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Lecture Notes in Networks and Systems 286

Yu-Dong Zhang
Tomonobu Senjyu
Chakchai So-In
Amit Joshi Editors

Smart Trends in
Computing and
Communications
Proceedings of SmartCom 2021
Lecture Notes in Networks and Systems

Volume 286

Series Editor
Janusz Kacprzyk, Systems Research Institute, Polish Academy of Sciences,
Warsaw, Poland

Advisory Editors
Fernando Gomide, Department of Computer Engineering and Automation—DCA,
School of Electrical and Computer Engineering—FEEC, University of Campinas—
UNICAMP, São Paulo, Brazil
Okyay Kaynak, Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering,
Bogazici University, Istanbul, Turkey
Derong Liu, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University
of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, USA
Institute of Automation, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
Witold Pedrycz, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering,
University of Alberta, Alberta, Canada
Systems Research Institute, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
Marios M. Polycarpou, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering,
KIOS Research Center for Intelligent Systems and Networks, University of Cyprus,
Nicosia, Cyprus
Imre J. Rudas, Óbuda University, Budapest, Hungary
Jun Wang, Department of Computer Science, City University of Hong Kong,
Kowloon, Hong Kong
The series “Lecture Notes in Networks and Systems” publishes the latest
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Volumes published in LNNS embrace all aspects and subfields of, as well as new
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More information about this series at http://www.springer.com/series/15179


Yu-Dong Zhang · Tomonobu Senjyu ·
Chakchai So-In · Amit Joshi
Editors

Smart Trends in Computing


and Communications
Proceedings of SmartCom 2021
Editors
Yu-Dong Zhang Tomonobu Senjyu
Department of Informatics Department of Electrical and Electronics
University of Leicester Engineering
Leicester, UK University of the Ryukyus
Nishihara, Okinawa, Japan
Chakchai So-In
Department of Computer Science Amit Joshi
Khon Kaen University Global Knowledge Research Foundation
Khon Kaen, Thailand Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India

ISSN 2367-3370 ISSN 2367-3389 (electronic)


Lecture Notes in Networks and Systems
ISBN 978-981-16-4015-5 ISBN 978-981-16-4016-2 (eBook)
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-16-4016-2

© The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature
Singapore Pte Ltd. 2022
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Preface

The Fifth Edition of the SmartCom 2021—Smart Trends in Computing and Commu-
nications—was held during 15–16 April 2021, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA, digitally
on Zoom and organised by Global Knowledge Research Foundation. The associated
partners were Springer and InterYIT IFIP. The conference will provide a useful and
wide platform both for the display of the latest research and for exchange of research
results and thoughts. The participants of the conference will be from almost every
part of the world, with the background of either academia or industry, allowing a real
multinational multicultural exchange of experiences and ideas.
A great pool of more than 410 papers were received for this conference from
across 19 countries among which around 71 papers were accepted with this Springer
Series and were presented through a digital platform during the two days. Due to the
overwhelming response, we had to drop many papers in the hierarchy of the quality.
A total of 12 technical sessions were organised in parallel in 2 days along with few
keynotes and panel discussions. The conference will be involved in deep discussion
and issues which will be intended to solve at global levels. New technologies will
be proposed, experiences will be shared, and future solutions for enhancement in
systems and security will also be discussed. The final papers will be published in
proceedings by Springer LNNS Series.
Over the years, this conference has been organised and conceptualised with the
collective efforts of a large number of individuals. I would like to thank each of
the committee members and the reviewers for their excellent work in reviewing the
papers. Grateful acknowledgements are extended to the team of Global Knowledge
Research Foundation for their valuable efforts and support.
I look forward to welcome you on the 6th Edition of this SmartCom Conference
in 2022.

Leicester, UK Yu-Dong Zhang


Nishihara, Japan Tomonobu Senjyu
Khon Kaen, Thailand Chakchai So-In
Ahmedabad, India Amit Joshi

v
Contents

Influencing User Intention of Plant-Based Sensing System


Adoption in Public Vocational High Schools of Indonesia Using
TAM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Rahmat Yasirandi, Wulandari, and Paulus Berliz Sitohang
An Empirical Study of Critical Success Factors for the Adoption
of m-Government Services in Tanzania . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Fredrick Ishengoma, Leonard Mselle, and Hector Mongi
Smart City Based on LoRaWAN: Coverage Study for Cusco
Urban Area . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Vico Villanueva-Bayona, Jinmi Lezama, and Jorge Arizaca-Cusicuna
Digital Transformation in Education in Knowledge Society . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Valentina Milenkova and Boris Manov
Induction Motor Overload Recognition Based on Sound Analysis . . . . . . 41
Nguyen Cong-Phuong
Simulation of an All-Terrain Vehicle Driving Experience Using
Virtual Reality . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
Luis Cuautle Gutiérrez, José de Jesús Cordero Guridi,
Johannes Carrillo Aguilar, and Eduardo Lebano Pérez
Safety-Centric and Smart Outdoor Workplace: A New Research
Direction and Its Technical Challenges . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61
Zheng Li, Mauricio Pradena Miquel, and Pedro Pinacho-Davidson
Devising Auxiliary Glyph Schemas Combined with XOR Filters
for Improvised Font Delivery and Reliable Dynamic Font
Augmentation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75
Nipun Jindal and Pranay Kumar
Multiple Sequence Alignment Algorithms in Bioinformatics . . . . . . . . . . . 89
Bharath Reddy and Richard Fields

vii
viii Contents

Design and Implementation of a Machine Learning-Based


Technique to Detect Unipolar and Bipolar Depression Using Motor
Activity Data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99
Praveen Manoj Singh and P. S. Sathidevi
Underwater Magnetic Release System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109
James Addy, Michael Cameron, Md Hasan, Augustine Ukpebor,
Kamal Ali, and Ali Abu-El Humos
An Optimal Route for People with Ambulant Disabilities Using
Mathematical Risk Modeling and Analytic Hierarchy Process . . . . . . . . . 119
Bernard H. Ugalde, Albert A. Vinluan, and Jennifer T. Carpio
The Innovation in Manufacturing Areas of Electronics Industry
of Mexicali Using PLC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 131
Roberto Carlos Valdés Hernández, Adelaida Figueroa Villanueva,
and José Luis Arcos Vega
Assistive Autonomous Electric Vehicle for Disaster Management . . . . . . . 141
Saksham Gupta and Kashyap Joshi
On the Existing and New Potential Methods for Partial Discharge
Source Monitoring in Electrical Power Grids . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 155
Denis Stanescu, Angela Digulescu, Cornel Ioana,
and Alexandru Serbanescu
Efficient Approach for Block-Based Copy-Move Forgery Detection . . . . . 167
Bilgehan Gurunlu and Serkan Ozturk
Smart IoT Sensor Network for Monitoring of Cultural Heritage
Monuments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 175
Maria Krommyda, Nikos Mitro, and Angelos Amditis
MorArch: A Software Architecture for Interoperability to Improve
the Communication in the Edge Layer of a Smart IoT Ecosystem . . . . . . 185
Juan Moreno-Motta, Felipe Moreno-Vera, and Frank A. Moreno
A Design of an IoT-Based Smart Home with Auto-sanitization
System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 197
Md. Sayeduzzaman, Md. Samiul Islam Borno, Md. Hasibul Islam,
and Sujan Howlader
An Experiment Study on Federated Learning Testbed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 209
Cheng Shen and Wanli Xue
Visual Quality Comparison of Ocean Wave Effects at Different
Camera Distances . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 219
Jia Ni Zhou, Kwang Ho Baek, and Tae Soo Yun
Contents ix

Control System to International Parental Child Abduction, Case:


Colombia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 229
Giovanni Ortegón, Javier Samper, Francisco Garcia, and Hector Bedon
It is not Always Ethical: Data Manipulation to Justify Public
Policy Choices in COVID-19 Response . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 239
Hannah Kabir and David Marlow
BPMN2EVENTB Supporting Transformation from BPMN2.0
to Event B Using Kermeta . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 247
Mayssa Bessifi, Ahlem Ben Younes, and Leila Ben Ayed
Teaching Neuroscience Through Flipped Classroom:
Systematizing an Experience with Students of the Professional
Career of Elementary Education . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 257
Ivan Iraola-Real and Edwin Iraola-Real
Low-Cost IoT Platform for Telemedicine Applications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 269
Andres Garces-Salazar, Santiago Manzano, Carlos Nuñez,
Juan P. Pallo, Marco Jurado, and Marcelo V. Garcia
Statistical Analysis-Based Intrusion Detection for Software
Defined Network . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 279
Talha Naqash, M. Hassan Tanveer, Sajjad Hussain Shah,
and Muhammad Salman
Psychological Profiles of Social Media Users: An Exploratory
and Predictive Study in Peruvian Adolescents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 291
Ivan Iraola-Real and Keita Nakamine
Semantic Segmentation of Underwater Environments Using
DeepLabv3+ and Transfer Learning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 301
Miguel Chicchon and Hector Bedon
Strawberry Maturity Classification Based on BP Neural Network . . . . . . 311
Xuehong Wang, Chunling Tu, and Pius Adewale Owolawi
Intervention for Improvement of Water Quality in a Rural Village
in Rajasthan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 323
D. Tejesh Reddy, S. Shamini, Venithraa Ganesan,
Anisha Radhakrishnan, and Vineeth Ajith
Addressing Impure Water Quality and Associated Challenges
Faced by a Rural Community in West Bengal Through Sustainable
Technologies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 333
K. Yamuna, Kalpesh Gupta, Sradha D. Prabhu, S. Navaneeth Krishna,
Sai Jyothi, Jayasree Narayanan, and S. Sani
x Contents

Assessing Appropriate Technologies for Sustainable Irrigation


Practices in Muljipura Village, India . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 345
K. Abhinav Reddy, D. Sanjana Reddy, Yoganandam Ranjani,
Srikar Palivela, Basavaraju Sagar, and Menon Soumya
Kidney Disease Detection Using Supervised Machine Learning
Techniques . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 357
Prapti Kachhia and Dushyantsinh Rathod
Comparison Between Types of Solar Panels for Meteorological
Stations in Different Areas of Ecuador . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 367
Belkis C. Cañizales, Charles M. Pérez-Espinoza, José L. Alonso,
and José L. Ponce-Guerrero
IoT-Based Smart Street Light for Improved Road Safety . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 377
Md. Hasibul Islam, Khadija Yeasmin Fariya,
Md. Taslim Hossain Tanim, Touhidul Islam Talukder,
and Nafiz Ahmed Chisty
Diagnosis of Early-Stage Lung Cancer and Tumor Using the 5G
Band Microstrip Patch Antenna . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 391
Shouherdho Banerjee Akash, Fardeen Mahbub, Rashedul Islam,
Sayed Abdul Kadir Al-Nahiun, Raja Rashidul Hasan,
and Md.Abdur Rahman
Analysing and Identifying Harm Propagation of Cyber Threats
in Autonomous Vehicles and Mitigation Through ANN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 405
V. Ceronmani Sharmila, H. Mohamed Aslam, and M. Mohamed Riswan
Predictive Model-based Analytics to Control Drying Process
in a Sugar Industry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 419
K. Sujatha, G. Nalinashini, B. A. Ganesan, N. Jayachitra,
Rengammal Sankari, A. Kalaivani, and S. Sendilvelan
IoT-Based Personalized Health Care for Elderly Diabetic Patients . . . . . . 427
Shivom Keshary, Ganeshaperumal Dharmaraj,
Subathra Balasubramanian, and Seshadhri Srinivasan
Context-Aware Placement Applications of Industry 4.0 Using
Connected Dominating Set in Fog Computing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 437
V. Ceronmani Sharmila, N. P. Nandhakumar, N. S. Akkash Babu,
and S. Bharath Kumar
Performance Efficient NoC Router Implementation on FPGA . . . . . . . . . 449
Priti Shahane and Ujwala Kshirsagar
RSA-Based CP-ABE Scheme with Scalable User Revocation
for IoT and Smartcard Devices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 463
Divyashikha Sethia, Ritik Aggarwal, Saksham Bhayana,
and Sanchit Mehta
Contents xi

Design of Multi-band MIMO Patch Antenna Active Sensor Array


for Satellite Remote Sensing Applications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 473
John Colaco and Rajesh Lohani
Performance Analysis of Machine Learning Algorithms for Sleep
Apnea Detection Using ECG . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 485
Anita Ramachandran, Atul Kumar Pant, and Anupama Karuppiah
Accuracy of Diabetes Patient Determination: Prediction Made
from Sugar Levels Using Machine Learning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 495
Sujatha Krishnananthan, Puvanendran Sanjeeth,
and Rukshani Puvanendran
A Comprehensive Review on Text to Indian Sign Language
Translation Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 505
Kashish Shah, Sanket Rathi, Rishabh Shetty, and Kamal Mistry
Control Plane Efficiency by Load Adjustment in SDN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 515
K. Sridevi and M. A. Saifulla
Novel Intuitionistic Fuzzy Time Series Modeling to Forecast
the Death Cases of COVID-19 in India . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 525
Manish Pant, A. K. Shukla, and Sanjay Kumar
Dynamic Trust Management System for Social IoT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 533
Geetha Venkatesan and Avadhesh Kumar
Human Motion Detection and Recognition from Video Surveillance
Based on Machine Learning Approaches . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 541
Payal Bose and Samir K. Bandyopadhyay
Using Recursive Feature Elimination and Fisher Score
with Convolutional Neural Network for Identifying Port Scan
Attempts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 551
Kuljeet Singh, Amit Mahajan, and Vibhakar Mansotra
A Conceptual Enhancement of LSTM Using Knowledge
Distillation for Hate Speech Detection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 561
Akileng Isaac and Aruna Bhat
A Deep Dive into Blockchain Consensus Protocols . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 571
Anamika Chauhan, Rishabh, Lokesh N. Shankar, and Pratham Mittal
Deep Learning Techniques for Automated Image Captioning . . . . . . . . . . 583
Siddharth Srivastava, Yash Chaudhari, Yash Damania, and Parul Jadhav
Cost-Effectiveness of a Substance-Abuse Prevention Program
in Tribal Areas of Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 593
Sreesankar Ajayan, Gouri H, Radhika Menon, Georg Gutjahr,
and Prema Nedungadi
xii Contents

