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As part of the Agence Nationale de Recherche Caractérisation des ENvironnements SonorEs urbains (Characterization of urban sound environments) project, a questionnaire was sent in January 2019 to households in a 1 km2 study area in the city of Lorient, France, to which about 318 responded. The main objective of this questionnaire was to collect information about the inhabitants' perception of the sound environments in their neighborhoods, streets, and dwellings. In the same study area, starting mid-2019, about 70 sensors were continuously positioned, and 15 of them were selected for testing sound source recognition models. The French lockdown due to the COVID-19 crisis occurred during the project, and the opportunity was taken to send a second questionnaire during April 2020. About 31 of the first 318 first survey respondents answered this second questionnaire. This unique longitudinal dataset, both physical and perceptual, allows the undertaking of an analysis from different perspectives of such a period. The analysis reveals the importance of integrating source recognition tools, soundscape observation protocol, in addition to physical level analysis, to accurately describe the changes in the sound environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Telestroke is recognized as a safe and time-efficient way of treating stroke patients. However, admission centers (spokes) are subject to financial charges which can make them reluctant to join the system. We implemented and assessed an economic model supporting our telestroke system, Virtuall, France, which includes one expert center (hub) and six spokes. Methods: The model is based on payment for the expertise provided by the hub, distribution of charges related to telemedicine according to the fees perceived by the spokes, and transfer of patients between the spokes and the hub. We performed a cost-benefit analysis for all patients included in Virtuall from January 2014 to December 2015 to assess the economic balance in each center. Results: 321 patients were prospectively included in the study. Application of the economic model resulted in overall financial balance with funding of a dedicated medical service in the hub, and reduced costs directly related to telestroke by an average of 10% in the spokes. The conditions generating the highest costs for the spokes were: a patient returning from the hub for re-hospitalization (mean cost of $1,995/patient); management of patients treated by intravenous thrombolysis without transfer to the hub (mean cost of $2,075/patient). The most favorable financial condition for the spokes remained simple transfer of patients to the hub and no return (mean cost of $329/patient). Conclusion: We describe an economic model which can be applied to any telestroke system to ensure the optimal balance between hub and spoke centers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work aims to investigate the appraisal of typical urban soundscapes. The method consists of two simultaneous on-site procedures in various urban situations in two French cities (main thorough fares, pedestrian precincts, playgrounds and market squares). While passers-by were required to express their opinion about soundscapes through questionnaires, we recorded samples of ambient sound environments and calculated acoustic parameters. The cross analysis between survey data and acoustic parameters indicated the sound level is appropriate to the description of main thorough fares, but for similar sound level locations (square, market, or playground) two further perceptive factors were remind. The perceptual spatial dimension was correlated with acoustic indicators as background noise or standard deviation of short LAeq, whereas the temporal dimension revealed differences in the perceptual attitudes of the survey respondents. The results obtained consequently identified the limitation of matching a unique acoustic descriptor with two cognitive representations (a global point of view versus a discrete listening) of the same acoustic phenomenon. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

• We reflect on French translations of soundscape attributes used in Quebec and France. • We stress the difficulties of translating attributes out of context (e.g., uneventful). • We recommend exploring how respondents understand and define soundscape attributes. • Space use, values, meanings, needs, expectations, and conflicts shape responses. Various translations of the eight attributes of the Perceived Affective Quality Scales included in the ISO/TS 12913–3 standard have been used in different languages. We report on differences in French translations observed across studies and geographical contexts. Specifically, we focus on insights gathered over the past 8 and 18 years on French translations used by two research teams in Quebec and France (respectively), as stabilizing particular attributes has proven challenging. These insights are complemented by an inductive analysis of free-format responses about the understanding and strategies used to evaluate the scales by 34 Quebec respondents. Both Quebec and French translation works converge for most of the attributes, both in the terms used and the issues raised. We conclude with recommendations to address the complexity of experiences related to soundscape and to continue exploring attributes, dimensions, and methods that might reinforce or complement the PAQS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]