification method on authorship authentication, indicating varying degrees of success compared with previous studies. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

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A bstract Introduction World Health Organization proposes severe acute respiratory infection (SARI) case definition for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) surveillance; however, early differentiation between SARI etiologies remains challenging. We aimed to investigate the spectrum and outcome of SARI and compare COVID-19 to non-COVID-19 causes. Patients and methods A prospective cohort study was conducted between March 15, 2020, to August 15, 2020, at an adult medical emergency in North India. SARI was diagnosed using a “modified” case definition—febrile respiratory symptoms or radiographic evidence of pneumonia or acute respiratory distress syndrome of ≤14 days duration, along with a need for hospitalization and in the absence of an alternative etiology that fully explains the illness. COVID-19 was diagnosed with reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction testing. Results In total, 95/212 (44.8%) cases had COVID-19. Community-acquired pneumonia ( n = 57), exacerbation of chronic lung disease ( n = 11), heart failure ( n = 11), tropical febrile illnesses ( n = 10), and influenza A ( n = 5) were common non-COVID-19 causes. No between-group differences were apparent in age ≥60 years, comorbidities, oxygenation, leukocytosis, lymphopenia, acute physiology and chronic health evaluation (APACHE)-II score, CURB-65 score, and ventilator requirement at 24-hour. Bilateral lung distribution and middle-lower zones involvement in radiography predicted COVID-19. The median hospital stay was longer with COVID-19 (12 versus 5 days, p = 0.000); however, mortality was similar (31.6% versus 28.2%, p = 0.593). Independent mortality predictors were higher mean APACHE II in COVID-19 and early ventilator requirement in non-COVID-19 cases. Conclusions COVID-19 has similar severity and mortality as non-COVID-19 SARI but requires an extended hospital stay. Including radiography in the SARI definition might improve COVID-19 surveillance. How to cite this article Pannu AK, Kumar M, Singh P, Shaji A, Ghosh A, Behera A, et al . Severe Acute Respiratory Infection Surveillance during the Initial Phase of the COVID-19 Outbreak in North India: A Comparison of COVID-19 to Other SARI Causes. Indian J Crit Care Med 2021;25(7):761–767.

Field portable X-ray fluorescence (FP-XRF) has tremendous potential in geoenvironmental engineering as a qualitative assessment tool. Identification of the elevated concentrations of the selected elements (Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn) in various geomaterials like soil-like-material (SLM), incinerated bottom ash (IBA), construction and demolition waste (CDW), zinc tailings (ZT) and fly ash (FA) was performed by FP-XRF and compared with the local soil–Delhi silt. Comparably higher concentrations (mg/kg) of Cr (401.0), Cu (499.0), Pb (532.0), Zn (608.0) in SLM, Cr (195.0), Cu (419.0), Ni (93.0), Pb (931.0), Zn (771.0) in IBA and Cr (195.0), Cu (4000.0), Pb (671.0), Zn (7122.0) in ZT were observed. CDW and FA showed similar concentrations range as in local soils. FP-XRF was also used in-situ on local soil at 11 sites to examine its ability to identify the elements with significant variations in concentrations. The results showed high variability in Cl and S concentration values across the 11 sites attributed to the changing moisture content and dissolved salts. The concentration range for the remaining elements were similar at all sites. The verification of the detected elements through visual inspection of the spectrum was also carried out.

Gastrointestinal (GI) disorders are the ailments of the digestive tract that affect its function like digestion, absorption and excretion. The dysfunction of the gastrointestinal tract may occur due to infections by bacteria, parasites and viruses. Peptic Ulcer Disease is a gastrointestinal tract disorder of stomach and duodenum that is associated with infection of Helicobacter pylori. Helicobacter pylori is regarded as the worldwide causative agent responsible for the etiology of peptic ulcer and gastric carcinoma. The existing drug therapies are good healers in this situation, but due to resistance problems and side effects of drugs, researchers have been working to find out some safe alternatives. Interestingly, the medicinal herbs have been used for treating several disorders, including peptic ulcers and are considered an effective and safer alternative to existing drugs. It is also considered as an eco-friendly, easily available, safe, and less toxic traditional treatment therapy. The combination of herbal medicines with natural products has been shown effective in treating peptic ulcers. In this review, the medicinal plants used against H. pylori infection have been discussed. The mechanism of herbal drugs in healing peptic ulcers by inhibition of H+ K+ ATPase pump, secretion of gastric acid and gastric mucosal protection have also elaborated. The phytochemicals responsible for biological activity have been summarized in the present article. The combination of herbs and natural products in the form of the polyherbal formulation may also be helpful as an effective therapy for treating peptic ulcers. Medicinal plants may offer the researchers new chemical molecules to explore as future drugs or as biochemical agents to unravel the etiology of the disease.