Intelligence agencies have always been shaped by technologies that expand what can be collected, processed, and understood about the world. In the contemporary intelligence environment, the defining constraint is not scarcity of information but abundance: persistent surveillance, expanding sensor networks, proliferating digital communications, and the explosive growth of open-source data have created “data deluge” conditions in which human attention becomes the limiting factor. This article surveys major uses and applications of AI in intelligence agencies across the intelligence cycle (collection through dissemination), highlights representative public programs (especially in geospatial intelligence and language technologies), and evaluates governance and risk-management challenges - such as bias, transparency, security, and the dangers of automation-driven error propagation - drawing on official frameworks and peer-reviewed research.

Due to emerging strategic demands, this article presents a comprehensive conceptual design investigation into enhancing the MQ-9A Uncrewed Aerial Vehicle (UAV). Motivated by the need for persistent long-range protection and surveillance capabilities, the research study proposes three primary modifications to create an aircraft titled the MQ-9X Raven. First, the existing turboprop engine was replaced with the widely used Williams FJ44-4A turbofan for reduced fuel consumption and excess power at 50,000 ft, with a range of approximately 8000 nm. Second, the wing design was updated with a 79 ft wing for a greater aspect ratio and a new LRN1015 airfoil to enable high-altitude, long-endurance standoff of around 24 h. Third and finally, the conceptual redesign included integration of a releasable store for maritime interdiction (AGM-184). The project follows a rigorous methodology beginning with a redefinition of mission requirements, aerodynamic, thrust, and stability analysis, and then verification with flight simulation, computational fluid dynamics, and wind tunnel experiments. Our analysis shows the MQ-9X Raven is highly suitable for the task of pervasive high-altitude standoff maritime protection.

The military has long favored occupying high grounds to establish strategic dominance. Maintaining elevated surveillance posts over extended periods has always been a challenge, however. This article examines the rise of the blimp, a secretive technology that has solved that problem by offering persistent surveillance from the air. Originally deployed by the U.S. military in foreign war zones, these blimps have since been introduced on domestic soil. Drawing on a corpus of official records, corporate documents, and leaked war logs, the article explores the inner workings of these blimps, revealing their role in shaping the U.S. military’s information superiority. It begins with a brief history of the military balloon, tracing the surveillance-oriented origins of aeromobility. The article then turns to the social and political implications of this technology, with a focus on the Afghan mediascape, where locals resisted the persistent surveillance blimps by critiquing their power and purpose. It concludes by arguing that persistent surveillance blimps, equipped with sophisticated Wide Area Motion Imagery (WAMI) systems, represent a paradigm shift. They transform episodic data collection, often carried out by drones, into continuous, omnipresent surveillance, with serious implications for privacy, freedom, and sovereignty in war zones and beyond.

Lactation, tissue-resident immunity, and protection against breast cancer.

Conflicts may arise in multirobot systems when several tasks are executed concurrently. We propose a generalized nonsmooth barrier function-behavior tree (NBF-BT) method. It aims to address conflicts arising from subtask constraints during persistent coverage tasks. This method integrates nonsmooth barrier function (NBF) concepts into the behavior tree (BT) method, using the reactivity of the BT to dynamically adjust the set of multiple barrier functions. It applies a set of barriers to distributed multirobot systems, thereby enhancing overall task performance. Specifically, the barrier function modifies the leaf nodes of the BT, serving as a task manager for each robot. During mission performance, it can dynamically add or remove constraint functions from the constraint set based on current environmental conditions and the states of other robots. When multiple tasks assigned to a robot conflict with each other, this adaptive mechanism sacrifices some local performance to boost the overall performance of the multirobot system, effectively resolving task conflicts within the robotic team. Moreover, this method can restore the system to its initial state following conflict resolution, exhibiting robust performance. To verify the effectiveness of our method, we apply the proposed approach to the complex task of persistent coverage and surveillance carried out by multirobot, addressing various constraints in task conflict. We conducted two sets of simulation experiments a to evaluate the efficacy of the proposed method in managing multirobot conflict tasks, evaluating the coverage capability of the multirobot system within the environment. a https://youtu.be/h7K3wIKQIKc .

ObjectiveTo investigate the epidemiological characteristics and infection patterns of Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) among patients at Peking Union Medical College Hospital (PUMCH) between 2013 and 2023, with a concurrent analysis of the clinical manifestations and laboratory parameters observed in patients diagnosed with EBV-associated infectious mononucleosis (IM).MethodsA retrospective analysis was conducted on data from 76,135 patients who underwent EBV DNA testing at Peking Union Medical College Hospital between 2013 and 2023. Additionally, clinical data from 152 patients diagnosed with IM from 2013 to 2024 were collected, with their clinical manifestations and laboratory parameters thoroughly evaluated.ResultsThe overall EBV DNA positivity rate was 6.77%, with significant variations observed across different years and age groups. The detection rate of EBV DNA in males was significantly higher than in females, with the highest detection rate observed in individuals aged over 71 years. A decline in EBV DNA detection frequency was noted during the post-COVID-19 pandemic period (2020–2023). Among EBV-related clinical entities, the highest EBV DNA positive rate (37.4%) was observed in patients with IM. In this cohort, liver function abnormalities were common: elevations of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) by 1- to 5-fold above the upper limit of normal were present in 61 (57%) and 41 (59%) cases, respectively. Immunophenotypic analysis revealed a marked increase in the CD8 + DR+/CD8 + ratio in 67 patients (99%), accompanied by a reduction in CD19 + B-lymphocyte percentage in 62 cases (90%), indicating pronounced immune activation and B-cell suppression characteristic of acute EBV infection.ConclusionThe positive rates of EBV DNA showed sex differences and significant fluctuations between 2013 and 2023, without displaying a consistent upward trend. Persistent surveillance and heightened clinical awareness (laboratory parameters, such as ALT, AST and CD8 + DR+/CD8+) are warranted, particularly regarding IM attributable to EBV.

Human exposure to Dirofilaria immitis following a canine heartworm disease elimination program in Linosa Island (Sicily, Italy).

Reactive persistent surveillance by heterogeneous multi-agents with energy constraint

This study characterizes the molecular epidemiology of Sporothrix species in Shanxi Province, a low-prevalence region in China, providing real data on genetic profiles and antifungal susceptibility patterns. Clinical records of sporotrichosis cases from a tertiary hospital in Shanxi (2019-2024) were retrospectively analyzed. Isolates were identified through multilocus sequencing targeting the internal transcribed spacer, calmodulin, β-tubulin, and mating-type locus genes, with phylogenetic analysis. Antifungal susceptibility testing against seven agents was performed for both yeast and mycelial phases. Additionally, a review of Chinese case reports (2015-2025) was conducted to collect and summarize data on Sporothrix species identification across the country. All 11 isolates were confirmed as Sporothrix globosa, displaying high genetic similarity to the strains reported in most regions of China in previous studies. Terbinafine, ketoconazole, and itraconazole demonstrated good activity. Yeast-phase susceptibility was significantly higher for amphotericin B, itraconazole, and voriconazole (P <.05, compared to the mycelial phase). Geospatial analysis indicated S. globosa dominance in reported areas, with persistent surveillance gaps in western China. This study from Shanxi provides a comprehensive overview of S. globosa as the predominant etiological agent in the region, consistent with the distribution pattern observed throughout China. Terbinafine demonstrated the highest in vitro activity against S. globosa.

Abstract This article introduces the part-time cyborg as a Black feminist framework for navigating and resisting the demands of visibility, labor, and surveillance in digital and institutional spaces. Drawing on Donna Haraway’s cyborg theory and Black feminist thought, the part-time cyborg reclaims rest and refusal as strategies for survival and defiance. The article argues that mundane authoritarianism operates through small, everyday demands that normalize compliance, particularly for Black women, whose bodies have long been sites of scrutiny and control. By turning off a camera or withdrawing from hypervisibility, the part-time cyborg disrupts these systems, asserting autonomy in the face of extractive logics. In an era of intensifying surveillance and control, these micro-resistances are vital tools for imagining and building more just and equitable futures.

Persistent surveillance for heterogeneous robots considering movement randomness and energy allocation.

