Sister Samples Research Articles

Comorbidities in women with polycystic ovary syndrome: a sibling study

BackgroundPolycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) has previously been associated with several comorbidities that may have shared genetic, epigenetic, developmental or environmental origins. PCOS may be influenced by prenatal androgen excess, poor intrauterine or childhood environmental factors, childhood obesity and learned health risk behaviors. We analyzed the association between PCOS and several relevant comorbidities while adjusting for early-life biological and socioeconomic conditions, also investigating the extent to which the association is affected by familial risk factors.MethodsThis total-population register-based cohort study included 333,999 full sisters, born between 1962 and 1980. PCOS and comorbidity diagnoses were measured at age 17-45 years through national hospital register data from 1997 to 2011, and complemented with information on the study subjects´ early-life and social characteristics. In the main analysis, sister fixed effects (FE) models were used to control for all time-invariant factors that are shared among sisters, thereby testing whether the association between PCOS and examined comorbidities is influenced by unobserved familial environmental, social or genetic factors.ResultsThree thousand five hundred seventy women in the Sister sample were diagnosed with PCOS, of whom 14% had obesity, 8% had depression, 7% had anxiety and 4% experienced sleeping, sexual and eating disorders (SSE). Having PCOS increased the odds of obesity nearly 6-fold (adjusted OR (aOR): 5.9 [95% CI:5.4-6.5]). This association was attenuated in models accounting for unobserved characteristics shared between full sisters, but remained considerable in size (Sister FE: aOR: 4.5 [95% CI: 3.6-5.6]). For depression (Sister FE: aOR: 1.4 [95% CI: 1.2-1.8]) and anxiety (Sister FE: aOR: 1.5 [95% CI: 1.2-1.8), there was a small decrease in the aORs when controlling for factors shared between sisters. Being diagnosed with SSE disorders yielded a 2.4 aOR (95% CI:2.0-2.6) when controlling for a comprehensive set of individual-level confounders, which only decreased slightly when controlling for factors at the family level such as shared genes or parenting style. Accounting for differences between sisters in observed early-life circumstances influenced the estimated associations marginally.ConclusionHaving been diagnosed with PCOS is associated with a markedly increased risk of obesity and sleeping, sexual and eating disorders, also after accounting for factors shared between sisters and early-life conditions.

Client experiences of virtual energy healing.

During the COVID-19 pandemic medical and holistic health practitioners turned to utilizing virtual healthcare. As energy healing practitioners and educators who shifted to an online format, it seemed important to document descriptions of client experiences of virtual energy healing. To describe client experiences of virtual energy healing sessions. Descriptive pre-post intervention design. Two experienced and eclectic energy healing practitioners developed a protocol and conducted energy healing sessions via Zoom. A convenience sample of Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet (CSJ) Consociates, people of diverse life-styles and spiritual traditions who are committed to living the mission of the CSJs in the St. Paul Province. Pre-post 10-point Likert scale rating of relaxation, well-being, and pain. Pre-post primarily qualitative questionnaires. Results indicated significant pre-post differences: pre-session relaxation (M=5.036, SD=2.9) and post-session relaxation (M=7.86, SD=6.4): t(13)=2.16, p=.0017*; pre-session well-being (M=5.86, SD=4.29); post-session well-being (M=8, SD=2.31), t(13), p=.0001*; pre-session pain (M=4.0, SD=6.15) and post-session pain (M=2.25, SD=3.41), t(13)=2.16, p=.004*. Thematic analysis revealed six themes related to client experiences of virtual energy healing: 1) embodied sensations, 2) relaxation, 3) release - a letting go of tasks/anxieties/worries, 4) sense of peace/joy/calm, 5) connection to themselves, others, and something larger, and 6) surprise that virtual energy healing works. This was a descriptive study using a convenience sample, therefore, there was not a control group, a large sample size, and the sample might be more prone to report better results than the general population because of their spiritual perspectives. Results were not generalizable. Clients reported positive descriptions of virtual energy healing and say they would do it again. However more research is needed to understand the variables that influenced the results and the underlying mechanisms of action.

Cognitive rigidity and attention to detail in a sample of sisters of anorexia nervosa patients: evidence for a neuropsychological endophenotype?

Cognitive rigidity and attention to detail in a sample of sisters of anorexia nervosa patients: evidence for a neuropsychological endophenotype?

Enhancement of radiation detection performance with reduction of EH6/7 deep levels in n-type 4H–SiC through thermal oxidation

We report the effect of EH6/7 electron trap centers alone on the performance of high-resolution radiation detectors fabricated on n-type 4H–SiC epitaxial layers. A Schottky barrier detector (SBD) and a metal-oxide-semiconductor (MOS) capacitor detector fabricated using two sister samples derived from the same 50 μm 4H–SiC parent wafer exhibited widely different energy resolutions of 0.4% and 0.9% for 5486 keV alpha particles. An equivalent noise charge model analysis ruled out the effect of the detector capacitance and the leakage current on the resolution of the detectors. Deep level transient spectroscopic studies revealed the presence of two trapping centers in each detector within the temperature scan range 240–800 K. The Z1/2 center, a potential electron trap, was detected in both the detectors in equal concentration, which suggested that the observed difference in the energy resolution is due to the presence of the other defect, the EH6/7 center, in the SBD. The capture cross section of the EH6/7 center was calculated to be three orders of magnitude higher than the second defect [a carbon antisite vacancy (CAV) center] observed in the MOS detector with an activation energy of 1.10 eV, which accounted for the enhanced electronic trapping in the SBD leading to its poor energy resolution. It has been proposed that the EH6/7 centers in the SBD have likely been reconfigured to CAV pairs during the thermal growth of the silicon dioxide layer in the MOS detector. The proposed formation mechanism of CAV, a stable qubit state for quantum information processing, addresses the outstanding questions related to the role of defect dynamics in their formation.

Validation of materials-informed digital twin: Mapping residual strains in HSLA steel weldment using high energy X-rays

The shipbuilding industry has placed an emphasis on establishing digital twin prototypes to advance computational lifecycle analysis capabilities. However, material processing data is not currently included in simulations for structural performance, which could lead to inaccuracies. Integrated Computational Materials Engineering (ICME) techniques yield a path to solving this problem through linking digital information across multiple length scales in order to minimize the time and cost of physical testing needed for validation. This paper details the initial work of a larger materials-informed digital twin effort seeking to validate the need for fabrication inclusion in lifecycle analysis. First, the selection and fabrication of the “sister sample” specimens used for physical validation from a single plate of HSLA-100 steel. Second, the finite-element analysis (FEA)-based welding simulations of the reinforced dog-bone weldment. Third, comparison of predicted strain data from FEA simulations to two-dimensional (2D) strain maps using energy dispersive diffraction (EDD) techniques at the Cornell High-Energy Synchrotron Source (CHESS). The results showed high correlation between the measured EDD data and the FEA predictions, particularly for the high strain (>0.0015) fields of first principle strain vectors measured parallel to each welding pass. This computational validation is the first step towards validating the materials-informed digital twin method for increasing accuracy of structural analysis and fatigue lifecycle evaluation.

ThellierCoolPy: A Cooling‐Rate Correction Tool for Paleointensity Data

AbstractWe report a new approach of implementing cooling‐rate corrections in absolute ancient magnetic field intensity (paleointensity) studies. Nearly all methods of determining paleointensity estimates rely on rocks having recorded a thermoremanent magnetization (TRM), on cooling from above the rock’s constituent minerals’ Curie temperature. Typically paleointensity estimates are made by comparing natural TRM, with a TRM induced in the laboratory; however, TRM intensity has long been reported to be dependent on cooling rate. Natural cooling rates are impractical in laboratories. We have developed a new cooling‐rate correction method and corresponding software (ThellierCoolPy), that directly corrects the unprocessed paleointensity data, using first‐order reversal curve data collected on a sister sample. This site tailored cooling‐rate correction has a unique correction for each temperature step within the paleointensity data set. This new method differs from previous approaches which apply a blanket cooling‐rate correction independent of the material properties of the sample. Paleointensity data from historical lavas from Parícutin, Mexico, are used to demonstrate the new software. For this data set, it is shown that cooling time of 1 million years yields a reduction of the paleointensity of ∼7%. The software is available for download.

Multimodal Visualization of Vaca Muerta Shale Fabric Before and After Maturation

We use two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) imaging techniques to characterize sister samples of an immature Vaca Muerta shale before and after maturation in a pyrolysis cell. We use a series of electron microscopy and X-ray techniques to determine the mineralogical and structural properties of each shale sample before and after maturation. We verify successful maturation of the sample using programmed pyrolysis as well as before and after 2D and 3D images to determine changes in mineralogy, the shale fabric, and the development of microcracks. We observe new crack development in organic matter-hosted regions and along grain boundaries, as well as substantial growth of pre-existing microcracks and defects. The sum of porosity plus organic matter is constant before and after pyrolysis at 35%, indicating that the majority of pore volume creation occurs at the expense of organic matter removal.

