Finalist for the Pulitzer Prize Winner of the California Book Award in Poetry Three kinetically distilled long poems by the singular American poet who “transfigures ‘thought’ into a weave of lexical magic” (Philip Lamantia) “The poet is endemic with life itself,” Will Alexander once said, and in this searing pas de trois, Refractive Africa: Ballet of the Forgotten, he has exemplified this vital candescence with a transpersonal amplification worthy of the Cambrian explosion. “This being the ballet of the forgotten,” he writes as diasporic witness, “of refracted boundary points as venom.” The volume’s opening poem pays homage to the innovative Nigerian-Yoruban author Amos Tutuola; it ends with an encomium to the modernist Malagasy poet Jean-Joseph Rabearivelo—two writers whose luminous art suffered “colonial wrath through refraction.” A tribute to the Congo forms the bridge and brisé vole of the book: the Congo as “charged aural colony” and “primal interconnection,” a “subliminal psychic force” with a colonial and postcolonial history dominated by the Occident. Will Alexander’s improvisatory cosmicity pushes poetic language to the point of most resistance—incantatory and swirling with magical laterality and recovery.

For decades, Africa was falling apart. But now it is coming together, and Africans are achieving greatness. Despite the advances, though, the twenty-first century brings challenges to match each and every major opportunity. In Things Come Together, Robert Rotberg brings all of contemporary Africa into a single volume, extolling the successes and explaining the struggles. Rotberg is one of the world's foremost authorities on African politics and society, and in this book he synthesizes his knowledge of the continent into a concise overview of the current state of Africa and where it is likely headed. To that end, Rotberg considers Africa's myriad peoples. The continent is currently experiencing explosive population growth and rapid urbanization. How well are African states managing this epochal shift? He looks at how Africa's nations are governed, ranging from states with autocratic kleptocrats to democratized regimes that have made progress in achieving economic growth and battling corruption. He then turns to African economies, looking at growth levels, productivity, and persistent corruption. He concludes by filling in the picture, covering the effects of war, health care, wildlife management, varieties of religious belief, education, technology diffusion, and the character of both city and village life in this ever-evolving region. Throughout this sweeping work, Rotberg deftly moves readers across the continent, from Nigeria to South Africa, from Kenya to Senegal, to name a few. While there are undeniable cross-continental commonalities related to governance, demographics, and economic performance, he shows the unique variations of who and what is African. For anyone interested in reading a comprehensive yet pithy synthesis of a vast region possessing the world's fastest-growing population, this book is the ideal introduction.

At some point in their careers, many health professionals and students wish to engage in overseas work. Learning from other systems, people and cultures is invaluable and in some cases life changing. This book is a unique resource that offers necessary insights into making the most of the experience, from pre-departure training through to return orientation. It provides information on navigating the legalities and bureaucracies of international medical training and gives insights into cultural and language competencies, including how to be ethical and deferential in the exchange of situational knowledge. Preparing for International Health Experiences is a must-read for any healthcare student considering volunteering, doing mission or practical work abroad. It covers specific medical professions from paediatrics to surgery, and allied disciplines such as dentistry and nursing. Its practical tips and consideration of ethical issues will be valued by readers of different levels and experience.

The rapid growth of gemological sciences and mineralogy demands a dictionary such as this for gemologists, mineralogists, geologists, jewel dealers, industry and hobbyists. With some 16,000 comprehensive definitions, supplemented by more than 250 diagrams and figures, this is a one-stop reference to any matter dealing with gems and gemology.

This unique book will provide readers with an understanding of innovative models of delivering both primary and secondary eye care, focusing not just on providing quality care itself, but on best practices to provide and strengthen comprehensive eye care services. A wide variety of conditions will be addressed in Innovative Approaches in the Delivery of Primary and Secondary Eye Care, including childhood blindness, cataract, diabetic retinopathy, age related macular degeneration, and refractive errors. Detailed descriptions of various models are presented for each condition, which are then followed by a discussion for incorporating integrated eye care services; highlighting the importance of health system approach in comprehensive eye care. Finally, this book provides detailed strategies to address the current practical challenges related to human resources in eye care, and methods to ensure financial sustainability in the delivery of comprehensive care. Each chapter is illustrated for understanding and clarity, and provides easy-to-read tables to further enrich the text. Covering existing models of delivering care, with a look to the future, Innovative Approaches in the Delivery of Primary and Secondary Eye Care is designed for practicing ophthalmologists, residents, public health specialists and all other affiliated professionals dedicated to strengthening avenues of integrated, comprehensive eye care.

