Iowa governor sets special election date for Senate District 35, Cournoyer's vacated seat (copy)It was a big Week 14 for both of these teams, as the 49ers ended a three-game skid and the Rams had one of their biggest wins of the season. Now, the two meet up on a short week on national TV. San Francisco pounded the Bears at home last week while the Rams upended the Bills, 44-42. The Rams previously beat the Niners, 27-24, in September, so Brock Purdy & Co. are looking for payback. They’ll have to do it without both of their leading running backs, Christian McCaffrey and Jordan Mason, who were both injured a couple of weeks ago. Fans looking to watch this week’s “Thursday Night Football” game need to be an Amazon Prime Member to watch it on Prime Video , which offers a 30-day free trial for new users when they sign up. After the 30-day free trial ends, an Amazon Prime membership costs $14.99 per month or $139 per year. You can cancel at any time, including before the free trial ends. Who: 49ers vs. Rams When : 8:15 PM ET, December 12, 2024 Where : Levi’s Stadium Stream : Prime Video with an Amazon Prime membership. Amazon Prime membership costs $14.99 per month or $139 per year and offers a 30-day free trial for new users. FuboTV (free trial); DirecTV Stream (free trial) ; Sling ; NFL+ More College Football What is FuboTV? FuboTV is an internet television service that offers more than 200 channels across sports and entertainment including Paramount+ with SHOWTIME . From the UEFA Champions League to the WNBA to international tournaments ranging across sports, there’s plenty of options available on FuboTV, which offers a free trial, and $20 off the first month for new costumers. What is DirecTV Stream? DirecTV Stream offers practically everything DirecTV provides, except for a remote and a streaming device to connect to your television. Sign up now and get three free months of premium channels including MAX , Paramount+ with SHOWTIME and Starz. What is SlingTV? SlingTV offers a variety of live programing ranging from news and sports and starting as low as $20 a month for your first month. Subscribers also get a month of DVR Plus free if they sign up now. Choose from a variety of sports packages without long-term contracts and with easy cancelation. What is NFL+? NFL+ and NFL+ Premium allow fans access to the most NFL content available online. From game replays, coaches film and all-22 field angles of the games to NFL Network original programing, NFL+ and NFL + Premium allow fans to stay fully locked in with every NFL team no matter where you are in the country. RELATED CONTENT: Deebo Samuel says frustration led to now-deleted social media post about lack of opportunities By JOSH DUBOW AP Pro Football Writer SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — The least productive four-game stretch of Deebo Samuel’s career sent the frustrated wide receiver for the San Francisco 49ers to social media. In a now-deleted post on X, formerly known as Twitter, Samuel tried to give an explanation on why he has gained only 97 yards from scrimmage the past four games as the big plays that made him an All-Pro in 2021 are no longer coming. “Not struggling at all just not getting the ball!!!!!!!” he wrote on Monday. Samuel later deleted the post, but not after it caused a bit of a social media firestorm. Asked on Tuesday if he wanted to expand on what he wrote, Samuel simply said, “You read what you read. A little frustrated, for sure.” Coach Kyle Shanahan said Tuesday that he would prefer if Samuel had kept his frustrations off social media, but said it wasn’t a distraction to the players and coaches in the building as the Niners prepare to host the Los Angeles Rams on Thursday night. Shanahan said he and Samuel talk often about his role and getting Samuel more touches is always a priority for the Niners. “I mean I understand Deebo saying that,” Shanahan said. “Deebo wants to help us out and the only way he helps us out is getting the ball more and we’d like to get it to him more. We’ll continue to work at that.” Samuel had a breakthrough season in 2021 starting with a midseason game against the Rams when he caught five passes for 97 yards and a TD and was also used as a runner out of the backfield with five carries for 36 yards and another score. Samuel helped carry the Niners to the NFC title game that season in his new role as a “wide back” who split time lining up as a wide receiver and a running back. He finished that season with 1,770 yards and 14 touchdowns from scrimmage, leading to a lucrative contract extension that offseason. Samuel couldn’t match that output the past two seasons, but has hit some lows this season at age 28 as he says the element of surprise is gone. “We’ve been doing it almost three years now ... they know what’s going on,” he said. He is averaging just 2.9 yards on his 32 carries as teams are more prepared for when he runs the ball and is on pace for his worst season in terms of catches and receiving yards per game with 40 receptions for 553 yards. He hasn’t scored a TD since Week 6. Quarterback Brock Purdy called Samuel one of his best friends on the team and said that he just needs more opportunities. Purdy said defenses have been taking away some of the chances for Samuel to excel. “I want to get Deebo the ball every play if I could,” Purdy said. “I want to have him break all the records as best as possible. I want Deebo to do Deebo things. We all do in this building. It’s just how the games have gone. I love my guy and I’m going to do whatever I can to get him the ball.” NOTES: RB Isaac Guerendo (foot), DE Nick Bosa (oblique), LT Trent Williams (ankle), OL Ben Bartch (ankle) all were expected to miss the team’s walkthrough with injuries. ... LB Dre Greenlaw (Achilles tendon), DL Yetur Gross-Matos (knee), S Malik Mustapha (chest, shoulder), LB Dee Winters (ankle) and LB Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles (knee) were all limited. ___ AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL The Associated Press contributed to this article
New York City mayor meets with Trump's 'border czar' to discuss how to go after 'violent' criminals
Mashburn scores 18 as Temple beats Buffalo 91-71Photos: Remembering Jimmy Carter, the 39th US president
Former five-star defensive end Williams Nwaneri transfers from Missouri to NebraskaOntario threatens restrictions if Trump imposes 25% tariffsArewa Ambassador International College of Health Science and Technology, Zaria in Kaduna state has embarked on the circumcision of over 1,000 children in Zaria city and its environs free of charge. The College Director Murtala Iliyasu disclosed this during the exercise at the College premises on Saturday. He said, the free circumcision exercise is part of the College corporate social responsibility to the neighbouring communities. Iliyasu remarked further that the college management will continue to do more beside the circumcision exercise. The Director of the College acknowledged the support and contributions of their Grand Patron Justice Isiyaku Bello (Kuliyan Zazzau ) in supporting the college to execute many impactful programmes in the college. According to him Justice Bello is the pillar of all their success and the College is proud to have him as a Grand Patron. He said, the Grand Patron will remain forever in their book of records as the College is growing in terms of producing high skills manpower to the health sector. The College Director promised to improve on the Corporate Social Responsibility by introducing High blood pressure test and other related tests in the coming 2025. NIGERIAN TRIBUNE
