Changes

avid, keen, anxious, athirst mean moved by a [[strong]] and urgent [[desire]] or interest. eager implies ardor and [[enthusiasm]] and sometimes impatience at delay or restraint <eager to get started>. avid adds to eager the implication of insatiability or greed <avid for new thrills>. keen suggests [[intensity]] of interest and quick [[responsive]]ness in [[action]] <keen on the latest [[fashion]]s>. anxious emphasizes [[fear]] of frustration or failure or disappointment <anxious not to make a social blunder>. athirst stresses yearning but not necessarily readiness for [[action]] <athirst for [[adventure]]>.

avid, keen, anxious, athirst mean moved by a [[strong]] and urgent [[desire]] or interest. eager implies ardor and [[enthusiasm]] and sometimes impatience at delay or restraint <eager to get started>. avid adds to eager the implication of insatiability or greed <avid for new thrills>. keen suggests [[intensity]] of interest and quick [[responsive]]ness in [[action]] <keen on the latest [[fashion]]s>. anxious emphasizes [[fear]] of frustration or failure or disappointment <anxious not to make a social blunder>. athirst stresses yearning but not necessarily readiness for [[action]] <athirst for [[adventure]]>.

==Hormesis==

==Hormesis==

''Hormesis'' (from Greek hórmēsis "rapid [[motion]], '''eagerness'''," from ancient [[Greek]] hormáein "to set in [[motion]], impel, urge on") is the term for generally-favorable [[biological]] [[responses]] to low exposures to toxins and other [[stress]]ors. A pollutant or toxin showing hormesis thus has the opposite [[effect]] in small doses as in large doses. A related concept is [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mithridatism Mithridatism], which refers to the willful [[exposure]] to toxins in an attempt to develop [http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Immunity immunity] against them.

''Hormesis'' (from Greek hórmēsis "rapid [[motion]], '''eagerness'''," from ancient [[Greek]] hormáein "to set in [[motion]], impel, urge on") is the term for generally-favorable [[biological]] [[responses]] to low exposures to toxins and other [[stress]]ors. A pollutant or toxin showing hormesis thus has the opposite [[effect]] in small doses as in large doses. A related concept is [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mithridatism Mithridatism], which refers to the willful [[exposure]] to toxins in an attempt to develop [http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Immunity immunity] against them.

In toxicology, hormesis is a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dose_response dose response] [[phenomenon]] characterized by a low dose stimulation, high dose inhibition, resulting in either a J-shaped or an inverted U-shaped dose response. Such environmental factors that would seem to produce positive responses have also been termed “[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eustress eustress]”.

In toxicology, hormesis is a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dose_response dose response] [[phenomenon]] characterized by a low dose stimulation, high dose inhibition, resulting in either a J-shaped or an inverted U-shaped dose response. Such environmental factors that would seem to produce positive responses have also been termed “[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eustress eustress]”.

However, whether hormesis is common or important is [[controversial]]. At least one [[peer]]-reviewed [[article]] accepts the idea, claiming that over 600 substances show a U-shaped [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dose-response dose-response] [[relationship]]. Calaberese and Baldwin wrote:

However, whether hormesis is common or important is [[controversial]]. At least one [[peer]]-reviewed [[article]] accepts the idea, claiming that over 600 substances show a U-shaped [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dose-response dose-response] [[relationship]]. Calaberese and Baldwin wrote: