Author: Michael Jünger
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
ISBN: 3642381898
Category : Mathematics
Languages : en
Pages : 510
Book Description
Martin Grötschel is one of the most influential mathematicians of our time. He has received numerous honors and holds a number of key positions in the international mathematical community. He celebrated his 65th birthday on September 10, 2013. Martin Grötschel’s doctoral descendant tree 1983–2012, i.e., the first 30 years, features 39 children, 74 grandchildren, 24 great-grandchildren and 2 great-great-grandchildren, a total of 139 doctoral descendants. This book starts with a personal tribute to Martin Grötschel by the editors (Part I), a contribution by his very special “predecessor” Manfred Padberg on “Facets and Rank of Integer Polyhedra” (Part II), and the doctoral descendant tree 1983–2012 (Part III). The core of this book (Part IV) contains 16 contributions, each of which is coauthored by at least one doctoral descendant. The sequence of the articles starts with contributions to the theory of mathematical optimization, including polyhedral combinatorics, extended formulations, mixed-integer convex optimization, super classes of perfect graphs, efficient algorithms for subtree-telecenters, junctions in acyclic graphs and preemptive restricted strip covering, as well as efficient approximation of non-preemptive restricted strip covering. Combinations of new theoretical insights with algorithms and experiments deal with network design problems, combinatorial optimization problems with submodular objective functions and more general mixed-integer nonlinear optimization problems. Applications include VLSI layout design, systems biology, wireless network design, mean-risk optimization and gas network optimization. Computational studies include a semidefinite branch and cut approach for the max k-cut problem, mixed-integer nonlinear optimal control, and mixed-integer linear optimization for scheduling and routing of fly-in safari planes. The two closing articles are devoted to computational advances in general mixed integer linear optimization, the first by scientists working in industry, the second by scientists working in academia. These articles reflect the “scientific facets” of Martin Grötschel who has set standards in theory, computation and applications.
Integer and Combinatorial Optimization
Author: Laurence A. Wolsey
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
ISBN: 1118626869
Category : Mathematics
Languages : en
Pages : 782
Book Description
Rave reviews for INTEGER AND COMBINATORIAL OPTIMIZATION "This book provides an excellent introduction and survey of traditional fields of combinatorial optimization . . . It is indeed one of the best and most complete texts on combinatorial optimization . . . available. [And] with more than 700 entries, [it] has quite an exhaustive reference list."-Optima "A unifying approach to optimization problems is to formulate them like linear programming problems, while restricting some or all of the variables to the integers. This book is an encyclopedic resource for such formulations, as well as for understanding the structure of and solving the resulting integer programming problems."-Computing Reviews "[This book] can serve as a basis for various graduate courses on discrete optimization as well as a reference book for researchers and practitioners."-Mathematical Reviews "This comprehensive and wide-ranging book will undoubtedly become a standard reference book for all those in the field of combinatorial optimization."-Bulletin of the London Mathematical Society "This text should be required reading for anybody who intends to do research in this area or even just to keep abreast of developments."-Times Higher Education Supplement, London Also of interest . . . INTEGER PROGRAMMING Laurence A. Wolsey Comprehensive and self-contained, this intermediate-level guide to integer programming provides readers with clear, up-to-date explanations on why some problems are difficult to solve, how techniques can be reformulated to give better results, and how mixed integer programming systems can be used more effectively. 1998 (0-471-28366-5) 260 pp.
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
ISBN: 1118626869
Category : Mathematics
Languages : en
Pages : 782
Book Description
Rave reviews for INTEGER AND COMBINATORIAL OPTIMIZATION "This book provides an excellent introduction and survey of traditional fields of combinatorial optimization . . . It is indeed one of the best and most complete texts on combinatorial optimization . . . available. [And] with more than 700 entries, [it] has quite an exhaustive reference list."-Optima "A unifying approach to optimization problems is to formulate them like linear programming problems, while restricting some or all of the variables to the integers. This book is an encyclopedic resource for such formulations, as well as for understanding the structure of and solving the resulting integer programming problems."-Computing Reviews "[This book] can serve as a basis for various graduate courses on discrete optimization as well as a reference book for researchers and practitioners."-Mathematical Reviews "This comprehensive and wide-ranging book will undoubtedly become a standard reference book for all those in the field of combinatorial optimization."-Bulletin of the London Mathematical Society "This text should be required reading for anybody who intends to do research in this area or even just to keep abreast of developments."-Times Higher Education Supplement, London Also of interest . . . INTEGER PROGRAMMING Laurence A. Wolsey Comprehensive and self-contained, this intermediate-level guide to integer programming provides readers with clear, up-to-date explanations on why some problems are difficult to solve, how techniques can be reformulated to give better results, and how mixed integer programming systems can be used more effectively. 1998 (0-471-28366-5) 260 pp.
