Internet Bandwidth Research Articles

51 Feasibility of paediatric postoperative telemedicine in Nunavik

Abstract Background To access surgical care, Inuit children from Nunavik are relocated by plane to an urban tertiary hospital. Current processes that require an in-person follow-up appointment extend their stay away from home despite an overall low rate of postoperative complications. Telemedicine presents the opportunity to reduce this delay, but little is known about its feasibility for paediatric postoperative care in Nunavik. Objectives To determine the feasibility of paediatric postoperative telemedicine in Nunavik. Design/Methods In this mixed methods study using a convergent parallel design (August 2022 – May 2023), we recruited eleven healthcare providers who regularly interact with Inuit families of Nunavik. We conducted individual semi-structured in-depth interviews about postoperative care in this setting and analyzed the data thematically. In parallel, we conducted a narrative synthesis of the literature and gathered input from collaborators to assess the potential resources needed to enable postoperative telemedicine in the region. We then determined the capability for telemedicine in each of the fourteen villages of Nunavik using data provided by the regional health board. A meeting with specialists responsible for telemedicine in the region was held to discuss findings and future steps. We analyzed and compared qualitative and quantitative results to determine the degree of postoperative telemedicine readiness in the region. Results The main themes influencing the feasibility of telemedicine were general considerations for telemedicine use as a follow-up modality, patient characteristics most suitable for postoperative telemedicine, resources needed for telemedicine use as a follow-up modality, and the feasibility of postoperative telemedicine as determined by healthcare providers. All interviewees deemed paediatric postoperative telemedicine in this region feasible but highlighted conditions for its success. The narrative review uncovered limited literature on telemedicine use in Nunavik. As of January 2023, the two regional hospitals and three health centers had full capabilities for postoperative telemedicine. The nine other health centers had partial capabilities, mainly due to limited access to stable high-speed Internet and Internet bandwidth. Only regional hospitals had access to hospitalization, imaging, readaptation, and laboratory departments. The participating specialists deemed telemedicine feasible if patient load and burden of administrative work are manageable. Conclusion Postoperative paediatric telemedicine in Nunavik is feasible from a resource, healthcare providers and specialists standpoint. Leveraging centers with appropriate capacity would allow the increase in telemedicine usage in Nunavik. Next steps in this research program include interviews with families to evaluate their needs, preferences and attitudes toward postoperative paediatric telemedicine.

Designing an Entrepreneurial Model of Remote Communication Technologies in Clinical Medicine: A Qualitative Study

Background: Today, information technology has permeated all fields, transforming numerous aspects of our lives, while entrepreneurship has become increasingly essential. In medicine, the integration of this technology is becoming crucial. Objectives: This research focuses on designing an entrepreneurial model that leverages modern communication and information technologies in the health sector. By capitalizing on created opportunities, entrepreneurs can drive innovation, leading to cost savings, time efficiency, and greater access to health and medical services for people everywhere. Methods: In this qualitative study, the sample included faculty members from Iran University of Medical Sciences, selected through purposive sampling. Following this, the sample was expanded using snowball sampling, introduced through key experts, to include additional informed individuals. Data collection was conducted through semi-structured interviews with faculty members, experts, and knowledgeable individuals who were willing to participate. The interviews continued until data saturation was reached. Data analysis was carried out using content analysis, with coding performed using MAXQDA10 software. Results: After coding and identifying the main and sub-themes, content analysis was completed, resulting in 10 main themes and 57 sub-themes. All interviewees highlighted sub-themes such as "infrastructure and hardware," "internet bandwidth," "access to electronic health records," "equipment and supplies," "data privacy," "qualified physicians," and "counseling." Conclusions: When designing an entrepreneurial model in any region or country, it is essential to consider the existing needs and conditions, environmental demands, population characteristics, culture, habits, preferences of service recipients, infrastructural capabilities, governing laws, and security issues. Additionally, the model must incorporate specific leadership, management, and oversight to ensure it becomes a responsive and effective system.

