Ntivuguruzwa Jean De La Croix

Academic rank: 
Email: 
jc.ntivuguruzwa@ur.ac.rw
Telephone: 
+250 783 163 332
School/centre: 
Published Papers : 

1. Comprehensive survey on image steganalysis using deep learning, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.array.2024.100353 ,   SDG9

2. IoT and fuzzy logic integration for improved substrate environment management in mushroom cultivation, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atech.2024.100427 , SDG2, SDG9, and SDG12

3. A convolutional neural network to detect possible hidden data in spatial domain images, https://www.dbpia.co.kr/journal/articleDetail?nodeId=W4386351659 , SDG9 and SDG16

4. Toward secret data location via fuzzy logic and convolutional neural network, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eij.2023.05.010 , SDG 9

5. Enhancing secret data detection using convolutional neural networks with fuzzy edge detection: https://doi.org/10.1109/ACCESS.2023.3334650 , SDG9 and SDG 12

6. Secret Message Protection using Fuzzy Logic and Difference Expansion in Digital Images, https://doi.org/10.1109/NIGERCON54645.2022.9803151 , SDG 9

7. Secret Message Protection using Fuzzy Logic and Difference Expansion in Digital Images, https://doi.org/10.1109/NIGERCON54645.2022.9803151 , SDG 9

8. Reversible Data Hiding using Pixel-Value-Ordering and Difference Expansion in Digital Images, https://doi.org/10.1109/COMNETSAT56033.2022.9994516 , SDG 9

9. Fuzzy Logic-based Steganographic Scheme for high Payload Capacity with high Imperceptibility, https://doi.org/10.1109/ISDFS58141.2023.10131727 , SDG 9 and 12

10. Toward hidden data detection via local features optimization in spatial domain images, https://doi.org/10.1109/ICTAS56421.2023.10082736 , SDG 9 and 12

11. Hiding Messages in Audio using Modulus Operation and Simple Partition, https://doi.org/10.1109/ICTS52701.2021.9609028 , SDG 9

12. Steganography in Grayscale Images: Improving the Quality of a Stego Image, https://doi.org/10.1109/SMARTGENCON60755.2023.10442310 , SDG 9 and 12

13. Data Hiding Scheme using Difference Expansion and Modulus Function, https://doi.org/10.1109/INOCON57975.2023.10100991 , SDG 9 and 12

14. Image Steganography using Customized Differences between the Neighboring Pixels, https://doi.org/10.1109/ICICoS62600.2024.10636936 , SDG9

15. Enhancing face recognition attendance system utilizing real-time face tracking, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.iot.2025.101660 , SDG 12

16. Huffman coding-based data reduction and quadristego logic for secure image steganography, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jestch.2025.102033 , SDG 9

17. Data Hiding Scheme Based on Quad General Difference Expansion Cluster, https://doi.org/10.26181/23506245 , SDG9

18. FuzConvSteganalysis: Steganalysis via fuzzy logic and convolutional neural network, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.softx.2024.101713 , SDG 9

19. A Reversible Data Hiding Approach in Medical Images Using Difference Expansion, https://doi.org/10.1109/CICN59264.2023.10402139 , SDG 9

20. EHR-protect: A steganographic framework based on data-transformation to protect electronic health records, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.iswa.2025.200493 , SDG 2, 9, 12

21. Fuzzy Logic-based Shiitake Mushroom Farm Control for Harvest Enhancement, https://doi.org/10.1109/ISDFS55398.2022.9800832 , SDG 9

22. HSDetect-Net: A Fuzzy-Based Deep Learning Steganalysis Framework to Detect Possible Hidden Data in Digital Images, https://doi.org/10.1109/ACCESS.2025.3546510 , SDG 9

23. A Scheme Based on Convolutional Neural Network and Fuzzy Logic to Identify the Location of Possible Secret Data in a Digital Image., https://doi.org/10.15866/irea.v12i1.23475 , SDG 9

24. Pixel-block-based Steganalysis Method for Hidden Data Location in Digital Images, https://doi.org/10.22266/ijies2023.1231.31 , SDG 9

25. Enhancing Data Hiding Methods for Improved Cyber Security Through Histogram Shifting Direction Optimization, 10.18280/mmep.100502 , SDG 9

26. A steganographic scheme to protect medical data using radiological images, https://doi.org/10.1109/CICN59264.2023.10402248 , SDG 9 and 8

27. Towards a High-capacity Data Concealment for Spatial Domain Image-steganography, 10.1109/ICMNWC60182.2023.10435744, SDG 9

28. A Steganographic Approach to Secure Data Using Pairs-Based Difference Expansion, https://doi.org/10.1109/CICN59264.2023.10402286 , SDG 9

29. Analysis of the smoothing and payload distribution method on reversible audio steganography, https://doi.org/10.1109/ICCCNT56998.2023.10307703 , SDG 9

30. Internet of Things based controlled environment for the production of shiitake mushroom, https://doi.org/10.1109/ICBDS53701.2022.9936039 , SDG 2

31. Reduced difference expansion based on cover image bisection for a quality stego image,  

https://doi.org/10.1109/ICTAS59620.2024.10507134 , SDG 9 and 12

32. FuzzyStego: An Adaptive Steganographic Scheme Using Fuzzy Logic for Optimizing Embeddable Areas in Spatial Domain Images. https://doi.org/10.32604/cmc.2025.061246 , SDG 9 and 12

33. Enhanced spatial domain image steganography for improved IoT security and privacy applications, https://doi.org/10.1109/MASS62177.2024.00101 , SDG 9 and 12

34. Comprehensive survey on image steganalysis using deep learning, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.array.2024.100353 , SDG 9 and 12

35. A steganographic approach based on pixel blocks differencing to enhance the quality of the stego image, https://doi.org/10.1109/ICTAS59620.2024.10507107 , SDG 9 and 12

36. Enhancing data security using steganography in spatial domain images, https://doi.org/10.1109/ic-ETITE58242.2024.10493831 , SDG 9 and 12

37. Convolutional Neural Network with Multi-scale Pooling for the Efficient Steganalysis in Images of Arbitrary Sizes, https://doi.org/10.1109/ICTS58770.2023.10330880 , SDG 9 and 12

38. Fuzzy inference-based prediction model for an IoT based water and pasture localization for pastoralists, https://www.researchgate.net/publication/360851546_Fuzzy_inference-based..., SDG 9 and 12 

39. Steganographic model to conceal the secret data in audio files utilizing a fourfold paradigm: Interpolation, multi-layering, optimized sample space, and smoothing, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jnlssr.2024.09.004 , SDG 9 and 12

40. Sobel edges key-based method for steganography in spatial domain images, https://doi.org/10.1109/ICMNWC60182.2023.10435975 , SDG 9 and 12

41. Triplets-Based Steganographic Scheme to Improve the Image Quality in Spatial Domain, https://doi.org/10.1109/ICMNWC60182.2023.10435875 , SDG 9 and 12

42. SB-Net: A novel spam botnet detection scheme with two-stage cascade learner and ensemble feature selection, https://doi.org/10.1109/OJCOMS.2025.3603425 , SDG 9 and 12

43. MedicalFuzzySec: a novel steganography technique using fuzzy logic to secure electronic patient data (EPD) concealment in medical images, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.csa.2025.100113 , SDG 9 and 12

44. Pairstruct: A steganography algorithm based on image structure and pair-pixels difference expansion, https://doi.org/10.1109/ICARC64760.2025.10963215 , SDG 9 and 12

45. Enhancing Steganography in Digital Images Through Neighboring Pixel Differences Expansion, https://doi.org/10.1109/ETNCC63262.2024.10767473 , SDG 9 and 12

