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Sociologists increasingly employ machine learning (ML) to quickly sort, code, classify, and analyze data. With known racial and gender biases in ML algorithms, we urge sociologists to (re)consider the implications of the widespread use of these technologies in our research. To illustrate this point, we use two popular ML algorithms, ClarifAI and Kairos, to code a small sample of sociologists (n = 167) and their coauthors (n = 1,664) and compare their findings to the sociologists’ hand-coded race and gender information. We further explore ML-generated differences by analyzing the extent of racial homophily in these sociologists’ collaboration networks. We find significant differences across the three coding methods that would lead to very different conclusions and future research agendas. We conclude by elaborating on how sociologists might ethically consider the role of ML and its use in the discipline.

Microfluidics have revolutionized cell culture by allowing for precise physical and chemical environmental control. Coupled with electrodes, microfluidic cell culture can be activated or have its changes sensed in real-time. We used our previously developed reliable and stable microfluidic device for cell growth and monitoring to design, fabricate, and characterize a whole-channel impedance-based sensor and used it to systematically assess the electrical and electrochemical influences of microfluidic channel boundaries coupled with varying electrode sizes, distances, coatings, and cell coverage. Our investigation includes both theoretical and experimental approaches to investigate how design parameters and insulating boundary conditions change impedance characteristics. We examined the system with various solutions using a frequency range of 0.5 Hz to 1 MHz and a modulation voltage of 50 mV. The results show that impedance is directly proportional to electrode distance and inversely proportional to electrode coating, area, and channel size. We also demonstrate that electrode spacing is a dominant factor contributing to impedance. In the end, we summarize all the relationships found and comment on the appropriateness of using this system to investigate barrier cells in blood vessel models and organ-on-a-chip devices. This fundamental study can help in the careful design of microfluidic culture constructs and models that require channel geometries and impedance-based biosensing.

Abstract Background The perimenopausal transition is accompanied by psychiatric symptoms in over 10% of women. Symptoms commonly include depressed mood and anhedonia and less commonly include psychosis. Psychiatric symptoms have been linked to the depletion and/or variability of circulating estradiol, and estradiol treatment reduces perimenopausal anhedonia and psychosis in some women. Estrogen fluctuations may disrupt function in the mesolimbic reward system in some women, leading to psychiatric symptoms like anhedonia or psychosis. The Perimenopausal Effects of Estradiol on Anhedonia and Psychosis Study (PEEPs) is a mechanistic clinical trial that aims to (1) identify relationships between perimenopausal-onset anhedonia and psychosis and neuromolecular markers of mesolimbic reward responses and (2) determine the extent to which estradiol treatment-induced changes in mesolimbic reward responses are associated with alleviation of perimenopausal onset anhedonia or psychosis. Methods This study will recruit 100 unmedicated women ages 44–55 in the late-stage perimenopausal transition, sampling across the range of mild-to-high anhedonia and absent-to-moderate psychosis symptoms. Patients will be randomized to receive either estradiol or placebo treatment for 3 weeks. Clinical outcome measures will include symptoms of anhedonia (measured with Snaith–Hamilton Pleasure Scale; SHAPS) and psychosis (measured with Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale; BPRS psychosis subscale) as well as neural markers of mesolimbic reward system functioning, including reward-related fMRI activation and PET-derived measure of striatal dopamine binding. Pre-treatment associations between (1) SHAPS/BPRS scores and (2) reward-related striatal dopamine binding/BOLD activation will be examined. Furthermore, longitudinal mixed models will be used to estimate (1) symptom and neuromolecular trajectories as a function of estradiol vs. placebo treatment and (2) how changes in reward-related striatal dopamine binding and BOLD activation predict variability in symptom trajectories in response to estradiol treatment. Discussion This clinical trial will be the first to characterize neural and molecular mechanisms by which estradiol treatment ameliorates anhedonia and psychosis symptoms during the perimenopausal transition, thus laying the groundwork for future biomarker research to predict susceptibility and prognosis and develop targeted treatments for perimenopausal psychiatric symptoms. Furthermore, in alignment with the National Institute for Mental Health Research Domain Criteria initiative, this trial will improve our understanding of a range of disorders characterized by anhedonia, psychosis, and reward system dysfunction. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05282277

The COVID-19 pandemic has presented many stressors for parents. This study was conducted to examine treatment preferences and barriers to care amidst COVID-19. Parents (N ​= ​95) completed self-report measures. Education was provided on interventions (e.g., individual therapy, medication), and acceptability assessed. Elevated stress and distress were observed. Parents indicated interest in services for parenting concerns, stress, anxiety, and depression. Individual therapy and telehealth were highly acceptable, while medication and group therapy were less accepted. Findings highlight the need for specific supports among parents amidst the pandemic. Factors that influence treatment preference warrant further attention. Implications for healthcare service delivery are discussed.

