Abstract
1xN (N=2, 3, 4) MMI power splitters were fabricated in a fused silica substrate by laser direct writing, using a focused 515 nm amplified femtosecond laser beam, and characterized at 1550 nm. To accomplish this, several low loss waveguides were fabricated side by side to form a multimode waveguide with the output in a polished facet of the substrate, while a single low loss waveguide was fabricated to inject light in the centre of the multimode waveguide. The performance of the fabricated devices was optimized by testing three different designs.

Abstract
The principle of all-optical logical operations utilizing the unique nonlinear optical properties of a protein was demonstrated by a logic gate constructed from an integrated optical Mach-Zehnder interferometer as a passive structure, covered by a bacteriorhodopsin (bR) adlayer as the active element. Logical operations were based on a reversible change of the refractive index of the bR adlayer over one or both arms of the interferometer. Depending on the operating point of the interferometer, we demonstrated binary and ternary logical modes of operation. Using an ultrafast transition of the bR photocycle (BR-K), we achieved high-speed (nanosecond) logical switching. This is the fastest operation of a protein-based integrated optical logic gate that has been demonstrated so far. The results are expected to have important implications for finding novel, alternative solutions in all-optical data processing research.

Abstract
This work reports a variable attenuator/waveplate based on thermo-optic (TO) effect induced on a waveguide patterned by direct UV-laser writing on films of organic-inorganic di-ureasil hybrids. The waveguide temperature was tuned inducing phase retardation between the transverse electric (TE) and transverse magnetic (TM) modes, resulting in a controllable waveplate. Furthermore, the waveguide TO actuation allows obtaining a variable optical attenuator. The relevant properties, such as attenuation, polarization dependence of the thermal actuation and power consumption will be presented in the NIR (1550 nm). The required electrical power and temperature variation to attain the optical signal extinction and the retardation phase of pi/2 were estimated.

Abstract
The fabrication of optical add-drop multiplexers in fused silica is demonstrated, for the first time to our knowledge, using the femtosecond laser direct writing technique. To achieve this, a Mach-Zehnder interferometer configuration was used for the signal routing by the implementation of 3-dB directional couplers, along with Bragg grating waveguides for wavelength selectivity. The fabrication of all individual devices required was optimized. The behavior of the fabricated add-drop multiplexer was characterized at around 1550 nm, where a 3-dB bandwidth of 0.19 +/- 0.01 nm was obtained along with an intrachannel and adjacent interchannel crosstalk of -30 and -20 dB at Delta lambda = +/- 0.75 nm, respectively. This study shows that such complex devices can be manufactured by femtosecond laser direct writing, with future improvements being discussed.

Abstract
Using low cost portable devices that enable a single analytical step for screening environmental contaminants is today a demanding issue. This concept is here tried out by recycling screen-printed electrodes that were to be disposed of and by choosing as sensory element a low cost material offering specific response for an environmental contaminant. Microcystins (MCs) were used as target analyte, for being dangerous toxins produced by cyanobacteria released into water bodies. The sensory element was a plastic antibody designed by surface imprinting with carefully selected monomers to ensure a specific response. These were designed on the wall of carbon nanotubes, taking advantage of their exceptional electrical properties. The stereochemical ability of the sensory material to detect MCs was checked by preparing blank materials where the imprinting stage was made without the template molecule. The novel sensory material for MCs was introduced in a polymeric matrix and evaluated against potentiometric measurements. Nernstian response was observed from 7.24 x 10(-10) to 1.28 x 10(-9) M in buffer solution (10 mM HEPES, 150 mM NaCl, pH 6.6), with average slopes of -62 mV decade(-1) and detection capabilities below 1 nM. The blank materials were unable to provide a linear response against log(concentration), showing only a slight potential change towards more positive potentials with increasing concentrations (while that of the plastic antibodies moved to more negative values), with a maximum rate of +33 mV decade(-1). The sensors presented good selectivity towards sulphate, iron and ammonium ions, and also chloroform and tetrachloroethylene (TCE) and fast response (<20 s). This concept was successfully tested on the analysis of spiked environmental water samples. The sensors were further applied onto recycled chips, comprehending one site for the reference electrode and two sites for different selective membranes, in a biparametric approach for "in situ" analysis.

Abstract