Facets of Combinatorial Optimization
Author: Michael Jünger
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
ISBN: 3642381898
Category : Mathematics
Languages : en
Pages : 510
Book Description
Martin Grötschel is one of the most influential mathematicians of our time. He has received numerous honors and holds a number of key positions in the international mathematical community. He celebrated his 65th birthday on September 10, 2013. Martin Grötschel’s doctoral descendant tree 1983–2012, i.e., the first 30 years, features 39 children, 74 grandchildren, 24 great-grandchildren and 2 great-great-grandchildren, a total of 139 doctoral descendants. This book starts with a personal tribute to Martin Grötschel by the editors (Part I), a contribution by his very special “predecessor” Manfred Padberg on “Facets and Rank of Integer Polyhedra” (Part II), and the doctoral descendant tree 1983–2012 (Part III). The core of this book (Part IV) contains 16 contributions, each of which is coauthored by at least one doctoral descendant. The sequence of the articles starts with contributions to the theory of mathematical optimization, including polyhedral combinatorics, extended formulations, mixed-integer convex optimization, super classes of perfect graphs, efficient algorithms for subtree-telecenters, junctions in acyclic graphs and preemptive restricted strip covering, as well as efficient approximation of non-preemptive restricted strip covering. Combinations of new theoretical insights with algorithms and experiments deal with network design problems, combinatorial optimization problems with submodular objective functions and more general mixed-integer nonlinear optimization problems. Applications include VLSI layout design, systems biology, wireless network design, mean-risk optimization and gas network optimization. Computational studies include a semidefinite branch and cut approach for the max k-cut problem, mixed-integer nonlinear optimal control, and mixed-integer linear optimization for scheduling and routing of fly-in safari planes. The two closing articles are devoted to computational advances in general mixed integer linear optimization, the first by scientists working in industry, the second by scientists working in academia. These articles reflect the “scientific facets” of Martin Grötschel who has set standards in theory, computation and applications.
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
ISBN: 3642381898
Category : Mathematics
Languages : en
Pages : 510
Book Description
Martin Grötschel is one of the most influential mathematicians of our time. He has received numerous honors and holds a number of key positions in the international mathematical community. He celebrated his 65th birthday on September 10, 2013. Martin Grötschel’s doctoral descendant tree 1983–2012, i.e., the first 30 years, features 39 children, 74 grandchildren, 24 great-grandchildren and 2 great-great-grandchildren, a total of 139 doctoral descendants. This book starts with a personal tribute to Martin Grötschel by the editors (Part I), a contribution by his very special “predecessor” Manfred Padberg on “Facets and Rank of Integer Polyhedra” (Part II), and the doctoral descendant tree 1983–2012 (Part III). The core of this book (Part IV) contains 16 contributions, each of which is coauthored by at least one doctoral descendant. The sequence of the articles starts with contributions to the theory of mathematical optimization, including polyhedral combinatorics, extended formulations, mixed-integer convex optimization, super classes of perfect graphs, efficient algorithms for subtree-telecenters, junctions in acyclic graphs and preemptive restricted strip covering, as well as efficient approximation of non-preemptive restricted strip covering. Combinations of new theoretical insights with algorithms and experiments deal with network design problems, combinatorial optimization problems with submodular objective functions and more general mixed-integer nonlinear optimization problems. Applications include VLSI layout design, systems biology, wireless network design, mean-risk optimization and gas network optimization. Computational studies include a semidefinite branch and cut approach for the max k-cut problem, mixed-integer nonlinear optimal control, and mixed-integer linear optimization for scheduling and routing of fly-in safari planes. The two closing articles are devoted to computational advances in general mixed integer linear optimization, the first by scientists working in industry, the second by scientists working in academia. These articles reflect the “scientific facets” of Martin Grötschel who has set standards in theory, computation and applications.
Geometric Algorithms and Combinatorial Optimization
Author: Martin Grötschel
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
ISBN: 3642978819
Category : Mathematics
Languages : en
Pages : 374
Book Description
Historically, there is a close connection between geometry and optImization. This is illustrated by methods like the gradient method and the simplex method, which are associated with clear geometric pictures. In combinatorial optimization, however, many of the strongest and most frequently used algorithms are based on the discrete structure of the problems: the greedy algorithm, shortest path and alternating path methods, branch-and-bound, etc. In the last several years geometric methods, in particular polyhedral combinatorics, have played a more and more profound role in combinatorial optimization as well. Our book discusses two recent geometric algorithms that have turned out to have particularly interesting consequences in combinatorial optimization, at least from a theoretical point of view. These algorithms are able to utilize the rich body of results in polyhedral combinatorics. The first of these algorithms is the ellipsoid method, developed for nonlinear programming by N. Z. Shor, D. B. Yudin, and A. S. NemirovskiI. It was a great surprise when L. G. Khachiyan showed that this method can be adapted to solve linear programs in polynomial time, thus solving an important open theoretical problem. While the ellipsoid method has not proved to be competitive with the simplex method in practice, it does have some features which make it particularly suited for the purposes of combinatorial optimization. The second algorithm we discuss finds its roots in the classical "geometry of numbers", developed by Minkowski. This method has had traditionally deep applications in number theory, in particular in diophantine approximation.
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
ISBN: 3642978819
Category : Mathematics
Languages : en
Pages : 374
Book Description
Historically, there is a close connection between geometry and optImization. This is illustrated by methods like the gradient method and the simplex method, which are associated with clear geometric pictures. In combinatorial optimization, however, many of the strongest and most frequently used algorithms are based on the discrete structure of the problems: the greedy algorithm, shortest path and alternating path methods, branch-and-bound, etc. In the last several years geometric methods, in particular polyhedral combinatorics, have played a more and more profound role in combinatorial optimization as well. Our book discusses two recent geometric algorithms that have turned out to have particularly interesting consequences in combinatorial optimization, at least from a theoretical point of view. These algorithms are able to utilize the rich body of results in polyhedral combinatorics. The first of these algorithms is the ellipsoid method, developed for nonlinear programming by N. Z. Shor, D. B. Yudin, and A. S. NemirovskiI. It was a great surprise when L. G. Khachiyan showed that this method can be adapted to solve linear programs in polynomial time, thus solving an important open theoretical problem. While the ellipsoid method has not proved to be competitive with the simplex method in practice, it does have some features which make it particularly suited for the purposes of combinatorial optimization. The second algorithm we discuss finds its roots in the classical "geometry of numbers", developed by Minkowski. This method has had traditionally deep applications in number theory, in particular in diophantine approximation.
Integer Programming and Combinatorial Optimization
Author: Jon Lee
Publisher: Springer
ISBN: 3319075578
Category : Computers
Languages : en
Pages : 429
Book Description
This book constitutes the refereed proceedings of the 17th International Conference on Integer Programming and Combinatorial Optimization, IPCO 2014, held in Bonn, Germany, in June 2014. The 34 full papers presented were carefully reviewed and selected from 143 submissions. The conference is a forum for researchers and practitioners working on various aspects of integer programming and combinatorial optimization. The aim is to present recent developments in theory, computation, and applications in these areas. The scope of IPCO is viewed in a broad sense, to include algorithmic and structural results in integer programming and combinatorial optimization as well as revealing computational studies and novel applications of discrete optimization to practical problems.
Publisher: Springer
ISBN: 3319075578
Category : Computers
Languages : en
Pages : 429
Book Description
This book constitutes the refereed proceedings of the 17th International Conference on Integer Programming and Combinatorial Optimization, IPCO 2014, held in Bonn, Germany, in June 2014. The 34 full papers presented were carefully reviewed and selected from 143 submissions. The conference is a forum for researchers and practitioners working on various aspects of integer programming and combinatorial optimization. The aim is to present recent developments in theory, computation, and applications in these areas. The scope of IPCO is viewed in a broad sense, to include algorithmic and structural results in integer programming and combinatorial optimization as well as revealing computational studies and novel applications of discrete optimization to practical problems.