Objective Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) has demonstrated effectiveness in addressing symptoms of anxiety and depression, frequently experienced by patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The goal of this pilot study was to develop and assess the feasibility and acceptability of a novel web‐based ACT skills training program tailored for patients with lupus: ACT for Lupus. The program served as a complementary approach to support the management of symptoms and stressors during the COVID‐19 pandemic. Methods This study employed a single‐group pretest‐posttest design. Participants with a diagnosis of SLE were primarily recruited through an institutional healthcare system between November 25, 2020 and December 17, 2020 and through an online national lupus organization listserv. Participants were invited to attend two 1‐hour webinars delivered over a 2‐week period. Educational ACT‐based content was tailored for patients with lupus and delivered by an experienced clinical psychologist specializing in ACT. Surveys assessed patient‐reported outcomes of anxiety, depression, and quality of life and evaluated program feedback, usability, and satisfaction. Results A total of 83 participants submitted the baseline survey, with 21 participants designated as study completers. The program was well received by participants, who reported feasibility and acceptability of the intervention, as reflected by high usability ratings. Participants reported favorable experiences with the program. Feedback included suggestions to include additional lupus‐tailored content, increase the range and scope of sessions and activities, and improve program flexibility and availability to avoid scheduling conflicts. Conclusion This study provides preliminary evidence for an adapted, ACT‐based virtual skills training program as a feasible and acceptable intervention to support the well‐being of patients with lupus.

Abstract Microfluidics is a highly useful platform for culturing, monitoring, and testing biological cells. The integration of electrodes into microfluidic channels extends the functionality, sensing, and testing capabilities of microfluidic systems. By employing an electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) technique, the non-invasive, label-free detection of the activities of cells in real-time can be achieved. To address the movement toward spatially resolving cells in cell culture, we developed a sensory system capable of electro-addressing cell location within a microfluidic channel. This simple system allows for real-time cell location, integrity monitoring (of barrier producing cells), and confluency sensing without the need for frequent optical evaluation—saving time. EIS results demonstrate that cells within microfluidic channels can be located between various pairs of electrodes at different positions along the length of the device. Impedance spectra clearly differentiates between empty, sparse, and confluent microfluidic channels. The system also senses the level of cell confluence between electrode pairs—allowing for the relative quantification of cells in different areas of the microfluidic channel. The system’s electrode layout can easily be incorporated into other devices. Namely, organ-on-a-chip devices, that require the monitoring of precise cell location and confluency levels for understanding tissue function, modeling diseases, and for testing therapeutics.

Abstract Despite COVID-19’s significant morbidity and mortality, considering cost-effectiveness of pharmacologic treatment strategies for hospitalized patients remains critical to support healthcare resource decisions within budgetary constraints. As such, we calculated the cost-effectiveness of using remdesivir and dexamethasone for moderate to severe COVID-19 respiratory infections using the United States health care system as a representative model. A decision analytic model modelled a base case scenario of a 60-year-old patient admitted to hospital with COVID-19. Patients requiring oxygen were considered moderate severity, and patients with severe COVID-19 required intubation with intensive care. Strategies modelled included giving remdesivir to all patients, remdesivir in only moderate and only severe infections, dexamethasone to all patients, dexamethasone in severe infections, remdesivir in moderate/dexamethasone in severe infections, and best supportive care. Data for the model came from the published literature. The time horizon was 1 year; no discounting was performed due to the short duration. The perspective was of the payer in the United States health care system. Supportive care for moderate/severe COVID-19 cost $11,112.98 with 0.7155 quality adjusted life-year (QALY) obtained. Using dexamethasone for all patients was the most-cost effective with an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of $980.84/QALY; all remdesivir strategies were more costly and less effective. Probabilistic sensitivity analyses showed dexamethasone for all patients was most cost-effective in 98.3% of scenarios. Dexamethasone for moderate-severe COVID-19 infections was the most cost-effective strategy and would have minimal budget impact. Based on current data, remdesivir is unlikely to be a cost-effective treatment for COVID-19.