Agile Methodology for IoT Application Development and Business


Improvisation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 601
Darshan Pandit, Smitha Chowdary, P. S. R. Patnaik,
Bhushan Shaharkar, and AkshayKumar Surde
A Study on Impact of WhatsApp on College Students . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 609
Deepali A. Mahajan and C. Namrata Mahender
Apriori Algorithm with Dynamic Parameter Selection and Pruning
of Misleading Rules . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 619
Aditya Veer, Mohit Gurav, Shreyansh Dange, Shubham Chandgude,
and Vaishali Wangikar
Reconstruction of Missing Data in Satellite Imagery Using
SN-GANs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 629
Poojan Panchal, Vignesh Charan Raman, Trupti Baraskar,
Shambhavi Sinha, Swaraj Purohit, and Jaynam Modi
Solution Approaches for Breast Cancer Classification Through
Medical Imaging Modalities Using Artificial Intelligence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 639
Pramod B. Deshmukh and Kanchan Lata Kashyap
Banana Leaf Disease Recognition Based on Local Binary Pattern . . . . . . 653
Vandana Chaudhari, Husain H. Dawoodi, and Manoj P. Patil
RMS Delay Spread and Channel Capacity Modelling for 28 GHz
MIMO Channel with Different UE Height . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 663
Olabode Idowu-Bismark, Francis Idachaba, Aderemi A. Atayero,
Walter Janusz, and Caitlyn Harling
A Novel Variant-Optimized Search Algorithm for Nuclei Detection
in Histopathogy Breast Cancer Images . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 673
Rajesh Saturi and P. Prem Chand
The Mythical or Realistic Implementation of AI-powered
Driverless Cars in Africa: A Review of Challenges and Risks . . . . . . . . . . 685
ChukwuNonso Henry Nwokoye, Vincent O. S. Okeke, Paul Roseline,
and Ethelbert Okoronkwo
Gatekeeper Security Check System Using VGG . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 697
Anuradha Taluja, Jay Singhal, Aastha Gulati, and Harshit Gupta
Online Examination System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 709
Aanjey Mani Tripathi, Rishabh Kasana, Rohit Bhandari,
and Nirbhay Vashishtha
Analyze of Different Algorithms of Machine Learning for Loan
Approval . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 719
Bhawana Ghildiyal, Shubham Garg, and Vivek Raturi
Contents xiii

A Survey on Statistical Approaches for Abstractive Summarization


of Low Resource Language Documents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 729
Pranjali Deshpande and Sunita Jahirabadkar
A Critical Review of IoT-Connected Healthcare and Information
Security in South Africa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 739
Khadija Hayat Naqvi, Elisha Didam Markus, Masinde Muthoni,
and Adnan Abu-Mahfouz
A Review of Interoperability of IoT Systems for Smart Cities . . . . . . . . . . 747
Johnson Fadeyi and Elisha Didam Markus

Author Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 759


Editors and Contributors

About the Editors

Prof. Yu-Dong Zhang received his B.S. and M.S. degrees from Nanjing University
of Aeronautics and Astronautics in 2004 and 2007, prior to completing his Ph.D.
in Signal and Information Processing at Southeast University in 2010. From 2010
to 2012, he worked at Columbia University as a postdoc. From 2012 to 2013, he
worked as a research scientist at Columbia University and New York State Psychiatric
Institute. From 2013 to 2017, he worked as a full professor and a doctoral advisor at
the School of Computer Science and Technology, Nanjing Normal University. Since
2018, he has been a full professor at the Department of Informatics, University of
Leicester, UK.

Prof. Tomonobu Senjyu received his B.S. and M.S. degrees in Electrical Engi-
neering from the University of the Ryukyus, Nishihara, Japan, in 1986 and 1988,
respectively, and his Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from Nagoya University, Japan,
in 1994. He is currently a full professor at the Department of Electrical and Electronics
Engineering, University of the Ryukyus. His research interests include renewable
energy, power system optimization and operation, power electronics, and advanced
control of electrical machines.

Prof. Chakchai So-In has been with the Department of Computer Science at Khon
Kaen University since 2010. Dr. So-In received his B.E. and M.E. degrees from Kaset-
sart University (KU), Bangkok, Thailand, in 1999 and 2001, respectively. He also
completed M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Computer Engineering at the Department of
Computer Science and Engineering, Washington University, in St. Louis (WUSTL),
MO, USA, in 2006 and 2010. He has authored more than 100 publications in promi-
nent journals and proceedings, together with ten books. His research interests include
mobile computing/sensor networks, Internet of things, computer/wireless/distributed
networks, cybersecurity, intelligent systems, and the future Internet. He is a senior
member of the IEEE and ACM.

xv
xvi Editors and Contributors

Dr. Amit Joshi is currently the director of Global Knowledge Research Foundation,
also an entrepreneur, and researcher who has completed his Masters and research in
the areas of cloud computing and cryptography in medical imaging. Dr. Joshi has an
experience of around ten years in academic and industry in prestigious organizations.
Dr. Joshi is an active member of ACM, IEEE, CSI, AMIE, IACSIT-Singapore, IDES,
ACEEE, NPA, and many other professional societies. Currently, Dr. Joshi is the
international chair of InterYIT at International Federation of Information Processing
(IFIP, Austria). He has presented and published more than 50 papers in national and
international journals/conferences of IEEE and ACM. Dr. Joshi has also edited more
than 40 books which are published by Springer, ACM, and other reputed publishers.
Dr. Joshi has also organized more than 50 national and international conferences and
programs in association with ACM, Springer, IEEE, to name a few across different
countries including India, UK, Europe, USA, Canada, Thailand, Egypt, and many
more.

Contributors

K. Abhinav Reddy Department of Electronics and Communication Engineering,


Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Bengaluru, India
Ali Abu-El Humos Jackson State University, Jackson, MS, USA
Adnan Abu-Mahfouz Central University of Technology Free State South Africa,
Center for Scientific and Industrial Research, Pretoria, South Africa
James Addy Jackson State University, Jackson, MS, USA
Ritik Aggarwal Delhi Technological University, New Delhi, India
Sreesankar Ajayan Department of Mathematics, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham,
Amritapuri, Kerala, India;
Center for Research in Analytics and Technologies for Education (CREATE), Amrita
Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Amritapuri, Kerala, India
Vineeth Ajith Amrita School for Sustainable Development, Amritapuri, India
Shouherdho Banerjee Akash American International University-Bangladesh
(AIUB), Dhaka, Bangladesh
N. S. Akkash Babu Department of Information Technology, Hindustan Institute of
Technology and Science, Kelambakkam, India
Kamal Ali Jackson State University, Jackson, MS, USA
Sayed Abdul Kadir Al-Nahiun American International University-Bangladesh
(AIUB), Dhaka, Bangladesh
José L. Alonso Universidad de Guayaquil, Guayaquil, Ecuador
Editors and Contributors xvii

Angelos Amditis Institute of Communication and Computer Systems, Athens,


Greece
Jorge Arizaca-Cusicuna Universidad Nacional de San Antonio Abad del Cusco,
Cusco, Peru
H. Mohamed Aslam Department of Information Technology, Hindustan Institute
of Technology and Science, Chennai, India
Aderemi A. Atayero Electrical and Information Engineering Department,
Covenant University, Ota, Ogun State, Nigeria
Leila Ben Ayed ENSI, University of La Manouba, Manouba, Tunisia;
LIPSIC Laboratory, Faculty of Science of Tunis, Tunis, Tunisia
Kwang Ho Baek Dongseo University, Busan, Korea
Subathra Balasubramanian Department of Instrumentation and Control Engi-
neering, Kalasalingam Academy of Research and Education, Krishnankoil, Virud-
hunagar, Tamil Nadu, India
Samir K. Bandyopadhyay Lincoln University College, Kota Bharu, Kelantan,
Malaysia
Trupti Baraskar Dr. Vishwanath Karad, MIT World Peace University, Pune, India
Hector Bedon Exponential Technology Group (GITX-ULIMA), Institute of Scien-
tific Research (IDIC), Universidad de Lima, Lima, Peru
Mayssa Bessifi FSEGS, University of Sfax, Sfax, Tunisia;
LIPSIC Laboratory, Faculty of Science of Tunis, Tunis, Tunisia
Rohit Bhandari Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Meerut Insti-
tute of Engineering and Technology, Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, India
S. Bharath Kumar Department of Information Technology, Hindustan Institute of
Technology and Science, Kelambakkam, India
Aruna Bhat Delhi Technological University, New Delhi, India
Saksham Bhayana Delhi Technological University, New Delhi, India
Md. Samiul Islam Borno American International University—Bangladesh,
Dhaka, Bangladesh
Payal Bose Lincoln University College, Kota Bharu, Kelantan, Malaysia
Michael Cameron Jackson State University, Jackson, MS, USA
Belkis C. Cañizales Universidad de Guayaquil, Guayaquil, Ecuador
Jennifer T. Carpio University of Makati, Makati City, Philippines
Johannes Carrillo Aguilar Universidad Popular Autónoma del Estado de Puebla,
Puebla, México
xviii Editors and Contributors

V. Ceronmani Sharmila Department of Information Technology, Hindustan Insti-


tute of Technology and Science, Kelambakkam, India
Shubham Chandgude School of Computer Engineering and Technology, MIT
Academy of Engineering, Pune, India
Vandana Chaudhari Smt.G.G.Khadse College, Muktainagar, India
Yash Chaudhari Dr. Vishwanath Karad MIT World Peace University, Pune, India
Anamika Chauhan Delhi Technological University, Delhi, India
Miguel Chicchon Exponential Technology Group (GITX-ULIMA), Institute of
Scientific Research (IDIC), Universidad de Lima, Lima, Peru
Nafiz Ahmed Chisty American International University-Bangladesh, Dhaka,
Bangladesh
Smitha Chowdary Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Koneru
Lakshmaiah Education Foundation, Guntur, India
John Colaco Department of Electronics and Telecommunication Engineering, Goa
Engineering College, Ponda, Goa, India
Nguyen Cong-Phuong School of Electrical Engineering, Hanoi University of
Science and Technology, Hanoi, Vietnam
José de Jesús Cordero Guridi Universidad Popular Autónoma del Estado de
Puebla, Puebla, México
Luis Cuautle Gutiérrez Universidad Popular Autónoma del Estado de Puebla,
Puebla, México
Yash Damania Dr. Vishwanath Karad MIT World Peace University, Pune, India
Shreyansh Dange School of Computer Engineering and Technology, MIT
Academy of Engineering, Pune, India
Husain H. Dawoodi School of Computer Sciences, Kavayitri Bahinabai Chaudhari
North Maharashtra University, Jalgaon, India
Pramod B. Deshmukh School of Computing Science & Engineering, VIT Bhopal
University, Bhopal, India
Pranjali Deshpande Department of Computer Engineering, MKSSS’s Cummins
College of Engineering for Women, Pune, India
Ganeshaperumal Dharmaraj Department of Instrumentation and Control Engi-
neering, Kalasalingam Academy of Research and Education, Krishnankoil, Virud-
hunagar, Tamil Nadu, India
Angela Digulescu University of Grenoble Alpes, GIPSA-Lab, Grenoble, France;
Military Technical Academy “Ferdinand I”, Bucharest, Romania
Editors and Contributors xix

Johnson Fadeyi Central University of Technology, Bloemfontein, Free State, South


Africa
Khadija Yeasmin Fariya American International University-Bangladesh, Dhaka,
Bangladesh
Richard Fields Process Automation R&D, Schneider-Electric, Lake Forest, USA
B. A. Ganesan Department of EIE, RMD Engineering College, Chennai, India;
Department of EEE, RRASE College of Engineering, Chennai, India
Venithraa Ganesan Department of Electronics and Instrumentation Engineering,
Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Coimbatore, India
Andres Garces-Salazar Universidad Tecnica de Ambato, UTA, Ambato, Ecuador
Francisco Garcia Murcia University, Murcia, Spain
Marcelo V. Garcia University of Basque Country, UPV/EHU, Bilbao, Spain
Shubham Garg Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Meerut Insti-
tute of Engineering and Technology, Meerut, India
Bhawana Ghildiyal Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Meerut
Institute of Engineering and Technology, Meerut, India
Aastha Gulati Department of Computer Science and Engineering Meerut Institute
of Engineering and Technology, Meerut, India
Harshit Gupta Department of Computer Science and Engineering Meerut Institute
of Engineering and Technology, Meerut, India
Kalpesh Gupta Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Amrita Vishwa
Vidyapeetham, Amritapuri, India
Saksham Gupta SVKM’s NMIMS MPSTME, Mumbai, India
Mohit Gurav School of Computer Engineering and Technology, MIT Academy of
Engineering, Pune, India
Bilgehan Gurunlu Informatics Department, Kahramanmaras Sutcu Imam Univer-
sity, K.Maras, Turkey
Georg Gutjahr Department of Mathematics, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Amri-
tapuri, Kerala, India;
Center for Research in Analytics and Technologies for Education (CREATE), Amrita
Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Amritapuri, Kerala, India
Gouri H Department of Mathematics, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Amritapuri,
Kerala, India
Caitlyn Harling REMCOM Corporation State College, State College, PA, USA
Md Hasan Jackson State University, Jackson, MS, USA
xx Editors and Contributors

