Abstract
A long-period grating written in the SMF-28 fibre was heat treated at 1000 degrees C for 15 days. The spectrum of the grating shifted to longer wavelengths and the resonances depth decreased as a result of structural relaxation. The background loss increased considerably for times longer than 200 h, and this loss is caused by devitrification of the fibre.

Abstract
We present and numerically characterize a surface-plasmon-resonance sensor based on an H-shaped optical fiber. In our design, the two U-shaped grooves of the H-fiber are first coated with a thin gold layer and then covered by a uniform titanium dioxide layer to facilitate spectral tuning of the device. A finite element method analysis of the sensor indicates that a refractive-index resolution of up to 5.10(3) nm/RIU can be obtained. (C) 2011 Optical Society of America

Abstract
Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) can be isolated from several tissues in the body, have the ability to self-renewal, show immune suppressive properties and are multipotent, being able to generate various cell types. At present, due to their intrinsic characteristics, MSCs are considered very promising in the area of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. In this context, genetic modification can be a powerful tool to control the behavior and fate of these cells and be used in the design of new cellular therapies. Viral systems are very effective in the introduction of exogenous genes inside MSCs. However, the risks associated with their use are leading to an increasing search for non-viral approaches to attain the same purpose, even if MSCs have been shown to be more difficult to transfect in this way. In the past few years, progress was made in the development of chemical and physical methods for non-viral gene delivery. Herein, an overview of the application of those methods specifically to MSCs is given and their use in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine therapeutic strategies highlighted using the example of bone tissue. Key issues and future directions in non-viral gene delivery to MSCs are also critically addressed.

Abstract
A large-core air-clad photonic crystal fiber-based sensing structure is described, which is sensitive to refractive index. The sensing head is based on multimodal interference, and relies on a single-mode/large-core air-clad photonic crystal fiber (PCF)/single-mode fiber configuration. Using two distinct large-core air-clad PCF geometries-one for refractive index measurement and the other for temperature compensation, it was possible to implement a sensing head sensitive to refractive index changes in water as induced by temperature variations. The results indicated the high sensitivity of this sensing head to refractive index variations of water, and a resolution of 3: 4 x 10(-5) refractive index units could be achieved. (C) 2011 Optical Society of America

Abstract
In this work an all-optical hot-wire flowmeter based on a silver coated fiber combining a long period grating and a fiber Bragg grating (FBG) structure is proposed. Light from a pump laser at 1480nm propagating down the fiber is coupled by the long period grating into the fiber cladding and is absorbed by the silver coating deposited on the fiber surface over the Bragg grating structure. This absorption acts like a hot wire raising the fiber temperature locally, which is effectively detected by the FBG resonance shift. The temperature increase depends on the flow speed of the surrounding air, which has the effect of cooling the fiber. It is demonstrated that the Bragg wavelength shift can be related to the flow speed. A flow speed resolution of 0.08m/s is achieved using this new configuration. (C) 2011 Optical Society of America

Abstract
A multimode interferometer based-fiber optic sensor with a silica tube section aimed to measure refractive index (RI) variations of surrounding liquids is presented. The sensing head is a silica tube section fusion spliced to single mode fibers operating in transmission. In the splice regions tapers were made to allow the light to be guided in the silica tube while the core is formed by air. This configuration permits measurements of refractive index variations with sensitivities of 101.1, 106.29, and 107.97 nm/RIU considering resonances with different wavelengths. The same resonances were tested with temperature variations with sensitivities achieved of 7.8, 8.7, and 9.3 pm/ degrees C, respectively. The spectral variation associated with one degree temperature change corresponds to a refractive index change of similar to 8 x 10(-5), proving the low temperature dependence compared with sensitivity to RI variations. (C) 2011 Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers (SPIE). [DOI: 10.1117/1.3646393]