Long-term stability study of the passivation quality of polysilicon-based passivation layers for silicon solar cells

We investigate the stability of the effective lifetime τeff and the recombination current density parameter J0 in n-type silicon samples with symmetric phosphorus doped poly-Si/SiOx structures, and identify factors that contribute to the passivation degradation behavior. It is found that the surface passivation quality of phosphorus doped polysilicon passivating contacts degrades upon dark annealing and light soaking at temperatures between 75 °C and 200 °C, which can lead to a pronounced increase of the recombination current density parameter J0 (one-side) from below 10 fA/cm2 to 50 fA/cm2 or above. The degradation is only detected on fired wafers, whereas the surface passivation quality is found to be stable in the non-fired sister samples. Surprisingly, a recovery of τeff and J0 is observed after the degradation. The degradation and regeneration behaviors depend strongly on temperature and light intensity, and the presence of silicon nitride (SiNx) capping layers during the light soaking. Increasing the annealing temperature dramatically increases the rate of the degradation and the regeneration process, and at the same time reduces the magnitude of the degradation. The regeneration process appears to be affected by the presence of SiNx films during the light soaking treatment. Samples with SiNx films removed after firing suffer a significantly larger degradation upon light soaking without any lifetime regeneration. Grazing incidence X-ray diffraction measurements reveal negligible change in the structural property and crystalline quality of the polysilicon layer during the degradation.

Combining Low-Temperature Gettering With Phosphorus Diffusion Gettering for Improved Multicrystalline Silicon

We have investigated low-temperature (≤500 °C) gettering in combination with phosphorus diffusion gettering with a view to improving poor quality multicrystalline silicon. Low-temperature gettering applied after standard phosphorus diffusion gettering is found to provide a >40% improvement in minority carrier lifetime in samples from the top and bottom of an ingot. The best results are achieved at 300 °C with very long annealing times (>24 h). Improvements in the lifetime do not correlate with changes in interstitial iron concentration. Experiments are performed to assess whether the presence of a phosphorus-diffused emitter affects low-temperature gettering, and results from sister samples show the low-temperature gettering behavior is not affected by the existence of an emitter. Further experiments show that low-temperature gettering prior to phosphorus diffusion results in a 20% higher lifetime after phosphorus diffusion. Low-temperature gettering can, therefore, enhance lifetime even when used in conjunction with standard phosphorus diffusion gettering.

Effect of Phosphorus and Boron Diffusion Gettering on the Light Induced Degradation in Multicrystalline Silicon Wafers

Multicrystalline silicon (multi-Si) is currently the most widely used material for crystalline silicon solar cells. Although there has been substantial improvement in cell efficiency with the use of high-performance (HP) multi-Si, the PERC (passivated emitter and rear cell) devices fabricated from this material suffer from strong light-induced degradation (LID). This study aims to investigate the possibility of reducing LID in HP multi-Si wafers using diffusion gettering. By using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, we measured the impurity concentration in sister samples subjected to different diffusion conditions. The results showed that a 50-Ω/sq POCl3 diffusion and 60-Ω/sq BBr3 diffusion at 800°C can getter impurities effectively. The interstitial Fe (Fei) and light-induced defect concentration was measured before and after gettering, using surface photovoltage measurements. After degrading the samples at 80°C for 24 hours, we observed that the light-induced defect concentration is lowest in HP multi-Si wafers that underwent phosphorus diffusion gettering. Samples subjected to boron diffusion gettering also show less LID compared to non-diffused sister samples.

Superconductivity in LiOHFeS single crystals with a shrunk c-axis lattice constant

By using a hydrothermal ion-exchange method, we have successfully grown superconducting crystals of LiOHFeS with ${T_c}$ of about 2.8 K. Being different from the sister sample (Li${_{1-x}}$Fe${_x}$)OHFeSe, the energy dispersion spectrum analysis on LiOHFeS shows that the Fe/S ratio is very close to 1:1, suggesting an almost charge neutrality and less electron doping in the FeS planes of the system. Comparing with the non superconducting LiOHFeS crystal, each peak of the X-ray diffraction pattern of the superconducting crystal splits into two, and the diffraction peaks locating at lower reflection angles are consistent with that of non-superconducting ones. The rest set of diffraction peaks with higher reflection angles is corresponding to the superconducting phase, suggesting that the superconducting phase may has a shrunk c-axis lattice constant. Magnetization measurements indicate that the magnetic shielding due to superconductivity can be quite high under a weak magnetic field. The resistivity measurements under various magnetic fields show that the upper critical field is quite low, which is similar to the tetragonal FeS superconductor.