Raja Rashidul Hasan American International University-Bangladesh (AIUB),


Dhaka, Bangladesh
Roberto Carlos Valdés Hernández Universidad Autónoma de Baja California,
Mexicali, Baja California, México
Sujan Howlader American International University—Bangladesh, Dhaka,
Bangladesh
Francis Idachaba Electrical and Information Engineering Department, Covenant
University, Ota, Ogun State, Nigeria
Olabode Idowu-Bismark Electrical and Information Engineering Department,
Covenant University, Ota, Ogun State, Nigeria
Cornel Ioana University of Grenoble Alpes, GIPSA-Lab, Grenoble, France
Edwin Iraola-Real Universidad Nacional de Educación Enrique Guzmán y Valle,
Lima, Peru
Ivan Iraola-Real Universidad de Ciencias y Humanidades, Lima, Peru
Akileng Isaac Delhi Technological University, New Delhi, India
Fredrick Ishengoma The University of Dodoma, Dodoma, Tanzania
Md. Hasibul Islam American International University—Bangladesh, Dhaka,
Bangladesh
Rashedul Islam American International University-Bangladesh (AIUB), Dhaka,
Bangladesh
Parul Jadhav Dr. Vishwanath Karad MIT World Peace University, Pune, India
Sunita Jahirabadkar Department of Computer Engineering, MKSSS’s Cummins
College of Engineering for Women, Pune, India
Walter Janusz REMCOM Corporation State College, State College, PA, USA
N. Jayachitra Department of EEE, Dr. MGR Educational and Research Institute,
Chennai, India;
Department of Chemical Engineering, Dr. MGR Educational and Research Institute,
Chennai, India
Nipun Jindal Adobe Inc., Noida, India
Kashyap Joshi SVKM’s NMIMS MPSTME, Mumbai, India
Marco Jurado Universidad Tecnica de Ambato, UTA, Ambato, Ecuador
Sai Jyothi Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Amrita Vishwa
Vidyapeetham, Amritapuri, India
Hannah Kabir Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
Editors and Contributors xxi

Prapti Kachhia Alpha College of Engineering, Kalol, Gujarat, India


A. Kalaivani Department of CSE, Saveetha School of Engineering, SIMATS, Tamil
Nadu, Chennai, India;
Department of Civil Engineering, Dr. MGR Educational and Research Institute,
Chennai, India
Anupama Karuppiah BITS Pilani, Pilani, Goa, India
Rishabh Kasana Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Meerut
Institute of Engineering and Technology, Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, India
Kanchan Lata Kashyap School of Computing Science & Engineering, VIT
Bhopal University, Bhopal, India
Shivom Keshary Department of Instrumentation and Control Engineering,
Kalasalingam Academy of Research and Education, Krishnankoil, Virudhunagar,
Tamil Nadu, India
Sujatha Krishnananthan Post Graduate Institute of Science, University of
Peradeniya, Kandy, Sri Lanka
Maria Krommyda Institute of Communication and Computer Systems, Athens,
Greece
Ujwala Kshirsagar Symbiosis International (Deemed University), Pune, India
Avadhesh Kumar School of Computing Science and Engineering, Galgotias
University, Greater Noida, India
Pranay Kumar Adobe Inc., Noida, India
Sanjay Kumar Department of Mathematics, Statistics and Computer Science, G.
B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar, Uttarakhand, India
Eduardo Lebano Pérez Universidad Popular Autónoma del Estado de Puebla,
Puebla, México
Jinmi Lezama Universidad Nacional Tecnologica de Lima Sur, Salvador, Peru
Zheng Li Department of Computer Science, University of Concepción, Concep-
ción, Chile
Rajesh Lohani Department of Electronics and Telecommunication Engineering,
Goa Engineering College, Ponda, Goa, India
Amit Mahajan Department of Computer Science & IT, University of Jammu,
Jammu, J&K, India
Deepali A. Mahajan Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University,
Aurangabad, India
Fardeen Mahbub American International University-Bangladesh (AIUB), Dhaka,
Bangladesh
xxii Editors and Contributors

C. Namrata Mahender Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University,


Aurangabad, India
Boris Manov South-West University, Blagoevgrad, Bulgaria
Vibhakar Mansotra Department of Computer Science & IT, University of Jammu,
Jammu, J&K, India
Santiago Manzano Universidad Tecnica de Ambato, UTA, Ambato, Ecuador
Elisha Didam Markus Central University of Technology Free State South Africa,
Center for Scientific and Industrial Research, Pretoria, South Africa;
Central University of Technology, Bloemfontein, Free State, South Africa
David Marlow University of South Carolina Upstate, Spartanburg, SC, USA
Sanchit Mehta Delhi Technological University, New Delhi, India
Radhika Menon Center for Research in Analytics and Technologies for Education
(CREATE), Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Amritapuri, Kerala, India
Valentina Milenkova South-West University, Blagoevgrad, Bulgaria
Kamal Mistry Department of Computer Engineering, Mukesh Patel School of
Technology Management and Engineering, NMIMS University, Mumbai, India
Nikos Mitro Institute of Communication and Computer Systems, Athens, Greece
Pratham Mittal Delhi Technological University, Delhi, India
Jaynam Modi Dr. Vishwanath Karad, MIT World Peace University, Pune, India
Hector Mongi The University of Dodoma, Dodoma, Tanzania
Frank A. Moreno Universidad Nacional de Ingeniería, Lima, Peru
Juan Moreno-Motta Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, Lima, Peru
Felipe Moreno-Vera Universidad Católica San Pablo, Arequipa, Peru
Leonard Mselle The University of Dodoma, Dodoma, Tanzania
Masinde Muthoni Central University of Technology Free State South Africa,
Center for Scientific and Industrial Research, Pretoria, South Africa
Keita Nakamine Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú, Lima, Perú
G. Nalinashini Department of EIE, RMD Engineering College, Chennai, India;
Department of EEE, RRASE College of Engineering, Chennai, India
N. P. Nandhakumar Department of Information Technology, Hindustan Institute
of Technology and Science, Kelambakkam, India
Talha Naqash Department of Computer Science, Bahria University Islamabad,
Islamabad, Pakistan
Editors and Contributors xxiii

Khadija Hayat Naqvi Central University of Technology Free State South Africa,
Center for Scientific and Industrial Research, Pretoria, South Africa
Jayasree Narayanan Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Amrita
Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Amritapuri, India
S. Navaneeth Krishna Department of Electronics and Communication Engi-
neering, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Amritapuri, India
Prema Nedungadi Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Amrita
Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Amritapuri, Kerala, India;
Center for Research in Analytics and Technologies for Education (CREATE), Amrita
Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Amritapuri, Kerala, India
Carlos Nuñez Universidad Tecnica de Ambato, UTA, Ambato, Ecuador
ChukwuNonso Henry Nwokoye National Open University Unit, Nigeria Correc-
tional Service, Awka, Nigeria
Vincent O. S. Okeke Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Nigeria
Ethelbert Okoronkwo Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Nigeria
Giovanni Ortegón Valencia University, Valencia, Spain
Pius Adewale Owolawi Department of Computer Systems Engineering, Tshwane
University of Technology, Pretoria, South Africa
Serkan Ozturk Computer Engineering Department, Erciyes University, Kayseri,
Turkey
Srikar Palivela Department of Mechanical Engineering, Amrita Vishwa
Vidyapeetham, Bengaluru, India
Juan P. Pallo Universidad Tecnica de Ambato, UTA, Ambato, Ecuador
Poojan Panchal Dr. Vishwanath Karad, MIT World Peace University, Pune, India
Darshan Pandit Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Walchand
Institute of Technology, Solapur, India
Atul Kumar Pant BITS Pilani, Pilani, Goa, India
Manish Pant Department of Mathematics, Statistics and Computer Science, G. B.
Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar, Uttarakhand, India
Manoj P. Patil School of Computer Sciences, Kavayitri Bahinabai Chaudhari
North Maharashtra University, Jalgaon, India
P. S. R. Patnaik Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Walchand
Institute of Technology, Solapur, India
Charles M. Pérez-Espinoza Universidad de Guayaquil, Guayaquil, Ecuador
xxiv Editors and Contributors

Pedro Pinacho-Davidson Department of Computer Science, University of Concep-


ción, Concepción, Chile
José L. Ponce-Guerrero Universidad de Guayaquil, Guayaquil, Ecuador
Sradha D. Prabhu Department of Electronics and Communication Engineering,
Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Amritapuri, India
Mauricio Pradena Miquel Department of Civil Engineering, University of
Concepción, Concepción, Chile
P. Prem Chand Department of CSE, University College of Engineering, Osmania
University, Hyderabad, Telangana State, India
Swaraj Purohit Dr. Vishwanath Karad, MIT World Peace University, Pune, India
Rukshani Puvanendran Department of Information and Communication Tech-
nology, University of Vavuniya, Vavuniya, Sri Lanka
Anisha Radhakrishnan Department of Computer Science and Engineering,
Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Coimbatore, India
Md.Abdur Rahman American International University-Bangladesh (AIUB),
Dhaka, Bangladesh
Anita Ramachandran BITS Pilani, Bangalore, India
Vignesh Charan Raman Dr. Vishwanath Karad, MIT World Peace University,
Pune, India
Yoganandam Ranjani Department of Mechanical Engineering, Amrita Vishwa
Vidyapeetham, Bengaluru, India
Sanket Rathi Department of Computer Engineering, Mukesh Patel School of
Technology Management and Engineering, NMIMS University, Mumbai, India
Dushyantsinh Rathod Sankalchand Patel College of Engineering, Visnagar,
Gujarat, India
Vivek Raturi Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Meerut Institute
of Engineering and Technology, Meerut, India
Bharath Reddy Process Automation R&D, Schneider-Electric, Lake Forest, USA
D. Tejesh Reddy Department of Mechanical Engineering, Amrita Vishwa
Vidyapeetham, Coimbatore, India
Rishabh Delhi Technological University, Delhi, India
M. Mohamed Riswan Department of Information Technology, Hindustan Institute
of Technology and Science, Chennai, India
Paul Roseline Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Nigeria
Editors and Contributors xxv

Basavaraju Sagar Department of Electronics and Communication Engineering,


Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Bengaluru, India
M. A. Saifulla University of Hyderabad, Hyderabad, India
Muhammad Salman Department of Mechanical Engineering, Kennesaw State
University, Kennesaw, GA, USA
Javier Samper Valencia University, Valencia, Spain
S. Sani Amrita Center for International Programs, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham,
Amritapuri, India
D. Sanjana Reddy Department of Mechanical Engineering, Amrita Vishwa
Vidyapeetham, Bengaluru, India
Puvanendran Sanjeeth Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology, Colombo,
Sri Lanka
Rengammal Sankari Department of EEE, Dr. MGR Educational and Research
Institute, Chennai, India;
Department of Chemical Engineering, Dr. MGR Educational and Research Institute,
Chennai, India
P. S. Sathidevi Department of Electronics and Communication Engineering,
National Institute of Technology Calicut, Calicut, Kerala, India
Rajesh Saturi Department of CSE, University College of Engineering, Osmania
University, Hyderabad, Telangana State, India
Md. Sayeduzzaman American International University—Bangladesh, Dhaka,
Bangladesh
S. Sendilvelan Department of CSE, Saveetha School of Engineering, SIMATS,
Tamil Nadu, Chennai, India;
Department of Civil Engineering, Dr. MGR Educational and Research Institute,
Chennai, India
Alexandru Serbanescu Military Technical Academy “Ferdinand I”, Bucharest,
Romania
Divyashikha Sethia Delhi Technological University, New Delhi, India
Kashish Shah Department of Computer Engineering, Mukesh Patel School of
Technology Management and Engineering, NMIMS University, Mumbai, India
Sajjad Hussain Shah Department of Computer Science, Bahria University Islam-
abad, Islamabad, Pakistan
Priti Shahane Symbiosis International (Deemed University), Pune, India
Bhushan Shaharkar Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Walc-
hand Institute of Technology, Solapur, India
xxvi Editors and Contributors

S. Shamini Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Amrita Vishwa


Vidyapeetham, Coimbatore, India
Lokesh N. Shankar Delhi Technological University, Delhi, India
V. Ceronmani Sharmila Department of Information Technology, Hindustan Insti-
tute of Technology and Science, Chennai, India
Cheng Shen The University of New South Wales, UNSW, Sydney, NSW, Australia;
Cyber Security Cooperative Research Centre, Joondalup, Australia
Rishabh Shetty Department of Computer Engineering, Mukesh Patel School of
Technology Management and Engineering, NMIMS University, Mumbai, India
A. K. Shukla Department of Mathematics, Statistics and Computer Science, G. B.
Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar, Uttarakhand, India
Kuljeet Singh Department of Computer Science & IT, University of Jammu,
Jammu, J&K, India
Praveen Manoj Singh Department of Electronics and Communication Engi-
neering, National Institute of Technology Calicut, Calicut, Kerala, India
Jay Singhal Department of Computer Science and Engineering Meerut Institute of
Engineering and Technology, Meerut, India
Shambhavi Sinha Dr. Vishwanath Karad, MIT World Peace University, Pune, India
Paulus Berliz Sitohang School of Computing, Telkom University, Bandung,
Indonesia
Menon Soumya Amrita Center for International Programs, Amrita Vishwa
Vidyapeetham, Amritapuri, India
K. Sridevi University of Hyderabad, Hyderabad, India
Seshadhri Srinivasan Department of Instrumentation and Control Engineering,
Kalasalingam Academy of Research and Education, Krishnankoil, Virudhunagar,
Tamil Nadu, India
Siddharth Srivastava Dr. Vishwanath Karad MIT World Peace University, Pune,
India
Denis Stanescu University of Grenoble Alpes, GIPSA-Lab, Grenoble, France;
Military Technical Academy “Ferdinand I”, Bucharest, Romania
K. Sujatha Department of EEE, Dr. MGR Educational and Research Institute,
Chennai, India
AkshayKumar Surde Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Walc-
hand Institute of Technology, Solapur, India
Anuradha Taluja Department of Computer Science and Engineering Meerut
Institute of Engineering and Technology, Meerut, India
Editors and Contributors xxvii

