Bioimpedance (BioZ) is a non-invasive and low-cost technology capable of monitoring conductivity rapidly. BioZ holds promise for integration into wearable devices for outpatient monitoring. Here, we propose the integration of BioZ into a smart ring form factor using electrodes coated with poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) conductive polymer. PEDOT reduces contact electrode impedance by increasing the effective contact area at the skin-electrode interface and having high ionic conductivity. In this feasibility study, we developed a ring sensor, deposited PEDOT on the electrodes, and compared its capability to record pulsatile BioZ data at the finger against untreated electrodes. We performed electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and BioZ measurements. EIS results showed that electrode contact impedance decreased by a factor of 1.2 compared to the untreated electrodes at the relevant frequency. Our results show the capability of our smart ring sensor to detect pulsatile BioZ at the digital arteries.

Objective: Modern lifestyles are triggering stress at a disproportionate rate for longer periods of time. Chronic or long-lasting stress can pose a risk to our health. Despite advances in physiological recording methods, mental stress remains challenging to quantify and monitor. Methods: We describe an Internet of Medical Things (IoMT) device with electrocardiogram (ECG) recording features. The recorded ECG signal is processed on-the-fly to calculate, in real time, heart rate (HR), HR variability, energy expenditure, and mental stress. Data are sent to an online platform using a standard Internet of Things (IoT) publish-subscribe messaging transport protocol for continuous monitoring. Results: The system functionality is first validated by performing hardware-in-the-loop measurements connected to a patient simulator. We, then, monitored induced stress by recording ECG in subjects using liquid metal electrodes performing a plank walking task in a virtual reality (VR) environment with high heights exposure. The results demonstrate our IoMT system’s ability to provide accurate ECG metrics using novel liquid metal electrodes by detecting continuously increased stress values in a VR setting and at home. Conclusion: The IoMT measurement device presented provides a novel strategy for monitoring stress in real time. Significance: Our work provides the opportunity for future research on psychological stress and emotion regulation within daily life and the physiological mechanisms through which it influences the health of both children and adults.

In this work we present the results of implementing a challenge-based model for the teaching of a course of Structural Analysis. The course was taught in two different campuses, in two different cities of Mexico. Given the different local conditions, one group was taught in a hybrid-model with face to face sessions on campus, whereas the other group was fully online during the five week period of this intensive course. The model includes work with an industry partner that evaluates the solutions proposed by teams of students to a given real case scenario, in this case, the analysis of a warehouse roof structure under gravity loads and wind loads. Results on the perception of students regarding the implementation of the challenge based model are included, as well as some important elements of the model. A total of 52 students took the course during the fall semester of 2021 and the results shown in this work include the answers to a set of questions that students were given at the end of the course. The participation of the strategic partner from industry enhanced the overall experience of students and professors.

In the last years there has been an increment in the implementation of specialized virtual simulation software for engineering education. The main reason is the diversification towards different formats of learning such as online learning, blended learning, on-demand learning, among others. Several studies have demonstrated the benefits of using virtual simulation tools (such as game engines) for improving the learning outcomes in engineering courses. In the construction industry the most important virtual simulation software tool is Building Information Modeling (BIM). Even though the potential benefits of implementing BIM and game engines for educational purposes, there is no evidence of studies that implements both technologies together. In this study we develop a methodology for integrating BIM and game engines for engineering online learning for Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) education. This study demonstrates: 1) the technical affordability for implementing advanced simulation tools for a construction course, and 2) the benefits of implementing such technologies for improving the learning experience of the students. The context of the development and implementation of the described methodology is in the framework of deployment of the new educational model Tec21 in national AEC higher education programs in the university Tecnologico de Monterrey in Mexico.

In this paper, a hybrid model for teaching Engineering Mechanics courses is presented. The model was applied during the year 2020 in which all the courses in our university had to move to an online format. Some recommendations are given for future implementations of hybrid models that work both, for on campus teaching and for online teaching in the new normality The results show that overall, the implementation of the model was successful and some indicators like student satisfaction and the students' performance are high.

Building Information Modeling (BIM) is arguably the most important and promising ICT applied in the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) industry. One of the most important dimensions of BIM is its implementation for Virtual Reality (VR) to simulate and interact inside virtual environments of construction projects. The benefits of using BIM and VR with educational purposes has been explored recently by separate, however there is no evidence of an approach that develops and implements both technologies together. The research in this study is the first one in developing the framework for the implementation of a user-friendly BIM-VR software application with specific pedagogical objectives for AEC education. This study demonstrates that the development of this high-tech educative tool aims to: 1) make more effective use of learning hours through playful interaction with BIM models, and 2) improve understanding of abstract complex concepts that are difficult to explain theoretically. The implementation of this technological tool is developed in the context of national AEC higher education programs in a university in Mexico. In this study, the effectiveness of using a collaborative BIM-VR tool as a didactic method for AEC is demonstrated. Also, this study demonstrates that the learning experience can be improved using BIM-VR.

The integration of Circular Economy (CE) principles into higher education programs can be seen as an important step in achieving true sustainability in higher education. Even though the adoption of CE in higher education has improved in recent years, there has been little research about the effective integration of CE principles into academic programs. The aim of this paper is to present an analysis of the redesign and restructuring of an undergraduate construction management course integrated with CE principles as a methodology to impart sustainable development (SD) competencies; this research was done within the framework of the Tec21 educational model that has been in the process of implementation in the Tecnologico of Monterrey university system throughout its 26 campuses in Mexico. Although the new educational model calls for the development of SD competencies, among others, there is no information available on the current status of the integration of CE principles into bachelor-level courses in Construction Management. Therefore, this study contributes to research by providing a detailed analysis and documentation of the design process for the efficient incorporation of CE principles into such a course. The results of the study show that it is necessary to incorporate CE principles into the structure of course content in order to develop the SD competencies that are demanded by industry now and in the future.

The use of electrical bioimpedance methods in medical and personalized healthcare applications requires sophisticated hardware and measurement settings. Here, we describe Zink, a standalone bioimpedance analyzer with Internet of Things (IoT) monitoring features. Zink can be connected to a secure wireless or local area network and accessed using any device with a Web browser and Internet access. Through a user-friendly Web-based access able to handle multiple simultaneous connections, the user(s) can perform single or multiple bioimpedance measurement(s) remotely. Zink supports the measurement of bioimpedance in both time and frequency domains using stepped-sine and multisine excitation signals. Embedded signal processing calculates bioimpedance from voltage and current signals using a coherent demodulation and the fast Fourier transform. Zink can also measure bioimpedance synchronized with either electrocardiogram (ECG) or electromyogram signals. The data is displayed on the user's Web client from where it can be downloaded for further analysis. Zink full bandwidth is 100 mHz to 10 MHz and the average signal-to-noise ratio tested from 1 kHz to 1 MHz is 56 dB. The extended calibration method proposed here reduces the average magnitude error with respect to the existing three-parameter calibration approach by 0.6 Ω (0.3%) measuring phantoms. Thoracic bioimpedance and ECG measurements on volunteers demonstrate the feasibility of detecting respiration changes while showing the results in real time on the user device's Web browser. The performance, portability, and integration of Zink makes it a suitable standalone platform for medical and personalized health IoT monitoring applications.