Shoolini University

Side-Channel Attacks (SCA) represent a critical and increasingly significant class of security vulnerabilities in modern computing and electronic systems, exploiting indirect information leakage rather than traditional algorithmic weaknesses. Unlike conventional cryptanalytic attacks, which target the mathematical structure of cryptographic algorithms, SCAs leverage unintentional physical or logical emissions produced by devices during computation. These emissions may include timing information, power consumption patterns, electromagnetic radiation, acoustic signals, and even subtle variations in system temperature. The underlying principle is that any physical instantiation of a computational process inherently produces observable side effects correlated with internal data, including secret keys or sensitive algorithmic states. By monitoring these side effects, attackers can infer confidential information, effectively bypassing the theoretical security guarantees of cryptographic primitives.

Synthetic polymers are widespread in modern life and pose growing environmental problems, especially in agriculture, where water management and soil health are crucial. Eco-friendly materials that balance performance and environmental safety are desperately needed as sustainable alternatives remain understudied. This study emphasizes the potential of lignin, a naturally occurring, abundant, and underutilized biopolymer, and its conversion into lignin-based hydrogels. Lignin hydrogels offer distinct benefits for agricultural applications due to their inherent antibacterial, biodegradable, and biocompatible properties. Their ability to swell improves soil water retention, promotes plant development in drought-prone areas, and permits regulated release of fertilizer. Lignin-based hydrogels can promote sustainable agricultural methods and lessen the dependency on synthetic polymers by customizing these characteristics. This study points to potential advances in green polymer technology by highlighting their capacity to bridge the gap between environmental stewardship and agricultural production.

This study aimed to valorize galgal (Citrus pseudolimon L.) peel waste by extracting and microencapsulating its essential oil (EO) for potential food applications. The EO yield was 3.5%, with D-limonene (42.94%) as the major compound. Emulsions were prepared using maltodextrin/gum Arabic in varying ratios with soy lecithin as an emulsifier. The most stable emulsion, based on creaming index, was spray-dried to obtain microcapsules. The powder exhibited 2.52% moisture, 0.243 water activity, 19.78% total oil, and 90.23% encapsulation efficiency. It showed strong antioxidant activity (85.23% DPPH inhibition) and antibacterial activity against S. aureus and E. coli (zones of inhibition: 24.47mm and 23.75mm). Particle size ranged from 1-100µm, with a zeta potential of -15.9mV, and FE-SEM confirmed uniform morphology. Among LDPE-packed samples, room temperature storage maintained better stability. The study demonstrates that microencapsulated galgal EO offers promising antioxidant and antimicrobial properties for food preservation.

Levan is a naturally occurring fructose-based homopolysaccharide produced by diverse microbial and plant sources, with microbial levan offering greater economic feasibility and industrial relevance. It is synthesized predominantly by bacteria such as Zymomonas mobilis, Erwinia herbicola, and Bacillus subtilis and has also been reported in select fungi and yeasts; however, yeast-based levan production remains comparatively limited in terms of strain diversity, productivity, and industrial-scale implementation. Growing interest in antimicrobial packaging, driven by its ability to enhance safety and extend the shelf life of perishable foods, has positioned levan as a promising bio-based material. Its distinctive structural features and antibacterial mechanisms enable effective inhibition of spoilage and pathogenic microorganisms. This review explores microbial levan extraction, purification, and characterization, along with its integration into films, coatings, and nanocomposites for active antimicrobial packaging applications. By highlighting levan's functional contributions, comparative advantages, and application-specific performance, this work demonstrates its potential as a sustainable biopolymer for food packaging.