A team from the University at Buffalo has developed a simple, non-invasive way to diagnose three common ear diseases. The new system involves an audio test that uses an audio chirp to map out the ear structure in conjunction with Bluetooth earphones and a deep learning AI system.
The EarHealth system uses a pair of Bluetooth earphones modified with inward-facing microphones and linked to a smartphone application. The device works by chirping an audio signal into the user’s ear, then recording the sound’s reverberation time as it travels through the ear canals. This allows the system to profile each user’s specific inner ear shape.
The EarHealth system uses a pair of earbuds with an inward-facing microphone attachment. (Credit: University at Buffalo)
A reading is taken from the user with a sonar-like audio chirp when they are healthy to create a baseline. Then, the test is repeated regularly to check for changes. In human trials with 92 participants, the system diagnosed three common conditions that change the ear’s geometry with an accuracy of 82.6% only by looking for changes in the inner ear.
It recognized three common ear conditions: ruptured eardrums, earwax blockage, and ostitis media, a common ear infection. Furthermore, it could spot them before they become significant issues in many cases.
The researchers have identified four different conditions that alter the returned audio signal in a way the deep learning system can identify and diagnose at over 80% accuracy. (Credit: University at Buffalo)
Zhanpeng Jin, Ph.D., the lead author of a study published by the ACM, explained:
“With EarHealth, we have developed what we believe is the first-ever earbud-based system that monitors ear health conditions in an effective, affordable and user-friendly way. In addition, because it has the potential to detect these conditions very early, it could greatly improve health outcomes for many people.”
The researchers aim to increase the system’s accuracy by examining the potential influence of ear hair, prior eardrum irritation, and other variables on readings. However, the system appears efficient, practical, and user-friendly enough to gain universal acceptance for regular, super-fast ear exams.
EarHealth is still in its infancy, and there are some limitations. For example, the system cannot be used to identify more complex ear problems such as otosclerosis or chronic middle ear infections. It also does not work well if users wear glasses or hearing aids. However, it is much cheaper than current methods and could be useful for screening large populations.
The drama between former North Melbourne premiership teammates Wayne Carey and Anthony Stevens has taken a twist, with reports the duo had to be “separated” at a club reunion on the weekend.
More than 20 years after Carey’s cheating scandal with Stevens’ then-wife rocked the Kangaroos and ended with the skipper departing the club, an SEN report on Monday suggested the duo clashed at a gathering of former North players on Saturday night.
SEN reporter Sam Edmund told Dwayne’s World there was an “ugly altercation” between Carey and Stevens at North Melbourne’s 1996 premiership gathering at the Railway Hotel in Yarraville.
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“Witnesses said, Dwayne, that Carey went at Stevens, accusing him of talking behind his back, telling people not to bother trying to catch up with him but then being fine in-person,” Edmund told Dwayne’s World.
the Herald Sun reported the conversation centered around Stevens’ mental health, with Carey discussing how he dealt with his own issues following the affair scandal. Carey told Channel 7 earlier this yer the affair was the “biggest regret of his adult life” and had “haunted me for over 20 years.”
Edmund said witnesses had told him the pair were “separated”, with fellow ex-Kangaroos left “stunned” by the verbal attack. the Herald Sun reported there was no potential of violence and that the pair “moved on and shared a beer together” afterwards.
Stevens then didn’t attend the club’s 1996 reunion parade at Marvel Stadium on Sunday — where 17 players took part in a motorcade before the Roos’ clash with Sydney — as he was left “shattered by the heated exchange”.
The Roos told the Herald Sun that Stevens, who’s also a club director, didn’t attend Sunday’s event because he was ill.
Stevens had played a crucial role in organizing the celebrations, but ultimately saw fit to stay away from Sunday’s event.
“It’s a pretty sad sequel,” Edmund said.
While Stevens was absent on Sunday, Carey was in a vehicle with ex-teammate Wayne Schwass and premiership coach Denis Pagan for the lap around the Docklands stadium.
Also in attendance was Glenn Archer, who famously uncovered the affair at his house back in March 2002.
The scandal saw Carey resign in disgrace before moving across to play his final two years at Adelaide – and famously coming up against former teammates like Archer.