Integer Programming
Author: Laurence A. Wolsey
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
ISBN: 1119606535
Category : Mathematics
Languages : en
Pages : 336
Book Description
A PRACTICAL GUIDE TO OPTIMIZATION PROBLEMS WITH DISCRETE OR INTEGER VARIABLES, REVISED AND UPDATED The revised second edition of Integer Programming explains in clear and simple terms how to construct custom-made algorithms or use existing commercial software to obtain optimal or near-optimal solutions for a variety of real-world problems. The second edition also includes information on the remarkable progress in the development of mixed integer programming solvers in the 22 years since the first edition of the book appeared. The updated text includes information on the most recent developments in the field such as the much improved preprocessing/presolving and the many new ideas for primal heuristics included in the solvers. The result has been a speed-up of several orders of magnitude. The other major change reflected in the text is the widespread use of decomposition algorithms, in particular column generation (branch-(cut)-and-price) and Benders’ decomposition. The revised second edition: Contains new developments on column generation Offers a new chapter on Benders’ algorithm Includes expanded information on preprocessing, heuristics, and branch-and-cut Presents several basic and extended formulations, for example for fixed cost network flows Also touches on and briefly introduces topics such as non-bipartite matching, the complexity of extended formulations or a good linear program for the implementation of lift-and-project Written for students of integer/mathematical programming in operations research, mathematics, engineering, or computer science, Integer Programming offers an updated edition of the basic text that reflects the most recent developments in the field.
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
ISBN: 1119606535
Category : Mathematics
Languages : en
Pages : 336
Book Description
A PRACTICAL GUIDE TO OPTIMIZATION PROBLEMS WITH DISCRETE OR INTEGER VARIABLES, REVISED AND UPDATED The revised second edition of Integer Programming explains in clear and simple terms how to construct custom-made algorithms or use existing commercial software to obtain optimal or near-optimal solutions for a variety of real-world problems. The second edition also includes information on the remarkable progress in the development of mixed integer programming solvers in the 22 years since the first edition of the book appeared. The updated text includes information on the most recent developments in the field such as the much improved preprocessing/presolving and the many new ideas for primal heuristics included in the solvers. The result has been a speed-up of several orders of magnitude. The other major change reflected in the text is the widespread use of decomposition algorithms, in particular column generation (branch-(cut)-and-price) and Benders’ decomposition. The revised second edition: Contains new developments on column generation Offers a new chapter on Benders’ algorithm Includes expanded information on preprocessing, heuristics, and branch-and-cut Presents several basic and extended formulations, for example for fixed cost network flows Also touches on and briefly introduces topics such as non-bipartite matching, the complexity of extended formulations or a good linear program for the implementation of lift-and-project Written for students of integer/mathematical programming in operations research, mathematics, engineering, or computer science, Integer Programming offers an updated edition of the basic text that reflects the most recent developments in the field.
Combinatorial Optimization
Author: Alexander Schrijver
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
ISBN: 9783540443896
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 2024
Book Description
From the reviews: "About 30 years ago, when I was a student, the first book on combinatorial optimization came out referred to as "the Lawler" simply. I think that now, with this volume Springer has landed a coup: "The Schrijver". The box is offered for less than 90.- EURO, which to my opinion is one of the best deals after the introduction of this currency." OR-Spectrum
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
ISBN: 9783540443896
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 2024
Book Description
From the reviews: "About 30 years ago, when I was a student, the first book on combinatorial optimization came out referred to as "the Lawler" simply. I think that now, with this volume Springer has landed a coup: "The Schrijver". The box is offered for less than 90.- EURO, which to my opinion is one of the best deals after the introduction of this currency." OR-Spectrum
Progress in Combinatorial Optimization
Author: William R. Pulleyblank
Publisher: Academic Press
ISBN: 148326453X
Category : Mathematics
Languages : en
Pages : 387
Book Description
Progress in Combinatorial Optimization provides information pertinent to the fundamental aspects of combinatorial optimization. This book discusses how to determine whether or not a particular structure exists. Organized into 21 chapters, this book begins with an overview of a polar characterization of facets of polyhedra obtained by lifting facets of lower dimensional polyhedra. This text then discusses how to obtain bounds on the value of the objective in a graph partitioning problem in terms of spectral information about the graph. Other chapters consider the notion of a triangulation of an oriented matroid and show that oriented matroid triangulation yield triangulations of the underlying polytopes. This book discusses as well the selected results and problems on perfect ad imperfect graphs. The final chapter deals with the weighted parity problem for gammoids, which can be reduced to the weighted graphic matching problem. This book is a valuable resource for mathematicians and research workers.