Abstract This study analyzes the swelling behavior of native, unmodified, spherically uniform, monodisperse poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) microparticles in a robust high-throughput manner. This work contributes to the complex narrative of PLGA microparticle behavior and release mechanisms by complementing and extending previously reported studies on intraparticle microenvironment, degradation, and drug release. Microfluidically produced microparticles are incubated under physiological conditions and observed for 50 days to generate a profile of swelling behavior. Microparticles substantially increase in size after 15 days, continue increasing for 30 days achieving size dependent swelling indices between 49 and 83%. Swelling capacity is found to correlate with pH. Our study addresses questions such as onset, duration, swelling index, size dependency, reproducibility, and causal mechanistic forces surrounding swelling. Importantly, this study can serve as the basis for predictive modeling of microparticle behavior and swelling capacity, in addition to providing clues as to the microenvironmental conditions that encapsulated material may experience.

Animal models of disease are valuable resources for investigating pathogenic mechanisms and potential therapeutic interventions. However, for complex disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD), the generation and availability of innumerous distinct animal models present unique challenges to AD researchers and hinder the success of useful therapies. Here, we conducted an in-depth analysis of the 3xTg-AD mouse model of AD across its lifespan to better inform the field of the various pathologies that appear at specific ages, and comment on drift that has occurred in the development of pathology in this line since its development 20 years ago. This modern characterization of the 3xTg-AD model includes an assessment of impairments in long-term potentiation followed by quantification of amyloid beta (Aβ) plaque burden and neurofibrillary tau tangles, biochemical levels of Aβ and tau protein, and neuropathological markers such as gliosis and accumulation of dystrophic neurites. We also present a novel comparison of the 3xTg-AD model with the 5xFAD model using the same deep-phenotyping characterization pipeline and show plasma NfL is strongly driven by plaque burden. The results from these analyses are freely available via the AD Knowledge Portal (https://modeladexplorer.org/). Our work demonstrates the utility of a characterization pipeline that generates robust and standardized information relevant to investigating and comparing disease etiologies of current and future models of AD.

The abundance of literature documenting the impact of racism on health disparities requires additional theoretical, statistical, and conceptual contributions to illustrate how anti-racist interventions can be an important strategy to reduce racial inequities and improve population health. Accountability for Cancer Care through Undoing Racism and Equity (ACCURE) was an NIH-funded intervention that utilized an antiracism lens and community-based participatory research (CBPR) approaches to address Black-White disparities in cancer treatment completion. ACCURE emphasized change at the institutional level of healthcare systems through two primary principles of antiracism organizing: transparency and accountability. ACCURE was successful in eliminating the treatment completion disparity and improved completion rates for breast and lung cancer for all participants in the study. The structural nature of the ACCURE intervention creates an opportunity for applications in other health outcomes, as well as within educational institutions that represent social determinants of health. We are focusing on the maternal healthcare and K-12 education systems in particular because of the dire racial inequities faced by pregnant people and school-aged children. In this article, we hypothesize cross-systems translation of a system-level intervention exploring how key characteristics of ACCURE can be implemented in different institutions. Using core elements of ACCURE (i.e., community partners, milestone tracker, navigator, champion, and racial equity training), we present a framework that extends ACCURE's approach to the maternal healthcare and K-12 school systems. This framework provides practical, evidence-based antiracism strategies that can be applied and evaluated in other systems to address widespread structural inequities.

STRUCTURED Abstract: Background: As clinical care and research in adult congenital heart disease (ACHD) increasingly include a focus on quality of life, hearing and reflecting on our patients’ experiences must be a priority. The objective of this study was to describe how living with this chronic illness has affected the adult lives of patients living with ACHD. Methods: We conducted a qualitative study of 25 participants in which we asked about the impact of ACHD on their quality of life. We used thematic analysis to analyze the interview data and identified themes reflecting patients’ reported experiences. Results: Study participants were a mean age of 38 years (range 21–63 years) and reported good functional status. ACHD was characterized as simple (24%), moderate (32%), or complex (44%). Three major themes arose: 1) impact of ACHD on identity, including perception of “normal,” self-esteem, and motivation; 2) sources of emotional distress; and 3) influence on adult decision-making, including careers and relationships. Conclusion: Living with ACHD impacts important aspects related to self-perceived quality of life. Addressing these concerns is important to providing comprehensive, patient-centered ACHD care.