North Melbourne’s 1996 premiership reunion at Marvel Stadium on Sunday. Picture: Michael WillsonSource: Supplied
Last weekend’s gathering was to celebrate the club’s 25-year anniversary, but due to Covid restrictions in 2021 the meeting was pushed back to last weekend.
Six players were presented life membership at the club – Stuart Anderson, Mathew Capuano, Glenn Freeborn, Mark Roberts, Robert Scott and Peter Bell.
A 58-year-old Perth man armed himself with a large knife and tried to kill his wife after becoming angry at her for ending their 35-year relationship and taking out a restraining order against him, the WA Supreme Court has been told.
Key points:
The court was told the woman’s adult son rushed to protect her
She suffered injuries to her hands, including a ruptured tendon
The accused man denies he tried to kill her
The man, who the ABC has chosen not to name, is on trial accused of attempting to murder his wife as she lay sleeping the room of her Beeliar home, with her four-year-old granddaughter beside her, just after midnight on September 25 , 2020.
The court was told the couple’s adult son, who was staying with his mother to protect her, heard his mother’s cries for help and rushed into the bedroom.
He managed to grab his father in a bear hug and eventually forced him to drop the knife, while the woman called the police.
She had suffered injuries to her hands, including a ruptured tendon, because she grabbed the knife when her husband jumped on top of her, after entering the bedroom and turning on the light.
State Prosecutor Brett Tooker said the man had been holding the weapon at his wife’s chest while yelling things like “you’re dead, I’m going to kill you.”
The woman ended the relationship with her husband after he started drinking and psychologically verbally abusing her.(ABC Far North: Holly Richardson)
Mr Tooker said the problems in the relationship started in about 2017, when the accused man started drinking alcohol heavily and mixing it with prescription medication.
The court heard the man first physically assaulted his wife in early 2018, when he put his hands around her neck, but she decided not to call the police because he promised not to do it again.
‘You better sleep with one eye open’, wife told
However, Mr Tooker said the man continued to verbally and psychologically abuse his wife who, by mid-September 2020, decided to end their relationship.
Mr Tooker said the woman told her husband to move out, but days later when he was still living at the house, police were called after she rejected his sexual advances and he said to her “you better sleep with one eye open because you’re not going to see the morning”.
He also looked at his wife and made a motion like slitting his throat before continuing to act in an intimidating way towards her.
An order banning him from the home for 72 hours was made but the court heard the man returned in the early hours of the morning and said to his wife “you don’t know how much I could get you”.
The woman then obtained an interim family restraining order which was served on her husband on September 24.
‘Spark that lit the fuse’
Mr Tooker said it was the prosecution case that “was the spark that lit the fuse” and nine hours later the accused man drove to his wife’s house armed with the knife.
The man is also charged with threatening to kill his son for allegedly saying to him, after he had restrained his father, “let me go… I can kill you as well”.
The accused man denies both charges.
His barrister, Simon Freitag SC said there was no dispute his client had made some “terrible decisions” and that he had ended up “ranting and shouting” at his wife while holding a knife.
However, Mr Freitag said the man maintained he had only wanted to scare his wife, with whom he was “trying in a very silly way” to communicate with.
“He was trying to get his point across in a drunken, stupid method and using a knife for emphasis as a tool of fear,” Mr Freitag told the jury.
The man’s lawyer says he did not intend to kill his wife. (ABC Capricorn: Katrina Beavan)
He also said that while it “sounded harsh”, the man could have succeeded in killing his wife if that was what he had intended.
“She was in a very vulnerable position… she didn’t see the knife until he turned on the light,” Mr Freitag said.
Mr Freitag said the man did admit causing injuries to his wife’s hands, but he denied had intended to cause her death.
“It’s a crime of causing grievous bodily harm, not of attempted murder,” he said.
Charges could be filed as early as Monday against a registered nurse from Houston who is suspected of speeding a Mercedes through a Windsor Hills intersection, sparking a fiery crash that killed six people — including an infant and a pregnant woman.
Nicole Lorraine Linton, 37, was arrested on suspicion of vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence.
