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We analyze empirical aspects of the limited-time product strategy-introduction of a new product that is available only for a limited time-that involves the use of umbrella branding. Despite the popularity of such a marketing strategy in many consumer packaged goods categories, little empirical work has studied how consumers react to this scarcity marketing in their actual choices. We use individual-level transaction data from the beer market and model consumers' beer purchases using a multiple discrete-continuous choice model. The proposed model captures the patterns of consumer choices in response to the limited-time product and the asymmetric sales spillover effects between a parent product and a limited-time subproduct. Using the model estimates, we quantify the effects of incorporating a product's limited-time nature and adopting an umbrella brand for a limited-time product. Our analyses indicate that (1) the product's limited-time nature is associated with a rapid jump in demand in the launching period; (2) the return from store coverage for limited-time products decreases over time; and (3) umbrella branding for limited-time products increases the brand-level demand despite the cannibalization of the sales of a parent product. Managerial implications about the nature of perceived scarcity associated with the limited-time product and the effective targeting and distribution strategy are discussed., Author(s): Masakazu Ishihara [sup.1] , Minjung Kwon [sup.2] , Makoto Mizuno [sup.3] Author Affiliations: (1) https://ror.org/0190ak572, grid.137628.9, 0000 0004 1936 8753, New York University, , 40 West 4th Street, Tisch [...]

The Epidermal Sensitization Assay (EpiSensA) is a reconstructed human epidermis (RhE)‐based gene expression assay for predicting the skin sensitization potential of chemicals. Since the RhE model is covered by a stratified stratum corneum, various kinds of test chemicals, including lipophilic ones and pre‐/pro‐haptens, can be tested with a route of exposure akin to an in vivo assay and human exposure. This article presents the results of a formally managed validation study of the EpiSensA that was carried out by three participating laboratories. The purpose of this validation study was to assess transferability of the EpiSensA to new laboratories along with its within‐ (WLR) and between‐laboratory reproducibility (BLR). The validation study was organized into two independent stages. As demonstrated during the first stage, where three sensitizers and one non‐sensitizer were correctly predicted by all participating laboratories, the EpiSensA was successfully transferred to all three participating laboratories. For Phase I of the second stage, each participating laboratory performed three experiments with an identical set of 15 coded test chemicals resulting in WLR of 93.3%, 93.3%, and 86.7%, respectively. Furthermore, when the results from the 15 test chemicals were combined with those of the additional 12 chemicals tested in Phase II of the second stage, the BLR for 27 test chemicals was 88.9%. Moreover, the predictive capacity among the three laboratories showed 92.6% sensitivity, 63.0% specificity, 82.7% accuracy, and 77.8% balanced accuracy based on murine local lymph node assay (LLNA) results. Overall, this validation study concluded that EpiSensA is easily transferable and sufficiently robust for assessing the skin sensitization potential of chemicals. EpiSensA is an in vitro skin sensitization test method based on gene expression of Rhe. This article presents the results of a formal validation study for assessing its transferability and reliability. The EpiSensA was successfully transferred to three participating laboratories. Furthermore, each laboratory performed three experiments with 15 coded test chemicals resulting in within‐laboratory reproducibility of 86.7 to 93.3%, respectively. Moreover, the between‐laboratory reproducibility for 27 chemicals was 88.9%. Overall, EpiSensA was a sufficiently transferable and robust method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fibrosis is the final common pathway for various tissue lesions that lead to chronic progressive organ failure, and consequently effective antifibrotic drugs are strongly desired. However, there are few animal models in which it is possible to evaluate fibrosis sensitively in a short period of time. We therefore generated two transgenic rats harboring a firefly luciferase reporter gene under the control of the 5'-flanking region of rat [[alpha].sub.1](I) collagen (Collal-Luc Tg rats) and [[alpha].sub.2](I) collagen (Colla2-Luc Tg rats). The luciferase activities of these transgenic rats were highly correlated with the hydroxyproline content in various organs. In unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO), a well-characterized model of renal fibrosis, the luciferase activity in obstructed kidneys showed a significant increase after even 3 days of UUO, while the hydroxyproline content showed little increase. In addition, the renal hydroxyproline content had a higher correlation with the luciferase activity than [[alpha].sub.1](I) collagen mRNA level for over 2 wk after UUO. Although both an ANG II type 1 receptor blocker (ARB), olmesartan, and a transforming growth factor-[beta] (TGF-[beta]) type I receptor kinase (ALK5) inhibitor, SB-431542, inhibited renal luciferase activities in UUO, only SB-431542 inhibited luciferase activity induced by TGF-[beta]1 in isolated glomeruli. Double immunostaining for luciferase and [alpha]-smooth muscle actin ([alpha]-SMA) revealed that some [alpha]-SMA-positive tubular epithelial cells and tubular interstitial cells produced type I collagen, which would lead to renal fibrosis. Thus collagen reporter transgenic rats would be very useful for the evaluation of antifibrotic effects and analysis of their mechanisms. ARB; fibrosis; luicferase doi: 10.1152/ajprenal.00141.2009.

A study was conducted on the cardiovascular roles of platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) in anesthetized rats. The blood pressure dropped after the intravenous injection of PDGF-BB. The pulse pressure also decreased because the drop in systolic pressure was greater than that in diastolic pressure. The findings indicate a new role of PDGF-BB that may be essential in the regulation in circulation through the increase in macrovascular compliance mediated by nitric oxide.