Empirical legal analysis simplified: reducing complexity through automatic identification and evaluation of legally relevant factors.

This paper investigates the potential for reducing the complexity of AI and Law and empirical legal studies projects through a novel annotation methodology that relies on GPT Family Models to assist human annotators. Improving the speed, cost and quality of annotation could greatly benefit such projects. In modelling types of legal claims, researchers in the fields of empirical legal studies and AI and Law have long relied on manually annotating factors in case texts. To demonstrate our methodology, we employ cases and factors regarding whether a police officer has constitutional authority to detain a motorist on the basis of the officer's suspicion that the motorist is trafficking drugs. Our results demonstrate how recent advances in text analytics can reduce the burden of identifying factors in large numbers of cases and improve machine learning models' predictions of case outcomes. This article is part of the theme issue 'A complexity science approach to law and governance'.

Mobility of Oxathiapiprolin and Mefenoxam in Citrus Seedlings After Root Application and Implications for Managing Phytophthora Root Rot.

Oxathiapiprolin is highly effective in the management of Phytophthora root rot of citrus; however, its uptake into plants after soil application is not known. This was investigated and compared with mefenoxam using potted citrus seedlings sampled 7, 10, 13, and 16 days after soil treatments. Bioassays and high-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectroscopy (HPLC-MS/MS) were used to quantify fungicide amounts in plant extracts. Distinct inhibition zones of mycelial growth of Phytophthora citrophthora were observed in bioassays when root, stem, or leaf extracts were added to filter paper disks on agar plates. Based on the two quantification methods, concentrations of both fungicides in the three tissue types and at all sampling times were above the mean effective concentration that provides 50% growth reduction values of the baseline sensitivities. Relative concentrations at the four sampling times sometimes varied between the two methods but, for both methods, concentrations of oxathiapiprolin were significantly higher in roots and leaves as compared with stems 10 days after treatment and statistically similar in the three tissues after 7 days. For mefenoxam, concentrations significantly increased in roots between 7 and 16 days after treatment and were significantly the highest in roots as compared with stems or leaves 16 days after treatment. Regressions of oxathiapiprolin and mefenoxam concentrations using HPLC-MS/MS on those calculated from bioassay standard curves indicated that the bioassays overestimated fungicide amounts in the extracts. The bioassay, however, can be considered an alternative option comparable with costly residue analyses in fungicide mobility studies in plants. Uptake of oxathiapiprolin at sufficient but low concentrations into plant roots provides an explanation for its long-lasting high activity in the management of Phytophthora root rot.

Evaluation of New Oomycota Fungicides for Management of Phytophthora Root Rot of Citrus in California.

Phytophthora root rot, caused by several species of Phytophthora, is an important disease of citrus in California and other growing regions. For chemical management, mefenoxam and potassium phosphite have been available for many years, and resistance in Phytophthora spp. has been reported for both compounds. We evaluated the efficacy of the new Oomycota fungicides ethaboxam, fluopicolide, mandipropamid, and oxathiapiprolin, each with a different mode of action, against Phytophthora root rot of citrus in field and greenhouse studies. Root balls of navel orange trees on 'Carrizo citrange' rootstock were inoculated with P. nicotianae at planting in the field in fall 2013. Applications with 11 fungicide treatments were made 5 weeks after planting, in spring and fall 2014, and in spring 2015. Feeder roots and adjacent soil were collected before or after application. All of the new fungicides significantly reduced root rot incidence and Phytophthora soil populations to very low levels as compared with the control starting after the first application. Mefenoxam was only effective when a high label rate was used in the fourth application. Selected treatments also increased tree canopy size, trunk diameter, and fruit yield as compared with the control. A rate comparison with the four new fungicides was initiated in summer 2016 in another field trial using navel orange trees inoculated with P. citrophthora. Minimum effective rates to reduce Phytophthora root rot incidence and pathogen soil populations were determined after one and two applications in fall 2016 and summer 2017, respectively. Greenhouse studies confirmed the efficacy of the new fungicides. Based in part on our studies, fluopicolide recently received a federal and oxathiapiprolin a full registration for use on citrus, and registrations for ethaboxam and mandipropamid have been requested. These new compounds will provide highly effective treatment options and resistance management strategies using rotation and mixture programs for the control of Phytophthora root rot of citrus.

Baseline Sensitivities of New Fungicides and Their Toxicity to Selected Life Stages of Phytophthora Species from Citrus in California.

Phytophthora citrophthora, P. syringae, P. nicotianae, and P. hibernalis are important pathogens of citrus in California but few chemical treatments are currently available. In vitro toxicities of four new fungicides to isolates of Phytophthora spp. from California were determined. Mean effective concentration values to inhibit mycelial growth by 50% for ethaboxam, fluopicolide, mandipropamid, oxathiapiprolin, and mefenoxam were 0.068, 0.04, 0.004, 0.0003, and 0.039 µg/ml, respectively, for 62 isolates of P. citrophthora; 0.005, 0.045, 0.003, 0.0001, and 0.008 µg/ml, respectively, for 71 isolates of P. syringae; 0.016, 0.057, 0.005, 0.0005, and 0.183 µg/ml, respectively, for 31 isolates of P. nicotianae; and 0.030, 0.018, 0.005, <0.0003, and ≤0.001 µg/ml, respectively, for two isolates of P. hibernalis. Mean values for ≥90% inhibition of sporangia formation of four isolates of P. citrophthora were 0.1, 0.28, 0.026, 0.005, and 55 µg/ml for ethaboxam, fluopicolide, mandipropamid, oxathiapiprolin, and mefenoxam, respectively. Zoospore cyst germination of P. citrophthora was most inhibited by oxathiapiprolin and mandipropamid. Chlamydospore formation of P. nicotianae was most sensitive to oxathiapiprolin, with a mean ≥90% reduction (EC>90) of 0.002 µg/ml, moderately sensitive to mandipropamid (EC>90 = 0.2 µg/ml) and mefenoxam (EC>90 = 0.6 µg/ml), and least sensitive to ethaboxam and fluopicolide (EC>90 = 1 µg/ml). Oospore formation of P. nicotianae was inhibited by ≥90% using oxathiapiprolin at 0.0004 µg/ml, mandipropamid at 0.02 µg/ml, ethaboxam at 0.1 µg/ml, or fluopicolide at 0.4 µg/ml, whereas 62% inhibition was obtained by mefenoxam at 40 µg/ml.