46. Detecting Hidden Data in Images Using Convolutional Neural Networks, 10.18280/mmep.110511, SDG 9 and 12

47. Enhanced Image Steganography Using Customized Differences between the Neighboring Pixels, https://doi.org/10.1109/ICSC64553.2025.10968848 , SDG 9 and 12

48. DualLSBStego: Enhanced Steganographic Model Using Dual-LSB in Spatial Domain Images, 10.22266/ijies2025.0229.07, SDG 9 and 12

49. A Novel Approach to Image Steganography Using Pixel Differencing for Better Data Hiding, https://doi.org/10.1109/ONCON62778.2024.10931677 , SDG 9 and 12

50. AudioSecure: An open-source code to secure data using interpolation and multi-layering techniques within audio covers, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.simpa.2024.100707 ,SDG 9 and 12

51. Steganalysis in Spatial Domain Images for Securing Data Transmission in IoT Environments, https://doi.org/10.1109/MASS62177.2024.00093 , SDG 9 and 12

52. Enhanced steganographic scheme based on difference expansion in digital images, https://doi.org/10.1109/ICITISEE63424.2024.10730278 , SDG 9 and 12

53. Data Hiding Approach to Enhance the Audio Sample Spaces Using Interpolation and Multi-layering, 10.22266/ijies2024.0831.27, SDG 9 and 12

54. A Data Hiding Scheme via Reduced Difference Expansion to Improve the Stego Quality, https://doi.org/10.1109/ICMNWC60182.2023.10435709 , SDG 9 and 12

55. A comprehensive survey on steganography of medical images, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cosrev.2026.100973 , SDG 9 and 12

56. REYHealth: Confidentiality-Preserving electronic health records sharing using adaptive N-Image steganography and huffman coding, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rineng.2025.108915 , SDG 9 and 12

57. IRJT-Secure: Open-source image steganography with Quadristego embedding and Huffman compression, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.simpa.2025.100801 , SDG 9 and 12

58. Adaptive Steganography Approach in RGB Images Based on Color Channels to Enhance Stego Image Quality, https://doi.org/10.1109/CICN63059.2024.10847493 , SDG 9 and 12

59. Enhancing Secret Data Protection Via Steganography in Images with Bits Transformation, 10.22266/ijies2024.1231.14, SDG 9 and 12

60. Data Hiding Scheme for Spatial Domain Images Using Fuzzy Logic and Modulus Operation, 10.18280/ijsse.140517, SDG 9 and 12

61. Steganography in spatial domain images: Using image edge to hide the secret data with a quality stego image, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvcir.2021.103097 , SDG 9 and 12

62. Enhanced Secret Data Hiding in Audio Samples via Bit Distribution and Segmentation, https://doi.org/10.1109/ICoABCD63526.2024.10704403 , SDG 9 and 12

63. Secret Data Hiding in Digital Images Using Differences Between Adjacent Pixels, https://doi.org/10.1109/ICCCNT61001.2024.10724536 , SDG 9 and 12

64. Toward the confidential data location in spatial domain images via a genetic-based pooling in a convolutional neural network, https://doi.org/10.1109/ICCAE59995.2024.10569936 , SDG 9 and 12

65. Enhancing the Quality of the Stego Image Using Quads-based Differences in Spatial Domain Images, https://doi.org/10.1109/SMARTGENCON60755.2023.10442419 , SDG 9 and 12

66. Improving the Imperceptibility of Hidden Data in a Digital Image Using Difference Expansion, https://doi.org/10.1109/ONCON60463.2023.10430422 , SDG 9 and 12

67. NTRF-Net: A fuzzy logic-enhanced convolutional neural network for detecting hidden data in digital images, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.image.2025.117401 , SDG 9 and 12

68. ORZ-ScH: A Low-Latency Phishing URL Detection Framework Using N-Gram-Based Feature Modeling, https://doi.org/10.1109/NMITCON65824.2025.11187491 , SDG 9 and 12