Publisher: Academic Press
ISBN: 148326453X
Category : Mathematics
Languages : en
Pages : 387
Book Description
Progress in Combinatorial Optimization provides information pertinent to the fundamental aspects of combinatorial optimization. This book discusses how to determine whether or not a particular structure exists. Organized into 21 chapters, this book begins with an overview of a polar characterization of facets of polyhedra obtained by lifting facets of lower dimensional polyhedra. This text then discusses how to obtain bounds on the value of the objective in a graph partitioning problem in terms of spectral information about the graph. Other chapters consider the notion of a triangulation of an oriented matroid and show that oriented matroid triangulation yield triangulations of the underlying polytopes. This book discusses as well the selected results and problems on perfect ad imperfect graphs. The final chapter deals with the weighted parity problem for gammoids, which can be reduced to the weighted graphic matching problem. This book is a valuable resource for mathematicians and research workers.
Research Trends in Combinatorial Optimization
Author: William J. Cook
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
ISBN: 3540767967
Category : Mathematics
Languages : en
Pages : 565
Book Description
The editors and authors dedicate this book to Bernhard Korte on the occasion of his seventieth birthday. We, the editors, are happy about the overwhelming feedback to our initiative to honor him with this book and with a workshop in Bonn on November 3–7,2008.Althoughthiswouldbeareasontolookback,wewouldratherliketolook forward and see what are the interesting research directions today. This book is written by leading experts in combinatorial optimization. All - pers were carefully reviewed, and eventually twenty-three of the invited papers were accepted for this book. The breadth of topics is typical for the eld: combinatorial optimization builds bridges between areas like combinatorics and graph theory, submodular functions and matroids, network ows and connectivity, approximation algorithms and mat- matical programming, computational geometry and polyhedral combinatorics. All these topics are related, and they are all addressed in this book. Combi- torial optimization is also known for its numerous applications. To limit the scope, however, this book is not primarily about applications, although some are mentioned at various places. Most papers in this volume are surveys that provide an excellent overview of an activeresearcharea,butthisbookalsocontainsmanynewresults.Highlightingmany of the currently most interesting research directions in combinatorial optimization, we hope that this book constitutes a good basis for future research in these areas.
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
ISBN: 3540767967
Category : Mathematics
Languages : en
Pages : 565
Book Description
The editors and authors dedicate this book to Bernhard Korte on the occasion of his seventieth birthday. We, the editors, are happy about the overwhelming feedback to our initiative to honor him with this book and with a workshop in Bonn on November 3–7,2008.Althoughthiswouldbeareasontolookback,wewouldratherliketolook forward and see what are the interesting research directions today. This book is written by leading experts in combinatorial optimization. All - pers were carefully reviewed, and eventually twenty-three of the invited papers were accepted for this book. The breadth of topics is typical for the eld: combinatorial optimization builds bridges between areas like combinatorics and graph theory, submodular functions and matroids, network ows and connectivity, approximation algorithms and mat- matical programming, computational geometry and polyhedral combinatorics. All these topics are related, and they are all addressed in this book. Combi- torial optimization is also known for its numerous applications. To limit the scope, however, this book is not primarily about applications, although some are mentioned at various places. Most papers in this volume are surveys that provide an excellent overview of an activeresearcharea,butthisbookalsocontainsmanynewresults.Highlightingmany of the currently most interesting research directions in combinatorial optimization, we hope that this book constitutes a good basis for future research in these areas.
