Johnson & Johnson and other manufacturers are shifting to single-concentration doses of their over-the-counter remedies for infants and children to prevent overdoses. Tylenol, which currently comes in different concentrations depending on whether they are for infants or older children, will come in one dose now because parents get confused about who gets what dose. Two years ago, there were 14 hospitalizations caused by pediatric versions of medicines containing acetaminophen, but no deaths, according to the most recent data from the American Association of Poison Control Centers.

The Audi was the Chinese Communist Party's vehicle of choice and, because of that, the brand is on top of the Chinese luxury market. Last year, Audi was China's leading luxury brand and the only luxury brand on the top 20 list of favored auto brands there. The company's A6 sedan, which still is associated with government and party officials, was the top seller. Audi sales in China rose 48% last year to 237,000 vehicles, or slightly more than half of the luxury car segment, according to J.D. Power and Associates.

Russian tennis star Maria Sharapova has relaunched her multimedia presence with a new website using Facebook that lets fans stay up to date with her on- and off-the-court activities. "I started realizing how important social media was about two years ago when you started seeing so much happening online, with Facebook coming around," she said, adding that she launched her first website in 2008. "I think it's so important to be able to incorporate all the things that the fans want to see, whether it's when they go on your Facebook or on your website, to have it all together." …

Purdue University's marketing programs came under fire this year and now Rwitti Roy, the university's director of brand and advertising, is stepping down. She had been on the job for two years. The school launched a campaign last fall called "Makers, All." The campaign got lots of negative press.

Honda is telling U.S. dealers that it will be cutting production of Civics because of a shortage of parts, the aftermath of the earthquake and tsunami. The timing could never be good for such a thing in the cut-throat business that is the U.S. auto market, but it's especially dire now because Honda is just launching its new Civic. The shortages also mean that Honda has to delay by a month the launch this fall of the updated 2012 CR-V crossover.

NASCAR is changing things at its marketing, media and communications departments. The stock car racing marketing arm has formed NASCAR Innovation Group, which will focus on new technology. It will be led by Paul Brooks, president of NASCAR Media Group. NASCAR has also consolidated its intellectual property group under recently promoted sales chief Jim O'Connell. The group will oversee assets bearing NASCAR's trademark, including aftermarket parts, and licensing and partnerships. NASCAR has also hired media veteran Steve Herbst as VP of broadcasting and global media strategy under the NASCAR Media Group. Jon Schwartz is coming to NASCAR from Visa …

Promoted Tweets now include booze because older people are tweeting. ClickZ reports alcohol marketers had been banned from buying Twitter ad space because of drinking age issues. But now that over 70% of users are over 21, alcohol brands can get into the platform.

Coke Zero's agency, Crispin Porter and Bogusky, now handles Vitaminwater as well. The new campaign, "You're Up" is good for the agency's bottom line, since it lost Burger King this year. The news could mean Vitaminwater is in a spending way, as the brand only spent $39 million last year, versus $55 million in 2008, and $50 million in 2009.

Maybe it's the influence of micro-brews, hand-made bicycles, non-Starbucks coffee houses, self-produced albums, and farmers markets. Or maybe brands are finding a distinct lack of creativity at big holding agency shops. Who knows. In any case, big brands from Audi to Pepsi are going with small agencies that aren't under the aegis of the WPPs of the world.

In a new poll by Harris Interactive, 77% of respondents say corporate reputations are "not good" or "terrible." Not terribly surprising, banks and tobacco companies rank near the bottom. Bank of America was 55th, Citigroup is 57th on the list, and Goldman Sachs was 58th out of a list of 60 "most visible" companies. Google was on top, followed by Johnson & Johnson and 3M. Berkshire Hathaway dropped from number one to fourth place.