Summary: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) involves complex secondary injury processes following the primary injury. The secondary injury is often associated with rapid metabolic shifts and impaired brain function immediately after the initial tissue damage. Magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging (MRSI) coupled with hyperpolarization of 13C-labeled substrates provides a unique opportunity to map the metabolic changes in the brain after traumatic injury in real-time without invasive procedures. In this report, we investigated two patients with acute mild TBI (Glasgow coma scale 15) but no anatomical brain injury or hemorrhage. Patients were imaged with hyperpolarized [1-13C]pyruvate MRSI 1 or 6 days after head trauma. Both patients showed significantly reduced bicarbonate (HCO3–) production, and one showed hyperintense lactate production at the injured sites. This study reports the feasibility of imaging altered metabolism using hyperpolarized pyruvate in patients with TBI, demonstrating the translatability and sensitivity of the technology to cerebral metabolic changes after mild TBI.

Purpose. Wide variability persists in the preparation and storage of common anesthetic medications despite the recognition of anesthesia workspace standardization as a national quality improvement priority. Syringe contamination and medication swaps continue to pose significant hazards to patient safety. Methods. We assessed differences in practice related to the availability of commonly prepared anesthetic medications. Using baseline provider surveys (n = 87) and anesthesia workspace audits (n = 80), we designed a custom syringe organization device using 3D printing techniques to serve as a cognitive aid and organizational tool. We iteratively tested and then deployed this device in all 60 operating rooms at a single institution, and then, repeated postintervention surveys (n = 79) and workspace audits (n = 75) one year after introduction. Results. Implementation was associated with significant improvements in provider-reported medication availability during coverage and handoff situations (43.7% versus 76.2% reporting 95% confidence preintervention versus postintervention, p

The complement system has demonstrated roles in regulating tumor growth, although these may differ between tumor types. The current study used two murine breast cancer models (EMT6 and 4T1) to investigate whether pharmacological targeting of receptors for complement proteins C3a (C3aR) and C5a (C5aR1) is protective in murine breast cancer models. In contrast to prior studies in other tumor models, treatment with the selective C5aR1 antagonist PMX53 had no effect on tumor growth. However, treatment of mice with a dual C3aR/C5aR1 agonist (YSFKPMPLaR) significantly slowed mammary tumor development and progression. Examination of receptor expression by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) analysis showed very low levels of mRNA expression for either C3aR or C5aR1 by EMT6 or 4T1 mammary carcinoma cell lines compared with the J774 macrophage line or bone marrow-derived macrophages. Moreover, flow cytometric analysis found no evidence of C3aR or C5aR1 protein expression by either EMT6 or 4T1 cells, leading us to hypothesize that the tumor inhibitory effects of the dual agonist are indirect, possibly via regulation of the anti-tumor immune response. This hypothesis was supported by flow cytometric analysis of tumor infiltrating leukocyte populations, which demonstrated a significant increase in T lymphocytes in mice treated with the C3aR/C5aR1 agonist. These results support an immunoregulatory role for complement receptors in primary murine mammary carcinoma models. They also suggest that complement activation peptides can influence the anti-tumor response in different ways depending on the cancer type, the host immune response to the tumor and levels of endogenous complement activation within the tumor microenvironment.

National movements, including Black Lives Matter and Abolish Greek Life, have resurfaced attention to racial dynamics within sorority and fraternity life (SFL) communities. Often, these discussions frame SFL as a homogenous entity and ignore crucial distinctions among organizations, such as the fact that historically white sororities and fraternities were not originally created to serve Students of Color, while culturally based sororities and fraternities were intentionally created to center and celebrate People of Color. Furthermore, some historically white sororities and fraternities have been more intentional than others in implementing race-conscious initiatives and addressing their exclusionary roots. However, research has yet to explore ways (inter)national sorority and fraternity leadership across organizational types attend to matters of race and racism in organizational messaging. This qualitative critical discourse analysis explored these dynamics, examining social media messaging on topics connected to race/ethnicity by (inter)national SFL organizations. Using data drawn from 37 culturally based and historically white sororities and fraternities over a four-year span, this study examined racial messaging using critical race theory.

This qualitative narrative inquiry examined the professional preparation of sorority and fraternity (SFL) professionals working with culturally-based sororities and fraternities. Using narratives drawn from 15 professionals and guided by our conceptual framework, we unpacked important findings in terms of ways participants referenced their limited educational experiences, how they navigated learning within the confines of their professional roles, and distinctions in the value that professional associations and networks offered them. Implications for research and practice are discussed. [Note: The issue number (2) displayed on the first page of the PDF is incorrect. The correct issue number for this article is n3.]

Here we present new applications for silicon nitride (SiN) membranes to evaluate biological processes. We determined that 50-nanometer thin films of SiN produced from silicon wafers were sufficiently durable to bind active rotavirus assemblies. A direct comparison of SiN microchips with conventional carbon support films indicated that SiN performs equivalent to the traditional substrate to prepare samples for Electron Microscopy (EM) imaging. Likewise, SiN films coated with Ni-NTA affinity layers concentrated rotavirus particles similarly to affinity-coated carbon films. However, affinity-coated SiN membranes outperformed glow-discharged conventional carbon films 5-fold as indicated by the number of viral particles quantified in EM images. In addition, we were able to recapitulate viral uncoating and transcription mechanisms directed onto the microchip surfaces. EM images of these processes revealed the production of RNA transcripts emerging from active rotavirus complexes. These results were confirmed by the functional incorporation of radiolabeled nucleotides into the nascent RNA transcripts. Collectively, we demonstrate new uses for SiN membranes to perform molecular surveillance on life processes in real-time.

Spurred by the creation of potential modified risk tobacco products, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) commissioned the Institute of Medicine (IOM) to assess the science base for tobacco "harm reduction," leading to the 2001 IOM report Clearing the Smoke. The objective of this study was to determine how the tobacco industry organized to try to influence the IOM committee that prepared the report.We analyzed previously secret tobacco industry documents in the University of California, San Francisco Legacy Tobacco Documents Library, and IOM public access files. (A limitation of this method includes the fact that the tobacco companies have withheld some possibly relevant documents.) Tobacco companies considered the IOM report to have high-stakes regulatory implications. They developed and implemented strategies with consulting and legal firms to access the IOM proceedings. When the IOM study staff invited the companies to provide information on exposure and disease markers, clinical trial design for safety and efficacy, and implications for initiation and cessation, tobacco company lawyers, consultants, and in-house regulatory staff shaped presentations from company scientists. Although the available evidence does not permit drawing cause-and-effect conclusions, and the IOM may have come to the same conclusions without the influence of the tobacco industry, the companies were pleased with the final report, particularly the recommendations for a tiered claims system (with separate tiers for exposure and risk, which they believed would ease the process of qualifying for a claim) and license to sell products comparable to existing conventional cigarettes ("substantial equivalence") without prior regulatory approval. Some principles from the IOM report, including elements of the substantial equivalence recommendation, appear in the 2009 Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act.Tobacco companies strategically interacted with the IOM to win several favored scientific and regulatory recommendations.

This constructivist grounded theory study examined how Queer Men of Color in culturally-based fraternities made meaning of their masculinities. Through two intensive interviews and a reflection journal activity, nine participants shared their constructions of masculinities before joining a culturally-based organization and how their thinking changed after affiliating with a fraternity. Specifically, Queer Men of Color first spoke to pre-collegiate experiences that largely shaped their views of masculinities. Next, participants discussed how culturally-based fraternities both reinforced hegemonic masculinity, as well as opened up the possibilities to construct a more productive view of masculinities. Implications are then offered for chapter advisors, fraternity and sorority life, and national organizations.

Culturally based sororities emerged on college campuses in order to combat the race-based discrimination faced in historically white sororities. Despite their historic mission to attend to racial issues, questions remain of how culturally based sororities attend to other identities and forms of oppression in these spaces. Centering the stories of 20 Queer Women of Color, this critical narrative inquiry study sought to understand how members of culturally based sororities used gender-based rhetoric to regulate sexual minorities in these spaces. Findings revealed how organizations constructed what it meant to be a Woman of Color, how they used gendered stereotypes and sexuality in recruitment/selection, and the differences that existed between chapters and national organizations. Implications for future research and practice are then offered.

