A psychoacoustic model is presented to facilitate the installation of acoustic warning devices in noisy settings, reflecting a major upgrade of a former tool, Detectsound. The model can be used to estimate the optimal level and spectrum of acoustic warning signals based on the noise field in the workplace, the hearing status of workers, and the attenuation provided by hearing protectors. The new version can be applied to a wider range of situations. Analyses can now be conducted to meet the functional requirements for a specific worker or to suit the needs for a group of co-workers sharing a work area. Computation of optimal warning signals can also be made from estimated hearing parameters based on the worker age, gender, and level and duration of noise exposure. The results of a laboratory validation study showed that the mean error in estimating detection thresholds for normal hearing individuals is typically within +/-1 dB with a standard deviation of less than 2.5 dB in white noise or continuous noise fields. The model tends to yield slightly overestimated warning signal detection thresholds in fluctuating noises. Proper application of the tool also requires consideration of the variability in estimating noise levels, hearing status, and hearing protector attenuation under field conditions to ensure that acoustic warning signals are sufficiently loud and well adjusted in practice.

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The present study is an extension of previous work on the dreams of pregnant women, with a large sample from pregnancy and postpartum. In total, 143 pregnant women completed dream diaries during 3 distinct periods. Also, 125 nonpregnant women completed a dream diary on 1 occasion. Pregnancy-and motherhood-related oneiric characteristics, as well as negative versus positive dream elements, were coded by 2 independent judges. Results revealed that pregnant women experienced more direct in-dream representations of pregnancy and motherhood than the comparison group. However, no differences in oneiric emotional content were observed between the 2 groups. Results support the continuity hypothesis with respect to thematic representations of pregnancy but are inconclusive regarding emotional content.

Women with severe premenstrual symptoms, who tend to have more mood changes during the late luteal phase of their cycle than do women with few or no symptoms, often complain of having unpleasant dreams. This study examined whether these women experienced more intense negative dream emotions during the late luteal phase of their cycle compared with women with minimal symptoms. It also examined whether there was a relationship between presleep mood and dream affect. Seventeen women participated in the study (9 with severe symptoms, 8 with minimal symptoms). Analyses of variance revealed an increase in negative dream affect and misfortunes during the late luteal phase (p Ͻ .05) for both groups. Aggressive interactions occurred only in the dreams of that phase, suggesting an impact of hormonal fluctuations on dreams. The severity of premenstrual symptoms, however, did not have a specific impact on dreams.

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