69. Comparative Analysis of Two-Step Machine Learning Models for Botnet SPAM Detection,  10.18280/ijsse.150608, SDG 9 and 12

70. IrsyadStego: An open-source code to secure data using pixel differencing paradigm within the neighboring pixels of a digital image, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.simpa.2025.100757 , SDG 9 and 12

71. Enhanced Data Hiding Based on First, Middle, and Last Order Pixel in Spatial Domain Images, https://doi.org/10.1109/ICSC64553.2025.10967855 , SDG 9 and 12

72. Enhancing Data Security Through Double Steganography Approaches, https://doi.org/10.1109/ICSC64553.2025.10968981 , SDG 9 and 12

73. Enhanced Difference Expansion for Secure Secret Sharing and Message Embedding in Digital Images, https://doi.org/10.1109/ICARC64760.2025.10963126 , SDG 9 and 12

74. ELStego: High-capacity steganography in image via entropy segmentation and FOIS-based embedding with histogram shifting, 10.22266/ijies2025.0831.20, SDG 9 and 12

75. Enhancing Steganography Image Quality with Six-Bit LSB and Operator Function, https://doi.org/10.1109/ONCON62778.2024.10931744, SDG 9 and 12

76. Convolutional Neural Network to Detect the Secret Data in the Spatial Domain Images, 10.18280/ijsse.140606, SDG 9 and 12

77. Hiding Secret Data Using Reduced Differences within the Pixels of an Image, https://doi.org/10.1109/NMITCON62075.2024.10699207 , SDG 9 and 12

78. Sensitivity of a Convolutional Neural Network for Different Pooling Layers in Spatial Domain Steganalysis, 10.18280/isi.290438, SDG 9 and 12

79. Pixel Block-based Data Hiding Approach for Enhanced Payload Capacity in Spatial Domain Images, https://doi.org/10.1109/ONCON60463.2023.10430503 , SDG 9 and 12

80. Securing a Watering System by a Fuzzy-Based Water Leakage Control, https://doi.org/10.1109/ICITCOM60176.2023.10442015 , SDG 9 and 12

81. IPtCM: IP address-to-country mapping for multi-class spam botnet detection, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.softx.2026.102900 , SDG 9 and 12

82. Data hiding techniques for biomedical signals: A comprehensive review of steganography and watermarking approaches, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuri.2026.100292 , SDG 9 and 12

83. GAN-based image protection with reversible data concealing via secret key extraction, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.array.2026.101076 , SDG 9 and 12

84. CloudX: A dual-layered cloud native architecture for GPU resource management using interactive notebook, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.array.2026.101026 , SDG 9 and 12

85. NRASecure: A Deep Learning-Based Framework for Enhancing Security in 5G-Enabled Smart Grid Networks, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rineng.2026.111290 , SDG 9 and 12

86. Steganography in IoT Applications: A Survey on Methods, Current Emerging Challenges, and Future Directions, https://doi.org/10.32604/cmc.2026.083445 , SDG 9 and 12

87. VARStego: A Reversible Local Variance-Based Steganographic Method, https://doi.org/10.32604/cmc.2026.085342 , SDG 9 and 12

88. EPR-Stego: Quality-Preserving Steganographic Framework for Securing Electronic Patient Records, https://doi.org/10.35882/jeeemi.v8i1.1172 , SDG 9 and 12

89. ANDRASecure: A K-means-Based Steganographic Approach for Secure Patient Data Embedding in Medical Images, https://doi.org/10.1109/CENIM67940.2025.11326423 , SDG 9 and 12

90. Interpolation-based Reversible Data Hiding with Prediction Error Expansion for Secure Patient Data in Medical Images, https://doi.org/10.1109/ICTS67612.2025.11369530 , SDG 9 and 12

91. DHEAProtect: Adaptive Steganography for Secure Embedding of Data in Images via Random Forest Classifiers, https://doi.org/10.1109/ICTS67612.2025.11369665 , SDG 9 and 12

