In this edition, the scope and character of the monograph did not change with respect to the first edition. Taking into account the rapid development of the field, we have, however, considerably enlarged its contents. Chapter 4 includes two additional sections 4.4 and 4.6 on theory and algorithms of D.C. Programming. Chapter 7, on Decomposition Algorithms in Nonconvex Optimization, is completely new. Besides this, we added several exercises and corrected errors and misprints in the first edition. We are grateful for valuable suggestions and comments that we received from several colleagues. R. Horst, P.M. Pardalos and N.V. Thoai March 2000 Preface to the First Edition Many recent advances in science, economics and engineering rely on nu merical techniques for computing globally optimal solutions to corresponding optimization problems. Global optimization problems are extraordinarily di verse and they include economic modeling, fixed charges, finance, networks and transportation, databases and chip design, image processing, nuclear and mechanical design, chemical engineering design and control, molecular biology, and environment al engineering. Due to the existence of multiple local optima that differ from the global solution all these problems cannot be solved by classical nonlinear programming techniques. During the past three decades, however, many new theoretical, algorith mic, and computational contributions have helped to solve globally multi extreme problems arising from important practical applications."

Global optimization concerns the computation and characterization of global optima of nonlinear functions. Such problems are widespread in the mathematical modelling of real systems in a very wide range of applications and the last 30 years have seen the development of many new theoretical, algorithmic and computational contributions which have helped to solve globally multiextreme problems in important practical applications. Most of the existing books on optimization focus on the problem of computing locally optimal solutions. Introduction to Global Optimization, however, is a comprehensive textbook on constrained global optimization that covers the fundamentals of the subject, presenting much new material, including algorithms, applications and complexity results for quadratic programming, concave minimization, DC and Lipschitz problems, and nonlinear network flow. Each chapter contains illustrative examples and ends with carefully selected exercises, designed to help students grasp the material and enhance their knowledge of the methods involved. Audience: Students of mathematical programming, and all scientists, from whatever discipline, who need global optimization methods in such diverse areas as economic modelling, fixed charges, finance, networks and transportation, databases, chip design, image processing, nuclear and mechanical design, chemical engineering design and control, molecular biology, and environmental engineering.

In recent years global optimization has found applications in many interesting areas of science and technology including molecular biology, chemical equilibrium problems, medical imaging and networks. The collection of papers in this book indicates the diverse applicability of global optimization. Furthermore, various algorithmic, theoretical developments and computational studies are presented. Audience: All researchers and students working in mathematical programming.

In recent years global optimization has found applications in many interesting areas of science and technology including molecular biology, chemical equilibrium problems, medical imaging and networks. The collection of papers in this book indicates the diverse applicability of global optimization. Furthermore, various algorithmic, theoretical developments and computational studies are presented. Audience: All researchers and students working in mathematical programming.

In this edition, the scope and character of the monograph did not change with respect to the first edition. Taking into account the rapid development of the field, we have, however, considerably enlarged its contents. Chapter 4 includes two additional sections 4.4 and 4.6 on theory and algorithms of D.C. Programming. Chapter 7, on Decomposition Algorithms in Nonconvex Optimization, is completely new. Besides this, we added several exercises and corrected errors and misprints in the first edition. We are grateful for valuable suggestions and comments that we received from several colleagues. R. Horst, P.M. Pardalos and N.V. Thoai March 2000 Preface to the First Edition Many recent advances in science, economics and engineering rely on nu merical techniques for computing globally optimal solutions to corresponding optimization problems. Global optimization problems are extraordinarily di verse and they include economic modeling, fixed charges, finance, networks and transportation, databases and chip design, image processing, nuclear and mechanical design, chemical engineering design and control, molecular biology, and environment al engineering. Due to the existence of multiple local optima that differ from the global solution all these problems cannot be solved by classical nonlinear programming techniques. During the past three decades, however, many new theoretical, algorith mic, and computational contributions have helped to solve globally multi extreme problems arising from important practical applications."

