As an important branch of applied mathematics, optimization theory, especially stochastic optimization, becomes an important tool for solving multiobjective decision-making problems in random process recently. Many kinds of industrial, biological, engineering, and economic problems can be viewed as stochastic systems, for example, area of communication, gene, signal processing, geography, civil engineering, aerospace, banking, and so forth. Stochastic optimization is suitable to solve the decision-making problems in these stochastic systems.

We invite investigators to contribute original research articles as well as review articles that will stimulate the continuing efforts to understand this field. We are particularly interested in articles describing new stochastic optimization algorithms and new applications in related fields. Potential topics include, but are not limited to:

• Foundations of stochastic optimization
• Approximate dynamic programming
• Stochastic differential equations and parameter estimation
• Piecewise linear approximation
• Stochastic optimization in applications
• Stochastic geometry and stochastic approximations
• Robust optimization

Before submission authors should carefully read over the journal's Author Guidelines, which are located at http://www.hindawi.com/journals/jam/guidelines/. Prospective authors should submit an electronic copy of their complete manuscript through the journal Manuscript Tracking System at http://mts.hindawi.com/author/submit/journals/jam/sota/ according to the following timetable: