Next, I would like to thank my two closest friends during this endeavor, Mike Carey and Barrie Guise, who provided me with seemingly unlimited support and understanding throughout this "often" difficult process. And, as always, I would like to thank my family for their continued caring and support even though it was often difficult for them to understand the process of completing my dissertation or 'the paper', as it became fondly called. And yes, mom, dad, Mare, Angel, Cesira, and Mike, I am a

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... doctor. ii Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Table of Contents I . Introduct ion.