ii Acknowledgements I would not have made it to this day without the help and support of my friends, family, and professors. I would first like to thank my advisor, Dr. Gary Tepper. He began supporting my research when I was still an undergrad visiting VCU for the summer, and he encouraged me to return to VCU for graduate school. Since becoming a graduate student, he has allowed me to control my own future through my course work and research and has supported me throughout my graduate studies.

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... have enjoyed discussing my research results and direction with him in our many planned and impromptu meetings over my years at VCU.