The funding support, information input, and professional suggestions for this project from the Midwest Power Systems, Mr. Tom Sweeny and other staff, are very appreciated. My mother Mrs. Yu-Mei Liao, elder sister Mrs. Kuei-Chong Hsu, and brotherin-law Mr. Ching-Lin Chen are lovely family members. Thanks for their tolerance, love, and help. I am grateful to my mother-in-law, Mrs. Hsiu-Hsiang Peng. Without her uncon ditional support and encouragement, it is impossible for me to continue the advanced graduate studies. Special thanks are due to her. To my wife, Yiming (Debby), I wish to thank for her understanding, patience, and ebullient support over the years. Her continued love, encouragement, and confi XV dence in me have co-contributed to the possibility of this dissertation. Finally, I want to mention our son Darwin, an Iowa boy, who absolutely enriched my study career.
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