Mitochondrial control region and GSTP1 polymorphism associated with familial urinary bladder cancer in Karbi-Anglong tribe of Assam, Northeast India

BackgroundMultiple studies have suggested that subjects with glutathione S-transferase P1 (GSTP1)-mutations are at high risk for urinary bladder cancer (UBC). MethodsIn the present study, we evaluated the mutations in GSTP1 and mitochondrial D-loop genes in two unrelated familial bladder cancer patients belonging to Karbi Anglong Assam tribe. Mitochondrial D-loop and nuclear GSTP1 polymorphic region were amplified and sequenced for all the family members and patients. Two SNPs in the GSTP1 gene for amino acid substitutions at codons 105 (Ile→Val) and 114 (Val→Ala) were genotyped by PCR-RFLP-based methods. ResultsmtDNA D-loop sequence variations were found and there were A and C insertions common at positions 235 and 309, respectively for both the families. Two sequence differences were identified in urinary bladder cancer samples in GSTP1 gene. These two heteroplasmic mutations were found at positions 11qG3037G/A and 11qC3038C/A in patient, father, mother, brother and son, but not in the sister and wife samples in family 2. The GSTP1, 105Ile>Val is most susceptible to inherited UBC risk for these ethnic families. The samples from families 1 and 2, including healthy subjects were placed in macrohaplogroup L3e, except the wife (macrohaplogroup F1c1a) of patient in family 1, and the wife and son (haplogroup M) of the patient in family-2. ConclusionA strong familial nuclear GSTP1 sequence variation and mitochondrial control region was observed in this study for familial urinary bladder cancer. This could afford early recognition of patients at risk of developing micro- or macroscopic, pathological lesions as well as the introduction of preventive measures for familial bladder cancer.

Further evidence for magnetic susceptibility as a proxy for the evaluation of heavy metals in mining wastes: case study of Tlalpujahua and El Oro Mining Districts

Magnetic susceptibility is nowadays used in most areas of environmental research as a proxy for heavy metal pollution in industrial and urban areas. Although the relationship between magnetic susceptibility and concentration of toxic elements in different environments has been pointed out in several studies, mining wastes (tailings) have hardly been investigated by magnetic methods. We report the relationships between magnetic susceptibility and potentially toxic elements monitored at 12 vertical ground profiles of the Tlalpujahua and El Oro mining districts, western Mexico. Specific bulk magnetic susceptibility (k) measurements, percentage frequency-dependent susceptibility (%XFD) determinations as well as the identification of the magnetic carriers within the samples were accomplished using standard rock-magnetic techniques on geochemically well characterized sister samples. Magnetite and/or Ti-poor titanomagnetite seem to be the main magnetic carriers in the samples. Tight correspondence between k and Fe concentrations, as well as Pb and As with the iron content were found. This association seems to hold also for pH variations.

Prediction of Photovoltaic Cu(In,Ga)Se2 p-n Device Performance by forward Bias Electrochemical Analysis of Only the p-Type Cu(In,Ga)Se2 Films

This work is an attempt to rate the quality of Mo/Cu(In,Ga)Se2 films intended for fabrication of photovoltaic devices. The procedure is based on the simple current-voltage electrochemical analysis of the bilayer in a Eu2+/3+-containing electrolyte solution. Two series of bilayer samples were tested electrochemically, while sister samples were completed into Mo/Cu(In,Ga)Se2/CdS/i-ZnO/Al:ZnO/Ni-Al solid state devices and their current-voltage characteristics measured in the dark. A correlation was found between the reverse saturation current density of the solid state devices and an analogous parameter extracted from the electrochemical response in forward bias. While Eu2+ was found to be metastable in water posing restrictions to the application, reproducible measurements were achieved with a methanol-based solution. The intrinsic simplicity of the proposed methodology makes it particularly suitable for the implementation of a low-cost diagnostic tool.