Linton was released from Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center Saturday and is in police custody being held on a $2 million bail, according to police records.
District Attorney George Gascón said Friday that his office would be “working with law enforcement throughout the weekend,” and the investigation could be presented to his office for consideration of charges “as early as Monday.”
“Preliminary investigation indicates Nicole Lorraine Linton was driving a dark-colored Mercedes, traveling southbound on La Brea Ave. at a high rate of speed,” a CHP statement said.
“While driving the Mercedes, Linton proceeded through a red light and collided into multiple vehicles traveling eastbound and westbound on Slauson Ave. As a result of this collision, multiple parties were ejected and two vehicles were fully engulfed in flames. Following the collision, involved parties were transported to (Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center) by ambulance and six individuals were declared deceased on scene,” the CHP reported.
“Due to extensive fire damage, it is unknown at this time the make and model of the involved vehicles and which vehicles the involved parties were traveling in,” the CHP reported.
Kaiser Permanente issued a statement Friday saying, “Everyone at Kaiser Permanente is deeply saddened by Thursday’s horrific crash. It’s impossible to imagine the pain those involved are experiencing. Our thoughts are with everyone affected by this tragedy. At this time, we are not able to comment on what has been reported as a criminal investigation.”
The pregnant woman who died in the crash was identified Friday by the coroner’s office as 23-year-old Asherey Ryan of LA. She and her de ella male fetus were among the victims killed in the crash that occurred just before 1:40 pm Thursday at La Brea and Slauson avenues, near Ladera Park.
According to Ryan’s family, the woman’s year-old son, Alonzo Quintero, was also killed, along with Ryan’s boyfriend, who was the father of her unborn son. Ryan’s boyfriend was driving the car that was struck, according to a video posted online by Ryan’s sister of hers, Shoshanna Kerr.
Kerr identified him as Reynold Lester, 24, of LA who worked as a security guard.
Another person killed at the scene has been identified as Craig Pitchford, 66, a possible pedestrian, according to the coroner’s office.
In the video, Kerr said Ryan was 8 1/2 months pregnant, and she was on her way to a doctor’s appointment when the crash occurred.
The family was planning to name the unborn infant Armani Lester, according to the LA County coroner’s office.
“She left the house at 1:30. She woke me up,” Kerr said. “She woke me up and told me she was going to go to her doctor’s appointment, that she loved me and she’ll be right back. “
She said that 15 minutes later, she saw video of the car crash. “And for some reason, as soon as I saw that video, it hit me. It felt different. I felt connected,” she said.
Kerr said she cried throughout the night.
“I didn’t sleep one bit,” she said. “I’m all raised out.”
Shoshanna Kerr also told reporters that Ryan’s family forgives the driver who caused the crash.
“I just want to tell her that we forgive her,” she said. “She will have to live with this for the rest of her life. That’s why she was spared. We understand it already.”
A GoFundMe page established on behalf of the family had raised over $127,000 as of Sunday morning.
On Friday and again on Saturday night, friends and family gathered at the crash site to remember and say goodbye to the victims. Lighted candles dotted a memorial near the site of the fiery crash. Saturday’s gathering included some LA County firefighters who were among the first to respond to the crash.
Earl Ofari Hutchinson, a nearby resident and president of the Los Angeles Urban Policy Roundtable, told reporters the intersection has been historically dangerous with speeding vehicles, as well as the scene of occasional street takeovers.
Dramatic surveillance video from the scene Thursday showed the Mercedes plowing through the 35 mph zone on La Brea at a speed authorities estimate neared 100 mph — speeding through a red light at Slauson and broad-siding a vehicle.
The crash ignited an inferno as the sedan struck by the Mercedes was pushed into at least one other vehicle, and both wound up against a gas station sign on the corner. A trail of fire was left burning in the intersection as the vehicles struck by the speeding driver were engulfed in flames.
CHP reports indicate eight vehicles, including Linton’s, were involved in the collision. The heavily damaged Mercedes ended up near a bench down the street.
According to the fire department and the CHP, three adults and one infant died in the collision, and there were multiple ejections due to the crash. Ryan’s male fetus was also being counted among the deceased.