Balanced approaches to controlling antibiotic resistance in aquaculture settings are paramount to protecting ecosystems, health, and food supply. Antibiotic usage, often prevalent and uncontrolled, presents a significant risk to the Reserve Banks of Bacteria and Antibiotic Resistance Genes (BARGS) in aquaculture. These resistant strains threaten global health because they can be disseminated via water bodies, aquaculture species, and human activities. The focus of this paper is to investigate comprehensive approaches to reducing the resistant strains, including the betterment of regulatory policies, employing alternative methods such as probiotics or vaccines, and Best Management Practices (BMPs) that incorporate biosecurity measures, water quality enhancement, and judicious use of antibiotics spent in aquaculture. Policy frameworks are also strengthened with the importance of persistent monitoring and surveillance systems tracking resistance trends. Farmers, along with scientists, regulators, and consumers, need to encourage collaboration in aquaculture systems (farm-level) to foster sustainability and responsibility integrated into fisheries science, which in return will aid in establishing a control framework on the growing concerns surrounding the usage of antibiotics in aquaculture while preserving its ecosystem. This enables a move towards more ecologically-friendly strategies in aquaculture alongside strengthening its prospects as the primary food supplier in the future shown in Figure 1.

Abstract The increasing reliance on radio communications for military, governmental, and civilian applications makes radio frequency (RF) monitoring a crucial aspect of national security. Unauthorized transmissions, spectrum interferences, and electronic warfare threats pose significant challenges that require advanced detection and localization capabilities. Space-based systems provide a strategic advantage by offering wide-area coverage, persistent surveillance, and rapid signal acquisition. The CORVUS satellite is designed as a dedicated platform for detecting and localizing radio signals over Romania. By utilizing advanced signal processing and geolocation techniques, CORVUS enhances situational awareness, supports defense and intelligence operations, and strengthens the country’s ability to monitor the electromagnetic spectrum. This paper explores the satellite design, payload implementation, operational benefits, and security implications of the CORVUS satellite system.

The widespread adoption of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) has fundamentally altered modern combat, expanding beyond reconnaissance to include offensive strikes. Their affordability and accessibility have enabled both state and nonstate actors to integrate UAS into military operations. Despite their increasing use, the impact of UAS on military medical operations remains underrepresented in the literature. This review contextualizes current UAS capabilities and examines their implications for military medicine. The authors conducted a narrative review using PubMed, Google Scholar, and open-source materials to evaluate UAS applications in military medicine. Search terms included "drone," "unmanned aircraft system," "UAV," "UAS," "medical," "military," and "resuscitation." Resources published through December 2024 were screened for relevance. Given limited availability of peer-reviewed research involving the implications of UAS in combat, additional data were drawn from military leadership interviews, media reports, and third-party conflict analyses. This review identified 5 thematic areas: adversarial UAS impacts on force protection and medical evacuation; UAS use for medical resupply; UAS applications in casualty evacuation; integration challenges with airspace control systems; and risks of interference with medical systems from electronic warfare and counter-UAS measures. The rapid proliferation of UAS has created both challenges and opportunities across the military medical continuum. UAS have demonstrated effectiveness in delivering medical supplies, including blood products, critical medications, and portable medical equipment. Deployment of this technology onto the battlefield could significantly reduce logistical constraints in austere environments. Early casualty evacuation (CASEVAC) applications have shown promise, but there are numerous operational limitations including payload capacity, lack of onboard medical personnel, and the need for triage protocols tailored to autonomous evacuation. Additionally, adversarial UAS use presents significant risks to medical operations. Persistent aerial surveillance compromises force protection, while precision strikes and the coordinated use of large numbers of UAS threaten the ability to safely provide point-of-injury care, prolonged field care, CASEVAC, and medical evacuation. These emerging threats challenge long-held assumptions about air superiority and rapid evacuation capabilities. Counter-UAS technologies, electronic warfare, and emerging ethical considerations introduce further complexities to medical operations. As UAS continue to shape the battlefield, military healthcare systems must adapt to both the capabilities and threats they present. Ongoing research, operational testing, and regulatory developments will be critical in integrating UAS into military medicine while mitigating their risks to patient care and medical logistics.

Unraveling the evolution and global transmission of high level tigecycline resistance gene tet(X).