Predictive effect of injunctions on personality disorders in dysfunctional Catholic priests and religious sisters: a study using Millon's model and Transactional Analysis

The purpose of this study is to investigate the preference of different sets of injunctions – as measured by the Espero Questionnaire – in the Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory-III (MCMI-III) psychopathology cluster subgroups in a sample of Catholic priests and religious sisters who had voluntarily sought therapy. A hierarchical agglomerative cluster analysis was employed to identify high (n = 21), moderate (n = 32), and low (n = 38) MCMI-III psychopathology cluster subgroups. Members of the low psychopathology subgroup demonstrated a significantly lower numerical set of injunctions than high and moderate psychopathology subgroups. The high psychopathology subgroup reported a greater number of negative injunctions than the moderate psychopathology subgroup. The results suggest that priests and religious sisters who present fewer negative injunctions – those belonging to the low psychopathology subgroup – are generally well adjusted and socially skilled. Those who present more negative injunctions – those belonging to the high psychopathology subgroup – are more at risk for pathological tendencies.

Gas permeability measurements on Australian subbituminous coals: Fluid dynamic and poroelastic aspects

The interaction and the coupling of slip-flow of gases, a fluid dynamic phenomenon, and the cleat volume compressibility, a poro-elastic effect, have been investigated on two sister samples from the Taroom coal measure, Surat Basin, Queensland Australia. Measurements were performed using inert (helium and argon) and sorbing gases (nitrogen, methane and carbon dioxide) at different levels of controlled effective stress.Apparent permeability coefficients decreased in the order helium ≫ argon ≳ nitrogen > methane ≫ carbon dioxide. Even after slip-flow correction different permeability coefficients were obtained for the same sample and identical stress conditions when different gases were used as permeating fluids. These observations are inconsistent with the concept of “intrinsic permeability” which, as a material property, should be independent of the permeating fluid. Obviously the sequence of the “intrinsic” permeability is identical to the sequence of increasing non-ideality. Therefore, it should be considered that the classical Darcy equation, which is derived using the ideal gas law has a reduced validity for non-ideal gases like N2, CH4 and especially CO2.The cleat volume compressibility (stress-dependence of the intrinsic permeability) was evaluated using the “matchstick approach” (Robertson and Christiansen, 2008; Seidle et al., 1992). Cleat volume compressibility coefficients (cf) are almost identical for the two samples at high mean pressure. However, for one sample a strong dependence of cf on the mean pore pressure at low pore pressure was observed. This is attributed to a strong slip-flow effect caused by a narrow transport cleat system as compared to the sister sample. Cleat volume compressibility coefficients were nearly identical for inert and sorbing gases. The obvious strong coupling of slip-flow and poro-elastic properties is due to the generally “softer” behavior of coals in comparison to sandstones.The occurrence of slip-flow in coals could, at least partly, compensate the reservoir permeability reduction resulting from increasing effective stress during the first depletion period (pressure drawdown). This should lead to a significant increase in productivity of coalbed methane reservoirs in the third production phase (pseudo-steady state phase; (GRI, 1996)). This conclusion appears to be also valid for shale gas and tight gas reservoirs, where the gas transport equally takes place in meso- and micropores.

Testing the reliability of detrital cave sediments as recorders of paleomagnetic secular variations, Seso Cave System (Central Pyrenees, Spain)

A paleomagnetic study has been carried out on a waterlaid detrital sedimentary sequence of ~240cm thick within the Seso Cave System (West-Central Pyrenees). In these sediments, seven charcoal samples were dated using 14C AMS ranging from 2080 to 650calyrBP (130BC–1300AD). Two levels of human occupation of the cave have been recognized by ceramics associated to the Iberian Period and to the Roman Period, respectively. The detrital sedimentary sequence is made of autochthonous (piping detached material from the Eocene marls host rock inside of the cavity) and allochthonous (stream transported sediments from the outside) sediments. The autochthonous material (first 100cm), made of fine grain laminated sediments (lutites and marls) corresponds to pond facies; the allochthonous material (190–240cm) is made of lutites and sands and corresponds to stream facies, and both facies are mixed from 100 to 190cm. The increase in sedimentation rate towards the end of the sequence (stream facies) points to an intensification of the alluvial activity as a possible consequence of a more arid climate during the Medieval Climate Anomaly. For the paleomagnetic study, 44 discrete cylindrical samples were taken along the detrital sequence. The values of the natural remanent magnetization and magnetic susceptibility are significantly lower in the pond sediments than in the stream sediments. The declination and inclination of the paleomagnetic characteristic component (sister samples analyzed by both alternating field and temperature demagnetizing procedure) of each depth point is compared to the Spanish archeomagnetic catalog and available geomagnetic models (ARCH3k.1, CALS3k.4, CALS10k.1b and SCHA.DIF.3K) in order to determine the accuracy of these sediments recording the Earth's magnetic field. Results suggest that these sediments poorly record the Earth's magnetic field, however, paleomagnetic inclination shows similar results between both demagnetizing methods and the inclination is well recorded especially in the younger stream facies. The lack of archeological remains with absolute dates from 925 to 1545calyrBP in the Iberian paleomagnetic secular variation reference curve has prevented, up to now, the study of that time period. Therefore, the inclination data from the Seso Cave deposit is the first record of the Iberian paleomagnetic secular variation during most part of the Medieval time, and they are closer to the inclination values of one geomagnetic model (CALS10k.1b).