Touhidul Islam Talukder American International University-Bangladesh, Dhaka,


Bangladesh
Md. Taslim Hossain Tanim American International University-Bangladesh,
Dhaka, Bangladesh
M. Hassan Tanveer Department of Robotics & Mechatronics Engineering,
Kennesaw State University, Kennesaw, GA, USA
Aanjey Mani Tripathi Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Meerut
Institute of Engineering and Technology, Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, India
Chunling Tu Department of Computer Systems Engineering, Tshwane University
of Technology, Pretoria, South Africa
Bernard H. Ugalde AMA University, Quezon City, Philippines
Augustine Ukpebor Jackson State University, Jackson, MS, USA
Nirbhay Vashishtha Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Meerut
Institute of Engineering and Technology, Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, India
Aditya Veer School of Computer Engineering and Technology, MIT Academy of
Engineering, Pune, India
José Luis Arcos Vega Universidad Autónoma de Baja California, Mexicali, Baja
California, México
Geetha Venkatesan School of Computing Science and Engineering, Galgotias
University, Greater Noida, India
Adelaida Figueroa Villanueva Universidad Autónoma de Baja California, Mexi-
cali, Baja California, México
Vico Villanueva-Bayona Universidad Nacional de San Antonio Abad del Cusco,
Cusco, Peru
Albert A. Vinluan New Era University, Quezon City, Philippines
Xuehong Wang Department of Computer Systems Engineering, Tshwane Univer-
sity of Technology, Pretoria, South Africa
Vaishali Wangikar School of Computer Engineering and Technology, MIT
Academy of Engineering, Pune, India
Wulandari Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, IPB University, Bogor,
Indonesia
Wanli Xue The University of New South Wales, UNSW, Sydney, NSW, Australia;
Cyber Security Cooperative Research Centre, Joondalup, Australia
K. Yamuna Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Amrita Vishwa
Vidyapeetham, Amritapuri, India
xxviii Editors and Contributors

Rahmat Yasirandi School of Computing, Telkom University, Bandung, Indonesia


Ahlem Ben Younes ENSIT, University of Tunis, Tunis, Tunisia
Tae Soo Yun Dongseo University, Busan, Korea
Jia Ni Zhou Dongseo University, Busan, Korea
Influencing User Intention of
Plant-Based Sensing System Adoption
in Public Vocational High Schools of
Indonesia Using TAM

Rahmat Yasirandi , Wulandari , and Paulus Berliz Sitohang

Abstract Piots Tanah is a plant-based sensing system that developed to meet the
learning needs at the vocational high school level (especially the majors related to
agriculture). This system claims to be able to sense several parameters related to
the environmental conditions of a plant. Through the technology acceptance model
(TAM), this study looks at the level of readiness for the adoption of the proposed
technology. With the addition of the system features of Piots Tanah variable at TAM,
there are 4 hypotheses on this research. The reason for this variable is added, because
it is clear that the system features offered have an impact on user intention. Further-
more, each instrument variable from the questionnaire has a question guaranteed
validity. Seen from the Cronbach alpha result, each value of alpha of all variables is
greater than 0.7 and the average value is 0.736. Then, the results of the questionnaire
distributed to users have been eligible for hypothesis testing using regression analy-
sis. H1, H2, H3, and H4 are accepted, because p for each hypothesis is ≤ 0.05. With
the highest value of β owned by Hypothesis 4, there is a positive effect on behavioral
intention from attitude. In fact, R 2 also shows a declining value (R 2 on attitude 0.38
and R 2 on behavioral intention = 0.43). Declare that the adoption of the model used
is appropriate because the value of impact (R 2 ) of the variables that affect these 2
variables is quite high.

Keywords User intention · Attitude · Sensing system · Technology adoption

R. Yasirandi (B) · P. B. Sitohang


School of Computing, Telkom University, Bandung, Indonesia
e-mail: batanganhitam@telkomuniversity.ac.id
P. B. Sitohang
e-mail: paulusberliz@student.telkomuniversity.ac.id
Wulandari
Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, IPB University, Bogor, Indonesia
e-mail: wulandari.ilkom@apps.ipb.ac.id

© The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2022 1
Y.-D. Zhang et al. (eds.), Smart Trends in Computing and Communications,
Lecture Notes in Networks and Systems 286,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-16-4016-2_1
2 R. Yasirandi et al.

1 Introduction

Technology has loads of positive impact development toward everything from time
to time [1]. Up until now, many educational institutions in various stages have shown
their interest in adopting technologies in their curriculum. They are able to present
more active, collaborative, and constructive learning process [2]. Based on these fac-
tors, students are expected to get higher scores. This score is equivalent to the devel-
opment of students’ learning process [3]. In Indonesia, the government has set the
level of education for the people. One of the institutions is vocational high school. The
vocational high school is an educational institution whose goal is to make students
ready to work after graduating from school. As a result, the curriculum in vocational
high schools is different from general high schools. Vocational high schools have a
curriculum with a percentage of learning methods in the form of practice that must
be 60 and 40% in the form of theory in class [4]. So there will be many processes of
knowledge transfer from the hat establish the technology adoption in an organization.
In this case, vocational high schools act as the organization that adopts teacher to the
student directly or by practice. Agriculture is one of the majors available on Indone-
sia’s vocational high school. The purpose of this major is formed so that the nation’s
children can manage and improve the quality and quantity of agricultural products.
The curriculum provided in this major is closely related to land affairs. In fact, the
concept of land cultivation using technology has arrived in the 4.0 era where each
actor (in this case, the farmers) has had various facilities in the cultivation that they
do. One requisite that must be accomplished by students majoring in agribusiness is
planting fruits and vegetables. The birth of a system named as “Piots Tanah” makes
an alternative learning process. “Piots Tanah” has the ability to monitor the condition
of the environment of a plant. With this condition, it means that high school majors
in Indonesia have opened themselves in receiving technology. But, before relishing
the benefits of the technology provided, the phenomenon of how an organization can
change by technology influence should be seen by using a measurement model in
adoption level, which is technology acceptance model (TAM). The elemental step in
this research is rooted in the activity of determining factor technology (Piots Tanah
System) and can experience changes in business processes (learning patterns) to any
existing stakeholder (teachers and students). In the end, the analysis results of the
level of acceptance of the vocational high school on the Piots Tanah System in the
learning process (in this case, suitable planting material) in Indonesia are elaborated.

2 Literature Review

2.1 The Plant-Based Sensing System Proposed

Piots Tanah is a mobile application developed by a research team from the Internet of
Things Laboratory, Telkom University, Indonesia. Piots Tanah itself has published on
Influencing User Intention of Plant-Based Sensing System … 3

mobile store applications such as Google Play’s app [5]. Piots Tanah utilizes hardware
which is Mi Flora, made from Xiaomi, to capture some essential parameters related to
plants, such as light intensity (lux), temperature (C), soil moisture (%), and electrical
conductivity (µm).
Piots Tanah System consists of two important parts: software part, which is Piots
Tanah application, and the hardware part which utilizes Mi Flora, the device intro-
duced by Xiaomi. Both parts are connected with Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) com-
munication. BLE is chosen greatly among the consumers because it requires low
cost and power consumption with good reliability [6].

2.1.1 How Does Piots Tanah Work?

Because in its use, the Piots Tanah mobile application does not have hardware device
registration at the beginning, so it is more flexible in terms of pairing devices. Fur-
thermore, it can be seen in (3) of Fig. 1. When the condition has been scanned, the
user will be asked to determine the type of plant. This phase becomes very important
because the Piots Tanah can classify the sensing data obtained. The classification
in question is Piots Tanah provides processing services for each monitored param-
eter obtained into more specific condition grouping information (as shown in (3) of
Fig. 2).

2.2 The Theory of Technology Acceptance Model

TAM is a model derived from the theory of reasoned action for predicting organiza-
tional behavior in various sectors [7]. In TAM, two factors have a significant influence
on the adoption of information technology (IT), namely the perceived usefulness
and perceived ease of use [8]. Perceived usefulness factor explains the performance

Fig. 1 Flow of Piots Tanah system


4 R. Yasirandi et al.

Fig. 2 Screenshots of Piots Tanah mobile application

obtained from users after purchasing an application or information technology prod-


uct provided. Meanwhile, the perception of ease of use factor is based on the level of
user convenience when they use the application or information technology product.
The expected results can be used to see the intentions and interests of people in the
organization.

3 Methodology

This research uses 2 data collection techniques, namely theoretical study and survey
method. A theoretical study is technically a reviewing activity on various sources
of literature, such as journals, proceedings, textbooks, industry’s documentation,
and others [9]. This method will produce a valid and strong theoretical foundation
from an academic point of view. For the second technique, proceed with a survey or
direct observation. This technique is a method for collecting data based on verbal and
written through direct communication [10]. Stakeholders will provide comments and
recommendations directly on the technology they are using. Surveys are also often
categorized as descriptive methods. The sampling of this study is the stakeholders of
vocational high schools, namely teachers and students. The selected vocational high
school is in Cilengkrang, Bandung (Cilengkrang Vocational School). Cilengkrang
Vocational School is one of the vocational high schools that already have majors
related to agribusiness. The number of students for one generation is approximately
Influencing User Intention of Plant-Based Sensing System … 5

100 students and 6 teachers. And for this study, the sampling data obtained has
reached 40% (40 people) students and 66% (4 people) teachers. So that the source
data from the sample size collected has fulfilled to represent the characteristics of
the organization.

4 Research Model and Hypothesis

Some empirical studies of TAM explain that there is a strong relationship between the
differences of each person in the organization with the results of IT acceptance [11].
Resulting in different individuals can have various reasons for usefulness and ease of
use. And the presence of external variables has made TAM preferred to other adoption
models. Because external variables can directly affect the two main factors in TAM,
the definition will be different for each implementation of a technology [12]. And for
the technology proposed, the Piots Tanah System as plant-based sensing system, the
system features of Piots Tanah System itself, makes variables that directly impact
two other vital factors (usefulness and ease of use). Figure 3 shows each variable
in the proposed model and the hypothesis for each relationship that occurs between
variables.

4.1 External Variable of Model

H1: system features has a positive effect on attitude. System features variable is
defined as variables that ensued from the literacy that have been done [13]. This
implies that the features proposed by the product have become an interest for potential
users. These features can directly affect the user’s attitude. So, there are hypotheses

Fig. 3 Proposed extended TAM model


6 R. Yasirandi et al.

on new features of Piots Tanah that can positively impact the knowledge and under-
standing of users related to soil conditions. For another variable, perceived ease of
use has a meaning related to the level of the effortlessness of a technology [14]. So,
there is a possibility that the features proposed by the Piots Tanah have the hypothesis
of a positive impact on the method of use, which certainly offers convenience.

4.2 Perceived Ease of Use, Perceived Usefulness, Attitude,


and Behavioral Intention

H2: perceived usefulness has a positive effect on attitude. H3: perceived ease of use
has a positive effect on attitude. TAM gives an explanation akin to user acceptance
on a technology based on the relationship that occurs casually between some main
variables, which are perceived usefulness of Piots Tanah System, perceived ease of
use, attitude toward the proposed system, and behavioral intention to adopt Piots
Tanah System to their organization. Perceived ease of use has a direct influence on
attitude. Users find it has many benefits when using the product procedure is easier
and more efficient [15]. Thus, the relationship happened can be directly proportional.
Additionally, attitude believed that it is determined by two other variables, which
are perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use [14]. And the intention of user
behavior to use the product is determined by attitude and perceived usefulness.
H4: attitude has a positive effect on behavioral intention. Attitude variable is
influenced by both perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use [16]. In TAM,
both perceived usefulness and attitude have an influence on behavioral intention to
adopt the proposed system. Because when the user perceives an increasing level of
knowledge and satisfaction appears from the result of the technology’s performance,
then the user tends to adopt the product [17]. Thus, it is proposed here that user’s
intention to use Piots Tanah System is positively influenced by perceived usefulness
and attitude.

5 Results

5.1 Reliability Analysis

As a validation of the eligibility for each instrument questions on the questionnaire.


The reliability test is needed, this test has the aim to show the fairness of each question
given, for this research used the Cronbach alpha model as a tool of reliability test. The
key parameter of Cronbach alpha that needs to look is the value of alpha; if the value
generated is greater than 0.7, then the question given is a worthy question. Through
SPSS (one of the statistic tools), it appears that the alpha value of all questions given
Influencing User Intention of Plant-Based Sensing System … 7

in this study is 0.736. Because the alpha value of this questionnaire is greater than
0.7, so all of the items of this questionnaire are concluded as feasible.

5.2 Regression Analysis

In the first stage, there are needed to grouping variables into two categories, the first
category is the independent category which consists of system features of Piots Tanah,
perceived usefulness, and perceived ease of use, and for attitude toward using the
application as the dependent variable. It aims to measure the magnitude of the impact
of independent factors on the dependent factor. The next step is to categorize attitude
toward using the application as an independent variable and behavioral intention to
use the application as the dependent variable. Then, measure the magnitude of the
impact given attitude toward using the application to the behavioral intention to use
the application. The data model used was a dataset of respondents who came from
vocational high school students majoring in agribusiness.
In Fig. 4, it appears that the user’s attitude toward using the application is the
strongest factor in terms of impacting behavioral intention (β = 0.650; p ≤ 0.05).
Meanwhile, the factors that influence the user’s attitude toward using the application
are the system features of Piots Tanah (β = 0.382; p ≤ 0.05), perceived usefulness
(β = 0.270; p ≤ 0.05), and perceived ease of use (β = 0.208; p ≤ 0.05). These
three things are (correspondent to) hypotheses H1, H2, H3, and H4.
The beta value (β) of each independent factor is shown to look for one factor that
has the greatest impact on the dependent factor. And based on Fig. 5, it appears that
the system feature of Piots Tanah has the greatest effect on attitude toward using
the application and then followed by perceived ease of use and perceived usefulness
contributes the lowest effect on attitude toward using the application. This means
that to create an agricultural education application, the user has a tendency to pay
more attention to the features presented by the application.