The CHP reported a sixth victim was later found dead in the burned wreckage of one vehicle, but further information about that person has not been released.
Eight others were injured in the collision, including seven occupants of a Chevrolet Traverse. The 33-year-old driver, a year-old boy and three teenagers suffered moderate injuries, while two other teens inside the vehicle had only minor injuries.
The eighth victim — the 19-year-old driver of an Audi A3 — also suffered minor injuries.
Elon Musk has called Instagram a “next-level thirst trap” full of attractive women, and admitted that he stopped using the photo-sharing app after he found himself taking too many selfies.
“I was on Instagram for a while but I mean, so the problem is Instagram, man, it’s just a thirst trap, you know?” Musk said on an episode of the full send podcast last week, the new york post reports.
“Instagram is a next-level thirst trap.”
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A co-host then asked Musk to clarify, “On the women side, right?”
“Yeah, yeah, totally,” replied Musk, who has fathered 10 children with three different women.
“But the thing is I found myself taking like a lot of selfies and sh*t and I’m like, what the f**k man. Why am I doing this?
Musk then said that he realized that he was wasting his time with the app and decided to delete his account.
“I’m like, oh I’m trying to get more likes and do selfies, I’m not gonna – I gotta stop,” he said.
Musk said that he now maintains a “secret Instagram account” that he uses to look at posts.
He said he prefers using Twitter to communicate with the public.
“Whatever message I’m trying to get across I can just post on Twitter,” Musk said.
This article originally appeared in the New York Post and was reproduced with permission
Melbourne Instruments tells us that after the overwhelming response received at NAMM 2022, they have decided to offer Pre-orders for their LITTLE GIRL synth directly from their website, rather than a Kickstarter. Pre-orders will launch via Melbourne Instruments webstore from 10am, Tuesday, August 9, 2022 (Melbourne, Australia GMT+10). Here’s the details that they have sent us…
Price information The full retail price for NINA is $US3500.00 plus taxes. A special first-edition run of 500 units will be individually badged and numbered. The first 100 units ordered will receive an Early Bird Discount of $500.00. After this, all units ordered before October 30, 2022 will have an Early Adopter Discount of $250.00. From November 1, 2022, any remaining units will be priced at $3500.00.
Updated NINA overview Melbourne Instruments have pushed Nina’s capabilities, picking the best technology in analog and digital domains, but staying true to the simple operation of this type of instrument.
Key Features • 12 Voices. Multitimbral and layering possible. • Fully analog signal path. • Discrete analog circuitry for the VCOs and VCFs, not off-the-shelf synth chips.
• Digital oscillators, wavetables and samples. • Stereo output from each voice and a unique unison stereo spin effect.. • Patch morphing between 2 sounds of all settings including the mod matrix. • A powerful modulation matrix that gets very close to the anything-to-anything ideal, with unlimited bus connections. • Interactive mod matrix setup mode using the motorized controls. • Large amount of overdrive possible. • Useful and expressive haptic feedback when using the knobs. • Hackable open source software.
Melbourne Instruments are working closely with several renowned patch designers across the world, and promise a solid set of hundreds of patches on release. Some clips have already been put up on Soundcloud and Melbourne Instruments will be uploading more previews of the sound library in the coming weeks.
Availability The first edition run of NINA is exclusively available direct from Melbourne Instruments. Pre-orders will commence on August 9, with delivery available to most locations. Nina is expected to ship in December this year.
NINA’s motorized controllers Melbourne Instruments have developed our own motorized controller* to replace the potentiometers in a traditional synth. The design is based on a brushless drone motor with a custom own ultra-hires optical sensor. The brushless motor and contactless optical sensor are extremely robust with a lifetime rating in excess of 50 million cycles, which is 500 times more than conventional pots. The result is the feel, subtlety and precision of a real analog potentiometer, while having instant recall and haptics. With haptics, the knobs can change dynamically from smooth to detained to multi-position switches. The end experience is far more useful and engaging than a standard analog pot. *Patent Pending
Former NSW deputy premier John Barilaro has told an inquiry he wishes he did not apply for a lucrative New York role he was controversially awarded, describing the process as a “s**tshow”.