Constraints of archaeomagnetic dating and field intensity determinations in three ancient tile kilns in Belgium

The aim of this study is to date by the archaeomagnetic method the last heatingcooling cycle of one Roman and two Medieval tile kilns, discovered in Belgium. The investigation demonstrates the limitations when well-documented local directional secular variation curves of the geomagnetic field in the past are used for dating and the difficulties when trying to determine field intensities from “in situ” baked clays from the kilns. The three kilns yielded very well defined ancient field directions but two possible dating solutions for each of them when no a priori time constraints are taken into account, due to field direction recurrence. As an increase of the dating accuracy and reduction of the number of dating solutions can be expected using the full field vector information, also field intensity determinations on burnt clays from the kilns were attempted. Field intensities from samples of the Roman and of one of the Medieval kilns are quite scattered. On the other hand, results obtained applying the Thellier-Thellier method and the modified method developed by Dekkers and Bohnel on sister samples from the Roman kiln agree fairly well. Rock magnetic properties reveal high variance in the kilns that point to varying spatial heating and cooling conditions in the kilns. Even well burnt material from the kilns shows irreversible changes when heated in air in the laboratory. Reliable field intensities on “in situ” baked materials from kilns themselves can therefore only be obtained when measuring sufficient number of samples from different parts of the kiln, taking into account the spatial-temporal conditions during kiln operation and cooling history. More reference intensity data is needed in our regions in order to improve dating based on directional reference data only.

Experimental supercritical CO2 and water interactions with coal under simulated in situ conditions

Geological storage of CO2 is a key component of emission reduction strategies. Options for geosequestration include injecting CO2 into oil and gas fields (producing or depleted), deep saline formations and coal seams. We have investigated injection of CO2 into coal using static batch experiments conducted under temperature and pressure conditions similar to the in situ formation conditions for the coal samples. Within a custom built batch reactor, sister sample coal cubes (15 mm) were immersed first in water only, and then a mixture of supercritical CO2 and water (sCO(2)-H2O). The sCO(2)-H2O experiment fluid chemistry indicates significant mobilisation of metals due to dissolution of cleat and matrix mineral matter, as well as displacement of ion exchangeable metals. Minor minerals within coal can be major constituents within the reaction fluids analysed. SEM images have provided evidence of the dissolution of both cleat and matrix minerals, as well as coal swelling and contraction induced by CO2 adsorption and desorption, respectively. (C) 2011 Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Antimony assisted low-temperature processing of CuIn 1 − x Ga xSe 2 − y S y solar cells

Application of the Sb-doping method to low-temperature (≤ 400 °C) processing of CuIn 1 − x Ga xSe 2 − y S y (CIGS) solar cells is explored, using a hydrazine-based approach to deposit the absorber films. Power conversion efficiencies of 10.5% and 8.4% have been achieved for CIGS devices (0.45 cm 2 device area) processed at 400 °C and 360 °C, respectively, with an Sb-incorporation level at 1.2 mol % (relative to the moles of CIGS). Significant Sb-induced grain size enhancement was confirmed for these low processing temperatures using cross-sectional scanning electron microscopy, and an average 2–3% absolute efficiency improvement was achieved in Sb-doped samples compared to their Sb-free sister samples. With Sb inclusion, the CIGS film grain growth temperature is lowered to well below 450 °C, a range compatible with flexible polymer substrate materials such as polyimide. This method opens up access to opportunities in low-temperature processing of CIGS solar cells, an area that is being actively pursued using both traditional vacuum-based as well as other solution-based deposition techniques.