The book starts with a section devoted to Soft Computing and Metaheuristics, which collects six contributions. In the first one, A. Blanco, D. Pelta and J.L. Verdegay present FANS, a fuzzy adaptive neighborhood search algorithm. Then, J. Cheng, H. Kise, G. Steiner and P. Stephenson discuss branch-and-bound algorithms using fuzzy heuristics, and M. Demirhan and L. ¨Ozdamar show FAPA, a fuzzy adaptive partitioning algorithm for global optimization. Fourth contribution, by N. Krasnogor and D. Pelta proposes the integration of the so called fuzzy adaptive neighbourhood search algorithms with multimeme algorithms. P. Lucic and D. Teodorovic present a bee system for solving vehicle routing problems with uncertain demand at nodes, and closing this first part, J.A. Moreno and J. M. Moreno introduce the so-called Fuzzy Constructive Heuristics.

Second section focuses on Heuristics and Mathematical Programming. First, J.M. Cadenas, M.C. Garrido and F. Jimenez present two approaches for solving optimization problems with heuristics. Then, C. Carlsson and R. Fuller consider optimization problems addressed with linguistic variables. The next contribution, by C. Mohan and S.K. Verma proposes interactive algorithms using fuzzy concepts for solving real life optimization problems. S. Lertworasirikul, S.-Ch. Fang, J.A. Joines and H.L.W. Nuttle develop a credibility approach for fuzzy data envelopment analysis, and finally R. Ribeiro and L. R. Varela show examples of fuzzy optimization methods using Simulated Annealing.

Practical Heuristic Algorithms is the title of the third part of the book. M. Gen and A. Syarif open this section approaching multi-stage supply chain network by hybrid genetic algorithms. Then a fuzzy evolutionary approach for multiobjective combinatorial optimization, applied to scheduling problems, is proposed by I. Kacem, S. Hammadi and P. Borne. The following contribution, by F. Jimenez, A. F. Gomez-Skarmeta, G. Sanchez and J.M Cadenas, focuseson multi-objective evolutionary fuzzy modeling, and next the well known fuzzy satisficing methods in mathematical programming are shown by M. Sakawa, K. Kato, S. Ushiro and M. Inaoka in the particular case of nonlinear 0-1 problems. Last contribution in this part, by Y.S. Yun and Mitsuo Gen is devoted to show an adaptive hybrid genetic algorithm with fuzzy logic controller.

A section collecting applications to real world problems ends the volume. The following six contributions are presented: Finding Satisfactory Near-Optimal Solutions in Location Problems, by M.C. Can´os, C. Ivorra and V. Liern. Route Choice Making under Uncertainty: A Fuzzy Logic based Approach, by Vincent Henn. A new technique to electrical distribution system load flow based on fuzzy sets, by C. A. F. Murari, M. A. Pereira and M.M.P. Lima. FAPA for Global Optimization: Implementation in Environmental Site Characterization, by L. ¨Ozdamar and M. Demirhan. Capacitated Vehicle Routing Problem with Fuzzy Demands, by B. Werners and M. Drawe, and finally an Adaptive Intelligent Control System for Slag Foaming by E. L. Wilson and C. L. Karr. As a whole these twenty two contributions give an overview on the state of the art on the topic dealt with, and show that heuristic algorithms and metaheuristics benefit from hybridizing them with Fuzzy Sets and Systems methodologies. This gives a clear indication that a closer cooperation between both sides would be highly beneficial.