Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide an endodermal cell population for obtaining optimal somatic cells as cell therapy preparations. The endodermal cell population of the present invention has a reduced content proportion of undifferentiated cells in the cell population and contains endodermal cells differentiable into optimal somatic cells as cell therapy preparations. Further, a somatic cell derived from the endodermal cell population of the present invention has excellent therapeutic effects as a cell therapy preparation.

Abstract: A method for inducing differentiation into pancreatic ? cells includes: a step (a) of culturing endodermal cells, which have been induced to differentiate from pluripotent stem cells, in the presence of a bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) signaling inhibitor, and retinoic acid or a retinoic acid analog to induce differentiation into primitive gut tube (PGT) cells; a step (b) of culturing the primitive gut tube (PGT) cells to induce differentiation into pancreatic endocrine precursor (EP) cells; and a step (c) of culturing the pancreatic endocrine precursor (EP) cells to induce differentiation into pancreatic ? cells, in which the step (b) and the step (c) are performed in the absence of ascorbic acid.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide an endodermal cell population for obtaining optimal somatic cells as cell therapy preparations. The endodermal cell population of the present invention has a reduced content proportion of undifferentiated cells in the cell population and contains endodermal cells differentiable into optimal somatic cells as cell therapy preparations. Further, a somatic cell derived from the endodermal cell population of the present invention has excellent therapeutic effects as a cell therapy preparation.

Abstract: A problem addressed by the present invention is to provide a method for producing pancreatic ? cells from endothermal cells that have been induced to differentiate from pluripotent stein cells, wherein the method allows the production of pancreatic ? cells of high quality, and to provide pancreatic progenitor (PP) cells, pancreatic endocrine precursor (EP) cells, and pancreatic ? cells produced by the above-mentioned method.

Abstract: A problem addressed by the present invention is to provide a method for producing primitive gut tube cells from endothermal cells that have been induced to differentiate from pluripotent stein cells, wherein the method allows the production of pancreatic ? cells of high quality. The present invention provides a method for producing primitive gut tube (PGT) cells comprising a step of culturing, in the absence of a bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) signaling inhibitor, endodermal cells that have been induced to differentiate from pluripotent stem cells.

Abstract: A hydrogen permeation membrane having excellent hydrogen permeability and hydrogen embrittlement resistance, and a production method thereof. This membrane is made of a niobium alloy foil having an amorphous crystal structure, the niobium alloy foil comprising 5 to 65 atomic % of at least one member selected from the group consisting of Ni, Co and Mo as a first additive element and 0.1 to 60 atomic % of at least one member selected from the group consisting of V, Ti, Zr, Ta and Hf as a second additive element together with the balance of Nb as an indispensable constituent element wherein 0.01 to 20 atomic % of Al and/or Cu may be contained as a third additive element. This alloy foil can be produced through a method comprising preparing a metal mixture of the above formulation, heating the metal mixture to the melting point or higher in an inert gas so as to melt the same and forming the melt into a film (foil) according to a liquid quenching technique.