No. 9 seed Tennessee will make its first visit to No. 8 Ohio State on Saturday (8 p.m. ET, ABC/ESPN), but Volunteers safety Andre Turrentine will be in a familiar setting at Ohio Stadium for the first-round matchup of the College Football Playoff. He played in four games for the Buckeyes (10-2) as a freshman in 2021 before the Nashville native joined the Vols. "I know a lot of guys on that team, so just having that brotherhood and camaraderie from being a freshman there is going to be big in this game and big for me personally," said Turrentine, a redshirt junior. He has 35 tackles and one interception in starting all 12 games for the Vols (10-2) this season. Ohio State defensive coordinator Jim Knowles feels prepared for Tennessee's fast-paced offense, which averages 74.6 plays per game to rank 11th nationally. "Our defense is built for tempo," he said. --No. 7 Notre Dame (11-1) quarterback Riley Leonard loves the idea of playing for a national championship, but as he told Nicole Auerbach of NBC Sports, the matchup with the No. 10 Hoosiers (11-1) on Friday in South Bend, Ind., (8 p.m., ABC/ESPN) is also about regional pride. "It's huge for the state of Indiana. We've been talking about it becoming a football state," he said. "It's notorious for basketball, for obvious reasons." Indiana coach Curt Cignetti on how the game will play out: "I think we're plus-15 on turnover ratio, and they're plus-16. So, ball security for us and them is going to be really important -- winning the turnover battle." --Even though No. 6 Penn State (11-2) lost to No. 1 Oregon in the Big Ten Championship Game, the Nittany Lions were buoyed by running for 292 yards. Now, they host No. 11 SMU (11-2), which is ranked fourth nationally at 93.4 rushing yards allowed per game. "Our expectation is that that's what we're supposed to do every single game," Penn State center Nick Dawkins said. "I don't think it matters the opponent that we played against." SMU coach Rhett Lashlee on the perceived advantage Penn State will have with a forecast high of 28 degrees: "They have to play in it just like we do and I don't think they've played a game at home on Dec. 21, either. I don't think the weather is a big deal." --No. 5 Texas coach Steve Sarkisian expects big things from quarterback Quinn Ewers when the Longhorns (11-2) host No. 12 Clemson on Saturday (4 p.m., TNT/MAX). "We've all got to take our game to another level, and he's no different, right?" Sarkisian said. "He's got to do it." Actor Matthew McConaughey is a Longhorns super fan but that doesn't mean much to defensive lineman T.J. Parker of Clemson (10-3). "I don't know who that is," the sophomore said on Tuesday. "I may know his face, but not by name. I don't know him." --Field Level MediaNEW YORK, Dec. 29, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, reminds purchasers of common stock of Kyverna Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: KYTX) pursuant and/or traceable to the Kyverna’s initial public offering conducted on February 8, 2024 (the “IPO”), of the important February 7, 2025 lead plaintiff deadline. SO WHAT: If you purchased Kyverna common stock you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement. WHAT TO DO NEXT: To join the Kyverna class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=32239 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email case@rosenlegal.com for information on the class action. A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than February 7, 2025. A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation. WHY ROSEN LAW: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources, or any meaningful peer recognition. Many of these firms do not actually litigate securities class actions, but are merely middlemen that refer clients or partner with law firms that actually litigate cases. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm achieved the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company at the time. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs’ Bar. Many of the firm’s attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers. DETAILS OF THE CASE: According to the lawsuit, the registration statement and prospectus used to effectuate Kyverna’s IPO misstated and/or omitted facts concerning the results of Kyverna’s ongoing evaluation of KYV-101, Kyverna’s lead product candidate, in clinical trials. Specifically, Kyverna touted patient “improvement” in certain indicators while failing to disclose adverse data regarding one of Kyverna’s trials, which adverse data was known to Kyverna at the time of the IPO. When the true details entered the market, the lawsuit claims that investors suffered damages. To join the Kyverna class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=32239 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email case@rosenlegal.com for information on the class action. No Class Has Been Certified. Until a class is certified, you are not represented by counsel unless you retain one. You may select counsel of your choice. You may also remain an absent class member and do nothing at this point. An investor’s ability to share in any potential future recovery is not dependent upon serving as lead plaintiff. Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm , on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm/ . Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. ------------------------------- Contact Information: Laurence Rosen, Esq. Phillip Kim, Esq. The Rosen Law Firm, P.A. 275 Madison Avenue, 40th Floor New York, NY 10016 Tel: (212) 686-1060 Toll Free: (866) 767-3653 Fax: (212) 202-3827 case@rosenlegal.com www.rosenlegal.comTinubu rejects call to downsize his 48-man cabinetFacts and challenges for the Philippine good governance advocates
Phillies add depth to bullpen with 1-year deal for reliever Joe Ross
Chicago Bulls guard Ayo Dosunmu has a strained right calfWhen it comes to the trolls, Tina Knowles has Beyoncé 's back. After the Grammy winner faced some criticism over her NFL halftime show during the Baltimore Ravens and Houston Texans' Christmas Day game , her mom spoke out in her defense. "It is mind-boggling to me that you would take your precious Christmas day and watch a performance of someone you hate and you don’t think has talent," Tina wrote on her Instagram Dec. 27, " so that you can go talk ish about it later." The 70-year-old continued, "Obviously you are so obsessed with them, addicted to them, and secretly admire them, wish you could be them, that you cannot help but to watch and critique and comment and say dumb ridiculous stuff that makes you look like a joke!!" At the NFL halftime show at NRG Stadium in Houston, Beyoncé performed a medley of several songs, including a few from her album Cowboy Carter , which marked the first time she's performed her new music live on stage. She was joined by her and husband Jay-Z 's eldest daughter Blue Ivy Carter , 12, while Post Malone and Shaboozey made cameos. To Beyoncé's critics, Tina suggested such viewers "go to another channel when it’s halftime," adding, "Watch goofy cartoons or Bozo the Clown or something you can relate to and see yourself in." "I have learned so much from her warrior spirit," she said about her daughter, "of when they go low I work harder." LeToya Luckett , one of Beyoncé's former Destiny's Child bandmates, commented on the post, writing, "Period!!! Ms. T." Tina also shared several posts praising both her daughter and Blue Ivy's performances. "Repost : High kick perfection!!!" she wrote on Instagram , alongside a video showing her granddaughter showcasing a high kick on the football field. "Yes I am a proud grandma."