The rapid increase in population has greatly intensified the requirement for safe and clean drinking water, giving rise to the widespread use of packaged sachet water, commonly known as “pure water” in Nigeria. However, issues concerning improper handling during production, distribution, and storage raise questions regarding possible contamination. This research analyzes the physicochemical and microbiological quality of sachet water in Dutse Metropolis, Nigeria, bears rising concerns over water safety and public health. Thirty (30) sachet water samples from ten popular brands were collected and analyzed for pH, turbidity, electrical conductivity (EC), total dissolved solids (TDS), total hardness, nitrite, chloride, and calcium concentration. All results showed that physicochemical parameters were within the limits set by the World Health Organization (WHO) and National Standard for Drinking Water Quality (NSDWQ). As noted, pH value was between 6.81 and 7.41, while turbidity was under the WHO suggested maximum of 5 NTU. Microbiological examination indicated the complete absence of total coliforms, Escherichia coli, and total bacterial count which shows good purification methods were applied. However, lack of heavy metal analysis poses a risk due to possible pollution from industrial effluents and agricultural runoff. The study still highlights the need for persistent surveillance and peri-regulation to warrant the safety of sachet water, primarily in metropolitan areas where the public water supply is deficient, while region possesses some encouraging findings. The results aim to assist stakeholders in evaluation assessment of sachet water while emphasizing the dire need to safeguard public health and safety.

Abstract Tumor infiltrating regulatory T cells (Tregs) suppress CD8+ T cells and facilitate tumor progression. Tumor Tregs are elevated in a variety of malignancies and have been associated with poor prognosis. Targeting Tregs presents an appealing strategy in cancer immunotherapy. Recent research has identified the chemokine receptor CCR8 is preferentially expressed by tumor Tregs and labels highly suppressive Tregs. Thus, using anti-CCR8 mAb to deplete tumor Tregs could be an efficient and safe strategy that is widely being explored. Although the anti-tumor efficacy of CCR8 mAb was reported, the dynamics and specific contributions of Tregs and CD8+ T cells to anti-tumor activity are still not fully elucidated. We found that tumor Tregs were rapidly depleted within two days, and CD8+ T cells increased after one week following treatment with anti-CCR8 in both the MC38 and CT26 tumor models, which coincided with the observed tumor growth inhibition. Tumor volume was found to have a strong negative correlation with the percentage of tumor-infiltrating CD8+ T cells, suggesting that the increased tumor CD8+ T cells may be indicative of an active anti-tumor immune response. Furthermore, treatment with CCR8 mAb has shown dose-dependent efficacy in controlling the growth of CT26 tumor. In the 1 mg/kg dosage group, 3 out of 10 mice exhibited a complete response (CR), while in the 3 mg/kg dosage group, 4 out of 10 mice achieved a CR. Rechallenging the mice with 50-fold more tumor cells on the contralateral side of the CR mice resulted in the expulsion of tumor growth without any treatment, suggesting that the use of CCR8 mAb induces a long-lasting antitumor immunological memory. This is crucial for maintaining persistent tumor immune surveillance and achieving durable responses to cancer therapy. This finding underscores the potential of CCR8 mAb not only in directly targeting tumor growth but also in bolstering the host's immune memory, contributing to a more comprehensive and enduring antitumor defense. In addition, further improved tumor growth inhibition was observed when combining anti-CCR8 with docetaxel, oxaliplatin, or gemcitabine in immune cold tumor models. PD analysis revealed that the combination of CCR8 mAb therapy with gemcitabine induced the depletion of Tregs, increase of CD8+ T cells, decrease of tumor-associated macrophages, and the activation of DCs, which are instrumental in treating immune-cold tumors. This suggests that the combined therapy may enhance the antitumor immune response by modulating the tumor microenvironment, thereby improving the efficacy of cancer treatment. Collectively, these findings advance our understanding of CCR8 as a promising target for Treg depletion in anti-cancer drug development and therapy. Citation Format: Shuiqing Hu, Minjuan Deng, Wei Tan, Rui Liu, Amin Zhang, Lu Tan, Mengqian Chen, Pu Sun, Li Luo, Wen Li, Juan Yang, Jiyuan Zhang, Wei Jin, Zhirong Shen. Anti-CCR8 mediates long-lasting antitumor immunological memory and enhances anti-tumor immunity in immune-cold cancer through the combination with chemotherapy [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2025; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2025 Apr 25-30; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2025;85(8_Suppl_1):Abstract nr 4874.