Global optimization concerns the computation and characterization of global optima of nonlinear functions. Such problems are widespread in the mathematical modelling of real systems in a very wide range of applications and the last 30 years have seen the development of many new theoretical, algorithmic and computational contributions which have helped to solve globally multiextreme problems in important practical applications. Most of the existing books on optimization focus on the problem of computing locally optimal solutions. Introduction to Global Optimization, however, is a comprehensive textbook on constrained global optimization that covers the fundamentals of the subject, presenting much new material, including algorithms, applications and complexity results for quadratic programming, concave minimization, DC and Lipschitz problems, and nonlinear network flow. Each chapter contains illustrative examples and ends with carefully selected exercises, designed to help students grasp the material and enhance their knowledge of the methods involved. Audience: Students of mathematical programming, and all scientists, from whatever discipline, who need global optimization methods in such diverse areas as economic modelling, fixed charges, finance, networks and transportation, databases, chip design, image processing, nuclear and mechanical design, chemical engineering design and control, molecular biology, and environmental engineering.

What child lucky enough to have lived in the era was not struck by the awesome size, power and mystery of a steam locomotive going to distant locations? Although the locations for the Midland were not so distant, given the time and the exuberance of the country, the Iowa Midland was a significant force in the "growing up" of a small section of eastern Iowa. To the uninitiated who wonder how trains happened to go through so many towns to the railroad aficionados who realize that the towns actually grew around the railroads, the story of railroads and their impact on America at this dynamic time in our countries history is absorbing. The Iowa Midland possessed all the elements of the railroad boom but on a scale that is easy for the reader to relate to and follow. The book relates the story told time and time again all across the country about how the railroad had such an incredible impact on the development of our country and brought it into the 20th century.

Dieses aus drei Einzelb{nden bestehende Werk bietet einen umfassenden ]berblick }ber das Gebiet des Operations Re- search (OR). Das Buch entstand aus einem Kurs der Fernuniversit{t Hagen, die Autoren sind herausragende, auch international anerkannte Fachvertreter. Das Werk ist Lehrbuch und Nachschlagewerk zugleich. Durch viele ]konomische und geometrische Beispiele, durch ]bungsaufgaben und deren L]sungen (im Anhang) ist das Buch auch zum Selbststudium geeignet. Die Breite der behandelten Themen, Sachwort- und Literaturverzeichnisse erm]glichen eine Orientierung }ber das gesamte Fachgebiet. In jedem Kapitel des Buches werden neben den Grundlagen der relevanten Theorie auch die entsprechenden Verfahren (Methoden, Algorithmen) dargestellt. Teil 1 behandelt allgemeine Begriffsbildung, die Grundlagen des Systemansatzes und die Geschichte des Fachs. Weiter beinhaltet Teil 1 die lineare und nichtlinearre Optimierung und Optimierungsprobleme bei mehrfacher Zielsetzung. Teil 2 behandelt die Theorie der Graphen, Netzwerkprobleme und deren L]sung, Transport- und verwandte Probleme sowie die ganzzahlige Optimierung. Teil 3 konzentriert sich auf die Spieltheorie, stochastische Probleme wie Warteschlangen- und Lagerhaltungsprobleme, Simulation und ein Kapitel ist den Entscheidungen bei unklaren (fuzzy) Ausgangssituationen gewidmet. "So besteht der Hauptvorteil des vorliegenden Werkes in der einheitlichen Zusammenf}gung zu einem Gesamtwerk, welches in deutscher Sprache geschrieben ist und, nicht zuletzt durch die enthaltenen Aufgaben mit L]sungen, den Studierenden ein n}tzliches Lehrbuch }ber die Grundlagen des Operations Research in die Hand gibt." (Dr. Rabe von Randow, Bonn, in der Zeitschrift f}r Betriebswirtschaft, 7/1988).

In its basic form, negotiation is a method of conflict resolution (5:7). It is a problem-solving process in which two or more parties attempt to resolve their disagreement or conflict in a manner, and through a process, that is mutually agreeable (8: xiii). Whereas the general concept of negotiation is easy enough to understand, in practice it can be an extremely difficult proposition. Opposing views about what is right and wrong, disagreement on what is fair and equitable, understanding each other's message and form of communication, and even the procedures that will be used to conduct negotiations are but a few of the hurdles that negotiators will encounter.