As previously announced, Abpro also has entered into a Standby Equity Purchase Agreement with Yorkville (the "SEPA”) pursuant to which Abpro has the right, but not the obligation, to issue up to $50 million in shares of its common stock to Yorkville upon registration of such shares, provided that no balance is outstanding on any promissory note to Yorkville (currently $3 million dollars outstanding). Among other restrictions and conditions set forth in the SEPA, the number of shares Abpro may request may not exceed the average of the daily traded amount of its shares of common stock during the five consecutive trading days preceding such request, and shall not cause Yorkville's ownership to exceed 4.99% of the then outstanding common stock of Abpro, and the maximum amount of shares issued under the SEPA cannot exceed 19.99% of the outstanding common stock of Abpro without prior shareholder approval. Upon registration of the shares subject to the SEPA, Abpro has the right to receive financing for an additional $2 million. As previously announced, Abpro also has entered into a forward purchase agreement for the sale of up to 500,000 shares of common stock. Abpro believes that the various financings should significantly improve Abpro's financial flexibility as it advances the development of its pipeline of its next-generation antibody therapies. "Becoming a public company represents a major milestone in our journey to provide solutions for patients with difficult-to-treat oncology and ophthalmology indications,” said Ian Chan, CEO and co-founder of Abpro. "The funds are expected to help accelerate the advancement of our pipeline to clinical trials. The financing will also provide the foundation for ongoing development of novel immunotherapies and next-generation antibody treatments in our pipeline with the aim of improving the lives of patients in need.” Abpro is advancing its pipeline of next-generation antibody therapies for HER2+ breast, gastric, and colorectal cancers, non-HER2+ gastric and liver cancer, wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and diabetic macular edema (DME), and infectious diseases. These next-generation antibodies are developed using Abpro's proprietary DiversImmune® platform, which creates antibody therapies against traditionally difficult targets. Abpro has partnered with Celltrion , a leading South Korean pharmaceutical company, in an exclusive global collaboration to further advance ABP 102, a T-cell engager, which is being developed for the treatment of HER2+ breast, gastric, and pancreatic cancers. Soo Young Lee, Senior Vice President and Head of the New Drug Division of Celltrion Inc. and a member of Abpro's Board of Directors, remarked, "Abpro's ABP 102 drug candidate has shown preclinical data indicating the potential for better efficacy and less toxicity. We look forward to working closely with Abpro to advance ABP 102 into clinical trials.” Tony Eisenberg, who serves as a Director of Abpro, and had served as Chief Strategy Officer of ACAB prior to the business combination, added, "It's an honor to be part of Abpro and the groundbreaking work they are doing. The Atlantic Coastal team is excited to have successfully completed this business combination with Abpro and to work with the Abpro management team to execute their long-term operational and strategic objectives as they develop next-generation antibody therapies with the potential to save lives and generate real return for investors.” Abpro's Chairperson, Miles Suk, stated, "As the chairperson of the board, I am honored to guide Abpro through this landmark achievement. This listing marks a new chapter of growth and opportunity, and we remain committed to delivering sustainable value to our shareholders." About Abpro Abpro's mission is to improve the lives of mankind facing severe and life-threatening diseases with next-generation antibody therapies. Abpro is advancing a pipeline of next-generation antibody therapies, for HER2+ breast, gastric, and colorectal cancers, non-HER2+ gastric and liver cancer, wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and diabetic macular edema (DME), and infectious diseases. These antibodies are developed using Abpro's proprietary DiversImmune® platform. Abpro has partnered with Celltrion, which is a leading South Korean biotechnology company, ranked top 25 in the world by market capitalization, in an exclusive collaboration to further advance ABP 102, a T-cell engager, which is being developed for the treatment of HER2+ breast, gastric, and pancreatic cancer. Abpro is located in Woburn, Massachusetts. For more information, please visit www.abpro.com . Forward Looking Statements This press release contains certain "forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the "safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements generally are identified by the words "believe,” "project,” "expect,” "anticipate,” "estimate,” "intend,” "strategy,” "aim,” "future,” "opportunity,” "plan,” "may,” "should,” "will,” "would,” "will be,” "will continue,” "will likely result” and similar expressions, but the absence of these words does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking. Forward-looking statements are predictions, projections and other statements about future events that are based on current expectations and assumptions and, as a result, are subject to risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ from their expectations, estimates and projections and consequently, you should not rely on these forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. Many factors could cause actual future events to differ materially from the forward-looking statements in this press release, including general economic, financial, legal, political and business conditions and changes in domestic and foreign markets; Abpro's ability to raise additional capital; the outcome of judicial proceedings to which Abpro or its subsidiaries is, or may become a party; failure to realize the anticipated benefits of the Business Combination, including difficulty in, or costs associated with, integrating the businesses of ACAB and Abpro; risks related to the rollout of Abpro's business and the cost and timing of expected business milestones; the effects of competition on Abpro's future business; and those factors discussed in Abpro's public filings under the heading "Risk Factors,” and other documents of Abpro filed, or to be filed, with the SEC. You should carefully consider the foregoing factors and the other risks and uncertainties that will be described in the "Risk Factors” section of Abpro's public filings and other documents to be filed by Abpro from time to time with the SEC. These filings identify and address other important risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events and results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made. Readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward- looking statements, and while Abpro may elect to update these forward-looking statements at some point in the future, they assume no obligation to update or revise these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless required by applicable law. Abpro does not give any assurance that Abpro will achieve its expectations. Actual results, performance or achievements may differ materially, and potentially adversely, from any projections and forward-looking statements and the assumptions on which those forward-looking statements are based. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements as a predictor of future performance as projected financial information and other information are based on estimates and assumptions that are inherently subject to various significant risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which are beyond our control. CONTACT: Contacts Company: [email protected] Investors: [email protected] Media: Jessica Yingling, Ph.D., Little Dog Communications Inc. [email protected]
Drew Lock matched his career high of four touchdown passes and also rushed for a score and the New York Giants snapped their franchise-record 10-game losing streak with an entertaining 45-33 victory over the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday in East Rutherford, N.J. Malik Nabers had seven receptions for a career-best 171 yards and two touchdowns to exceed 100 receptions and 1,000 yards during his strong rookie campaign. New York (3-13) registered a season best for points scored by more than tripling its league-worst season average of 14.3 per game. The setback eliminated the Colts (7-9) from the AFC playoff race. Lock completed 17 of 23 passes for 309 yards and Wan'Dale Robinson and Darius Stayton also had receiving scores for the Giants, who won at home for the first time this season. Ihmir Smith-Marsette returned a kickoff for a touchdown. Joe Flacco started for Indianapolis with Anthony Richardson (back/foot) sidelined and completed 26 of 38 passes for 330 yards and two touchdowns. But he also was intercepted twice and lost a fumble. Jonathan Taylor rushed for 125 yards and two touchdowns on 32 carries, Michael Pittman Jr. had nine receptions for 109 yards and one touchdown and Alec Pierce caught six passes for 122 yards and a score. Indianapolis pulled within 35-33 on Flacco's 7-yard touchdown pass to Pittman with 6:38 remaining. The Giants answered with Lock's 5-yard scramble with 2:57 left to push the lead to nine. After Flacco was picked off by Dru Phillips, Graham Gano tacked on a 30-yard field goal 37 seconds later to put it away. New York held an eight-point halftime lead before Smith-Marsette fielded the opening kickoff of the second half and returned it 100 yards for a touchdown to give the Giants a 28-13 advantage. The Colts answered with Taylor's 26-yard run to move within eight with 11:03 left in the third quarter. Flacco threw a 13-yard touchdown catch to Pierce with 10:53 remaining in the game to move Indianapolis within two. A trick play on the two-point conversion failed. New York increased its lead to nine just more than two minutes later when Nabers caught a short pass at midfield and easily shed two tacklers before sprinting down the right sideline for a 59-yard score. Lock tossed three first-half touchdown passes as the Giants led 21-13 at the break. Nabers caught a short pass in the right flat and raced 31 yards for a score to give New York a 7-3 lead with 1:05 left in the opening quarter. He finished the day with 104 receptions for 1,140 yards. Lock tossed touchdown passes of 32 yards to Slayton and 5 yards to Robinson while increasing the lead to 21-6. Taylor scored on a 3-yard run with 20 seconds remaining. --Field Level MediaNew York City mayor meets with Trump's 'border czar' to discuss how to go after 'violent' criminals
Researchers develop an efficient way to train more reliable AI agents November 22, 2024 Massachusetts Institute of Technology Researchers developed an efficient approach for training more reliable reinforcement learning models, focusing on complex tasks that involve variability. This could enable the leverage of reinforcement learning across a wide range of applications. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIN Email Fields ranging from robotics to medicine to political science are attempting to train AI systems to make meaningful decisions of all kinds. For example, using an AI system to intelligently control traffic in a congested city could help motorists reach their destinations faster, while improving safety or sustainability. Unfortunately, teaching an AI system to make good decisions is no easy task. Reinforcement learning models, which underlie these AI decision-making systems, still often fail when faced with even small variations in the tasks they are trained to perform. In the case of traffic, a model might struggle to control a set of intersections with different speed limits, numbers of lanes, or traffic patterns. To boost the reliability of reinforcement learning models for complex tasks with variability, MIT researchers have introduced a more efficient algorithm for training them. The algorithm strategically selects the best tasks for training an AI agent so it can effectively perform all tasks in a collection of related tasks. In the case of traffic signal control, each task could be one intersection in a task space that includes all intersections in the city. By focusing on a smaller number of intersections that contribute the most to the algorithm's overall effectiveness, this method maximizes performance while keeping the training cost low. The researchers found that their technique was between five and 50 times more efficient than standard approaches on an array of simulated tasks. This gain in efficiency helps the algorithm learn a better solution in a faster manner, ultimately improving the performance of the AI agent. "We were able to see incredible performance improvements, with a very simple algorithm, by thinking outside the box. An algorithm that is not very complicated stands a better chance of being adopted by the community because it is easier to implement and easier for others to understand," says senior author Cathy Wu, the Thomas D. and Virginia W. Cabot Career Development Associate Professor in Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE) and the Institute for Data, Systems, and Society (IDSS), and a member of the Laboratory for Information and Decision Systems (LIDS). She is joined on the paper by lead author Jung-Hoon Cho, a CEE graduate student; Vindula Jayawardana, a graduate student in the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (EECS); and Sirui Li, an IDSS graduate student. The research will be presented at the Conference