I would like to take this opportunity to express my thanks to those who helped me with vari-ous aspects of conducting research and the writing of this dissertation. I would like to thank my major professor, Prof. Akhilesh Tyagi, for the excellent and stimulating discussions we had during my Ph.D. journey. Over the years, it has been a privilege to work with Professor Tyagi, who has been incredibly supportive and understanding during even my personal difficult times.In addition, I would like to thank my committee members, Professors Diane Rover, Douglas Jacobson, Soma Chaudhuri, and Berk Gulmezoglu, for taking the time to serve on my committee and for their insightful comments and ideas. Last but not least, I would want to thank all of my friends, coworkers, and the faculty and staff of the department for making my stay at Iowa State University a wonderful experience.