\chapter*{ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS}

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%%   ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
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First, and foremost I would like to thank my supervisor Professor Satvir Singh for his valuable and ever encouraging guidance at every step of this research work. Without his assistance and selfless advice it would never been possible for me to complete this work ever. Still remember the time, when I approached him to work on a research area and he simply give his kind consent for the supervision without knowing too much about my academic credentials. This was something unusual, from a person of his calibre to put trust on an unknown fellow like me. But he remain supportive in all phases of my dissertation even at most discouraging moments during this journey. His dedication to academics and research will always inspire me to work beyond the limits.

I would like to thank Professor J. S. Saini, and Professor R. K. Sarin for their valuable inputs at very initial stage of research proposal defense. I also pay my sincere thanks to Professor Deepak Garg, member of research degree committee for evaluating the proposed research work.

I would also like to express my gratitude to Dr. Dinesh Kumar, Head of Department-IT, DAV Institute of Engineering \& Technology, Jalandhar (INDIA) for their indispensable suggestions and concern about progress of research work.

My special thanks to Centre for International Co-operation in Science (CICS), Chennai (INDIA) for awarding Travel Fellowship to participate in IEEE World Congress on Computational Intelligence 2016.

I would also like to thank faculty and staff members of DAV Institute of Engineering \& Technology, Jalandhar (INDIA) for their continuous encouragement during all the research work.

Finally, I feel proud to acknowledge the role of my parents as without their blessings I would never imagine to achieve success in life. My father, who is no more in this world to see all, might be the happiest person to know about this achievement. My mother, surely feel delighted once she would come to know about this landmark success in academics.

Last but not least, I feel indebted to the supreme body of this universe - GOD, who has given the ability and strength to accomplish this ever challenging task.

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  &   Palvinder Singh Mann
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