Tanju Karanfil for his guidance, help and support. Also, thanks to acknowledge Dr. Cindy Lee and Dr. David Ladner for serving on my research and dissertation committee. I would like to thank Mahmut Selim Ersan, Mohammed Ateia and Mohsen Ghafari for their great help during the data discussion and all of the brainstorming that we had together. Many special thanks to Cagri Utku Erdem, Wilson Beita Sandi and Numan Habip for their support and friendship. I would like to thank my family; Canan&Mustafa Mete Soyluoglu, Seda Bahar Soyluoglu, Damla Soyluoglu and Dilek Akbiyik for their love, unconditional and continuous support and trust. Also, special thanks to my uncle, Sinan Uyanik, for his help, support and being my role model in my life.