Evaluating Internet Network Quality: A Comprehensive Analysis by the PNUP Directorate of Building

This study raises the problem of the condition of the building network of the Directorate of PNUP which has an irregular cabling structure so that if a network installation is carried out by connecting to the nearest switch without regard to cable paths, the cables are not on the path according to the irregular distribution of IP networks and bandwidth. The purpose of this study is to enhance the quality of the internet network in the PNUP Directorate building, compare the network performance before and after revitalizing fiber optic cables, and determine the internet bandwidth requirements in the PNUP Directorate building. The method employed is assessing internet network performance using Quality of Service parameter, by evaluating when the implementation that has been carried out is deemed sufficient, the evaluation is carried out based on the test results of the Quality of Service parameter. The user speed test is performed on public IP, followed by data recording and capture using tilnet tools. The values for delay, throughput, packet loss, and jitter are then processed and calculated. The outcome of this research demonstrates that network revitalization has successfully increased bandwidth usage, particularly in data transmission (Tx). Additional capacity and increased network performance after the revitalization allow for greater and more efficient use of bandwidth in transmitting data.

Application of The SD-WAN Load Balancing Method in Managing Internet Bandwidth at IDN Bogor Vocational School

Application of The SD-WAN Load Balancing Method in Managing Internet Bandwidth at IDN Bogor Vocational School

The Impact of Mobile Broadband and Internet Bandwidth on Human Development—A Comparative Analysis of Developing and Developed Countries

AbstractThis paper examines the impact of information and communication technologies (ICT) on human development in developing and developed countries, measured by the human development index (HDI). The analysis relies on new and contemporary measures of ICT, namely mobile broadband and internet bandwidth, which have only recently become available for many countries. Using data from 180 sample countries over the period 2010–2017, the system GMM estimates suggest that the impact of ICT on human development depends on the country’s development stage and the respective telecommunication service. Mobile broadband drives human development in developing countries, while developed countries gain from increasing internet bandwidth. Further analysis reveals that the positive effects in developing countries are due to improvements in health and education. In contrast, in developed countries, this progress is attributable to positive effects on income.

Performance analysis: Securing SIP on multi-threaded/multi-core proxy server using public keys on Diffie-Hellman (DH) in single and multi-server queuing scenarios.

The rapid replacement of PSTN with VOIP networks indicates the definitive phase-out of the PBX/PABX with smartphone-based VOIP technology that uses WLAN connectivity for local communication; however, security remains a key issue, regardless of the communication coverage area. Session initiation protocol (SIP) is one of the most widely adopted VOIP connection establishment protocols but requires added security. On the Internet, different security protocols, such as HTTPS (SSL/TLS), IPSec, and S/MIME, are used to protect SIP communication. These protocols require sophisticated infrastructure and some pose a significant overhead that may deteriorate SIP performance. In this article, we propose the following: i) avoid using Internet bandwidth and complex Internet protocols for local communication within an organization, but harness WLAN connectivity, ii) use multi-threaded or multicore computer systems to handle concurrent calls instead of installing hardware-based SIP servers, and iii) run each thread in a separate core. Cryptography is a key tool for securely transmitting confidential data for long- and short-range communication, and the Diffie-Hellman (DH) protocol has consistently been a popular choice for secret key exchanges. Primarily, used for symmetric key sharing, it has been proven effective in generating public/private key pairs, sharing public keys securely over public channels, and subsequently deriving shared secret keys from private/public keys. This key exchange scheme was proposed to safeguard VOIP communication within WLANs, which rely on the SIP for messaging and multimedia communication. For ensuring an efficient implementation of SIP, the system was rigorously analyzed using the M/M/1 and M/M/c queuing models. We analyze the behavior of SIP servers with queuing models with and without end-to-end security and increase users' trust in SIP security by providing a transparent sense of end-to-end security as they create and manage their private and public keys instead of relying on the underlying SIP technology. This research implements instant messaging, voice conversation, and secret key generation over DH while implementing and observing the role of multi-threading in multiqueue systems that serve incoming calls. By increasing the number of threads from one to two, the SIP response time improved from 20.23809 to 0.08070 min at an arrival rate of 4250 calls/day and a service rate of three calls/min. Similarly, by adding one to seven threads, the queue length was reduced by four calls/min. Implementing secure media streaming and reliable AES-based signaling for session confidentiality and integrity introduces a minor 8-ms tradeoff in SIP service performance. However, the advantages of implementing added security outweigh this limitation.

