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Keywords: coparenting communication; hybrid masculinity; responsible fatherhood Abstract Objective The objective of this study was to examine how involvement in a responsible fatherhood program affected participants' perceptions of masculinity and coparenting communication. Background Responsible fatherhood programs emphasize the importance of being a nurturing and emotionally expressive father, challenging norms of hegemonic masculinity. This study examined how fathers described this hybrid masculinity and its impact on coparenting communication. Method Thematic analysis of 37 semistructured in-depth interviews with a racially diverse sample of men enrolled in a responsible fatherhood program was conducted. Multiple investigators, researcher reflexivity, and an audit trail enhanced credibility, transferability, and dependability of the findings. Results Fathers reported three types of communication with the mothers of their child(ren): confrontation, detachment, and engaged perspective-taking. The latter approaches were learned in the fatherhood program. Fathers described several beliefs and skills affecting these approaches, including the importance of fatherhood, modeling effective communication, controlling one's emotions, and listening and speaking respectfully. Conclusion Participation in the fatherhood program was useful in deescalating negative interactions and improving communication; however, beliefs about essential gender differences permeated participants' narratives. Implications Future programming for fathers should include curricula and peer mentoring to challenge norms of traditional masculinity and encourage multiple forms of egalitarian coparenting communication. Article Note: Funding Information Funding for this project was provided by the Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (Grant No. 90FK0104). Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. We thank the entire staff at the Suffolk County Fatherhood Initiative for their dedicated service to fathers and families. Byline: Amy C. Hammock, Alexander Jack McKillop, R. Anna Hayward, Ekta Kohli, Melissa L. Bessaha

Mutations in cystic fibrosis transmembrane regulator (CFTR), a chloride channel in the apical membranes of secretory epithelial cells, underlie the fatal genetic disorder cystic fibrosis. Certain CFTR mutations, including the common mutation [DELTA]F508-CFTR, result in greatly decreased levels of active CFTR at the apical membrane. Direct interactions between CFTR and the cytoskeletal adaptors filamin-A (FlnA) and [Na.sup.+]/[H.sup.+] exchanger regulatory factor 1 (NHERFI) stabilize the expression and localization of CFTR at the plasma membrane. The scaffold protein receptor for activated C kinase 1 (RACK1) also stabilizes CFTR surface expression; however, RACK1 does not interact directly with CFTR and its mechanism of action is unknown. In the present study, we report that RACK1 interacts directly with FlnA in vitro and in a Calu-3 airway epithelial cell line. We mapped the interaction between RACK1 and FlnA to the WD4 and WD6 repeats of RACK1 and to a segment of the large rod domain of FlnA, consisting of immunoglobulin-like repeats 8-15. Disruption of the RACK1-FlnA interaction causes a reduction in CFTR surface levels. Our results suggest that a novel RACK1-FlnA interaction is an important regulator of CFTR surface localization. cystic fibrosis transmembrane regulator; WD repeat; [beta]-propeller; Ig repeat doi: 10.1152/ajpcell.00026.2013