92. BASMEDSecure: A Logistic Regression-Based Data Hiding Framework for Securing Patient Records, https://doi.org/10.1109/GECOST66002.2025.11324510 , SDG 9 and 12

93. MedRec-Secure: A Framework for Confidentiality Preservation in Medical Patient Records, https://doi.org/10.18280/ijsse.150807 , SDG 9 and 12

94. NayahStego: A Novel Digital Image Steganography Scheme for High-capacity and Secure Data Hiding in Spatial Domain, 10.22266/ijies2025.1231.02, SDG 9 and 12

95. A hybrid steganography scheme with reduced difference expansion and pixel-value ordering, https://doi.org/10.11591/ijai.v14.i5.pp3563-3575 , SDG 9 and 12

96. ZLPBotDetect: Enhanced Botnet Classification Using SMOTE and LightGBM, https://doi.org/10.1109/IDAP68205.2025.11222184 , SDG 9 and 12

97. Extending iLEAPP Forensic Tool with DJI Mavic Flight Parser, https://doi.org/10.1109/IDAP68205.2025.11222187 , SDG 9 and 12

98. RDJAT-Embed: Efficient Spatial Domain Data Hiding via Average Pixel Modulation and Tracing Arrays,  10.1016/j.eswa.2025.127403, SDG 9 and 12

99. MedProtect: Protecting Electronic Patient Data Using Interpolation-Based Medical Image Steganography, https://doi.org/10.35882/jeeemi.v7i4.977 , SDG 9 and 12

100. Hybrid Sampling Approach for Enhanced Botnet Spam Detection Using Two-Stack Machine Learning, https://doi.org/10.1109/ETNCC66224.2025.11299709 , SDG 9 and 12

101. Securing Data Via Vision Transformer with Residual Learning in Image Steganography, https://doi.org/10.1109/ICTAS64866.2025.11155767 , SDG 9 and 12

102. A Novel Pixel Block-Based Data Hiding Method for Improved Payload Capacity Using 2-Dimensional Block Segmentation, https://doi.org/10.1109/CICN63059.2024.10847384 , SDG 9 and 12

103. Image Steganography via Edge-based Fuzzy with Histogram Shifting, https://doi.org/10.1109/ISRITI64779.2024.10963402 , SDG 9 and 12

104. Zone-Based Image Steganography Using Pixel Value Difference for Enhanced Embedding, https://doi.org/10.1109/ISRITI64779.2024.10963508 , SDG 9 and 12

105. Improving Secret Data Detection Using CNN via a Mixed Pooling within Images of Arbitrary Size, https://doi.org/10.1109/ETNCC63262.2024.10767463 , SDG 9 and 12

106. Reversible Data Hiding Approach in Images Using Converted Secret Bits and Difference Amidst Pixels, https://doi.org/10.1109/ETNCC63262.2024.10767478 , SDG 9 and 12

107. Utilizing Fuzzy Logic for IoT Shiitake Mushroom Farm Vital Parameters Monitoring with Water use Optimization, https://www.researchgate.net/publication/360891026_College_of_Science_an..., SDG 9 and 12

Brief profile: 
Dr. Ntivuguruzwa Jean De La Croix is a Computer Scientist specializing in AI-Based Information Security, with strong expertise in deep learning-based digital image (medical and general-purpose images) forensics, steganography, and steganalysis. He has supervised research resulting in more than 100+ peer-reviewed publications and Scopus-indexed journals with a H-index of 16. His work integrates fuzzy logic, convolutional neural networks, optimization techniques, and lightweight AI-driven security models for medical data protection, IoT systems, and cyber threat detection. He is committed to advancing AI-based solutions for intelligent systems for real-world applications applied in health science. Scopus: https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=57422987900 Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=VG_0q50AAAAJ&hl=en&oi=ao
Research Area: 
Securing Sensitive Data ( Health, Financial, and Social) by Steganography and Steganalysis. Research ID number (ORCID): https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5249-1241