Patient Characteristics Associated With Phone and Video Visits at a Tele-Urgent Care Center During the Initial COVID-19 Response: Cross-Sectional Study.

Health systems rapidly adopted telemedicine as an alternative health care delivery modality in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Demographic factors, such as age and gender, may play a role in patients' choice of a phone or video visit. However, it is unknown whether there are differences in utilization between phone and video visits. This study aimed to investigate patients' characteristics, patient utilization, and service characteristics of a tele-urgent care clinic during the initial response to the pandemic. We conducted a cross-sectional study of urgent care patients using a statewide, on-demand telemedicine clinic with board-certified physicians during the initial phases of the pandemic. The study data were collected from March 3, 2020, through May 3, 2020. Of 1803 telemedicine visits, 1278 (70.9%) patients were women, 730 (40.5%) were aged 18 to 34 years, and 1423 (78.9%) were uninsured. There were significant differences between telemedicine modalities and gender (P<.001), age (P<.001), insurance status (P<.001), prescriptions given (P<.001), and wait times (P<.001). Phone visits provided significantly more access to rural areas than video visits (P<.001). Our findings suggest that offering patients a combination of phone and video options provided additional flexibility for various patient subgroups, particularly patients living in rural regions with limited internet bandwidth. Differences in utilization were significant based on patient gender, age, and insurance status. We also found differences in prescription administration between phone and video visits that require additional investigation.

Students’ use and assessment of Plateau State University Library, Bokkos

This paper focuses on use and assessment of various resources and facilities of the Plateau State University Library, Bokkos. The research was guided by seventeen objectives. A survey research design was the research method adopted in the investigation. The target population for the research was all the 499 students in the Faculty of Natural and Applied Sciences that were on ground in 2022/2023 academic session. Since the population was manageable, there was no sampling. Hence, all the subjects were adopted in the research. The instrument used in the data collection was questionnaire. Data collected were analyzed using simple statistics such as frequency counts and percentages, and tables were presented were necessary. The findings of the research revealed among others that the major issues associated with the poor patronage of the Plateau State University Library, Bokkos by the students of the institution were as follows: lack of enough textbooks and journals; collection contain so many outdated textbooks that were irrelevant to the student‟s needs; library‟s catalogue was in disarray; lack of stable source of electric power supply; and inconsistent internet connections with very low internet bandwidth. It was therefore, recommended among others that the library management should acquire more current text books and journals in both hard and soft copies and the university‟s lecturers (users) should be involved in the selection of the library‟s resources for acquisition in order to improve the quality / relevancy of the library‟s collection; there is an urgent need to reorganize the library‟s catalogue to reflect the library‟s collection; the university management should provide a constant source of electric power supply to the library; Internet connectivity should be made available all the time and internet bandwidth should be 4increased to reduce the time it takes to gain access into the internet databases in the library. The research then concluded that the Plateau State University library was bedeviled with so many factors that had inhibited the effective utilization of its resources and facilities by students. Hence, students avoided the patronage of the library‟s resources and facilities. However, it was believed that with proper funding, commitment of university and library managements and careful implementation of the recommendations noted in this research, the resources and facilities of the library will be greatly improved and the patronage of the library by students will subsequently improve.

WhatsApp as a Tool in Blended Learning in Dental Education.

Dental education is unique, with clinical/practical learning much different from other professionals. In dentistry, students are exposed much earlier in their curriculum to patients, performing procedures under direct/indirect supervision. Hence, the present review attempted to assess the standing position of dentistry in blended learning worldwide. E-learning modality was at its primitive stage as food for thought among educational task force committees, with only a handful of developed and developing countries equipped with it. During this pandemic, "WhatsApp" became a savior, as it was a widely used educational device among dental teachers and students. Furthermore, it was easily applicable in places where there was difficulty in obtaining regular internet bandwidth, especially in remote/rural areas. It is noteworthy that blended learning/e-learning, when complemented with the conventional teaching method, upskill critical thinking and problem-solving capabilities. Blended learning or virtual reality education should be made feasible without disparity, worldwide. Mind training, both students and staff in hybrid e-learning, is the need of the hour not only to keep pace with digitalized dentistry but to prepare the students to face real-world situations. The sustainability of dental education should be rethought by dental schools with "Complimented Digital learning" wherever feasible, not only to cope with current trends but also to face unforeseen future challenges.