The combination of chemotherapy and immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) has shown dramatic activity in a variety of malignancies. However, the addition of ICIs to standard of care (SOC) chemotherapy is not clinically effective in mismatch repair proficient (MMRp) colorectal cancer (CRC). We have previously reported that priming treatment with temozolomide (TMZ) induces hypermutability and immunotherapy clinical benefit in the molecular subset of CRCs characterized by inactivation of O6-methylguanine methyltransferase (MGMT). We reasoned that the combination of TMZ with cisplatin (CDDP), another active alkylating agent, might similarly increase mutational burden and induce cancer immunogenicity in the larger group of MMRp / MGMT wild-type tumors, which account for more than 80% of CRC cases. We investigated the impact of cytotoxic agents on the immunogenomic features of CRC, focusing on TMZ, CDDP, and their combination, in comparison to the SOC treatments (5-fluorouracil, irinotecan and oxaliplatin). Whole exome sequencing (WES) and RNA sequencing were performed to identify mutational signatures and for neoantigen prediction. We assessed treatment-induced antigenicity and immunoediting by injecting CRC cells that had been treated in vitro with chemotherapy into syngeneic immunodeficient and -competent mice. In parallel, we evaluated the activity of chemotherapy and immunotherapy performed in vivo in order to capture the effect of chemotherapy in the tumor immune microenvironment. Immune infiltration was assessed using a dedicated flow cytometry panel. We found that combinatorial treatment with CDDP and TMZ induces clonal and subclonal hypermutability resulting in an increase in predicted neoantigens. This combination specifically alters the immune fitness of the tumors and ultimately leads to immunoediting of chemotherapy-induced neoantigens and CD8+ T cell-mediated tumor rejection. Treatment-induced hypermutation and immune surveillance were also confirmed in an immune-refractory breast cancer model. Complete rejection of CDDP- and TMZ-treated tumors is associated with persistent immune surveillance that extends to the untreated counterpart. The same effect is not observed when cells are primed with the clinically approved combination of 5-flourouracil, oxaliplatin and irinotecan (FOLFOXIRI). In vivo chemotherapy potentiates immune effectors, allowing for durable responses and complete rejections when anti-PD1 is combined with CDDP and TMZ. These results suggest that rational combinations of alkylating agents can promote immune surveillance by enhancing immunologically relevant hypermutability and antigenicity and by remodeling the immune microenvironment. This can be exploited to promote cancer immunogenicity in otherwise immune-refractory CRC. Citation Format: Pietro Paolo Vitiello, Rosaria Chila, Vito Amodio, Paolo Battuello, Vittorio Battaglieri, Sharon Scardellato, Gaia Grasso, Federica Pisati, Claudio Tripodo, Achille Anselmo, Francesca Clemente, Federica Di Nicolantonio, Giovanni Crisafulli, Benoit Rousseau, Luis A. Diaz, Giovanni Germano, Alberto Bardelli. The combination of cisplatin and temozolomide triggers immune surveillance through antigen-dependent and independent mechanisms [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2025; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2025 Apr 25-30; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2025;85(8_Suppl_1):Abstract nr 6155.

Acoustic target recognition has always played a central role in marine sensing. Traditional signal processing techniques that have been used for target recognition have shown limitations in accuracy, particularly with commodity hardware. To address such limitations, we present the results of our experiments to assess the capabilities of AI-enabled acoustic buoys using OpenEar™, a commercial, off-the-shelf, software-defined hydrophone sensor, for detecting and tracking fast-moving vessels. We used a triangular sparse sensor network to investigate techniques necessary to estimate the detection, classification, localization, and tracking of boats transiting through the network. Emphasis was placed on evaluating the sensor's operational detection range and feasibility of onboard AI for cloud-based data fusion. Results indicated effectiveness for enhancing maritime domain awareness and gaining insight into illegal, unreported, and unregulated activities. Additionally, this study provides a framework for scaling autonomous sensor networks to support persistent maritime surveillance.

Informative Path Planning for Persistent Surveillance by Heterogeneous Multi-agents with Energy Constraint