In Suspense: Donald Trump's Efforts to Undermine Public Trust in Democracy.

For decades, Republicans and American conservatives have cultivated and employed public distrust in government to garner strategic benefits. But officeholders have typically behaved with restraint in running for reelection, limiting their pursuit of electoral self-interest at the expense of the political system they are sworn to "preserve, protect, and defend." President Trump has shown little interest in such restraint, and his attacks on the electoral process could produce grave social and political consequences in the aftermath of the 2020 election.

Teaching suffering: the testimonial-commentary method.

Attempts to define professionalism and humanism suggest that qualities such as compliance to values, patient access, doctor-patient relationship, demeanor, professional management, personal awareness, and motivation are prominent thematic components. In this communication, we present a method for instruction in the values of humanism that may help to overcome the "curricular inertia that plagues medical education." Our approach is structured around a technique of testimonial-commentary as a novel approach to teaching humanism that does not rely upon the traditional role-modeling format. To develop effective medical school curricula for teaching humanism, we cannot rely upon the textbooks of normal and abnormal human anatomy and physiology. We must delve into the "unscientific" realms of human identity ranging from sensuality to brutality: self-preservation to sacrifice. Underneath it all, we must acknowledge that there are the ties that bind us together as people. The Seminar on Human Suffering challenges medical school educators to work with the community at large to insure that physicians will be able to serve those that seek their counsel.

Use of fluoroalkyl as a latent group for internal alkylation: application to the synthesis of bridged tetrahydrofluorenones.

Tetrahydrofluorenones which possess a C9a-fluoroalkyl substituent were efficiently converted to tetrahydrofluorenones which contain a ring bridging C9a-C2. Conditions include a stepwise sequence of conversion to an alkyl bromide followed by treatment with base, and a direct cyclization by treatment with lithium chloride in DMF heated to 150 degrees C.

Novel synthesis of enamines by iridium-catalyzed dehydrogenation of tertiary amines.

A novel route to enamines is reported, the dehydrogenation of tertiary amines catalyzed by a "pincer-ligated" iridium catalyst.