Revolutionizing Connectivity: Advancing Equitable Traffic Access through Advanced Scalability and Load Balancing Network Architecture via Adaptive Equalization Algorithms

The contemporary internet landscape grapples with reliability issues, primarily stemming from internet traffic challenges that lead to slowdowns. A significant contributor to this predicament is the multitude of devices and users connected to the internet, straining the available bandwidth. This research introduces a system designed to address this problem by implementing bandwidth balancing and limitations on individual users. To initiate this study, specific requirements, both hardware and software, need consideration. Given the study's involvement with networks, basic network adapters become essential. The bandwidth limiter, a key feature of the system, regulates the internet bandwidth accessible to users. Regardless of download/upload activities, the limiter ensures users stay within preset bandwidth limits. This proactive measure aids in preventing or minimizing average internet traffic issues within a network. The system's implementation results in a more balanced distribution of internet bandwidth among users connected to the same network, ultimately enhancing internet connectivity. This research addresses contemporary internet challenges by introducing a system that employs adaptive algorithms for equitable traffic access. The proposed system, encompassing bandwidth balancing and limitations, aligns with the overarching goal of achieving advanced scalability and load balancing in network architecture. By proactively managing internet traffic through the use of a bandwidth limiter, the system aims to enhance the equitable distribution of internet bandwidth among connected users, contributing to a more efficient and reliable network infrastructure

RANCANG BANGUN PENGELOLAAN BANDWIDTH INTERNET MENGGUNAKAN METODE QUEUE TREE DENGAN ROUTER MIKROTIK DI PT XYZ

Basically, the use of internet activities in companies is very dense, causing various problems, among the problems encountered related to internet connection is bandwidth usage that has not been optimally regulated, so that no matter how much bandwidth capacity is available, it will not meet the needs of internet bandwidth usage if it is not managed properly. . In order for internet user bandwidth allocation to be distributed evenly, bandwidth management is needed to overcome the existing bandwidth limitations. Bandwidth management aims to find a solution so that all user computer devices get internet bandwidth allocation and can find out how to manage good bandwidth so that user devices get a fair or even distribution of bandwidth. The methodology for implementing bandwidth management with the queue tree method is to observe a running network system, identify problems, collect data, then design a configuration system. After going through the design process then carrying out the configuration stage, and if the configuration is successfully applied then proceed to the testing phase using several user computers assisted by using the wireshark application to find out incoming or received data packets, the next stage is monitoring using monitoring applications such as Torch Winbox, speedtest or wireshark and the final stage is evaluation or management such as configuration backups and so on. This research and testing also takes into account Quality of Services (QoS) parameters such as throughput, delay, jitter, and packet loss to find out in more detail the calculation of packet traffic that has been captured by the wireshark application. So that with good design, proper configuration, careful monitoring, an even, optimal bandwidth usage and quality internet connection is produced, so that the implementation of the queue tree method of bandwidth management provides an effective solution in managing bandwidth allocation.

Selection Of Alternative Scenarios For The Development Of Indonesia's Sea Cable Communication System (SKKL) In The Metaverse Era (Pt Xyz Case Study)

