Poll (livestock)

The poll is a name of the part of an animal's head, alternatively referencing a point immediately behind or right between the ears. This area of the anatomy is of particular significance for the horse.

Specifically, the "poll" refers to the occipital protrusion at the back of the skull. However, in common usage, many horsemen refer to the poll joint, between the atlas (C1) and skull as the poll. The area at the joint has a slight depression, and is a sensitive location. Thus, because the crownpiece of a bridle passes over the poll joint, a rider can indirectly exert pressure on the horse's poll by means of the reins, bit, and bridle.

Importance of the poll in riding

The poll is especially important in riding, as correct flexion at the poll joint is a sign that the horse is properly on the bit. Over-flexion, with the poll lowered and the neck bent at a cervical vertebra farther down the neck, is usually a sign that the horse is either evading contact or that the rider is trying to pull the horse onto the bit, rather than correctly ride from behind. In classical dressage, the poll should always be the highest point on the horse when the horse is on the bit. The horse is always relaxed over the poll, giving it a relaxed look when going about its job. When, for example, the third vertebra (C3) is the highest point on the neck, rather than the poll, it is a clear sign of incorrect work.

DNA polymerase lambda

DNA polymerase lambda, also known as POLL, is a protein that, in humans, is encoded by the POLLA gene.

Function

Pol λ is a member of the X family of DNA polymerases. It is thought to resynthesize missing nucleotides during non-homologous end joining, a pathway of DNA double-strand break repair. The crystal structure of pol λ shows that, unlike the DNA polymerases that catalyze DNA replication, pol λ makes extensive contacts with the 5' phosphate of the downstream DNA strand. This allows the polymerase to stabilize the two ends of a double-strand break and explains how pol λ is uniquely suited for a role in non-homologous end joining. In addition to NHEJ, pol λ can also participate in base excision repair, where it provides backup activity in the absence of Pol β.

Besides its catalytic polymerase domain, pol λ has an 8 kDa domain and a BRCT domain. The 8 kDa domain has lyase activity that can remove a 5' deoxyribosephosphate group from the end of a strand break. The BRCT domain is a phosphopeptide binding domain that is common among DNA repair proteins and is likely involved in coordinating protein-protein interactions. Pol λ is structurally and functionally related to pol μ, another member of the X family that also participates in non-homologous end joining. Like pol μ, pol λ participates in V(D)J recombination, the process by which B-cell and T-cell receptor diversity is generated in the vertebrate immune system. Whereas pol μ is important for heavy-chain rearrangements, pol λ seems to be more important for light-chain rearrangements. The yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae has a single homolog of both pol λ and pol μ called Pol4.

Mas

Mas, Más or MAS may refer to:

Arts

Computing

Mas (Provençal farmhouse)

A mas (Occitan: [ˈmas], Catalan: [ˈmas]) is a traditional farmhouse found in the Provence and Midi regions of France, as well as in Catalonia (Spain) where it is also named masia (in Catalan) or masía (in Spanish).

A mas was a largely self-sufficient economic unit, which could produce its own fruit, vegetables, grain, milk, meat and even silkworms. It was constructed of local stone, with the kitchen and room for animals on the ground floor, and bedrooms, storage places for food and often a room for raising silkworms on the upper floor. Not every farmhouse in Provence is a mas. A mas was distinct from the other traditional kind of house in Provence, the bastide, which was the home of a wealthy family.

The mas of Provence and Catalonia always faces to the south to offer protection against the mistral wind coming from the north. And because of the mistral, there are no windows facing north, while on all the other sides, windows are narrow to protect against the heat of summer and the cold of winter. A mas is almost always rectangular, with two sloping roofs. The mas found in the mountains and in the Camargue sometimes has a more complex shape.

Mas (restaurant)

Mas (farmhouse) (pronounced as either "mah" or "mahs") is a New American and French restaurant located at 39 Downing Street (between Bedford Street and Varick Street) in the West Village in Manhattan, in New York City. It was established in 2004.

In old Provençal dialect, "mas" means a traditional stone farmhouse, and the restaurant emulates that theme.

Menu

The menu is New American and French cuisine, and largely organic. It includes items such as braised ribs, duck breast, organic hen, grilled Portuguese sardines, bigeye tuna, and wild nettle risotto.

The chef is Galen Zamarra, who trained in France and was the chef de cuisine at Bouley Bakery, and was named the 2001 "rising star chef of the year" by the James Beard Foundation.

Restaurant

The intimate, romantic, luxurious little restaurant has an air of urban sophistication. and is entered through an ornate front oak door. Mas has old wood beams, stone pillars, and a sandstone bar. The wine cellar is enclosed in glass, and can be seen from the small, somewhat cramped, attractively appointed dining room. Diners' attire ranges from jeans and T-shirts to suits. The restaurant can seat 55 diners.