on Neural Information Processing Systems. Finding a middle ground To train an algorithm to control traffic lights at many intersections in a city, an engineer would typically choose between two main approaches. She can train one algorithm for each intersection independently, using only that intersection's data, or train a larger algorithm using data from all intersections and then apply it to each one. But each approach comes with its share of downsides. Training a separate algorithm for each task (such as a given intersection) is a time-consuming process that requires an enormous amount of data and computation, while training one algorithm for all tasks often leads to subpar performance. Wu and her collaborators sought a sweet spot between these two approaches. For their method, they choose a subset of tasks and train one algorithm for each task independently. Importantly, they strategically select individual tasks which are most likely to improve the algorithm's overall performance on all tasks. They leverage a common trick from the reinforcement learning field called zero-shot transfer learning, in which an already trained model is applied to a new task without being further trained. With transfer learning, the model often performs remarkably well on the new neighbor task. "We know it would be ideal to train on all the tasks, but we wondered if we could get away with training on a subset of those tasks, apply the result to all the tasks, and still see a performance increase," Wu says. To identify which tasks they should select to maximize expected performance, the researchers developed an algorithm called Model-Based Transfer Learning (MBTL). The MBTL algorithm has two pieces. For one, it models how well each algorithm would perform if it were trained independently on one task. Then it models how much each algorithm's performance would degrade if it were transferred to each other task, a concept known as generalization performance. Explicitly modeling generalization performance allows MBTL to estimate the value of training on a new task. MBTL does this sequentially, choosing the task which leads to the highest performance gain first, then selecting additional tasks that provide the biggest subsequent marginal improvements to overall performance. Since MBTL only focuses on the most promising tasks, it can dramatically improve the efficiency of the training process. Reducing training costs When the researchers tested this technique on simulated tasks, including controlling traffic signals, managing real-time speed advisories, and executing several classic control tasks, it was five to 50 times more efficient than other methods. This means they could arrive at the same solution by training on far less data. For instance, with a 50x efficiency boost, the MBTL algorithm could train on just two tasks and achieve the same performance as a standard method which uses data from 100 tasks. "From the perspective of the two main approaches, that means data from the other 98 tasks was not necessary or that training on all 100 tasks is confusing to the algorithm, so the performance ends up worse than ours," Wu says. With MBTL, adding even a small amount of additional training time could lead to much better performance. In the future, the researchers plan to design MBTL algorithms that can extend to more complex problems, such as high-dimensional task spaces. They are also interested in applying their approach to real-world problems, especially in next-generation mobility systems. The research is funded, in part, by a National Science Foundation CAREER Award, the Kwanjeong Educational Foundation PhD Scholarship Program, and an Amazon Robotics PhD Fellowship. Story Source: Materials provided by Massachusetts Institute of Technology . Original written by Adam Zewe. Note: Content may be edited for style and length. Journal Reference : Cite This Page :Eagles try to cast aside perceived Hurts-Brown relationship issues ahead of Steelers showdown11 graves with 15 bodies found near Mexican border with GuatemalaSmall, luxury foods are great as stocking stuffers or other gifts. Ideas for under $50 If you have an avid cook or food lover in your life, your gifting opportunities these days are vast and deep. There are authentic ingredients and creative concoctions in brick-and-mortar shops and online. The global pantry beckons. Katie Workman, The Associated Press Dec 12, 2024 1:54 PM Share by Email Share on Facebook Share on X Share on LinkedIn Print Share via Text Message If you have an avid cook or food lover in your life, your gifting opportunities these days are vast and deep. There are authentic ingredients and creative concoctions in brick-and-mortar shops and online. The global pantry beckons. Plus, in many cases, the packaging is gorgeous! Many of these affordable luxuries can be tucked into a stocking, but they also make great presents for a co-worker, mail carrier, nephew or teacher. As a slightly compulsive and obsessive gift giver, matching the right edible treat to the recipient is my jam (another great gifting option!). All of these items cost under $50, but make a big splash. Let’s go! Ah, nuts Two Chinese American friends took the flavors of their favorite childhood treats and transformed them into sweet spreads, ready to be slathered on toast, apples or just eaten with a spoon. Rooted Fare sells spreads like Crunchy Black Sesame Butter (inspired by tang yuan, a Lunar New Year dessert ), Pineapple Cake Cashew Butter, and Chinese Almond Cookie Butter. $15 per jar. Il Colle del Gusto makes some sweet and unusual nut-based spreads with an Italian twist: Coarse Hazelnut and Cocoa, Crunchy Peanut, and Sicilian Pistachio, all blended with olive oil. Swirl them into ice cream, slather them onto toast. Each jar under $10. Related: Sesame lovers will be delighted with either an assortment of tahini products such as Chocolate Sesame Sauce, or a tub of flaky, melt-in-your-mouth halva in flavors like cardamom and pistachio from Seed + Mill . Some great gift sets available for under $50. The crunchiest Chile crunch condiments have taken the cooking world by storm, and there are some highly giftable options. Fly By Jing makes a large assortment of Asian-inspired chile crunches, and they have some attractively packaged gift sets for the holidays . The mini sampler set is around $20. The aptly named Chile Crunch sells several varieties of their crunchy condiment, including hot, chipotle, mild and original, all for about $13 per jar. Somos' Salsa Macha Mexican Chili Crisps explode with texture thanks to a whole lot of nuts and seeds. Scoop these spicy-crunchy sauces over everything from avocado toast to tacos — and try the sweeter one on ice cream! The gift set of two comes with a cute spoon for $35. Feeling saucy Chef Patricia Quintana has created a line of salsas, sauces, dressings and condiments that preserves the heritage of traditional Mexican cooking. Treat someone to a jar of Achiote sauce or Pineapple Habanero Salsa (and hope you get invited over for the ensuing meal). $15 to $20 per jar. Ever heard of Secret Aardvark sauces ? You might be tempted to spread the word. This Caribbean/Tex-Mex line of condiments has a big following for what they call their “flavor that kicks you in the mouth.” There are many choices, including Drunken Jerk Jamaican Marinade, and Aardvark Habanero Hot Sauce. $10 each, with combo packs starting at $20. Something fishy Tinned fish is also having a blockbuster culinary moment (and in many cases the packaging is super fun). Fishwife cans ethically sourced fish, like salmon, anchovies and trout, from around the world, with some attractive gift boxes under $50. La Narval focuses on combinations of fish and sauce, such as their mussels in Spanish sauce. Each tin is about $10. Just a nibble The Drinks Bakery creates savory snacks with flavor profiles meant to match up perfectly with your favorite libations. Munch on a Lancashire Cheese and Spring Onion biscuit with a hoppy IPA or a sauvignon blanc. Serve the Parmesan, Toasted Pine Nut and Basil biscuits with a whiskey highball or champagne. Choose from small or larger boxes. Oil and vinegar I can’t think of a food gift I’m happier to see than a high-quality bottle of oil or vinegar, two of the most-used ingredients in my kitchen. Bona Furtuna's selection of Sicilian olive oils is fresh and fragrant, and their aged balsamic vinegars are thick, sweet and rich. The Invecchiato 7-Year Aged Balsamic Vinegar of Modena, for instance, sells for $44.95; Forte Extra Virgin Olive Oil from $10.95 to $39.95. Metafora olive oil comes in a beautiful bottle and is a nice introduction to Portuguese olive oil. $40. Alvear makes lovely Andalusian sherry vinegars. For the salad makers and Spanish chefs in your life, think about gifting one each of the bottles, a sweet and a dry , about $20 apop. Fancy pants Tartuflanghe makes all sorts of luxury ingredients infused with white and black truffles. Elevate your cooking game with truffle-infused butters with flavors like porcini or anchovy (about $10 each). Pick up a box of decadent, truffle-flavored Tartufissima 19 for $32. Or how about a little jar of black truffle pearls, which look like caviar, and are the most elegant way to finish off a risotto or a deviled egg ($40)? Sweet delicacies ’Tis the season for sweet things, but there's no need to settle for the same old bonbons. Sanders is known for decadent, chocolate-covered caramels, and this holiday season they have some limited-edition flavors. Do you know someone who might like a bag of bourbon, maple or peppermint dark-chocolate sea-salt caramels? I do! $10. Perhaps you’ve seen the elegant Lady M layered crepe cakes? Well this holiday, try their more portable and giftable Holiday Crepe Biscuit Collection . Eight wedge-shaped boxes contain a delicate crepe biscuit with fillings such as vanilla, chocolate hazelnut and green tea. $28. André’s Confiserie Suisse makes handmade chocolate with deep rich flavor, a result of generations of Swiss chocolate-making expertise. Some unusual classics include the Nussbergerli Sticks, a mix of caramel, candied orange peel and nuts, covered in either dark or milk chocolate, as well as a lovely assortment of chocolate-covered almonds. Also check out the festive, almond-stuffed chocolate pinecones, a cute edible ornament. Offerings start at $7. There are chocolate bars and then there are chocolate bars. At Chocopologie , it's hard to decide among the creative confections. Burnt Caramel Hawaiian Sea Salt? A S'Mores Bar that includes organic graham crackers and vegan marshmallows? At $10 each, you might need to buy a few. The bakers you know will love playing around with the Salted Caramel Crumbles from Kitty Keller. These toffee-like crumbles are made from the butter and salted caramel of Brittany, France, and can be used to finish all kinds of sweet treats with a crunchy little panache. $12. I could go on (quite clearly), but suffice it to say that a little special treat can have a big impact. Those stockings aren’t going to stuff themselves! ___ For more AP gift guides and holiday coverage, visit https://apnews.com/hub/gift-guide and https://apnews.com/hub/holidays . ___ This story was first published on Nov. 20, 2024. It was updated on Dec. 12, 2024 to correct the spelling of Bona Furtuna. Katie Workman, The Associated Press See a typo/mistake? Have a story/tip? This has been shared 0 times 0 Shares Share by Email Share on Facebook Share on X Share on LinkedIn Print Share via Text Message More The Mix San Francisco names street for Associated Press photographer who captured the iconic Iwo Jima photo Dec 12, 2024 4:02 PM Movie Review: ‘Nickel Boys’ is a knockout, one of the most powerful films of the year Dec 12, 2024 3:40 PM Creditors approve proposed $32.5B deal with tobacco giants today: lawyer Dec 12, 2024 3:26 PM Featured Flyer
WASHINGTON — The House Ethics Committee on Monday accused Matt Gaetz of “regularly” paying for sex, including once with a 17-year-old girl, and purchasing and using illicit drugs as a member of Congress, as lawmakers released the conclusions of a nearly four-year investigation that helped sink his nomination for attorney general. The 37-page report by the bipartisan panel includes explicit details of sex-filled parties and vacations that Gaetz, now 42, took part in from 2017 to 2020 while the Republican represented Florida’s western Panhandle. Congressional investigators concluded that Gaetz violated state laws related to sexual misconduct while in office, though not federal sex trafficking laws. They also found that Gaetz “knowingly and willfully sought to impede and obstruct” the committee’s work. “The Committee determined there is substantial evidence that Representative Gaetz violated House Rules and other standards of conduct prohibiting prostitution, statutory rape, illicit drug use, impermissible gifts, special favors or privileges, and obstruction of Congress,” the report said. Before the report came out, Gaetz denied wrongdoing and criticized the committee’s process. “Giving funds to someone you are dating — that they didn’t ask for — and that isn’t ‘charged’ for sex is now prostitution?!?” he posted on social media. Gaetz, who was first elected in 2017, spent the majority of his time in Washington enmeshed in scandals that ultimately derailed his selection by President-elect Donald Trump to lead the Justice Department. Gaetz abruptly resigned from Congress last month. The committee painted a damning portrait of Gaetz’s conduct, using dozens of pages of exhibits, including text messages, financial records, travel receipts, checks and online payments, to document a party and drug- fueled lifestyle. The committee said it compiled the evidence after issuing 29 subpoenas for documents and testimony and contacting more than two dozen witnesses. Regarding the 17-year-old girl, the report said there was no evidence Gaetz knew she was a minor when he had sex with her. The woman told the committee she did not tell Gaetz she was under 18 at the time and that he learned she was a minor more than a month after the party. But Gaetz stayed in touch with her after that and met up with her for “commercial sex” again less than six months after she turned 18, according to the committee. Get local news delivered to your inbox!Pat Freiermuth Receives High Praise from All-Pro TE: ‘He’s Savvy’