PT XYZ is a State-Owned Enterprise (BUMN) engaged in information and communication technology (ICT) services and telecommunications networks in Indonesia. The projection of increasing internet needs makes the need for internet bandwidth even greater. The sea cable communication system (SKKL) available today is predicted to no longer be able to accommodate bandwidth needs, especially the internet, for the next few years. In addition, PT XYZ must also be able to anticipate serving the Metaverse. This study aims to determine alternative scenarios and the feasibility of building Indonesia's sea cable communication system (SKKL) in the metaverse era. This study discusses the selection of the best scenario from 4 scenarios with the discounted cash flow method and considers the EUAC of each scenario. The aspects to be studied are market aspects, technical aspects, and financial aspects. Market aspect data is obtained from the company's historical data, and demand forecasting is carried out using the linear regression method. The technical aspect is carried out by determining the business process, the scenario to be used, labour, as well as the details of investment costs. The financial aspect is done by calculating estimated revenue, income statement, and cash flow. Based on the results of the feasibility calculation, the NPV value was Rp.32,337,102,145,226, PBP of 3.2 years, and IRR of 44.43% with MARR of 14.8%. The results of this research show that the selected scenario is feasible to run

Pandemics uncertainty and informational globalization in CEE countries: The role of innovation diffusion

The Covid-19 pandemic has dramatically changed how information is shared and processed worldwide. The COVID-19 pandemic has profoundly affected the globalization of information, causing shifts in communication, information dissemination, and technology. This paper investigates the impact of pandemics-related uncertainty on the index of de facto informational globalization (the measure based on high-technology exports, international patents, and used internet bandwidth). The paper uses the panel dataset of 18 Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries from 1990 to 2020. The results indicate that pandemics-related uncertainty negatively affects the informational globalization level in the CEE economies. The findings are robust in utilizing different estimation techniques and considering NATO member CEE countries.

J48 Tree Classification and Simple K-Means Clusterization on the Behavior of Academic Community in Accessing Internet for Bandwidth Management Plan

&lt;p&gt;Abstract The purpose of the research was to review the&lt;br /&gt;improvements in internet usage behavior by the academic&lt;br /&gt;community at a university which consisted of favorite website&lt;br /&gt;variables, the amount of internet bandwidth capacity used and&lt;br /&gt;the time spent accessing the website. The research was&lt;br /&gt;conducted in a population of 200 lecturers and 5267 students.&lt;br /&gt;Internet bandwidth mapping is carried out using two methods of&lt;br /&gt;the J48 tree classification algorithm and simple K-Means&lt;br /&gt;clustering contained in the WEKA software. The results of this&lt;br /&gt;study are for the purpose of mapping internet bandwidth,&lt;br /&gt;determining internet service provider load balancing,&lt;br /&gt;classification and clustering of favorite websites based on time&lt;br /&gt;duration which can affect the use of existing internet bandwidth&lt;br /&gt;capacity systems.&lt;/p&gt;

An Unstructured Supplementary Service Data System to Verify HIV Self-Testing Among Nigerian Youths: Mixed Methods Analysis of Usability and Feasibility.

Mobile health (mHealth) interventions among adolescents and young adults (AYAs) are increasingly available in African low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). For example, the unstructured supplementary service data (USSD) could be used to verify HIV self-testing (HIVST) among AYAs with poor bandwidth. The aim of this study is to describe the creation of an USSD platform and determine its feasibility and usability to promote the verification of HIVST results among AYAs in Nigeria. We developed and evaluated a USSD platform to verify HIVST results using a user-centered approach. The USSD platform guided AYAs in performing HIVST, interpreting the result, and providing linkage to care after the test. Following the usability assessment, the USSD platform was piloted. We used a mixed methods study to assess the platform's usability through a process of quantitative heuristic assessment, a qualitative think-aloud method, and an exit interview. Descriptive statistics of quantitative data and inductive thematic analysis of qualitative variables were organized. A total of 19 AYAs participated in the usability test, with a median age of 19 (IQR 16-23) years. There were 11 females, 8 males, and 0 nonbinary individuals. All individuals were out-of-school AYAs. Seven of the 10 Nielsen usability heuristics assessed yielded positive results. The participants found the USSD platform easy to use, preferred the simplicity of the system, felt no need for a major improvement in the design of the platform, and were happy the system provided linkage to care following the interpretation of the HIVST results. The pilot field test of the platform enrolled 164 out-of-school AYAs, mostly young girls and women (101, 61.6%). The mean age was 17.5 (SD 3.18) years, and 92.1% (151/164) of the participants reported that they were heterosexual, while 7.9% (13/164) reported that they were gay. All the participants in the pilot study were able to conduct HIVST, interpret their results, and use the linkage to care feature of the USSD platform without any challenge. A total of 7.9% (13/164) of the AYAs had positive HIV results (reactive to the OraQuick kit). This study demonstrated the usability and feasibility of using a USSD system as an alternative to mobile phone apps to verify HIVST results among Nigerian youth without smartphone access. Therefore, the use of a USSD platform has implications for the verification of HIVST in areas with low internet bandwidth. Further pragmatic trials are needed to scale up this approach.

