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The role mechanical properties play in the interconnected network of cellular control mechanisms is becoming better understood. Specifically, mechanical stiffness has been shown to be a marker capable of distinguishing between malignant and benign cancer phenotypes. Traditional techniques to measure cell stiffness share the commonality of low throughput. Microfluidic technology has been used to attain stiffness related data at a high throughput, however data collection and analysis is almost exclusively reliant on video spectroscopy. Through the use of a serial multi-constriction microfluidic device, cell ease of transit, i.e., agility, can be measured by the transit through the serial network developed herein. This measure of agility has the capability to differentiate cells based on phenotype, specifically phenotypes characteristic of the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, EMT, which occurs in cancer cells upon initiation of metastasis. By developing a compatible microfluidic sensor, the post processing of cell agility data has the potential to be automated and moved toward a non-video spectroscopy dependent system. These improvements push the technology of cellular mechanical property data analysis toward a faster, more convenient platform, thus allowing a better understanding of how mechanical properties correspond with biological behavior of mammalian cells.

Computer vision approaches have been applied to a wide variety of domains. These approaches are able to replicate human processes as well as provide new insights. Once developed, computer vision approaches also permit high throughput analysis of processes that would otherwise be tedious. In this thesis, we focus on developing tools that replicate and go above human analysis for two applications. We aim at developing tools to track infants` head motions in a non-intrusive manner during an autism assessment. We propose a method to track facial features from a single camera and use their changing locations to sequentially update the motions. We also aim at developing an elliptical-cell and multiple-fluorescence segmentation program to allow for the high throughput analysis of C.albicans and S.cerevisiae yeast cultures. We propose to segment pseudohyphal cells based on an extension of the circular Hough transform; as well as, segment multiple types of fluorescence labeling.

Tissue analysis standards and complete visual deficiency symptoms of N, P, K, Ca, Mg, S, Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn, and B are crucial for monitoring plant nutrient status. Limited information is available on visual disorder symptoms and foliar analysis standards for vinca, celosia, marigold, zinnia, salvia, pansy, impatiens, begonia, petunia, ornamental cabbage, snapdragon and New Guinea impatiens. Synoptic visual deficiency symptoms were as follows: N - Symptoms began on lower leaves as uniform light green chlorosis to yellow and finally necrotic. Development of red to purple pigmentation was observed in marigold, snapdragon, begonia and ornamental cabbage. P - All foliage became deeper green, then lower leaves became purplish/reddish in some species, and finally necrotic. K - In the early stage of deficiency, plants became compact and deeper green. Later, necrosis developed on tips and margins of older leaves. Ca - Necrotic symptoms first developed on roots, then on young leaves and shoot apex. However, the shoot apices of New Guinea impatiens and impatiens did not develop necrosis. Mg - Interveinal chlorosis developed on older leaves followed by necrosis along the margins. S - The entire leaves became uniformly lighter green. Then the margins of all leaves became more chlorotic then the remainder of the leaves. Eventually, the margins developed necrosis. Fe - Young leaves developed interveinal chlorosis, generally from the base. Then the entire lamina turned chlorotic. The chlorosis then gave way to bleached whitish-yellow. Mn - Young and recently matured leaves developed chlorosis, and mature leaves developed stippling of necrosis. Drastic reduction of shoot and root growth was common. Flowering was severely inhibited. Cu - Impaired flower development includes reduced size and premature abscission. Desiccation and sudden death of tissue occurred on recently mature leaves. Chlorosis was generally not a distinguishing feature. Zn - Young and recently matured leaves developed puckering, chlorosis, and necrosis. Some plants developed purple pigmentation. B - Foliage became darker green and glossy. Young and recently matured leaves became thick, leathery and brittle with severe distortions. The roots were short and stubby. The rate at which symptoms occurred is an indication of the species sensitivity to a particular nutrient deficiency. The nutrient deficiency symptoms that were first to occur by species were as follows: begonia - N and Fe, celosia - N and K, impatiens - Ca, marigold - N and Fe, New Guinea impatiens 'Grenada' - Ca, New Guinea impatiens 'Timor' - Fe, ornamental cabbage - Ca and Fe, pansy - Fe, petunia - Fe, salvia - N, snapdragon - Ca, vinca - Fe, and zinnia - Ca. Root and shoot apical meristems are specialized areas where cell proliferation and organogenesis take place. The absence of Ca, B and CaB greatly reduced primary root growth relative to control within 12 hours. The number of abnormal nuclei decreased in the order of Ca > CaB > B deficient treatments. Nuclei in both Ca and CaB deficiency treatments showed a significant decrease in volume. Boron deficiencies initially resulted in an increased mitotic index (MI), concurrent with root apical meristem (RAM) distortion. Most of the increase in root diameter could be explained by an increase in the number of cell files in the cortex. Ca and B deficiencies together reduced both the MI and root tip distortion. Lack of B arrests cell death, and lack of Ca arrests cell division. The absence of B triggered cell division in the peripheral lateral root cap. This indicates that B may help to mitigate Ca deprivation effects in Ca deficient environment.