A community is resilient if it is able to “bounce forward” after an adverse event. Community resilience is generally considered a process that is indicated by community adaptation following a disaster or crisis. In this article, we employ media and communication perspectives (communication ecology, public relations, and strategic communication) to review the community resilience literature and propose a revised community resilience model. Our proposed model includes four components: communication systems and resources, community relationships, strategic communication processes, and community attributes. Each of these components includes several elements that are described. Implications for research and practice are discussed.

Tyrosine-derived polycarbonates are a new class of degradable polymers that have possible biomedical applications. In this study, the effect of the two most common sterilization techniques, ethylene oxide and g-irradiation (0.3, 1.1, 3.9, 6.4, 10.6 Mrad), was evaluated for a family of four structurally related tyrosine-derived polycarbonates and for poly(L-lactic acid) (PLLA). The four polycarbonates were poly(DTE carbonate), poly(DTB carbonate), poly(DTH carbonate), and poly(DTO carbonate) and differed only in the length of the pendent chain. Ethylene oxide exposure had little effect on molecular weight, surface composition, mechanical properties, or degradation rate of all test polymers except for poly(DTO carbonate). Poly(DTO carbonate) was unique since following ethylene oxide exposure it degraded faster than did the nonsterilized control. g-Irradiated tyrosine-derived polycarbonates retained over 81% of their initial molecular weight when exposed to a clinically relevant dose of 3.9 Mrad and retained still 58% of the initial molecular weight when exposed to the highest test dose of 10.6 Mrad. No changes in surface composition and only slight changes in yield strength and the Young's modulus were detected for any of the tyrosinederived polycarbonates following g-irradiation. In vitro, irradiated films of poly(DTE carbonate), poly(DTB carbonate), and poly(DTH carbonate) degraded at approximately the same rate as did the nonsterilized films regardless of irradiation dose. Only poly(DTO carbonate), irradiated at high doses, degraded faster than did the control. Medical-grade PLLA was tested under identical conditions. Ethylene oxide exposure of PLLA did not affect the molecular weight, surface composition, mechanical properties, or in vitro degradation rate. However, upon irradiation at 10.6 Mrad, PLLA retained only 29% of its initial molecular weight; a dose of 3.9 Mrad resulted in retention of 49% of the initial molecular weight. In correspondence with earlier publications, irradiation of PLLA induced significant losses in the Young's modulus, % strain at break, and changes in the postirradiation rate of degradation in some specimens. Compared to PLLA, tyrosine-derived polycarbonates are significantly more stable to girradiation and can be sterilized by conventional g-sterilization techniques.

Context End-stage renal disease (ESRD) is more common among Blacks, but Blacks are less likely to receive a live donor kidney transplant (LDKT). Objective The objective of this study is to identify barriers and coping mechanisms that Black LDKT recipients and donors experienced while receiving or donating a kidney. Design A qualitative study was conducted using structured interviews. Thematic analysis was used for data interpretation. Participants All 20 participants identified as Black, with two participants identifying themselves as multiracial. The mean age for the 14 recipients was 60, and the average age for the 6 living donors was 47. Results Themes emerging from the data suggest both recipients and donors faced barriers in the LDKT experience. Recipients faced barriers associated with their denial and avoidance of the severity of their ESRD, their desire to maintain the privacy of their health status, and their refusal to approach potential donors. Donors encountered negative responses from others about the donors’ desire to donate and the initial refusal of recipients to accept a LDKT offer. Recipients identified faith as a coping mechanism, while donors identified normalization of donation as their method of coping. Various types of social support helped donors and recipients navigate the transplant process. Conclusion Black LDKT recipients and donors must overcome barriers prior to receiving or donating a kidney. Most of these barriers arise from communication and interactions with others that are either lacking or undesirable. Future interventions to promote LDKT among Blacks may benefit by specifically targeting these barriers.

Context: The Presence for Racial Justice project leverages the Stanford Presence 5 framework to present anti-racism communication practices that promote clinician trust-building for Black patients in primary care. With the racial/ethnic disparities in COVID-19 infection rates, an assessment of Black patients' perspectives around COVID-19 care is required to promote health equity in current and future health crises. Objective: To compile clinician communication strategies for promotion of patient understanding and agency concerning Black patients' perceptions of COVID-19 vaccine, treatment and testing. Study design: Qualitative study employing inductive and deductive thematic analysis. Setting: Four primary care clinics primarily serving Black patients in Oakland, CA; Rochester, NY; Leeds, AL; and Memphis, TN. Population Studied: 37 Black patients, recruited through convenience sampling by their primary care clinician for 45-minute semi-structured audio-recorded interviews. Outcome Measures: Emergent themes around Black patient perceptions and motivations for seeking/delaying COVID-19 vaccine, treatment, and testing, and their ideal medical guidance on COVID-19 care. Results: Due to historic mistreatment of Black patients within the healthcare system, medicine, and research, there is a high prevalence of mistrust amongst the Black patient interviewees towards the safety, efficacy, and equitable distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine compared to existing vaccines. Patients feared racial discriminatory treatment and intended to wait for the general population, authority figures, and White patients to receive the vaccine first. Many patients believed personal protective behaviors (e.g., mask wearing, staying home, taking supplements) would be more effective than receiving the COVID-19 vaccine. They expressed a preference for receiving COVID-19 medical care in the comfort of their homes due to high costs and risks of maltreatment, death, and loneliness. Conclusion: Black patients hinged their vaccination decisions on having enough time to observe vaccine rollout and discussion with their clinicians. Relating new medical interventions (ie., COVID-19 vaccine) to accept medical approaches (ie., Flu vaccine) and being aware of historical distrust in medicine can inform clinician efforts to empower and provide excellent care for Black patients moving forward.

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