Fig. 4 Result of hypothesis testing


8 R. Yasirandi et al.

6 Conclusion

This paper investigated the factors influencing student’s intention to use Piots Tanah
as a plant-based sensing system on smartphones by adopting TAM. And, it is proven
that the proposed system has been able to be adopted completely by the target,
when H1, H2, H3, and H4 have been accepted. The regression analysis displays that
the attitude of each student shows satisfactory results (R 2 = 0.43) in influencing
the behavior factor. Explain that there was indeed an attention from each student
to change their learning behavior, especially in terms of getting to measure every
important parameter of a plant. When comparing between current learning methods
such as chemical measurements using traditional measurement techniques (such as
litmus paper) and Piots Tanah, clearly this technique requires more energy and time.
So, it is very clear that Piots Tanah is the key alternative for students to increase
the intention of getting more knowledge in school. Furthermore, because the highest
beta value of implementing this technology is system features of Piots Tanah (β =
0.38), then this proposed system will be tried to improve functionality that might be
developed. Increasing reliability and integrity are two objectives that take precedence.

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An Empirical Study of Critical Success
Factors for the Adoption
of m-Government Services in Tanzania

Fredrick Ishengoma , Leonard Mselle, and Hector Mongi

Abstract The rising number of cell phone subscribers in Tanzania provides the
government with a new platform for the provision of information and government
services to people (thus m-Government). In Tanzania, the use of m-Government
services is in the initial stages, and variables that affect its adoption are not yet
understood. The goal of this research is to study the Critical Success Factors (CSFs)
affecting the behavioral intention (BI) of citizens to adopt m-Government services
in Tanzania. The study used the Mobile Services Acceptance Model (MSAM) and
extended it to include external variables in the context of Tanzania. To collect primary
data from users of m-Government services in Dar es Salaam and Dodoma towns, a
survey questionnaire was used, and 253 responses were collected. IBM-SPSS AMOS
23.0 program analyzed the data using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM). The
findings of the study indicate that perceived usefulness, trust, perceived mobility,
power distance, quality of service, awareness, perceived cost, personal initiatives
and characteristics significantly influence the BI to adopt m-Government services.
Perceived ease of use, was found to be statistically insignificant in predicting BI.
Furthermore, the interplay between CSFs, discussion on theoretical and practical
implications that follow from the results are presented.

Keywords Adoption · Critical success factors · Structural equation modeling ·


m-Government · MSAM · Tanzania

1 Introduction

Recently, governments from developing countries have been realizing the potential
of mobile technologies to enhance access to information and service delivery to
citizens, thus m-Government [1]. The mobility element, whereby people can access
government information and services on the move anywhere, at any time, is one of

F. Ishengoma (B) · L. Mselle · H. Mongi


The University of Dodoma, P.O.Box 490, Dodoma, Tanzania

© The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2022 11
Y.-D. Zhang et al. (eds.), Smart Trends in Computing and Communications,
Lecture Notes in Networks and Systems 286,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-16-4016-2_2
12 F. Ishengoma et al.

the significant aspect of m-Government [2]. For instance, citizens can fill govern-
ment application forms while on the move [3]. Besides, m-Government services
have complemented individuals with direct access to government services, removing
unnecessary face-to-face interactions that have been observed in studies to promote
solicitation of bribes and corruption, especially in developing countries in Africa
[4]. In Tanzania, various m-Government initiatives have been introduced and imple-
mented. For instance, students of secondary education can access their national exam-
ination results through a mobile phone by simply texting their examination number
to a special assigned number [2].
Despite the existing literature in African developing countries [3, 5], yet there is
still a need to explore more on the Critical Success Factors (CSFs) influencing adop-
tion of m-Government services on countries’ specific context. Several researchers
have stressed that the CSFs for m-Government adoption are not uniformly similar, as
they vary across countries due to socio-economic status and culture differences [6].
M-Government services are still in the infant stage in Tanzania, and factors affecting
its adoption have not yet been researched. In line with the above, this study focuses
on exploring the CSFs for the adoption of m-Government services in Tanzania.
This paper’s structure is as follows: Sect. 2 presents the analysis of literature and
the development of hypotheses. The study’s methodology is described in Sect. 3.
The study results were addressed in Sect. 4. Section 5 introduces the discussion of
the findings, and finally, this paper is concluded in Sect. 6.

2 Literature Review and Hypothesis Development

2.1 m-Government Services in Tanzania

There has been a considerable increase in the number of mobile phones subscribers
in Tanzania in the past few years. Mobile subscribers rose from 126,646 in 2000
to 48.8 million in March 2020 [7]. As mobile phones are becoming an increasingly
important part of people’s lives, the government of Tanzania is taking initiatives
to employ mobile phones as a new medium to provide people with government
information and services.
The moderately lower cost of mobile phones and Internet technology is lowering
the entry barrier of engaging with m-Government services for poor citizens. There is
currently a broad variety of m-Government services, from health care and education
services to tax and government utility bill services. The presence of Mobile Money
Services (MMS) in Tanzania opens up for even more m-Government opportunities.
There is a diversity of adoption whereby some of m-Government services are
commonly used with people (e.g., water and electricity bill payment via mobile
phone) and are widely adopted while other services are struggling. Yet, the factors that
lead one m-government service to be widely adopted by people in Tanzania over the
An Empirical Study of Critical Success Factors … 13

other have not been researched. This study argues that the m-Government initiatives
introduced will not be viable unless the CSFs for their adoption are recognized.

2.2 Mobile Services Acceptance Model (MSAM)

Mobile services were not considered in earlier established models regarding tech-
nology acceptance [8]. The Mobile Services Acceptance Model (MSAM) was intro-
duced in the study [8] by expanding the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) to
include mobile services. As the design of this study fits well with the MSAM, this
study adapted the MSAM as a theoretical framework while extending it with addi-
tional constructs that are valid in the Tanzanian context. The MSAM model argues
that the acceptance of the mobile services depends mainly on: Perceived useful-
ness (PU), perceived ease of use (PEOU), trust, context, personal initiatives and
characteristics.

2.3 Hypotheses Development

Studies have shown that Perceived Usefulness (PU) and Perceived Ease of Use
(PEoU) are among the important factors that have positively influenced BI in the
adoption of technology, previously introduced by [5, 8]. The study [9] argued that
to influence the adoption of m-Government services, government agencies should
prioritize the user experience in terms of usefulness, ease of use, saving time, effort
and being easy to access. Based on these arguments, we propose the following
hypotheses: H1: PU positively influences the BI to adopt m-Government services,
H2: PEoU positively influences BI to adopt m-Government services, H3: PEoU
positively influences PU.
Citizens’ trust (TR). Tanzanian society is part of a highly uncertain society, where
people feel uneasy under new or unknown circumstances [10]. Therefore, if people
don’t have trust in the introduced technology, it is more likely to reject technology.
Based on these arguments, this study hypothesizes that: H4: TR positively influences
BI to adopt m-Government services.
People are likely to adopt m-Government services whenever they found the
services to be available, responsive, and accessible with accuracy. Thus, we suggest
the following hypothesis: H5: QoS positively influences BI to adopt m-Government
services.
People with a high level of Personal Initiatives and Characteristics (PIC) are more
likely to adopt new technology compared to the ones with the lower level. Prior
studies [11, 12] have proved the influence of PIC in the context of mobile games.
Thus, we suggest the following hypothesis: H6: PIC positively influences BI to adopt
m-Government services.
14 F. Ishengoma et al.

The context which people uses m-Government services is more likely to influence
the PU and PEoU of m-Government services. For instance, users who are in the
geographically favorable locations of mobile access are more likely to recognize the
usefulness of m-Government services compared to users located in a geographical
location with no mobile infrastructure. Thus, we propose the following hypotheses:
H7: CX positively influences PEoU and H8: CX positively influences PU.
Awareness. Users must first be aware of the presence of m-Government services,
how to use them and their advantages. Thus, as more users become aware of m-
Government services, the more likely the services are to be adopted. Thus, we propose
the following hypothesis: H9: AW positively influences BI to adopt m-Government
services.
Power distance (PD). Tanzania is one of the countries with high PD whereby
citizens are more likely to agree with decisions made by government authorities
seamless compared to low PD countries. However, the influence of PD on BI is
yet to be explored in the domain of m-Government services. Thus, we propose the
following hypothesis: H10: PD positively influences BI to adopt m-Government
services.
Perceived Mobility (PM). PM enables people to receive government information
and services while on the move, eliminating the barriers of location fixed which are
mostly aligned with the traditional e-Government services [13]. Hence the unique
benefit of mobility is more likely to have a positive influence on BI to adopt m-
Government services. Therefore, we propose the following hypothesis: H11: PM
positively influences BI to adopt m-Government services.
The study [5] suggests that perceived costs of the technology are more likely to
have an impact on the BI to adoption. Thus, whenever, users perceive the costs asso-
ciated with the usage of technology are high or service, they are more likely to reject
or switch to alternative approaches which are affordable. Hence, we hypothesize
that: H12: PCt positively influences BI to adopt m-Government services.
From the above hypothesis, we present the following conceptual framework
(Fig. 1).

3 Methodology

The methodology used in this research is questionnaire survey, whereby question-


naires were supplied and collected from users of m-Government service users. The
study employed a questionnaire adapted from the previous studies and was employed
with modifications to fit our study context. On a 5-point Likert scale, the question-
naire items were measured from “1” (strongly disagree) to “5” (strongly agree). To do
the final review and validate the questionnaire, a pilot study was performed involving
16 undergraduate students and staff who are users of m-Government services where
feedback was received and used to update the questionnaire.
An Empirical Study of Critical Success Factors … 15

Fig. 1 The conceptual framework for the adoption of m-Government services

This research was performed in the towns of Dodoma and Dar es Salaam. The
computed sample size based on Yamane’s formula [14] yields a total of 400 question-
naires out of a total population of 5,484,912 people. Therefore, 200 questionnaires
each were the sample size for both Dar es Salaam and Dodoma city. 400 question-
naires were sent out, 273 of which were completed and returned, representing a
68.2% response rate. Using IBM-SPSS Amos 23, data was analyzed and structural
equation modeling (SEM) was used to test the hypotheses.

4 Findings

Most of the respondents in this survey were male, 161 (64%) compared to female, 92
(36%). 38.7% of those surveyed were between the age of 20 and 30 and 84 (33.2%) of
the respondents were between the age of 31 and 40 years. 18.2% of the respondents
were aged between 41 and 50, and 7.5% of the respondents were aged between 51
and 60. The group with the least number of respondents were above 60 years of age
which accounted for 2.4% of the sample. From the demographic information, it can
be suggested that this study will give the viewpoint mostly of young people.
The initial model assessment did not yield satisfactory results (GFI = 0.736, AGFI
= 0.666, CLI = 0.572). Hence, the following improvement to the model was made.
16 F. Ishengoma et al.

Table 1 Path analysis results


Relationship Std. estimate C.R P Significance Hypothesis
BI ← PU 0.35 4.515 *** Significant H1-supported
BI ← PEoU 0.096 1.142 0.253 Not significant H2-not
supported
PU ← PEoU 0.56 4.916 *** Significant H3-supported
BI ← TR 0.304 2.82 0.005 Significant H4-supported
BI ← AW 0.136 2.127 0.033 Significant H9-supported
BI ← PM 0.225 3.508 *** Significant H11-supported
BI ← PD 0.169 2.381 0.017 Significant H10-supported
BI ← QoS 0.238 3.456 *** Significant H5-supported
PU ← CX 0.261 2.573 0.01 Significant H8-supported
BI ← PCt −0.132 −2.431 0.015 Significant H12-supported
BI ← PIC 0.133 2.247 0.025 Significant H6-supported

The items with lower factor loading than the recommended threshold of 0.7, i.e., PM2
(0.619), CX2 (0.687) and PIC1 (0.556) were dropped from the model. The model
was then re-examined and a strong fit of the data to the model was observed by the
results of the structural model: CMIN/DF was found to be 1.443 which fits well with
the threshold for normed Chi-square which is between 1 and 3. Other indices results
were: GFI (0.847), AGFI (0.823), CFI (0.918), RMSES (0.042) and TLI (0.911). The
factors in the model explained 60% of the variance in potential users’ intentions to
adopt m-Government services. The path analysis shows that all relationships were
supported in the model expect between perceived ease of use and behavior intentions
which was not supported. Table 1 shows the findings of the path analysis.
The models’ squared multiple correlations (SMC) valued at 0.60, indicating that
the constructs account for 60% (R2 = 0.6) of the BI variance. Since the threshold
value for R2 should be above 0.4, the model R2 of 0.6 is satisfactory, hence the model
is considered validated. Figure 2 depicts the structural path analysis results for the
research model.

5 Discussion

The study results supported H1, thus, PU is one of the key CSF for users to adopt
m-Government services. This suggests that an increase in the degree of PU will
significantly lead to an increase in the level of adoption of m-Government services.
The results indicated also that the perceived ease of use (PEoU) did not influence the
behavior intention to adopt m-Government services, hence, hypothesis H2 was not
supported. This concurs with previous studies that have found PEoU to not influence
An Empirical Study of Critical Success Factors … 17

Fig. 2 Structural path analysis results for the research model

BI to adopt mobile-based technology such as mobile money in Kenya [15] and online
shopping in the Democratic Republic of Congo [16].
The study findings supported hypothesis H3, thus PEoU has a significant effect
on the PU in the context of m-Government services. This relationship was initially
proposed in TAM [17]. Although this causal relationship has been supported in a
considerable number of studies, researchers still explore its applicability on different
new technologies and different contexts.
18 F. Ishengoma et al.