Mr Barilaro is giving evidence for the first time to an upper house inquiry into the recruitment process that saw him appointed the state’s Senior Trade and Investment Commissioner to the Americas.
He has since withdrawn from the $500,000-a-year role, which is based in New York.
Mr Barilaro told the inquiry he flagged his interest in the role to Premier Dominic Perrottet on a phone call in November after his resignation from cabinet, to which he claimed Mr Perrottet responded “great”.
Mr Barilaro said he spoke to then-trade minister Stuart Ayres and texted Treasurer Matt Kean about the role, too.
He told the inquiry he expected to clear his name and has refuted any suggestion he sought any special treatment.
LIVE UPDATES: Read our live blog as John Barilaro gives evidence
Daniel Mookhey closely questioned Mr Barilaro.(AAP: James Gourley)
Mr Barilaro was asked about a briefing note sent to his office stating a candidate for the job, Jenny West, had been selected for the role in August 2021.
He said he didn’t recall seeing the note, but accepted it contained an electronic signature of his in accordance with a process in his office for when he was away.
Mr Barilaro said he had “no issue” with Ms West, who described him as a “strong professional”.
Ms West has previously given evidence to the inquiry that she was told on August 12 she was the successful candidate.
She claims that offer was later revoked and she was told the job would be a “present” for someone.
“I didn’t know that Jenny West was offered a contract … this inquiry has really opened that up,” Mr Barilaro said today.
He denied the government was seeking to create a bunch of “pork barrels” in changing the position to become a ministerial appointment.
“I will say this, if I knew what I know now, I wish I never had applied,” Mr Barilaro said.
“If I knew what I know now, I wouldn’t have walked into what was as**tshow.
“I’m going to use those terms, I’m sorry to say, because the trauma I’ve gone through over the past six to seven weeks has been significant.”
‘An error’ to offer Barilaro the job
Amy Brown appeared before the inquiry for a third time.(abcnews)
In her third time answering questions before the inquiry, Investment NSW chief executive Amy Brown said that, “in hindsight”, it was an “an error” to offer Mr Barilaro the US job before a panel report was signed.
“The way these roles were set up as public service appointments, but with a high degree of ministerial interest, made it difficult to run an optimal process,” she said.
Ms Brown recalled hearing from Mr Barilaro in August 2021, when he recommended his then-senior-media-adviser, Jennifer Lugsdin, for an upcoming opening at Investment NSW.
Mr Barilaro and Ms Lugsdin are in a relationship, which did not commence while he was deputy premier, and Ms Brown said the only comment from him in that call about a relationship was regarding a professional one.
Ms Brown was presented with a chain of emails from December 2021 showing communication about the recruitment process for the US role.
The position was re-advertised publicly, on December 17, however the emails were sent about a week prior. The email chain was forwarded to Ms Lugsdin.
Ms Brown agreed it was a fair inference that Ms Lugsdin would have known by at least December 10 about a decision to commence advertising the role that year, “assuming she read that email”.
Elliott bows out of race for deputy Liberal leader
David Elliott avoided answering whether he discussed the role with Mr Perrottet. (AAP: Dan Himbrechts)
Meanwhile, the upper house inquiry’s terms will be extended to include other trade roles, after allegations Mr Perrottet offered to create a job for Transport Minister David Elliott.
This afternoon, Mr Elliott announced he would not run for the deputy leadership of the NSW Liberal Party after the resignation of Stuart Ayres from cabinet last week over “concerns” about his conduct in the appointment of Mr Barilaro.
Mr Elliot told Nine radio he would not contest the role, due to be determined on Tuesday, after a discussion with Mr Perrottet.
“I don’t think that’s going to be in the best interests of the party and I think it’s in Dominic’s best interests for us to have some unity for the parliament over the course of the next eight months as we go to an election,” he said.
Earlier today the Premier hosed down the job claims, telling Nine radio he had spoken to Mr Elliott about several roles — including NSW’s agent-general position in London — but that he was “never promised a job outside of politics”.
“That is deeply offensive and wrong,” the Premier said.
“But people always say, from time to time, discussions will be had in relation to when someone withdraws what they would like to do. That is normal.