This unique book is a comprehensive coverage of the epidemiology of the world's major blinding eye diseases, written by internationally acclaimed experts in each field. Edited by world-renowned epidemiologists and ophthalmologists, the chapters on each leading cause of blindness describe its biology, epidemiology, risk factors, clinical trials, possibilities for prevention, and new research avenues. New chapters include Research Synthesis, Epidemiology of Dry Eye Disease, and Epidemiology of Uveitis, as well as programme issues for reaching the goal of eliminating avoidable blindness by 2020.This book is essential for any eye care practitioner interested in the causation or prevention of disease, and should be part of any public health discipline's library with a focus on improving eye health worldwide.

Children living with disabilities face hardships of many kinds that make it impossible for them to access quality education in the same way as their peers in the schooling system. All children are entitled to quality education and a supportive school environment that allows them to develop to their full potential irrespective of their disabilities. However, different factors make it difficult for many learners who live with disabilities to access, participate, and succeed in the schooling system. The Handbook of Research on Shifting Paradigms of Disabilities in the Schooling System focuses on the global trends in education that require the total eradication of every form of impediment in the process of accessing quality education and lifelong learning for people living with disabilities. Rooted in the philosophy of equal rights, human dignity, and social justice, access to quality education for all has led to the current drive for inclusive education. Covering topics such as inclusive schooling systems, visual impairments, and emotional disabilities, this major reference work is an essential resource for students and faculty of higher education, administrators of both K-12 and higher education, government officials, policymakers, non-profit organizations, researchers, and academicians.

Section 1. Epidemiology and risk factors. ch. 1.1. Epidemiology of myopia and myopic shift in refraction / Barbara E.K. Klein. ch. 1.2. Environmental risk factors for myopia in children / Wilson C.J. Low, Tien-Yin Wong and Seang-Mei Saw. ch. 1.3. Gene-environment interactions in the aetiology of myopia / Ian G. Morgan and Kathryn A. Rose. ch. 1.4. The economics of myopia / Marcus C.C. Lim and Kevin D. Frick -- Section 2. Clinical studies and pathologic myopia. ch. 2.1. Quality of life and myopia / Ecosse L. Lamoureux and Hwee-Bee Wong. ch. 2.2. Ocular morbidity of pathological myopia / V. Swetha E. Jeganathan, Seang-Mei Saw and Tien-Yin Wong. ch. 2.3. Myopia and glaucoma / Shamira A. Perera and Tin Aung. ch. 2.4. The myopic retina / Shu-Yen Lee. ch. 2.5. Retinal function / Chi D. Luu and Audrey W.L. Chia -- Section 3. Genetics of myopia. ch. 3.1. New approaches in the genetics of myopia / Liang K. Goh, Ravikanth Metlapally and Terri Young. ch. 3.2. Twins studies and myopia / Maria Schäche and Paul N. Baird. ch. 3.3. TIGR, TGFB1, cMET, HGF, collagen genes, and myopia / Chiea-Chuen Khor. ch. 3.4. Statistical analysis of genome-wide association studies for myopia / Yi-Ju Li and Qiao Fan -- Section 4. Animal models and the biological basis of myopia. ch. 4.1. The relevance of studies in chicks for understanding myopia in humans / Josh Wallman and Debora L. Nickla. ch. 4.2. The mechanisms regulating scleral change in myopia / Neville A. McBrien. ch. 4.3. The mouse model of myopia / Frank Schaeffel. ch. 4.4. Gene analysis in experimental animal models of myopia / Roger W. Beuerman, Liang K. Goh and Veluchamy A. Barathi -- Section 5. Interventions for myopia. ch. 5.1. Atropine and other pharmacological approaches to prevent myopia / Louis M.G. Tong, Veluchamy A. Barathi and Roger W. Beuerman. ch. 5.2. Physical factors in myopia and potential therapies / Wallace S. Foulds and Chi D. Luu

Addressing the growing global concern for sustainable engineering, this title is devoted exclusively to the environmental aspects of materials.