The findings confirmed the hypothesis on trust (TR), H4. The study argues that the
adoption of m-Government services would increase as users perceive the services
to be trustworthy. A similar point of view has been expressed by [3, 5] in the m-
Government domain. The findings also confirmed the hypothesis on QoS, H5. These
findings echo the finding of previous studies that have shown QoS is a factor toward
BI to adopt m-Government services [6]. The hypothesis on personal initiatives and
characteristics (PIC), H6 was also supported. This supports the argument that people
who are aware of the technology are likely to have higher innovativeness and are
more likely to adopt newly introduced technology than inexperienced users [12]. The
findings indicated that CX had a significant positive influence on PU, thus, hypothesis
H8 is supported. This is in line with the study of [12], which argues that services that
will satisfy people’s needs in a specific context will be useful to the people.
The awareness factor, H9, was also confirmed by the findings. The results are
consistent with studies from a different perspective, such as m-banking, where aware-
ness of m-banking in India was found to be a significant factor toward its adoption
[18].
The findings supported the hypothesis of PD, H10. These study findings provide
the empirical evidence that PD is one of the factors influencing the adoption of m-
Government services. The study argued that higher levels of PD influence the BI to
adopt m-Government services. Tanzania is one of the countries with high PD; there-
fore, people are likely to accept and obey directions from those in powerful positions
such as government agencies [10]. However, the study has not found literature that
has addressed the influence of PD in the BI to adopt m-Government services in
African developing countries. Therefore, this is one of the interesting contributions
of this study and we argue that more research is needed to explore this area.
The study confirmed the hypothesis on perceived mobility (PM), H11. The study
argues that PM is the unique benefit of m-Government services over conventional
e-Government services. Without time and location constraints, citizens can access
government information “anytime” and “anyplace”. The study confirmed the hypoth-
esis H12, thus perceived cost (PCt) has a negative influence on the adoption of m-
Government services. The study argues that Tanzania is a low-income country where
most of its citizens are cost-sensitive and when users perceive that the introduced
technology is more costly compared to the traditional approach they tend to deviate
from adoption.

6 Conclusion

This research explores the Critical Success Factors (CSFs) for Tanzania’s successful
adoption of m-Government services. In explaining the BI of citizens to adopt m-
Government services, the SEM confirms the model’s good fit of data. The findings
of the study reveal that PU, TR, PD, PM, QoS, PCt, PIC, and AW are CSFs toward
the adoption of m-Government services. CX was found to have a direct effect on
PU, and it was also found that PEoU had a direct influence on PU. PEoU, however,
An Empirical Study of Critical Success Factors … 19

was found to have no impact on BI instead of imposing BI by PU. This research


not only affirms several of the prior studies, but it also introduces a new construct in
m-Government adoption studies, power distance. Before this research, this construct
was not integrated into the literature of m-Government services, in the context of
developing countries.
The results of this research have some limitations: the analysis concentrated exclu-
sively on government-to-customer (G2C) services and did not consider other aspects,
such as government-to-business services (G2B). Also, the results of this research do
not apply to countries with different contexts compared to Tanzania (e.g., devel-
oped countries, countries with low mobile penetration and low power distance).
The findings of this study, however, create a valuable reference to policy-makers,
practitioners, developers and other stakeholders of m-Government services.

References

1. Wakhu SM, Fuyuan X, Kakonge JO (2020) Enhancing E/M-government synergy in Kenya:


citizens’ perspectives on the driving factors for m-Government diffusion. In: Salvendy G, Wei
J (eds) Design, operation and evaluation of mobile communications. HCII
2. Cheng T, Lam D, Yeung A (2006) Adoption of internet banking; an empirical study in Hong
Kong. Decis Support Syst 42:1558–1572
3. Mengistu D, Zo H, Rho JJ (2009) m-Government: opportunities and challenges to deliver
mobile government services in developing countries. In: 4th international conference on
computer sciences and convergence information technology, Seoul, pp 1445–1450
4. Shim D, Eom TH (2008) E-government and anti-corruption: empirical analysis of international
data. Int J Public Adm 31:298–316
5. Mpinganjira M (2014) Delivering citizen-centric m-Government services in Africa: critical
success factors. Afr Insight 44:129–144
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Inf 11(4):404–431
7. Tanzania Communication Regulatory Authority (2020) Quarterly telecom statistics. TCRA
8. Gao S, Krogstie J, Gransæther PA (2008) Mobile services acceptance model. In: International
conference on convergence and hybrid information technology
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four longitudinal field studies. Manag Sci 46(2):186–204
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11. Subramanian (1994) A replication of perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use
measurement. Decis Sci 25(5–6)
12. Gao S, Krogstie J, Trond T, Hoang T (2015) A mobile service using anonymous location-based
data: finding reading rooms. Int J Inf Learn Technol 3(1):32–44
13. Ishengoma F, Mselle L, Mongi H (2018). Critical success factors for m-Government adoption
in Tanzania: a conceptual framework. Electron J Inf Syst Dev Countries e12064. https://doi.
org/10.1002/isd2.12064
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Masters Dissertation, University of Nairobi
16. Audu J (2018) Technology adoption in Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC): an empirical
study investigating factors that influence online shopping adoption. Masters’ thesis, University
of Ottawa, Canada
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Good-bye little song-bird. Some day I hope to hear you sing again. Don't
forget—"

"LAURA DAWSON."

"That's not very likely," thought the little girl, "no, indeed. What can she be going to give
me for a Christmas-box?"

"Rose, is that you?" she called out, as she heard light footsteps approaching the door.

"Oh, do come in and listen to all my news!"

Then, as Rose came in, her blue eyes fall of curiosity, she continued excitedly, "I've had
such a dear, dear letter from mother, and she's sent me a pound for my very own, to
spend as I like. You'll help me about getting Christmas presents for every one, won't you?"

"Of course I will," agreed her cousin. "How is Aunt Margaret?"

"Oh, very well; she has written so brightly. Miss Dawson is ever so much better, and I have
had a little note from her. You shall hear what she says."

And Mavis read aloud the few lines Miss Dawson had sent her.

"I am wondering what the Christmas-box will be," she remarked afterwards.

"I expect it will be a nice present, and I hope it will be something you will like," said Rose.
"By the way, I came up to tell you that Mr. Moseley has been here, and he has got mother
to consent to your singing at his concert—it's not to be till New Year's Eve. Mother was
against the idea at first, but father said he was certain Aunt Margaret would have no
objection to it, and so she gave in. Mr. Moseley is very pleased, she says, and I think she's
glad now that you're going to take part in the concert. We shall all go to hear you sing. I
expect nearly every one in the village will be there. Shall you feel nervous?"

"I am afraid so, Rosie. I only hope I shall not break down."

"Oh, I don't fancy you'll do that. I envy you your voice, Mavis—at least, I don't envy it
exactly, but I wish I had a talent of some sort. I'm so very stupid; I can't do anything to
give people pleasure."

"Oh, Rosie, I am sure that is not true. Miss Matthews said the other day that you were the
kindest girl in the school. I told Aunt Lizzie that; she was pleased, though she didn't say
much. How can you be stupid, when you always manage to find out how to make people
happier by doing little things to please them?"

"Oh, that's nothing," exclaimed Rose. The colour on her cheeks had deepened as she had
listened to her cousin's words. "It would make me very unhappy to be unkind to any one,"
she added.

"I am certain it would."

"But I wish I had just one talent," Rose sighed. "If God had given me only one, I would
have been content."

Mavis looked troubled for a minute; then her face brightened as she responded hopefully—
"I think you're sure to have one, Rosie, only you haven't found it out."

CHAPTER IX
CHRISTMAS TIME

"THERE, now I have all my presents ready," Mavis declared in a satisfied tone, one
morning a few days before Christmas, as she dropped great splashes of red sealing-wax on
the small parcel she had already secured firmly with cord. "I do hope Miss Tompkins will
like the handkerchief sachet I'm sending her."

"I should think she will be sure to like it," said Rose, who was standing looking out of the
parlour window at the birds she had been feeding with bread-crumbs. "I wonder when Miss
Dawson's Christmas-box will arrive, Mavis."

"Soon, I expect. I should not be surprised if it came at any time now, for it's getting very
near Christmas, isn't it?"

The little girls' holidays had commenced two days before, and since then, they had been
very busy preparing for Christmas. Mr. Grey had kindly driven them into Oxford, one
afternoon, to make their various purchases, and but a shilling or so remained of Mavis'
pound, the rest having been spent in presents which were hidden in the bottom of her
trunk in her bedroom, to be kept secret from every one but Rose, until Christmas Day. For
kind Miss Tompkins she had bought a pink silk handkerchief sachet with birds painted on it,
and this, with a carefully-written note, she had packed in readiness to send off that
evening.

"I wonder what mother is doing in the kitchen," remarked Rose, presently. "She said at
breakfast she would have a leisureable day, as the puddings are boiled and the mincemeat
is made, and we're to have a cold dinner. But I've heard her bustling about as though she's
very busy. Let us go and see what she's doing."

Accordingly, the little girls repaired to the kitchen, where they found Mrs. John in the midst
of packing a hamper with Christmas cheer.

"I dare say I'm very foolish to do this," she was remarking to Jane, who was watching her
with a half-smile on her countenance, "but it's your master's wish, and I won't go against
him in the matter. There'll be ten shillings' worth in this hamper, if a penny, what with that
nice plump chicken, the pudding, a jar of mincemeat, a pound of tea, a pound of butter,
and—well children?" she said inquiringly, as the little girls came forward.

"Who is that hamper for, mother?" asked Rose, her curiosity alive in a moment.

"For Richard Butt's wife," was the brief answer.

"Oh, how kind of you, Aunt Lizzie!" cried Mavis. "How pleased she will be, won't she?"

"It's to be hoped so, and I dare say she will. But the kindness is not mine, child, it's your
uncle's. 'Fill in the corners of the hamper, Lizzie,' he said, and you see I'm doing it."
"I should like to be looking on when that hamper's opened," observed Jane, as her
mistress placed down the cover and began to cord it. "It'll arrive as a blessing, I reckon.
Butt was talking to me about his wife and child yesterday, and—"

"His child, Jane? I didn't know he had one," broke in Mrs. John, greatly astonished.

"The baby's only a fortnight old, ma'am. I didn't know there was one myself till yesterday."

"Is it a girl or a boy?"

"A boy, a fine healthy little chap, so Butt's mother-in-law has written to tell him."

"How he must wish to see the baby!" exclaimed Mrs. John, with a softening countenance.

"He's hoping to, before long, ma'am, for there'll be a cottage vacant in the village at
Christmas, and he means to take it. Then, as soon as he possibly can, he's going to ask
master to allow him a couple of days' holiday to fetch his wife and baby."

"He appears to have taken you into his confidence, Jane."

Jane nodded. The hamper was corded by this time, and all that remained to be done was
to address a label.

Mrs. John glanced out of the window, then turned to Rose.

"There's Butt in the yard now; he's going into Oxford with the waggon presently, so he can
send off the hamper himself from the station. Tell him I want him."

Rose went to do her mother's bidding, and a few minutes later returned, followed by
Richard Butt, who had greatly improved in appearance since the afternoon he had begged
from Mavis, and she had impulsively sent him around to the back door. Then he had looked
ragged, cold, and dispirited; now he was comfortably clad, and held his head erect once
more.

"What is your wife's address, Butt?" inquired Mrs. John.

"My wife's address, ma'am!" the man exclaimed, in amazement.

"Yes. This hamper is to go to her; it contains a chicken, and a pudding, and a few other
things, and you're to send it off from Oxford. Here's the money to pay the carriage. Tell me
the address."

He did so, and Mrs. John wrote it on the label, which she proceeded to affix to the hamper.

"Ma'am, I can never thank you properly," the young man stammered, quite overcome with
gratitude and surprise. He looked at the shilling Mrs. John had given him, then at the
hamper. "God bless you for your goodness!" he added fervently.

"It's your master's doing. It's nothing to do with me. There, take the hamper away with
you. By-the-by, I hear you've a little son, Butt; I hope his father will be a good example to
him."

The tone in which this was said was more cordial than the words, and Butt carried off the
hamper with a radiant countenance.

"I think I never saw any one look more pleased," observed Jane. "Who comes now?" she
exclaimed, as there was a loud knock at the back door.
She went to see, and reappeared bearing a large wooden box which she deposited on the
kitchen table, saying—

"It's come by the railway van, and it's directed to you, Miss Mavis. There's nothing to pay,
but you must please sign this book, to show it's been delivered safely."

"Oh, it's Miss Dawson's Christmas-box, for certain!" cried Rose.

Whilst Mavis, feeling very important and excited, signed the delivery book under Jane's
directions.

"Oh, Mavis, open it quickly and see what's inside! Here's a knife to cut the cord."

"Not too fast, Rose," said her mother. "Better untie the knots, then the cord will come to
use again—it's a good strong piece. Here, let me help," and she effected the task herself.
"There, Mavis, now you can set to work and unpack."

Mavis lifted the lid of the box, her hands trembling with excitement, and drew out several
packages, which, upon examination, proved to contain preserved fruits and sweetmeats in
pretty boxes, such as she had often seen in the shops at Christmas-time, but had never
dreamed of possessing. Then came a beautifully bound and illustrated story-book, and
several new games, at the sight of which Rose expressed much gratification, and, last of
all, a cardboard box, which, upon being opened, revealed to sight a seal-skin cap and a
muff to match.

"Oh!" exclaimed Mavis, quite incapable of finding words in which to express her delight.

"Put on the cap, Miss Mavis," said Jane. "Let us see how you look in it."

So Mavis placed the cap on her curly head, and glanced from one to the other with the
happiest of smiles on her pretty, flushed countenance.

"Yes, it suits you capitally," declared Jane. "Doesn't it, ma'am?" she questioned, turning to
her mistress.

"Yes, indeed," agreed Mrs. John. "I think, Mavis, that you are a very fortunate little girl,"
she proceeded, as she took up and examined the muff. "It is real seal-skin, I see, and
must have cost a pretty penny."

"There's Bob!" cried Rose, catching the sound of her brother's footsteps in the passage.
"Come and see Mavis' Christmas-box," she said, as he opened the door and entered the
kitchen. "Look at her seal-skin cap and muff, and all the rest of the presents she has had
sent her."

"What will you do with them all, Mavis?" asked Bob, as he came to the table and stood
with his hands behind his back, not liking to touch anything.

"We'll share all the sweeties, Bob," said Mavis; "of course we shall do that. I only want one
box of preserved fruit for myself, to give to Mrs. Long, and the rest I should like Aunt Lizzie
to put with the nice things she has bought for Christmas."

"Very well," Mrs. John agreed, pleased at the suggestion, "I will do so. You shall have some
of the fruit on Christmas Day and the rest later on, or we shall be having all the good
things at once. By the way, what makes you wish to give a present to Mrs. Long, Mavis?"
Mrs. Long was the stout, rosy-cheeked washerwoman Mavis had first seen on the day she
had said good-bye to her mother. On subsequent occasions, the little girl had held
conversations with her, but Mrs. John did not know that.

"She has been very kind to me, Aunt Lizzie," Mavis answered.

"Oh, I don't mean that she's done anything for me, you know," she continued, as she met
her aunt's glance of surprise, "but she's spoken to me so nicely about mother that I quite
love her. She says she knows what it is to be separated from some one, one loves very
dearly, for her only daughter married and went to New Zealand, and her husband's dead,
so that now she's all alone. I should like to give her a little present for Christmas, if you do
not mind."

"Of course I do not mind, child. All these things are your own, to do as you like with."

"I want other people to enjoy them too," Mavis said earnestly. "I never had anything to
give away before this Christmas."

She selected one of the prettiest of the boxes of preserved fruits, and, later in the day, she
and her cousins called at Mrs. Long's cottage in the village and presented it to the kind-
hearted washerwoman, who, needless to say, was exceedingly pleased.

What a happy Christmas that was, and yet how Mavis had dreaded it! It brought her
nothing but joy from the moment she opened her eyes on Christmas morning till, wearied
out, she closed them at night.

Afterwards, she wrote to her mother all about it, and told her how rich she was in
presents, for, besides Miss Dawson's Christmas-box, she had received remembrances from
every member of the household at the Mill House, and from Miss Tompkins too, as well as
Christmas cards from several of her schoolfellows.

"I have so many friends now," she wrote, "and last Christmas I had so few. When we meet
I shall have such a lot to tell you, dear mother. I can't write everything. I believe Aunt
Lizzie has written and told you that I am to sing at a concert on New Year's Eve; I am to
sing your favourite psalm. Mr. Moseley says my voice is a great gift. He is a very nice man,
and has been very kind to me—I think there are a great many kind people in the world."

Mavis had never so much as hinted to her mother that she was not on such cordial terms
with her aunt as with her other relations, for she could not explain why that was the case,
and, lately, she had got on with her rather better. Mrs. John had been obliged to admit to
herself that Mavis was not selfish, that she did not try to put herself before her cousins in
any way, and that she was quick to show gratitude for a kindness, and to respond to
affection. But what she did not understand in the child, was her capability of laying aside
trouble.

"She has just the nature of a song-bird," she would think, when Mavis' voice, lilting some
simple ditty, would fall upon her ears. "She's such a light-hearted little thing."

The concert, which was held in the village schoolroom on New Year's Eve, proved a very
great success. The performers were all well-known inhabitants of the parish, in whom the
audience—composed mostly of the labouring classes—took great interest.

Mavis' part of the programme did not come till nearly the conclusion of the concert, and
when the Vicar took her by the hand and led her on the platform, she felt it would be quite
impossible for her to keep her promise, and she was inclined to run away and hide. But, a
moment later, she had overcome the impulse which had prompted her to go from her
word, and looking above the many faces which were smiling up at her encouragingly, she
summoned up her courage and commenced to sing. Her voice was rather tremulous at
first, but it gained strength as it proceeded. She forgot the people watching her, forgot her
fear of breaking down, and thought only of what she was singing, of "pastures green" and
the Good Shepherd leading His flock by streams "which run most pleasantly." As her
sweet, clear voice ceased, there was a murmur of gratification from the audience, which
swelled into rounds of applause.

"Sing us something else, do, missie!" she heard some one shout from the back of the
schoolroom, and, looking in the direction from whence the voice came, she recognized
Richard Butt.

The rest took up the cry, and from all sides came the demand, "Sing us something else!"

"What else do you know, Mavis?" the Vicar hastened to inquire, when he saw she was
willing to comply with the general request.

"I know some carols," she replied. "Shall I sing one of those?"

"Yes, do," he said, as he moved away.

She was not feeling in the least nervous now. Her heart throbbed with happiness, as she
realized her capability of giving pleasure, and a brilliant colour glowed in her cheeks, whilst
her hazel eyes shone brightly.

The carol she sang was one she had heard in the little mission church in London during the
previous Christmas season, but it was new to her audience.

"'When shepherds were abiding,


In Beth'lem's lonely field,
They heard the joyful tidings
By the heavenly host revealed.
At first they were affrighted,
But they soon forgot their fear,
While the angel sang of Christmas,
And proclaimed a bright new year.'"

That was the first verse; several others followed, concluding thus—

"'When he who came to Bethlehem


Returns to earth again,
Ten thousand thousand angels
Shall follow in His train:
Then saints shall sing in triumph,
Till heaven and earth shall hear;
The year of His redeemed shall come,
A bright immortal year.'"

The carol was as successful in pleasing as had been the psalm, and Mavis stepped from the
platform and returned to her seat with the Mill House party, hearing commendatory
remarks on all sides.
"Oh, Mavis," whispered Rose, "you sang beautifully, you did indeed!"

And she expressed the opinion of the whole room, including Mrs. John, who, for the first
time, acknowledged that really Mavis owned a very sympathetic voice, and that the words
she had sung had seemed to have come from her heart.

CHAPTER X
SICKNESS AT THE MILL HOUSE

"OH, Mavis! Oh, Bob! Mother's very ill! Oh, isn't it dreadful? The doctor's going to send a
hospital nurse to take care of her, for he says she'll be ill for weeks, if—if she recovers!"
And Rose finished her sentence with a burst of tears.

The scene was the parlour at the Mill House one afternoon during the first week of the new
year. Rose had crept quietly into the room with a scared look on her face, having
overheard a conversation between her father and the village doctor, the latter of whom
had been called in to prescribe for Mrs. John, who had been ailing since the night of the
concert, when she had taken a chill.

No one had thought her seriously ill until that morning, when she had declared herself too
unwell to rise, and had been unable to touch the breakfast which her little daughter had
carried upstairs to her. Then it was that her husband had become alarmed, and the doctor
had been sent for. The medical man's face had worn a grave expression as he had left the
sick-room, and he had immediately informed Mr. Grey that his wife was seriously ill with
pneumonia, the result of a neglected cold.

"If she recovers?" echoed Bob, questioningly. "What do you mean, Rose? It's only a cold
that mother has, isn't it?"

"No, it's something much worse than that—pneumonia. Mrs. Long's husband died from
pneumonia." And poor Rose's tears and sobs increased at the remembrance.

"Oh, don't cry so dreadfully, Rosie," implored Mavis. "People often recover from
pneumonia, indeed they do! Mother has nursed several pneumonia patients since I can
remember, and not one of them died. You mustn't think Aunt Lizzie won't recover."

"But she's very ill—the doctor said so," returned Rose, nevertheless checking her sobs, and
regarding Mavis with an expression of dawning hope in her blue eyes. "He said she would
require most careful nursing, and he couldn't tell how it would go with her."

"Doctors never can tell," said Mavis, sagely. "Mother says they can only do their best, and
leave the result to God. Poor Aunt Lizzie! How sorry I am she should be so ill!"

"The doctor says we are not to go into her room again," sighed Rose. "I heard him say to
father, 'Don't let the children into her room to worry her; she must be kept very quiet.'"

"As though we would worry her!" cried Bob, in much indignation. He felt inclined to follow
his sister's example and burst into tears. But he manfully, though with much difficulty,
retained his composure.

Before night, a trained nurse from a nursing institution at Oxford was installed at the Mill
House, and took possession of the sick-room. And during the anxious days which followed,
the miller's wife approached very near the valley of the shadow of death, so that those
who loved her went in fear and trembling, and stole about the house with noiseless
footsteps and hushed voices.

But at length, a day arrived when the patient was pronounced to have taken a turn for the
better. And after that, she continued to progress favourably until, one never-to-be-
forgotten morning, the doctor pronounced her life out of danger.

"We shall be allowed to see her soon now, father, shan't we?" Rose inquired eagerly, after
she had heard the good news from her father's lips.

"I hope so, my dear," he answered. "It will not be long before she will be asking for you, if
I'm not mistaken. But she's been too ill to notice anything or any one. You won't forget to
thank God for His goodness in sparing your mother's precious life, will you, Rosie?"

"No, indeed, father," she responded, earnestly. "We prayed—Bob, and Mavis, and I—that
God would make dear mother well again, and you see He is going to do it. I felt so—so
helpless and despairing, and there was only God who could do anything, and so—and so—"

"And so you were driven to Him for help and consolation? Ah, that's the way with many
folks! They forget Him when things go smooth, but they're glad to turn to Him when their
path in life is rough. But His love never fails. You found Him a true Friend, eh, my Rose?"

"Yes, father, I did. Mavis said I should; she said I must remember that Jesus Himself said,
'Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid,' and that I must trust in Him. And I
tried not to be afraid. I couldn't do anything but pray; and after a while I began to feel that
God really did hear my prayers, and I don't believe He'll ever seem quite so far off again."

Mr. Grey had guessed rightly in thinking his wife would soon desire to see her children, for
the day following the one on which the doctor had pronounced her life out of danger, she
asked for them, and they were allowed into the sick-room long enough for each to kiss her
and be assured, in a weak whisper from her own lips, that she was really better.

The next day, they saw her again for a longer time, but she did not inquire for Mavis, a
fact which hurt the little girl, though she did not say so, and strengthened her previous
impression that her aunt did not like her.

Before very long, Rose was allowed in and out of the sick-room as she pleased, and was
several times left in charge of the invalid. She proved herself to be so helpful and reliable
that, on one occasion, the nurse complimented her upon those points, and she
subsequently sought her cousin in unusually high spirits.

"Mavis, what do you think?" she cried, in great excitement. "Nurse says she is sure I have
a real talent for nursing! Fancy that! But for mother's illness, I should never have found it
out, should I? Oh, I'm so glad to know that I really have a talent for something, after all!"

Meanwhile, Mrs. John was gaining strength daily. Although she had not expressed a wish
to see Mavis, she thought of her a good deal, and she missed the sound of her voice about
the house.

"Where is Mavis?" she asked Rose, at length. Then, on being informed that the little girl
was downstairs in the parlour, she inquired, "How is it I never hear her singing now?"
"Oh, mother, she would not sing now you are ill," Rose replied.

"She would not disturb me—I think I should like to hear her. It must be a privation to her
not to sing."

"I don't think she has felt much like singing lately. We've all been so troubled about you—
Mavis too. Oh, I don't know how I could have borne it whilst you were so dreadfully ill, if it
had not been for Mavis!"

"What do you mean, Rose?"

"She kept up my heart about you, mother. And she's been so good to us all—helping Jane
with the housework, lending Bob her games and keeping him amused, and doing
everything she could to cheer us up. Wouldn't you like to see her?"

"Yes," assented Mrs. John, "to-morrow, perhaps."

So the following day found Mavis by her aunt's bedside, looking with sympathetic eyes at
the wan face on the pillow.

"I'm so glad you're so much better, Aunt Lizzie," she whispered softly. "You'll soon get
strong now."

"I hope so, Mavis. My illness has spoiled your holidays, I fear. You must have had a very
dull time."

"A very sad, anxious time," Mavis said gravely; "but never mind—that's past."

"And you will soon forget it," her aunt remarked, with a faint smile.

"Oh no, Aunt Lizzie, I'm not likely to do that! But I'd so much rather look forward to your
being well again. We were all so wretched when you were so terribly ill, and now God has
made us happy and glad. Why, I feel I could sing for joy!"

"I think you rarely find difficulty in doing that, Mavis; you are so light-hearted."

"Not always, Aunt Lizzie; but I do try to be."

"Why?" Mrs. John inquired, in surprise.

"Because Jesus said, 'Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid,'" Mavis
answered, seriously. "I try not to be troubled or afraid," she continued; "but it's very, very
hard not to be sometimes. I found that when mother went away; nothing seemed to
matter much when we were together, but after she'd gone—oh, then it was different. I felt
my heart would break, it ached so badly, but—are you sure I am not tiring you, Aunt
Lizzie?"

"No; I like to hear you talk. Go on—tell me all you felt when your mother went away."

Mavis complied. She would have opened her heart to her aunt before, if she had ever had
the least encouragement to make her her confidante. By-and-by, she became aware that
there were tears in the sunken eyes which were watching the varying expressions of her
countenance, and she ceased speaking abruptly.

"You must have been very lonely and sad, child," Mrs. John said. "I never realized you felt
the parting from your mother so much. I wish I had known; but I thought—"
She paused, and did not explain what she had thought. She was beginning to understand
that she had misjudged Mavis, and the knowledge that she had done so humiliated her,
whilst she was conscious that she had allowed her jealous heart to prejudice her against
the child. "I might have been kinder to you, my dear," she admitted, with a sigh.

"Oh, Aunt Lizzie, you have always been kind to me," Mavis said gratefully, unaware that
Mrs. John's conscience was reminding her not so much of actions as of thoughts.

"I don't know what I have said to make you cry," she added, as a tear ran down her aunt's
pale cheek. She wiped the tear away with her handkerchief as she spoke, and kissed the
invalid. She had never felt greatly drawn towards her before, always having been a little in
awe of her, but at that moment the barrier of misunderstanding which had stood between
them was swept aside.

"I have not heard you singing lately," Mrs. John remarked, by-and-by. "Rose tells me you
have been fearful of disturbing me. You need not be now, for I believe it will cheer me
greatly to hear you singing again. Our song-bird has been silent long enough."

Mavis smiled, and kissed her once more, and shortly after that, the nurse, who had been
absent, returned, and confidential conversation was at an end.

The young people had been back to school for several weeks before the mistress of the Mill
House was about again, and it was some time before she was well enough to undertake
her accustomed duties. But with the lengthening days, she gained strength more rapidly,
and the doctor said she needed only the spring sunshine to make her well.