Implementation of Science Education for Junior High School Students in Lampung Province During the Covid-19 Pandemic

Science education is one of the important subjects in the scientific structure studied in our world of education. During the Covid-19 pandemic by considering the condition of the readiness of supporting infrastructure for online learning implementation, IT-based teacher skills, and online learning evaluation, this science subject was transformed to students. The purpose of this study is to describe the planning, organizing, implementing, and monitoring of Science Education, especially in public junior high schools in Lampung Province. This research is a qualitative research with an educational ethnography study design, and the research participants are principals of MKKS junior high schools in Lampung Province. This study used interviews, observations and documentation to collect data, which were then evaluated using the interactive model analysis. The findings of this study are as follows: (1) Natural Science lesson plans are prepared by taking into account student characteristics, materials, and the use of applications for learning implementation; (2) the organization of Natural Science learning begins with the formation of Whatsapp groups, the direction of learning meetings using Google Classroom and Google Meet by sharing links through Whatsapp groups; and (3) optimization of learning implementation in this science subject is still limited: 50% of public junior high schools in Lampung Province have limited internet bandwidth; (4) monitoring, science subject teachers have difficulty in conducting learning assessment because they cannot organize students in a perfect setting.

Challenges and opportunities to improve efficiency and quality of prehospital emergency care using an mHealth platform: Qualitative study in Rwanda

IntroductionPrompt, high-quality pre-hospital emergency medical services (EMS) can significantly reduce morbidity and mortality. The goal of this study was to identify factors that compromise efficiency and quality of pre-hospital emergency care in Rwanda, and explore the opportunities for a mobile health (mHealth) tool to address these challenges. MethodsIn-depth interviews were conducted with 21 individuals representing four stakeholder groups: EMS dispatch staff, ambulance staff, hospital staff, and policymakers. A semi-structured interview guide explored participants’ perspectives on all aspects of the pre-hospital emergency care continuum, from receiving a call at dispatch to hospital handover. Participants were asked how the current system could be improved, and the potential utility of an mHealth tool to address existing challenges. Interviews were audio-recorded, and transcripts were thematically analyzed using NVivo. ResultsStakeholders identified factors that compromise the efficiency and quality of care across the prehospital emergency care continuum: triage at dispatch, dispatching the ambulance, locating the emergency, coordinating patient care at scene, preparing the receiving hospital, and patient handover to the hospital. They identified four areas where an mHealth tool could improve care: efficient location of the emergency, streamline communication for decision making, documentation with real-time communication, and routine data for quality improvement. While stakeholders identified advantages of an mHealth tool, they also mentioned challenges that would need to be addressed, namely: limited internet bandwidth, capacity to maintain and update software, and risks of data security breaches that could lead to stolen or lost data. ConclusionDespite the success of Rwanda's EMS system, this study highlights factors across the care continuum that could compromise quality and efficiency of prehospital emergency care. Mobile health tools hold great promise to address these challenges, but contextual issues need to be considered to ensure sustainability of use.

How Did We Deliver Team-Based Learning (TBL) Remotely to Overcome Digital Divide and Internet Access Inequality?

