The Annual (ICGS) International Conference is an established platform in which se- rity, safety and sustainability issues can be examined from several global perspectives through dialogue between academics, students, government representatives, chief executives, security professionals, and research scientists from the United Kingdom and from around the globe. The 2009 two-day conference focused on the challenges of complexity, rapid pace of change and risk/opportunity issues associated with modern products, systems, s- cial events and infrastructures. The importance of adopting systematic and systemic approaches to the assurance of these systems was emphasized within a special stream focused on strategic frameworks, architectures and human factors. The conference provided an opportunity for systems scientists, assurance researchers, owners, ope- tors and maintainers of large, complex and advanced systems and infrastructures to update their knowledge with the state of best practice in these challenging domains while networking with the leading researchers and solution providers. ICGS3 2009 received paper submissions from more than 20 different countries around the world. Only 28 papers were selected and were presented as full papers. The program also included three keynote lectures by leading researchers, security professionals and government representatives. June 2009 Hamid Jahankhani Ali Hessami Feng Hsu

A practical pocket-sized guide to the identification and use of precious and semiprecious stones, novelty stones, agates and crystals. The introductory part of the book describes the geology, chemistry and properties of gemstones in clear and accessible terms. The important properties of gemstones are explained, including crystal structures and optical and physical properties, and the book also examines synthetic gems and discusses how to tell them apart from natural stones. It then covers practical aspects of gemmology and the use of stones, including fashioning and cutting, types and shapes of cut, collecting, handling and storing gemstones, and weighing and measuring stones.