Animal models of disease are valuable resources for investigating pathogenic mechanisms and potential therapeutic interventions. However, for complex disorders such as Alzheimer's disease (AD), the generation and availability of innumerous distinct animal models present unique challenges to AD researchers and hinder the success of useful therapies. Here, we conducted an in-depth analysis of the 3xTg-AD mouse model of AD across its lifespan to better inform the field of the various pathologies that appear at specific ages, and comment on drift that has occurred in the development of pathology in this line since its development 20 years ago. This modern characterization of the 3xTg-AD model includes an assessment of impairments in long-term potentiation followed by quantification of amyloid beta (Aβ) plaque burden and neurofibrillary tau tangles, biochemical levels of Aβ and tau protein, and neuropathological markers such as gliosis and accumulation of dystrophic neurites. We also present a novel comparison of the 3xTg-AD model with the 5xFAD model using the same deep-phenotyping characterization pipeline and show plasma NfL is strongly driven by plaque burden. The results from these analyses are freely available via the AD Knowledge Portal (https://modeladexplorer.org/). Our work demonstrates the utility of a characterization pipeline that generates robust and standardized information relevant to investigating and comparing disease etiologies of current and future models of AD.

Background Pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH) and lactate dehydrogenase are essential for adenosine triphosphate production in skeletal muscle. At the onset of exercise, oxidation of glucose and glycogen is quickly enabled by dephosphorylation of PDH. However, direct measurement of PDH flux in exercising human muscle is daunting, and the net effect of covalent modification and other control mechanisms on PDH flux has not been assessed. Purpose To demonstrate the feasibility of assessing PDH activation and changes in pyruvate metabolism in human skeletal muscle after the onset of exercise using carbon 13 (13C) MRI with hyperpolarized (HP) [1-13C]-pyruvate. Materials and Methods For this prospective study, sedentary adults in good general health (mean age, 42 years ± 18 [standard deviation]; six men) were recruited from August 2019 to September 2020. Subgroups of the participants were injected with HP [1-13C]-pyruvate at resting, during plantar flexion exercise, or 5 minutes after exercise during recovery. In parallel, hydrogen 1 arterial spin labeling MRI was performed to estimate muscle tissue perfusion. An unpaired t test was used for comparing 13C data among the states. Results At rest, HP [1-13C]-lactate and [1-13C]-alanine were detected in calf muscle, but [13C]-bicarbonate was negligible. During moderate flexion-extension exercise, total HP 13C signals (tC) increased 2.8-fold because of increased muscle perfusion (P = .005), and HP [1-13C]-lactate-to-tC ratio increased 1.7-fold (P = .04). HP [13C]-bicarbonate-to-tC ratio increased 8.4-fold (P = .002) and returned to the resting level 5 minutes after exercise, whereas the lactate-to-tC ratio continued to increase to 2.3-fold as compared with resting (P = .008). Conclusion Lactate and bicarbonate production from hyperpolarized (HP) [1-carbon 13 {13C}]-pyruvate in skeletal muscle rapidly reflected the onset and the termination of exercise. These results demonstrate the feasibility of imaging skeletal muscle metabolism using HP [1-13C]-pyruvate MRI and the sensitivity of in vivo pyruvate metabolism to exercise states. © RSNA, 2021 Online supplemental material is available for this article.

This study analyzes the swelling behavior of native, unmodified, spherically uniform, monodisperse poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) microparticles in a robust high-throughput manner. This work contributes to the complex narrative of PLGA microparticle behavior and release mechanisms by complementing and extending previously reported studies on intraparticle microenvironment, degradation, and drug release. Microfluidically produced microparticles are incubated under physiological conditions and observed for 50 days to generate a profile of swelling behavior. Microparticles substantially increase in size after 15 days, continue increasing for 30 days achieving size dependent swelling indices between 49 and 83%. Swelling capacity is found to correlate with pH. Our study addresses questions such as onset, duration, swelling index, size dependency, reproducibility, and causal mechanistic forces surrounding swelling. Importantly, this study can serve as the basis for predictive modeling of microparticle behavior and swelling capacity, in addition to providing clues as to the microenvironmental conditions that encapsulated material may experience.