The shift to online learning during COVID-19 has uncovered the existing internet access inequality in the world. Shifting an interactive team-based learning (TBL) session to online is even more challenging since it necessitates interactions and feedback. Choosing the proper digital platforms for online TBL is critical to ensure achieving the intended benefits of TBL. A face-to-face TBL course was transformed fully to online. The basic TBL elements, i.e., pre-reading materials, iRAT, tRAT, and the tAPPS, remained the same in online TBL. Platforms that use less internet bandwidth and are familiar to students were used such as Google meet, WhatsApp, and Google Chat. An online questionnaire was disseminated to all students at the end of the semester to get their feedback. Sixty-six students responded to the questionnaire (54% response rate). The majority of the students (85%) perceived the online TBL positively and reported good interaction and engagement without any major technical issues. They reported that the application exercises and the online discussion through WhatsApp and the use of emoji have helped them to interact and comprehend the topics. Therefore, the use of technologies that operate at low internet bandwidth is an option to provide an equitable access to active learning.

Perspectives, practices, and challenges of online teaching during COVID-19 pandemic: A multinational survey

The result of the movement restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic was an impromptu and abrupt switch from in-person to online teaching. Most focus has been on the perception and experience of students during the process. The aim of this international survey is to assess staffs' perspectives and challenges of online teaching during the COVID-19 lockdown. Cross-sectional research using a validated online survey was carried out in seven countries (Brazil, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Indonesia, India, the United Kingdom, and Egypt) between the months of December 2021 and August 2022, to explore the status of online teaching among faculty members during the COVID-19 pandemic. Variables and response are presented as percentages while logistic regression was used to assess the factors that predict levels of satisfaction and the challenges associated with online instruction. A total of 721 response were received from mainly male (53%) staffs. Most respondents are from Brazil (59%), hold a Doctorate degree (70%) and have over 10 years of working experience (62%). Although, 67% and 79% have relevant tools and received training for online teaching respectively, 44% report that online teaching required more preparation time than face-to-face. Although 41% of respondents were uncertain about the outcome of online teaching, 49% were satisfied with the process. Also, poor internet bandwidth (51%), inability to track students' engagement (18%) and Lack of technical skills (11.5%) were the three main observed limitations. Having little or no prior experience of online teaching before the COVID-19 pandemic [OR, 1.58 (95% CI, 1.35–1.85)], and not supporting the move to online teaching mode [OR, 0.56 (95% CI,0.48–0.64)] were two main factors independently linked with dissatisfaction with online teaching. While staffs who support the move to online teaching were twice likely to report no barriers [OR, 2.15 (95% CI, 1.61–2.86)]. Although, relevant tools and training were provided to support the move to online teaching during COVID-19 lockdown, barriers such as poor internet bandwidth, inability to track students’ engagement and lack of technical skills were main limitations observed internationally by teaching staffs. Addressing these barriers should be the focus of higher education institution in preparation for future disruptions to traditional teaching modes.

The disparity between optimal and practical Lagrangian multiplier estimation in video encoders

With video streaming making up 80% of the global internet bandwidth, the need to deliver high-quality video at low bitrate, combined with the high complexity of modern codecs, has led to the idea of a per-clip optimisation approach in transcoding. In this paper, we revisit the Lagrangian multiplier parameter, which is at the core of rate-distortion optimisation. Currently, video encoders use prediction models to set this parameter but these models are agnostic to the video at hand. We explore the gains that could be achieved using aper-clipdirect-search optimisation of the Lagrangian multiplier parameter. We evaluate this optimisation framework on a much larger corpus of videos than that has been attempted by previous research. Our results show that per-clip optimisation of the Lagrangian multiplier leads to BD-Rate average improvements of 1.87% for x265 across a 10 k clip corpus of modern videos, and up to 25% in a single clip. Average improvements of 0.69% are reported for libaom-av1 on a subset of 100 clips. However, we show that a per-clip, per-frame-type optimisation ofλfor libaom-av1 can increase these average gains to 2.5% and up to 14.9% on a single clip. Our optimisation scheme requires about 50–250 additional encodes per-clip but we show that significant speed-up can be made using proxy videos in the optimisation. These computational gains (of up to ×200) incur a slight loss to BD-Rate improvement because the optimisation is conducted at lower resolutions. Overall, this paper highlights the value of re-examining the estimation of the Lagrangian multiplier in modern codecs as there are significant gains still available without changing the tools used in the standards.