Paradigms of Combinatorial Optimization
Author: Vangelis Th. Paschos
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
ISBN: 1119015197
Category : Mathematics
Languages : en
Pages : 626
Book Description
Combinatorial optimization is a multidisciplinary scientific area, lying in the interface of three major scientific domains: mathematics, theoretical computer science and management. The three volumes of the Combinatorial Optimization series aim to cover a wide range of topics in this area. These topics also deal with fundamental notions and approaches as with several classical applications of combinatorial optimization. Concepts of Combinatorial Optimization, is divided into three parts: - On the complexity of combinatorial optimization problems, presenting basics about worst-case and randomized complexity; - Classical solution methods, presenting the two most-known methods for solving hard combinatorial optimization problems, that are Branch-and-Bound and Dynamic Programming; - Elements from mathematical programming, presenting fundamentals from mathematical programming based methods that are in the heart of Operations Research since the origins of this field.
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
ISBN: 1119015197
Category : Mathematics
Languages : en
Pages : 626
Book Description
Combinatorial optimization is a multidisciplinary scientific area, lying in the interface of three major scientific domains: mathematics, theoretical computer science and management. The three volumes of the Combinatorial Optimization series aim to cover a wide range of topics in this area. These topics also deal with fundamental notions and approaches as with several classical applications of combinatorial optimization. Concepts of Combinatorial Optimization, is divided into three parts: - On the complexity of combinatorial optimization problems, presenting basics about worst-case and randomized complexity; - Classical solution methods, presenting the two most-known methods for solving hard combinatorial optimization problems, that are Branch-and-Bound and Dynamic Programming; - Elements from mathematical programming, presenting fundamentals from mathematical programming based methods that are in the heart of Operations Research since the origins of this field.
Exact and Heuristic Methods in Combinatorial Optimization
Author: Rafael Martí
Publisher: Springer Nature
ISBN: 3662648776
Category : Computers
Languages : en
Pages : 232
Book Description
In the last decades, algorithmic advances as well as hardware and software improvements have provided an excellent environment to create and develop solving methods to hard optimization problems. Modern exact and heuristic techniques are dramatically enhancing our ability to solve significant practical problems. This monograph sets out state-of-the-art methodologies for solving combinatorial optimization problems, illustrating them with two well-known problems. This second edition of the book extends the first one by adding to the ‘linear ordering problem’ (LOP), included in the first edition, the ‘maximum diversity problem’ (MDP). In this way, we provide the reader with the background, elements and strategies to tackle a wide range of different combinatorial optimization problems. The exact and heuristic techniques outlined in these pages can be put to use in any number of combinatorial optimization problems. While the authors employ the LOP and the MDP to illustrate cutting-edge optimization technologies, the book is also a tutorial on how to design effective and successful implementations of exact and heuristic procedures alike. This monograph provides the basic principles and fundamental ideas that will enable students and practitioners to create valuable applications based on both exact and heuristic technologies. Specifically, it is aimed at engineers, scientists, operations researchers, and other applications specialists who are looking for the most appropriate and recent optimization tools to solve particular problems. The book provides a broad spectrum of advances in search strategies with a focus on its algorithmic and computational aspects.
Publisher: Springer Nature
ISBN: 3662648776
Category : Computers
Languages : en
Pages : 232
Book Description
In the last decades, algorithmic advances as well as hardware and software improvements have provided an excellent environment to create and develop solving methods to hard optimization problems. Modern exact and heuristic techniques are dramatically enhancing our ability to solve significant practical problems. This monograph sets out state-of-the-art methodologies for solving combinatorial optimization problems, illustrating them with two well-known problems. This second edition of the book extends the first one by adding to the ‘linear ordering problem’ (LOP), included in the first edition, the ‘maximum diversity problem’ (MDP). In this way, we provide the reader with the background, elements and strategies to tackle a wide range of different combinatorial optimization problems. The exact and heuristic techniques outlined in these pages can be put to use in any number of combinatorial optimization problems. While the authors employ the LOP and the MDP to illustrate cutting-edge optimization technologies, the book is also a tutorial on how to design effective and successful implementations of exact and heuristic procedures alike. This monograph provides the basic principles and fundamental ideas that will enable students and practitioners to create valuable applications based on both exact and heuristic technologies. Specifically, it is aimed at engineers, scientists, operations researchers, and other applications specialists who are looking for the most appropriate and recent optimization tools to solve particular problems. The book provides a broad spectrum of advances in search strategies with a focus on its algorithmic and computational aspects.