Missoula Invitational Saturday at the Mission Valley Aquatic Center, Polson Girls team scores: Kalispell Glacier 384.5, Missoula Sentinel 285, Missoula Hellgate 264, Helena Capital 223, Missoula Big Sky 200, Helena 166, Butte 149.5, Polson 115, Bigfork 80, Butte Central 20, Kalispell Flathead 2. Boys team scores: Helena Capital 439, Missoula Hellgate 308, Polson 252, Butte 228, Kalispell Glacier 181, Missoula Sentinel 155, Missoula Big Sky 153, Butte Central 75, Kalispell Flathead 61, Helena 11. Girls 200 Yard Medley Relay: 1, Missoula Sentinel 'A' 1:57.03. 2, Glacier High School 'A' 1:58.45. 3, Helena Capital High School 'A' 2:10.17. 4, Butte High School 'A' 2:10.78. 5, Helena High School 'A' 2:14.88. 6, Glacier High School 'B' 2:21.62. Boys 200 Yard Medley Relay: 1, Helena Capital High School 'A' 1:47.52. 2, Glacier High School 'A' 1:52.31. 3, Polson High School 'A' 1:58.13. 4, Missoula Hellgate 'A' 1:59.15. 5, Butte High School 'A' 2:05.94. 6, Helena Capital High School 'B' 2:11.15. Girls 200 Yard Freestyle: 1, Gibbons, Olivia, Glacier, 2:01.47. 2, La, Aeri L, Sentinel, 2:01.96. 3, Stack, Ella J, Big Sky/Loyola, 2:08.25. 4, Lynch, Delaney M, Capital, 2:11.72. 5, Simms, Molly T, Hellgate, 2:14.67. 6, Barkley, Ellie G, Hellgate, 2:15.74. Boys 200 Yard Freestyle: 1, Hommerding, Luke J, Sentinel, 1:52.86. 2, Westenfelder, Leo S, Hellgate, 1:55.43. 3, Chatriand, Beauden K, Hellgate, 1:58.91. 4, McKenzie, Aiden M, Big Sky/Loyola, 1:59.09. 5, Stetson, Finn R, Hellgate, 2:03.40. 6, Major, Jack C, Big Sky/Loyola, 2:06.57. Girls 200 Yard IM: 1, Massey, Ophelia C, Hellgate, 2:30.86. 2, May, Morgan, HHS, 2:34.54. 3, Melnick, Lucy, Glacier, 2:35.90. 4, Waters, Daria L, Sentinel, 2:43.22. 5, McIntosh, Kaidyn L, Big Sky/Loyola, 2:47.31. 6, Montgomery, Dixie, Polson, 3:07.15. Boys 200 Yard IM: 1, Delhomme, PJ J, Big Sky/Loyola, 2:10.93. 2, McNeil, Edward, Glacier, 2:12.18. 3, Bernhardt, Brayden T, Sentinel, 2:16.33. 4, Sawyer, Truman, Polson, 2:20.65. 5, Dennison, Paul F, Hellgate, 2:29.37. 6, Mizner, Nathan, Sentinel, 2:33.74. Girls 50 Yard Freestyle: 1, Ascher, Adalynn L, Sentinel, 26.00. 2, La, Aeri L, Sentinel, 26.07. 3, Urban, Elizabeth G, Capital, 26.31. 4, Lewis, Elly M, Big Sky/Loyola, 26.45. 5, Hiday, Lila G, Sentinel, 26.46. 6, Grochowski, Adalie, Butte Bulldogs, 26.93. 6, Vornbrock, Hanna, Glacier, 26.93. Boys 50 Yard Freestyle: 1, Connors, Everson K, Capital, 23.75. 2, Cochran, Lincoln R, Capital, 23.90. 3, Lindley, James E, Hellgate, 24.29. 4, Jarvis, Callahan, Capital, 24.39. 5, Sloan, Lachlan, Polson, 24.49. 6, Short, Andrew, Glacier, 24.97. Girls 100 Yard Butterfly: 1, McGaughy, Madeleine, Glacier, 59.92. 2, Hensiek, Emily R, Hellgate, 1:04.67. 3, Vornbrock, Hanna, Glacier, 1:08.02. 4, Bishop, Clara G, Sentinel, 1:12.86. 5, Fero, Greta A, Sentinel, 1:14.03. 6, Leland, Kumari B, HHS, 1:21.71. Boys 100 Yard Butterfly: 1, McElwee, Teague, Polson, 53.34. 2, McKenzie, Aiden M, Big Sky/Loyola, 54.51. 3, Dennison, Paul F, Hellgate, 1:05.88. 4, Simpson, Grey, Capital, 1:09.05. 5, Hamry, Blair, Butte Bulldogs, 1:16.37. 6, Hardy, Connor, BCC, 1:17.86. Girls 100 Yard Freestyle: 1, Gibbons, Olivia, Glacier, 55.68. 2, Ascher, Adalynn L, Sentinel, 57.61. 3, Simms, Molly T, Hellgate, 58.05. 4, Hiday, Lila G, Sentinel, 58.18. 5, Barkley, Ellie G, Hellgate, 1:00.40. 6, Hummer, Ella, Glacier, 1:03.49. Boys 100 Yard Freestyle: 1, Westenfelder, Leo S, Hellgate, 51.18. 2, Stetson, Finn R, Hellgate, 53.51. 3, Wendt, Luke, Capital, 55.11. 4, Major, Jack C, Big Sky/Loyola, 55.52. 5, Taylor, Nick, Flathead, 55.60. 6, Sloan, Boden, Polson, 57.60. Girls 500 Yard Freestyle: 1, Lewis, Elly M, Big Sky/Loyola, 5:18.30. 2, Urban, Elizabeth G, Capital, 5:20.76. 3, Grochowski, Adalie, Butte Bulldogs, 6:10.42. 4, Hardy, Morgan, BCC, 6:35.96. 5, Dennison, Torran, Bigfork, 8:36.71. Boys 500 Yard Freestyle: 1, Hommerding, Luke J, Sentinel, 5:12.75. 2, Chatriand, Beauden K, Hellgate, 5:30.21. 3, Wendt, Luke, Capital, 6:00.62. 4, Stone, Nathan N, Butte Bulldogs, 6:07.40. 5, Plum, Gage R, Butte Bulldogs, 6:07.63. 6, Reed, Josh, Polson, 7:08.79. Girls 200 Yard Freestyle Relay: 1, Missoula Hellgate 'A' 1:46.97. 2, Helena Capital High School 'A' 1:54.49. 3, Glacier High School 'A' 1:54.62. 4, Helena High School 'A' 2:00.02. 5, Missoula Big Sky Loyola 'A' 2:02.02. 6, Missoula Sentinel 'A' 2:05.33. Boys 200 Yard Freestyle Relay: 1, Missoula Hellgate 'A' 1:36.21. 2, Helena Capital High School 'A' 1:36.94. 3, Missoula Sentinel 'A' 1:47.56. 4, Polson High School 'A' 1:47.58. 5, Butte High School 'A' 1:51.62. 6, Missoula Big Sky Loyola 'A' 1:55.51. Girls 100 Yard Backstroke: 1, Stack, Ella J, Big Sky/Loyola, 1:04.97. 2, Wagner, Presleigh E, Big Sky/Loyola, 1:05.08. 3, Hensiek, Emily R, Hellgate, 1:05.12. 4, Waters, Daria L, Sentinel, 1:14.95. 5, Remmers, Madison L, Big Sky/Loyola, 1:17.36. 6, Ferguson, Knoelle, Capital, 1:19.28. Boys 100 Yard Backstroke: 1, McElwee, Teague, Polson, 56.79. 2, Delhomme, PJ J, Big Sky/Loyola, 57.14. 3, McNeil, Edward, Glacier, 1:01.25. 4, Short, Andrew, Glacier, 1:03.52. 5, Taylor, Nick, Flathead, 1:03.84. 6, Bernhardt, Brayden T, Sentinel, 1:04.93. Girls 100 Yard Breaststroke: 1, McGaughy, Madeleine, Glacier, 1:11.62. 2, Massey, Ophelia C, Hellgate, 1:16.89. 3, Holland, Ellia, HHS, 1:21.66. 4, Blodgett, Kylie, Glacier, 1:22.03. 5, Macholz, Kaylee T, Hellgate, 1:22.06. 6, Fricke, Abigail C, Hellgate, 1:22.83. Boys 100 Yard Breaststroke: 1, Lindley, James E, Hellgate, 1:04.91. 2, Cochran, Lincoln R, Capital, 1:05.25. 3, VanWyk, Aidan, Capital, 1:11.14. 4, Stone, Nathan N, Butte Bulldogs, 1:13.94. 5, Sloan, Boden, Polson, 1:14.78. 6, Gautam, Madhav, Glacier, 1:17.31. Girls 400 Yard Freestyle Relay: 1, Glacier High School 'A' 3:57.62. 2, Missoula Hellgate 'A' 4:14.86. 3, Butte High School 'A' 4:40.20. 4, Polson High School 'A' 4:42.03. 5, Helena Capital High School 'A' 5:10.75. 6, Glacier High School 'B' 5:22.90. Boys 400 Yard Freestyle Relay: 1, Polson High School 'A' 3:35.63. 2, Glacier High School 'A' 3:47.05. 3, Missoula Hellgate 'A' 3:49.55. 4, Missoula Sentinel 'A' 3:57.31. 5, Helena Capital High School 'A' 4:05.25. 6, Missoula Big Sky Loyola 'A' 4:23.45. Get in the game with our Prep Sports Newsletter Sent weekly directly to your inbox!
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PHILADELPHIA (AP) — The guy on the Philly sports talk radio station had something to say, and he started to vent about the perceived strained relationship between star quarterback Jalen Hurts and standout wide receiver A.J. Brown. Why weren’t these two Pro Bowl Eagles on the same page? Why had their personal and professional relationship changed even with Philadelphia enjoying tremendous success? It was football gossip usually ripe for a hot-take host or fed-up fan to stir up on the air — only in this instance, the temperature check came from inside the locker room. Normally respected team leader Brandon Graham, who is sidelined with a triceps injury, noted in a radio appearance that “ things have changed ” between Hurts and Brown in the wake of a stale passing game in last week’s win over Carolina. An apologetic Graham walked back his comments. Hurts and Brown both insisted their relationship was cool in front of media hordes more appropriate for the Super Bowl. As for the rest of the Eagles, they were ready to squash the so-called controversy. “We are moving on,” offensive lineman and Christmas song crooner Jordan Mailata said. “It is the Pittsburgh Steelers this week. Not the A.J. Brown and Jalen Show. It is the Pittsburgh Steelers. That’s it.” Oh yeah, the Steelers! Lost in the brouhaha ignited in a Philly sports bar is the fact that sitting — and winning — on the western side of Pennsylvania are the Steelers (10-3). Unlike most matchups in series history, this one Sunday at the Linc comes with the tantalizing appeal of a potential Super Bowl preview. The Steelers have won seven of eight, and the Eagles (11-2) have won nine straight and could clinch the NFC East with a win and a Washington loss or tie. It's the first time the teams — among the original eight NFL teams — will play each other when they both have a double-digit win total. Both teams are in strong position for a playoff run — the Eagles led by Saquon Barkley and his pursuit of Eric Dickerson's NFL season rushing record; Russell Wilson and the soft-schedule Steelers atop the AFC North in large part thanks to six wins against teams that currently have losing records. “I do like playing really good people, I think there's growth in it,” Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said. “You've got to get the job done. But man, I think there's significant growth in pitting your collective talents and skills versus big-time opponents and they're certainly that.” Will the drama out of Philly this week affect the Eagles? They certainly don't think so and neither do the oddsmakers — the Eagles are 5 1/2-point favorites, per BetMGM. “What I’ve noticed about this football team is they’re so locked in and determined to get better each day,” Eagles coach Nick Sirianni said. “We don’t really want anyone else talking to us about anything other than the Pittsburgh Steelers.” Good luck with that, Coach. Maybe playing the Steelers on Sunday at home can snap the Eagles out of their offensive malaise. Hurts threw three TD passes to Brown in a 35-13 win in 2022. Barkley watch Barkley leads the NFL in rushing with 1,623 yards, 216 yards ahead of Baltimore’s Derrick Henry. He is averaging 124.8 yards per game. At that pace, and with one more game to play than Dickerson had, he would become the top single-season rusher in NFL history. He needs 483 yards over the final four games to top Dickerson’s 40-year-old record. Barkley is on pace for 2,122 yards, which would put him just 17 yards beyond Dickerson’s 2,105 in 1984. Barkley doesn’t need much of a reminder from his 2020 performance when, while playing for the New York Giants, he ran into a Pittsburgh defense that seemed reminiscent of its famed Steel Curtain. The Steelers held Barkley to 6 yards on 15 carries. Bye, George The Steelers will have to find a way forward against the NFL’s toughest defense without wide receiver George Pickens, who will miss his second straight game with a hamstring injury. Pittsburgh survived last week against Cleveland, with Mike Williams and Scotty Miller — afterthoughts of late — coming off the bench to make an impact. While Tomlin believes “the strength of the pack is the pack,” the reality is the Steelers don’t have anyone who can stretch the field like Pickens, who leads the team in receptions (55) and yards (850) by a wide margin. It’s a challenge, but considering the way Wilson has spread the ball around — eight players caught passes against the Browns — he won’t lack for options. “Everybody in the receiver room has a different skill set, different strengths,” Calvin Austin III said. “The coaching staff knows that and they know how to put us in position to be able to show that.” Playoff preview The cross-state trip to Philadelphia, where the Steelers haven’t won in nearly 60 years, is the start of an 11-day stretch in which Pittsburgh faces three teams likely bound for the playoffs. While Tomlin is leaning into the “nameless, gray faces” mantra he uses for every opponent, his players know facing the Eagles, Ravens and Chiefs in such a short period is a litmus test for what’s to come in January. “That’s why I’m in the league, period,” linebacker Patrick Queen said. “When you sign up to play football, you want to play at the highest level. ... I love to play the game the right way. I think these next few games is going to show that and it starts with the Eagles.” AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nflUpbound Group Enters Definitive Agreement to Acquire Brigit, a Leading Financial Health Technology Firm, for up to $460 Million