Abstract
Fluids of light is an emergent topic in optical sciences that exploits the fluid-like properties of light to establish controllable and experimentally accessible physical analogues of quantum fluids. In this work we explore this concept to generate and probe quantum turbulence phenomena by using the fluid behavior of light propagating in a defocusing nonlinear media. The proposal presented makes use of orthogonal polarizations and incoherent beam interaction to establish a theoretical framework of an analogue two-component quantum fluid, a physical system that features a modified Bogoliubov-like dispersion relation for the perturbative excitations featuring regions of instability. We demonstrate that these unstable regions can be tuned by manipulating the relative angle of incidence between the two components, allowing to define an effective range of energy injection capable of exciting turbulent phenomena. Our numerical investigations confirm the theory and show evidence of direct and inverse turbulent cascades expected from weak wave turbulence theories. The works end on a discussion concerning its possible experimental realization, allowing the access to quantum turbulence in regimes beyond those previously explored by making use of the controllable aspects of tabletop fluids of light experiments.

Abstract
Surface plasmon resonance (SPR) and localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) are among the most common and powerful label-free refractive index-based biosensing techniques available nowadays. Focusing on LSPR sensors, their performance is highly dependent on the size, shape, and nature of the nanomaterial employed. Indeed, the tailoring of those parameters allows the development of LSPR sensors with a tunable wavelength range between the ultra-violet (UV) and near infra-red (NIR). Furthermore, dealing with LSPR along optical fiber technology, with their low attenuation coefficients at NIR, allow for the possibility to create ultra-sensitive and long-range sensing networks to be deployed in a variety of both biological and chemical sensors. This work provides a detailed review of the key science underpinning such systems as well as recent progress in the development of several LSPR-based biosensors in the NIR wavelengths, including an overview of the LSPR phenomena along recent developments in the field of nanomaterials and nanostructure development towards NIR sensing. The review ends with a consideration of key advances in terms of nanostructure characteristics for LSPR sensing and prospects for future research and advances in this field.

Abstract
Optical fiber sensing systems have been widely developed for several fields such as biomedical diagnosis, food technology, military and industrial applications and civil engineering. Nowadays, the growth and advances of optical fiber sensors (OFS) are focused on the development of novel sensing concepts and transducers as well as sensor cost reduction. This review provides an overview of the state-of-the-art of OFS based on sol-gel materials for diverse applications with particular emphasis on OFS for structural health monitoring of concrete structures. The types of precursors used in the development of sol-gel materials for OFS functionalization to monitor a wide range of analytes are debated. The main advantages of OFS compared to other sensing systems such as electrochemical sensors are also considered. An interdisciplinary review to a broad audience of engineers and materials scientists is provided and the relationship between the chemistry of sol-gel material synthesis and the development of OFS is considered. To the best of the authors' knowledge, no review manuscripts were found in which the fields of sol-gel chemistry and OFS are correlated. The authors consider that this review will serve as a reference as well as provide insights for experts into the application of sol-gel chemistry and OFS in the civil engineering field.

Abstract
Reinforced concrete structures are an essential part of our modern society, and monitoring their structural health is of paramount importance. Early detection of decay allows for the reduction of repair costs and, more importantly, the prevention of catastrophic failure. For this purpose, a single fiber reflectance spectrometer was embedded in cement paste samples for the monitoring of water at the fiber tip through its sensitivity to changes in the refractive index. It monitored the curing of samples with different water-to-cement ratios (w/c), between 0.45 and 0.60, measuring the water exhaust during the hardening of the cement paste. It also measured the capillary coefficient from cement paste samples of 0.50, 0.55 and 0.60 w/c: 0.668 & PLUSMN; 0.002 mm/& RADIC;h, 1.771 & PLUSMN; 0.052 mm/& RADIC;h and 6.360 & PLUSMN; 0.269 mm/& RADIC;h, respectively. The capillary coefficient values agree with gravimetric measurements of sorptivity and are further confirmed through porosity measurements made with a scanning electron microscope. Thus, single fiber reflectance spectroscopy can be a gateway to inexpensively measure the entire life cycle of cement, from its curing until its eventual decay, assessing, in situ, its durability through the capillary coefficient.

Abstract
Relative humidity monitorization is of extreme importance on scientific and industrial applications, and fiber optics-based sensors may provide solutions where other types of sensors have limitations. In this work, fiber optics’ sensors were fabricated by combining Long-Period Fiber Gratings with three different humidity-responding polymers, namely Poly(vinyl alcohol), Poly(ethylene glycol) and Hydromed™ D4. The performance of the multiple sensors was experimentally tested and crossed with numerical simulations, which provide a comparison with the expected response given the optical properties of the materials.

Abstract
Listeria monocytogenes has been referred to as a concern microorganism in cheese making due to its ability to survive and grow in a wide range of environmental conditions, such as refrigeration temperatures, low pH and high salt concentration at the end of the production process. Since cheese may be a potential hazard for consumers, especially high-risk consumers (e.g., pregnant, young children, the elderly, people with medical conditions), efforts of the dairy industry have been aimed at investigating new conservation techniques based on natural additives to meet consumers' demands on less processed foods without compromising the food safety. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of Myrtus communis L. (myrtle) and Rosmarinus officinalis L. (rosemary) essential oils (EO) against Listeria monocytogenes ATCC 679 spiked in sheep cheese before ripening. After the cheesemaking process, the samples were stored at 8 degrees C for 2 h, 1 d, 3 d, 14 d and 28 d. The composition of EO was identified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis. Constituents such as 1,8-cineole, limonene, methyl-eugenol, alpha-pinene, alpha-terpineol, alpha-terpinolene and beta-pinene were present in both EO, accounting for 44.61% and 39.76% from the total of chemical compounds identified for myrtle and rosemary EO, respectively. According to the chemical classification, both EO were mainly composed of monoterpenes. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) against L. monocytogenes was obtained at 31.25 mu L/mL to myrtle EO and at 0.40 mu L/mL to rosemary EO. Then, cheeses were inoculated with L. monocytogenes (Ca. 6 log CFU/mL) and EO was added at MIC value. The addition of rosemary and myrtle EO displayed lower counts of L. monocytogenes (p < 0.01) (about 1-2 log CFU/g) during the ripening period compared to control samples. Ripening only influences (p < 0.001) the growth of L. monocytogenes in control samples. Since rosemary and myrtle EO do not exert any negative impact on the growth of native microflora (p > 0.05), their use as natural antimicrobial additives in cheese demonstrated a potential for dairy processors to assure safety against L. monocytogenes.