Abstract

Prof. Kewal SalujaiiivTo the three important women in my life: my daughter, my wife, and my mother v vivii Acknowledgements Faculty, friends, and family members have been a great support for me in completing this Ph.D. journey. In this special section, I would like to express my deep gratitude to these individuals. Andrea and Remzi definitely come first, for without them this Ph.D. would not have been an exceptional journey. This journey started nine years ago when I was still an undergraduate looking for a professor who wanted to advise me in an independent study. I recall knocking some doors without any luck until I knocked Remzi’s after which he welcomed me for an independent study. My research life started then, and I was extremely happy to be able to continue to graduate school under Remzi’s and Andrea’s supervision. It has been a great privilege to have both of them as my “research parents”.

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