“What I don’t do, as Premier, is say that I will ever make those appointments or offer anyone a job.”
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‘Offensive’ allegations: NSW Premier denies offering trade job as sweetener
Mr Perrottet said the conversations he had with ministers were private.
“I am not going to go into details in relation to parliamentary secretary roles or a role in the ministry,” he said.
He did not deny an allegation that Mr Elliott had requested to be made NSW governor if he retired.
“From time to time, members of parliament will always say to their colleagues what they would like to do after politics,” the Premier said.
“People come to me, or come to my colleagues and say, ‘When I leave parliament I’d like to do A, B, and C’.”
A spokesperson for Mr Perrottet says any appointments are a matter for the Premier.(AAP: Bianca De Marchi)
NSW Shadow Treasurer Daniel Mookhey said Mr Perrottet had many questions to answer.
“The allegations about the Premier allegedly offering David Elliott an appointment to the agent-general position in London are deeply serious,” Mr Mookhey said.
“Labor as a result will seek to expand the inquiry’s term of reference so we can examine the agent-general’s position as well as other roles across the world.”
The Premier said he would adopt the recommendations of a review into the hiring process for trade roles, which is due to be finished within days.
Treasurer Matt Kean confirmed he would run for the position of Deputy NSW Liberal Leader.
The Premier’s office has been contacted for comment.
Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) was visibly emotional after the Senate passed a sweeping spending bill Sunday afternoon, emphasizing the importance of what Democrats are heralding as the largest climate investment in US history.
“This is a planetary emergency and this is the first time that the federal government has taken action that is worthy of the moment,” Schatz said outside the Senate chamber minutes after the bill passed.
“This is the biggest climate action that any country has ever taken, and now I can look my kids in the eye and say we’re really doing something about climate,” he added.
The Senate passed the mammoth bill shortly after 3 pm on Sunday, capping off a marathon session that featured more than 15 hours of debate. Vice President Harris cast the tie-breaking vote to send the measure to the House, where it is widely expected to pass.
The bill, titled the Inflation Reduction Act, provides $369 in energy security and climate investments. The measure includes $4,000 and $7,500 tax credits for purchasing used and new electric vehicles, but the funds cannot go towards vehicles that have batteries made from minerals processed in China.
The legislation is expected to bring down climate-warming emissions by 40 percent over the next 10 years.
Schatz, chief deputy whip for the Democratic caucus, told reporters “we’ve been fighting for this for decades.”
Democrats approved the bill through budget reconciliation, an arcane process that requires a simple majority vote for passage. The process allowed Democrats to avoid a GOP filibuster.
During a press conference shortly after passage of the bill Sunday, Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer (DN.Y.) said the upper chamber “has now passed the most significant bill to fight the climate crisis ever.”
“It’s gonna make a difference to my grandkids. The world will be a better place for my grandchildren because of what we did today. And that makes me feel very, very good. Very, very good,” the Democratic leader added.
As we’ve seen in recent months, the process of catching a flight has become increasingly chaotic.
Delays, cancellations, lost baggage and lengthy queues have plagued the travel sector this year, largely due to a severe shortage of labour, exacerbated by thousands of workers being made redundant during the pandemic.
Watch: The jobs on offer at Brisbane Airport in the video above
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Airports are now in overdrive to scale up and find staff with plenty of jobs waiting to be filled.
Brisbane Airport is recruiting as many as 2000 people for a variety of positions ranging from engineers to gardeners.
“We’re looking for virtually every job you find at an airport,” Brisbane Airport CEO Gert-Jan de Graaff told Sunrise.
“From airline crew to baggage handlers, from people working in our retail stores to engineers and accountants.
“Across the board we’re looking for people because of the recovery of our industry, but also the future growth we’re expecting in the aviation industry.”
It’s also anticipated that as passenger traffic grows, another 10,000 people will be needed over the next decade.
Brisbane Airport from above Credit: BNE Airport
“Aviation gets in your blood,” de Graaff said.
“It’s an exciting world… it’s so cool.”
The Brisbane Airport Careers Expo will be held on Saturday September 10, 2022. More info can be found here.
