The Arabidopsis thaliana genome encodes several families of polypeptides that are known or predicted to participate in the formation of the SCF-class of E3-ubiquitin ligase complexes. One such gene family encodes the Skp1-like class of polypeptide subunits, where 21 genes have been identified and are known to be expressed in Arabidopsis. Phylogenetic analysis based on deduced polypeptide sequence organizes the family of ASK proteins into 7 clades. The complexity of the ASK gene family, together with the close structural similarity among its members raises the prospect of significant functional redundancy among select paralogs. We have assessed the potential for functional redundancy within the ASK gene family by analyzing an expanded set of criteria that define redundancy with higher resolution. The criteria used include quantitative expression of locus-specific transcripts using qRT-PCR, assessment of the sub-cellular localization of individual ASK:YFP auto-fluorescent fusion proteins expressed in vivo as well as the in planta assessment of individual ASK-F-Box protein interactions using bimolecular fluorescent complementation techniques in combination with confocal imagery in live cells. The results indicate significant functional divergence of steady state transcript abundance and protein-protein interaction specificity involving ASK proteins in a pattern that is poorly predicted by sequence-based phylogeny. The information emerging from this and related studies will prove important for defining the functional intersection of expression, localization and gene product interaction that better predicts the formation of discrete SCF complexes, as a prelude to investigating their molecular mode of action.

This study was designed to examine messages about manhood revealed by televised professional wrestling through content analyses of 118 World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) programs and pay-per-view events. Specifically, messages concerning masculinity and the way in which proof and assertion of manhood are accomplished were investigated and compared to the culturally ideal version of masculinity. Findings revealed that the messages imparted by the WWE about manhood support the dominant hegemonic form of masculinity, which emphasizes aggression and violence, emotional restraint, and success and achievement. Popular culture messages about manhood that emphasize hegemonic masculinity have implications for alternative expressions of masculinity and potential gender role socialization, which are discussed. Keywords Masculinity . Professional wrestling . Popular cultureGender is a cultural creation (Butler, 1995;Gilmore, 1990;Kimmel, 1990) that is often constructed by and represented through popular culture media (Gauntlett, 2002) such as advertisements (Andersen, 1997;Basow, 1992;Beal, 1994;Witt, 2000), music (Andersen, 1997;Witt, 2000), sports (Hanke, 1998;Messner, Hunt, & Dunbar, 2001), and entertainment television (Andersen, 1997;Spangler, 1992;Witt, 2000). Indeed, Andersen (1997) asserted that the mass media, in its various forms, is loaded with gendered presentations, and Gauntlett (2002) has maintained that the media are responsible for disseminating numerous messages about gender, including acceptable forms of femininity and masculinity.It has been noted that television, in particular, is a powerful source of gender representations. As Spangler (1992) has argued, television provides models of appropriate gender roles and behavior, and effectively constructs ideals of femininity and masculinity. Similarly, Witt (2000) contended that television, through both entertainment programming and advertisements, sends uniquely compelling messages about socially approved roles for boys and girls and men and women.Research concerning gender and popular culture media has tended to focus on women rather than men (Durkin, 1985;Good, Porter, & Dillon, 2002;Scharrer, 2001;Vigorito & Curry, 1998). Vigorito and Curry (1998), for example, reported that only recently has attention been given to men and masculinity in media studies of gender portrayals. Durkin (1985) also contended that most research on gender in the media has focused on the construction of femininity; masculinity has received only a cursory nod by default. Nevertheless, Hanke (1998) pointed to more recent media studies that focus on popular representations of masculinity in film, television, mediated sports, advertising, and popular music.Studies reveal that gender stereotypes abound in popular culture media representations (Andersen, 1997;Anderson & Hamilton, 2005;Basow, 1992;Dietz, 1998;Ditsworth, 2001;Evans & Davies, 2000;Ganahl, Prinsen, & Netzley, 2003;Gooden A. M. & Gooden M. A., 2001;Ogletree, Martinez, Turner, & Mason, 2004;Seidman, 1999;Towbin, Had...

Television 's long fascination with crime makes a study of contempora y justice shows imperative. An analysis of three contempora yprime-timejustice shows (Law and Order, The Practice and NYPD Blue) was undertaken to discover the way in which crime and its particQants are presented by entertainment television. The findings revealed an overrepresentation of violent crime and distorted images of offenders and victims. These findings not only confirm research findings from previous studies ofprime-time crime shows, but suggest that contempora y justice shows have not become any more sophisticated in presenting accurate depictions of crime than their crime show predecessors. Clearly, such media distortions of crime and its participants have important implications for viewer knowledge and understanding, which are discussed.

Conceptual modeling is proposed as a set of analytic procedures that further the grounded theory approach to theory discovery and development. The compatihility between groundcd theory and conceptual modeling is discusscd, and data from a short ethnographic study of a hair salon are used to illustrate the roles of conceptual modeling in the early stages of theory discovery.The major focus of conceptual modeling i s on three simultaneous, explicit, continuing respecification dialogues: the nature and dimensioiialization of concepts, the relative importance of concepts, and the nature of relationships among concepts. Wc argue that this focus facilitates the discovery and development of conceptually dense theories. ~~ ~~~ ~ ~~ ~ ~ Dirccl all correspondence to David Maines,

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