Abstract: Use of a transforming growth factor beta (TGF-?) signalling inhibitor for producing a population of brown adipocytes in vitro.

Abstract: Non-naturally occurring thermogenic adipocytes are provided. The cells have a distinctive molecular signature, and can be distinguished from predecessor cells such as adipose-derived stem cells as well as other naturally occurring and induced thermogenic cells. Differentiation media that can induce differentiation of ADSC and white adipocytes into thermogenic adipocytes is also provided. Methods of making thermogenic adipocytes, thermogenic adipocytes made according the disclosed methods as well as conditioned media made according a method of incubating the cells in a tissue culture media are also provided. Compositions including thermogenic adipocytes, conditioned media, secreted factor(s), active agents that increase the number or activity of thermogenic adipocytes, or a combination thereof are also disclosed and can be used to treat a variety of diseases and conditions, particularly obesity and metabolic disorders.

Abstract: Use of a transforming growth factor beta (TGF-?) signalling inhibitor for producing a population of brown adipocytes in vitro.

Abstract: A method of installing a fence is provided including advancing a plurality of beams into the ground so that the beams achieve a substantially vertical orientation, and installing a plurality of tubular posts over the beams so that the posts automatically attain the substantially vertical orientation, without having to dispose any other levelling structures between the beams and the posts. One or more horizontal rails can be installed relative to adjacent beams and tubular posts. The tubular posts can define holes, and the opposing ends of a rail can be inserted through corresponding holes. Where the beams have longitudinal channels, the ends of the rails can project through the holes in the posts and into those channels. The tubular posts and/or rails can be secured in place with fasteners. The method provides an inexpensive and quick way to install a fence without digging holes for the beams.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to vascular tissue constructs or vessels and methods for producing vascular tissue constructs or vessels (ie., fabricated blood vessels), including veins, arteries, capillaries and other vascular structures from a biomaterial foundation or scaffold and epicardial progenitor cells (EPCs) which are seeded onto the biomaterial, exposed to a differentiation medium and differentiated into endothelial, cells, smooth muscle cells and pericytes which self-assemble into vascular tissue associated with N the biomaterial foundation or scaffold.

Abstract: A method of installing a fence is provided including advancing a plurality of beams into the ground so that the beams achieve a substantially vertical orientation, and installing a plurality of tubular posts over the beams so that the posts automatically attain the substantially vertical orientation, without having to dispose any other levelling structures between the beams and the posts. One or more horizontal rails can be installed relative to adjacent beams and tubular posts. The tubular posts can define holes, and the opposing ends of a rail can be inserted through corresponding holes. Where the beams have longitudinal channels, the ends of the rails can project through the holes in the posts and into those channels. The tubular posts and/or rails can be secured in place with fasteners. The method provides an inexpensive and quick way to install a fence without digging holes for the beams.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the differentiation of human pluripotent cells, including human pluripotent stems cells to produce a self-renewing multipotent neural crest cell population in a single step method without the requirement of isolation of intermediate cells and without appreciable contamination (in certain preferred instances, virtually none) with Pax6+ neural progenitor cells in the population of p75+Hnk1+Ap2+ multipotent neural crest-like cells. The multipotent neural crest cell population obtained can be clonally amplified and maintained for >25 passages (>100 days) while retaining the capacity to differentiate into peripheral neurons, smooth muscle cells and mesenchymal precursor cells.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the differentiation of human pluripotent cells, including human pluripotent stems cells to produce a self-renewing multipotent neural crest cell population in a single step method without the requirement of isolation of intermediate cells and without appreciable contamination (in certain preferred instances, virtually none) with Pax6+ neural progenitor cells in the population of p75+ Hnk1+ Ap2+ multipotent neural crest-like cells. The multipotent neural crest cell population obtained can be clonally amplified and maintained for >25 passages (>100 days) while retaining the capacity to differentiate into peripheral neurons, smooth muscle cells and mesenchymal precursor cells.

Abstract: The present invention relates to inter alia, methods for the generation and maintenance of Mesoderm-derived ISL1+ Multipotent Progenitors (IMPs), the production of a number of pluripotent cells including and epicardial pluripotent cells (EPCs) and using these cells to produce endothelial cells, cardiomyocytes, smooth muscle cells, vascular cells and other cells and related methods as otherwise disclosed herein. The invention also relates to compositions comprising a population of cells.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the differentiation of human pluripotent cells, including human pluripotent stems cells to produce a self-renewing multipotent neural crest cell population in a single step method without the requirement of isolation of intermediate cells and without appreciable contamination (in certain preferred instances, virtually none) with Pax6+ neural progenitor cells in the population of p75+Hnk1+Ap2+ multipotent neural crest-like cells. The multipotent neural crest cell population obtained can be clonally amplified and maintained for >25 passages (>100 days) while retaining the capacity to differentiate into peripheral neurons, smooth muscle cells and mesenchymal precursor cells.

Abstract: The present invention relates to inter alia, methods for the generation and maintenance of Mesoderm-derived ISL1+ Multipotent Progenitors (IMPs), the production of a number of pluripotent cells including and epicardial pluripotent cells (EPCs) and using these cells to produce endothelial cells, cardiomyocytes, smooth muscle cells, vascular cells and other cells and related methods as otherwise disclosed herein. The invention also relates to compositions comprising a population of cells.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of isotopically labeling glycans and in facilitating high throughput quantitative/comparative analysis of glycomic compositions of biological cells. The method is applicable inter alia for identifying differentiated cells and their glycomic characteristics, differentiation conditions, disease and/or therapeutic progression, diagnosing disease states, determining drug activity, establishing manufacturing efficiencies and for determining the half-life of glycans in cells.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the production of multipotent migratory cell (MMCs) which can be differentiated into mesoderm or endoderm lineages. Multipotent Migratory Cells (MMC) are stable and robust and can be passaged at least 20 times (perhaps indefinitely), can be recovered after freezing, reamplified and differentiated into multiple lineages. They are therefore storage stable. The method of producing these cells points to a way to generate a multipotent cell type (mesendoderm) from blastocycts for the generation of therapeutically useful cell types without going through a classical hESC state. The production of multipotent migratory cells, mesendoderm cells and mesoderm cells (Isl1+) is also described.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the differentiation of human pluripotent cells, including human pluripotent stems cells to produce a self-renewing multipotent neural crest cell population in a single step method without the requirement of isolation of intermediate cells and without appreciable contamination (in certain preferred instances, virtually none) with Pax6+ neural progenitor cells in the population of p75+ Hnk1+ Ap2+ multipotent neural crest-like cells. The multipotent neural crest cell population obtained can be clonally amplified and maintained for >25 passages (>100 days) while retaining the capacity to differentiate into peripheral neurons, smooth muscle cells and mesenchymal precursor cells.

Abstract: The present invention provides compositions and methods for the production of differentiated mammalian cells. More particularly, the present invention provides cellular differentiation methods employing culturing the cells on a feeder layer or under feeder-free conditions in cell culture and further contacting the cells with an inhibitor of the PI3-kinase pathway and a member of the TGFb family for the generation of differentiated mammalian cells from pluripotent mammalian stem cells. Preferably, the differentiated cell is selected from the group consisting of a mesendodermal cell, a mesodermal cell, and an endodermal cell.

Abstract: The present invention relates to inter alia, methods for the generation and maintenance of Mesoderm-derived ISL1+ Multipotent Progenitors (IMPs), the production of a number of pluripotent cells including and epicardial pluripotent cells (EPCs) and using these cells to produce endothelial cells, cardiomyocytes, smooth muscle cells, vascular cells and other cells and related methods as otherwise disclosed herein. The invention also relates to compositions comprising a population of cells.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of isotopically labeling glycans and in facilitating high throughput quantitative/comparative analysis of glycomic compositions of biological cells. The method is applicable inter alia for identifying differentiated cells and their glycomic characteristics, differentiation conditions, disease and/or therapeutic progression, diagnosing disease states, determining drug activity, establishing manufacturing efficiencies and for determining the half-life of glycans in cells.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the production of multipotent migratory cell (MMCs) which can be differentiated into mesoderm or endoderm lineages. Multipotent Migratory Cells (MMC) are stable and robust and can be passaged at least 20 times (perhaps indefinitely), can be recovered after freezing, reamplified and differentiated into multiple lineages. They are therefore storage stable. The method of producing these cells points to a way to generate a multipotent cell type (mesendoderm) from blastocycts for the generation of therapeutically useful cell types without going through a classical hESC state. The production of multipotent migratory cells, mesendoderm cells and mesoderm cells (Isl1+) is also described.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods that allow for the efficient differentiation to form pancreatic endoderm cells from pluripotent stem cells such as human embryonic stem cells and definitive endoderm cells. The invention is directly applicable to the ultimate generation of pancreatic beta cells that could be used as part of a therapy to treat or even cure diabetes. Additionally, the present invention may be used to generate liver endoderm cells from human embryonic stem cells and definite endoderm cells as well. This invention relates to a method for generating definitive endoderm and pancreatic endoderm cells from stem cells, preferably human embryonic stem cells using defined media in the absence of feeder cells. A simply two step procedure to provide pancreatic endoderm cells from embryonic stem cells represents further embodiments of the present invention.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods for stabilizing pluripotent cells through the transcriptional activation of c-myc. Alternatively, the cells are stabilized through the transcriptional activation of c-myc, and the stabilization of c-myc protein levels. c-myc protein can be stabilized through the inhibition of GSK3? or through other components of the cellular machinery that impact on c-myc stability. The invention contemplates the stabilized pluripotent cells produced using the methods described herein. Methods for the identification of compounds that modulate the stabilization of pluripotent cells through modulating transcriptional activation of c-myc, stabilization of c-myc protein levels, and/or inhibition of GSK3? activity are also contemplated.