In the meanwhile, Mavis continued to receive cheering news from her mother, who wrote
every mail. Miss Dawson was much better, and there was now every reason to hope that
she would return to England completely restored to health. But when that would be, Mrs.
Grey had not yet said, though in one letter she had remarked that perhaps it would be
sooner than Mavis expected. The little girl's heart had thrilled with happiness when she
had read that.

Almost the first news Mrs. John was told when she was about again after her illness, was
that Richard Butt, who had taken a cottage in the village, had been allowed a few days'
holiday, and the loan of a waggon, on which he had conveyed his household furniture and
his wife and baby from Woodstock to their new home.

"They're comfortably settled in now, ma'am," said Jane, who had explained all this to her
mistress. "I've been to see them. Mrs. Butt seems a nice, well-mannered young woman,
and the child's as fine a baby as you ever saw in your life."

"Yes," joined in Rose. "And father's very pleased with Butt, because he's so careful of the
horses, and he hasn't had the least cause of complaint against him yet. Aren't you glad to
know that, mother?"

"Butt thinks a great deal of father," Bob said, eagerly, "and no wonder! He told me he was
almost despairing when father gave him work. He said father was one of the few people
who wouldn't hit a man when he's down. I know what he means, don't you, mother?"

"Yes," was the brief assent.

"So do I," said Mavis. "I think the Good Samaritan in the parable must have been very like
Uncle John."
There was one piece of news which Rose had refrained from mentioning to her mother as
yet, and that was that she and Mavis were now in the same class at school. She dreaded
telling her this, and it was a decided relief when she learnt that it was not necessary for
her to do so, as Mavis had forestalled her.

Mavis had also told her aunt, how greatly Rose was troubled on account of her slowness in
learning, and how really painstaking she was, and this, coupled with Miss Matthews' report
that Rose was patient and industrious and always desirous of doing her best, caused Mrs.
John to reflect that she had been a little hard on her daughter.

"Although she's not quick like her cousin, she has many good qualities," she thought to
herself. "God does not endow us all with gifts alike, and I have been unwise to make
comparisons between the children."

So she spoke kindly and encouragingly upon the matter to Rose, who exclaimed, with a
ring of glad surprise in her voice—

"Oh, mother, I so feared you would be angry with me for allowing Mavis to catch up to me
in her lessons! Indeed, indeed, I have done my best. I know I'm slow and stupid in many
ways; but God has given me one talent, and, now I know that, I don't mind. Nurse said I
had a real talent for nursing, so I mean to be a nurse when I grow up. Mavis will be a
great singer, I expect, but I shall be quite content to be a nurse."

Mrs. John made no response, but she pressed a warm kiss on Rose's lips, and her little
daughter saw she was pleased, and added ingenuously—

"I asked God to make you understand I'd done my best, and He has."

CHAPTER XI
HAPPY DAYS

IT was a beautiful afternoon in May. The lilac and laburnum trees were in full bloom in the
Mill House garden. And fritillaries—snakes' heads, as some people call them—were plentiful
in the meadows surrounding W—, lifting their purple and white speckled heads above the
buttercups and daisies in the fresh-springing green grass.

"I think they are such funny flowers," said Mavis, who with Rose, had been for a walk by
the towpath towards Oxford, along which they were now returning. She looked at the big
bunch of fritillaries she had gathered, as she spoke. "And though they are really like
snakes' heads, I call them very pretty," she added.

"Yes," agreed Rose. "Look, Mavis, there's Mr. Moseley in front of us. He's been sending Max
into the water. I expect we shall catch up to him."

"And then I shall be able to tell him my news!" Mavis cried delightedly. "Oh, Rosie, I don't
think I was ever so happy in my life before as I am to-day!"
A few minutes later, the two little girls had overtaken the Vicar. And, after they had
exchanged greetings with him, Mavis told him her news, which she had only heard that
morning, that her mother and Miss Dawson were returning to England, and were expected
to arrive before midsummer.

"No wonder you look so radiant," he said, kindly.

Then, as Rose ran on ahead with Max, who was inciting her to throw something for him to
fetch out of the river, he continued: "I remember so well the day I made your
acquaintance, my dear. You were in sore trouble, and you told me you did not think you
could be happy anywhere without your mother. Do you recollect that?"

"Oh yes," Mavis replied. "And you said if there were no partings there would be no happy
meetings, and that we must trust those we love to our Father in heaven. And you asked
me my name, and, when I had told it, you said I ought to be as happy as a bird. I felt
much better after that talk with you, and I have been very happy at the Mill House—much
happier lately, too. I don't know how it is, but Aunt Lizzie and I get on much better now."

"You have grown to understand each other?" suggested the Vicar.

"Yes—since her illness," Mavis replied.

The Vicar was silent. He had visited Mrs. John during her sickness, and knew how very
near she had been to death's door. And he thought very likely her experience of weakness
and dependence upon others had softened her, and taught her much which she had failed
to learn during her years of health and strength.

"Mother says Miss Dawson is quite well now," Mavis proceeded. "I am looking forward to
meeting her again; I do wonder when that will be!"

She glanced at her companion as she spoke, and saw he was looking grave and, she
thought, a little sad.

"Is anything amiss, Mr. Moseley?" she asked, impulsively.

"No, my dear," he replied. "I was merely thinking of two delicate young girls who were
very dear to me. They died many years ago; but their lives might have been saved, if they
could have had a long sea voyage and a few months' sojourn in a warmer climate.
However, that was not to be."

"They did not go?"

"No. Their father was a poor man, with no rich friends to help him, and so—they died."

"Oh, how very sad!" exclaimed Mavis, with quick comprehension. "A trip to Australia and
back costs a lot of money, I know. Oh, Mr. Moseley, how dreadful to see any one die for
want of money, when some people have so much! How hard it must be! Didn't their poor
father almost break his heart with grief? I should think he never could have been happy
again."

"You are wrong, my dear. He is an old man now, with few earthly ties, but he is happy.
Wife and children are gone, but he knows they are safe with God, and he looks forward to
meeting them again when his life's work is over."

He changed the conversation then. But Mavis knew he had been speaking of himself, and
that the young girls he had mentioned had been his own children, and her heart was too
full of sympathy for words. Silently, she walked along by his side, till they overtook Rose.
When Max created a diversion by coming close to her and shaking the water from his
shaggy coat, thus treating her to an unexpected shower-bath.

"Oh, Max, you need not have done that!" cried Rose, laughing merrily, whilst the Vicar
admonished his favourite too.

But Max was far too excited to heed reproof. He kept Rose employed in flinging sticks and
stones for him to fetch, until the back entrance to the mill was reached, where the little
girls said good-bye to the Vicar, and the dog followed his master home.

The next few weeks dragged somewhat for Mavis. But she went about with a radiant light
in her eyes and joy in her heart. Would her mother come to her immediately on landing?
she wondered. Oh, she would come as soon as she possibly could, of that she was sure.

"I expect she wants me just as badly as I want her," she reflected, "for we have been
parted for nine months, and that's a long, long time—though, of course, it might have
been longer still."

So the May days slipped by, and it was mid-June when, one afternoon, on returning from
school, the little girls were met at the front door by Mrs. John, who looked at Mavis with
the kindest of smiles on her face.

"You have heard from mother!" cried Mavis, before her aunt had time to speak. "Has the
vessel arrived? Have you had a telegram or a letter?"

"Neither," Mrs. John answered; "but the vessel has arrived, and there's some one in the
parlour waiting for you, Mavis. Go to her, my dear."

Mavis needed no second bidding. She darted across the hall and rushed into the parlour,
where, the next moment, she found herself in her mother's arms, and clasped to her
mother's breast.

"Mother—mother, at last—at last!" was all she could say.

"Yes, at last, my darling," responded the dearly loved voice.

Then they kissed each other again and again, and Mavis saw that her mother was looking
remarkably well. And Mrs. Grey remarked that her little daughter had grown, and was the
plumper and rosier for her sojourn in the country. It was a long while before Mavis could
think of any one but themselves. But at last, she inquired for Miss Dawson, and heard that
her mother had left her in her own home in London that morning.

"I expect she's glad to be back again, isn't she, mother?" Mavis asked.

"Very glad, dear. You can imagine the joyful meeting between her and her father. I shall
never forget the thankfulness of his face when he saw how bright and well she was
looking. Poor man, I believe he had made up his mind that he would never see her again.
She does not require a nurse now, but I have promised to stay with her for a few months
longer, and during that time, Mavis, I want you to remain at the Mill House. Shall you
mind?"

"No," Mavis answered, truthfully. "But you are not going right back to London, mother, are
you?" she asked, looking somewhat dismayed.

"No, dear. I have arranged to stay a few days with you."


What a happy few days those were to Mavis! She was allowed a holiday from school, and
showed her mother her favourite walks, and spent a long afternoon with her in Oxford,
where they visited T— College and the haunts her father had loved. And oh how Mavis
talked! There seemed to be no end to all she had to tell about the household at the Mill
House, and the Vicar, and Richard Butt and his wife and baby, and kind Mrs. Long, to all of
which her mother listened with the greatest interest and attention.

"Why, how many friends you have made!" Mrs. Grey said, on one occasion when Mavis had
been mentioning some of her schoolfellows. "You will be sorry to have to say good-bye to
them; but I do not know when that will be, for I have not decided upon my future plans. I
hope we shall never be parted for such a long time again."

"Indeed I hope not," Mavis answered, fervently. "Shall we go back to live at Miss
Tompkins'?" she inquired.

"I don't know, dear," was the reply. "Perhaps we may—for a time."

Every one at the Mill House was very sorry when Mrs. Grey left and returned to town. Her
former visit had naturally been overshadowed by the prospect of separation from her little
daughter. But this had indeed been a visit of unalloyed happiness, with no cloud of
impending sorrow to mar its joy.

After her mother's departure, Mavis went back to school with a very contented heart, and
in another month came the summer holidays. Her feelings were very mixed when she
learnt that it had been arranged for her to stay at W— until the end of another term, for
Mr. Dawson had earnestly requested Mrs. Grey to remain with his daughter till Christmas,
and she had consented to do so. And she expressed her sentiments to her aunt in the
following words—

"I'm glad, and I'm sorry, Aunt Lizzie. Glad, because I can't bear the thought of saying
good-bye to you all, and sorry, because I do want mother so much sometimes. Still,
London's quite near; it isn't as though mother was at the other end of the world, and time
passes so quickly. Christmas will soon be here."

* * * * *

"I feel as though I must be dreaming," said Mavis, "but I suppose it's really, really true. I
can hardly believe it."

It was Christmas Eve, and a few days before the little girl had been brought up to town by
her uncle, who had delivered her to her mother's care. To her surprise, however, she had
not been taken to Miss Tompkins' dingy lodging-house, but to Mr. Dawson's house in
Camden Square, where she had received a hearty welcome from Mr. Dawson and his
daughter.

She was with her mother and Miss Dawson now, in the pretty sitting-room where, fifteen
months previously, she had made the latter's acquaintance. But there was nothing of the
invalid about Miss Dawson to-day; she looked in good health and spirits, and laughed
heartily at the sight of Mavis' bewildered countenance.

"What is it you can hardly believe, eh?" asked Mr. Dawson, as he entered the room.

"I have been telling her that you mean to build and endow a convalescent home in the
country for girls, as a thanks-offering to God for my recovery, father," Miss Dawson said,
answering for Mavis, "and that her mother is to be the matron, and she can scarcely credit
it. Still, I think she approves of our plan."
"Oh yes, yes!" cried Mavis. "It's just what I should wish to do if I were you," she proceeded
frankly, looking at Mr. Dawson with approval in her glance, and then turning her soft hazel
eyes meaningly upon his daughter, "and you couldn't have a better matron than mother—"

"Mavis! My dear!" interrupted Mrs. Grey.

"It's quite true," declared Miss Dawson. Then she went on to explain to Mavis that the
home was to be within easy reach of London, and it was to be a home of rest for sick
working-girls, where they would have good nursing.

"I think it's a beautiful plan," said Mavis, earnestly. She realized that it meant permanent
work for her mother, too; and turning to her she inquired, "Shall I be able to live with you,
mother?"

"Yes, dear, I hope so," Mrs. Grey answered, with a reassuring smile.

"Oh yes, of course," said Miss Dawson.

And the little girl's heart beat with joy.

She remained silent for a while after that, listening to the conversation of her elders, and
meditating on what wonderful news this would be for them all at the Mill House. Then her
mind travelled to Mr. Moseley, and her face grew grave, as she thought of those two
delicate girls so dear to him, who had faded and died. But it brightened, as she reflected
how nice it must be to be rich, like Mr. Dawson, to be able to help those not so well off as
himself.

She was aroused from her reverie by Miss Dawson, who asked her to sing a carol to them,
and she willingly complied, singing the same she had sung at the village concert at W—
nearly a year before. Afterwards, she gave them an account of the concert, and expressed
the hope that she would be a great singer some day.

"Why, Mavis, I never knew such an idea had entered your head!" exclaimed her mother,
greatly surprised.

"It never did, mother, until Mr. Moseley told me I had a great gift, and that God expected
me to use it for the benefit of others," the little girl replied, seriously.

"Surely he was right!" said Miss Dawson.

And with that Mrs. Grey agreed.

Later in the evening, when Mavis went to the window and peeped out to see what the
weather was like, she felt an arm steal around her shoulders, and Miss Dawson asked—

"What of the night? Are we going to have a fine Christmas?"

"I believe we are," Mavis answered. "The sky is clear and the stars are very bright. Look!"

Miss Dawson did so, pressing her face close to the window-pane. Then she suddenly kissed
Mavis, and whispered—

"God bless you, dear, for all you've done for me. I carried the remembrance of your sweet
voice singing, 'The Lord is only my support,' to Australia and back again, and it cheered
and strengthened me more than you will ever know. I wish you a happy Christmas, little
song-bird, and many, many more in the years to come."
THE END

PRINTED BY

WILLIAM CLOWES AND SONS, LIMITED,

LONDON AND BECCLES.


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