Effects of Short-Term Hypergravity Exposure are Reversible in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Triticum aestivum</Emphasis> L. Caryopses

Short-term hypergravity exposure is shown to retard seed germination, growth and photosynthesis in wheat caryopses. This study investigates the reversibility of effects of short-term hypergravity on imbibed wheat (Triticum aestivum var L.) caryopses. After hypergravity exposure (500 × g ? 2500 × g for 10 min) on a centrifuge, exposed caryopses were kept under normal gravity (1 × g) up to six days and then sown on agar. Results of the present study showed that percentage germination and growth were completely restored for DAY 6 compared to DAY 0. Restoration of germination and growth was accompanied by increased α-amylase activity. The specific activity of antioxidative enzyme viz. catalase and guaiacol peroxidase was lowered on DAY 6 compared to DAY 0 suggesting an alleviation of oxidative cellular damage against hypergravity stress. Chlorophyll pigment recovery along with chlorophyll fluorescence (PI and Fv/Fm) on DAY 6 indicates a transient rather than permanent damage of the photosynthetic apparatus. Thus, our findings demonstrate that short-term hypergravity effects are reversible in wheat caryopses. The metabolic cause of restoration of seed germination and growth upon transferring the caryopses to normal gravity is performed by a reactivation of carbohydrate- metabolizing enzymes, α-amylase and alleviation of oxidative stress damage with subsequent recovery of chlorophyll biosynthesis and photosynthetic activity.     

Hypergravity of 10<Emphasis Type="Italic">g</Emphasis> Changes Plant Growth,Anatomy, Chloroplast Size,and Photosynthesis in the Moss <Emphasis Type="Italic">Physcomitrella patens</Emphasis>

The photosynthetic and anatomical responses of bryophytes to changes in gravity will provide crucial information for estimating how these plant traits evolved to adapt to changes in gravity in land plant history. We performed long-term hypergravity experiments at 10g for 4 and 8 weeks using the moss Physcomitrella patens with two centrifuges equipped with lighting systems that enable long-term plant growth under hypergravity with irradiance. The aims of this study are (1) to quantify changes in the anatomy and morphology of P. patens, and (2) to analyze the post-effects of hypergravity on photosynthesis by P. patens in relation to these changes. We measured photosynthesis by P. patens for a population of gametophores (e.g., canopy) in Petri dishes and plant culture boxes. Gametophore numbers increased by 9% for a canopy of P. patens, with 24–27% increases in chloroplast sizes (diameter and thickness) in leaf cells. In a canopy of P. patens, the area-based photosynthesis rate (A _canopy) was increased by 57% at 10g. The increase observed in A _canopy was associated with greater plant numbers and chloroplast sizes, both of which involved enhanced CO₂ diffusion from the atmosphere to chloroplasts in the canopies of P. patens. These results suggest that changes in gravity are important environmental stimuli to induce changes in plant growth and photosynthesis by P. patens, in which an alteration in chloroplast size is one of the key traits. We are now planning an ISS experiment to investigate the responses of P. patens to microgravity.     

The Impact of Hypergravity and Vibration on Gene and Protein Expression of Thyroid Cells

Experiments in space either on orbital missions on-board the ISS, or in suborbital missions using sounding rockets, like TEXUS as well as parabolic flight campaigns are still the gold standard to achieve real microgravity conditions in the field of gravitational biology and medicine. However, during launch, and in flight, hypergravity and vibrations occur which might interfere with the effects of microgravity. It is therefore important to know these effects and discriminate them from the microgravity effects. This can be achieved by ground-based facilities like centrifuges or vibration platforms. Recently, we have conducted several experiments with different thyroid cancer cell lines. This study, as part of the ESA-CORA-GBF 2010-203 project, focused on the influence of vibration and hypergravity on benign human thyroid follicular epithelial cells (Nthy-ori 3-1 cell line). Gene and in part protein expression regulation under both conditions were analyzed for VCAN, ITGA10, ITGB1, OPN, ADAM19, ANXA1, TNFA, ABL2, ACTB, PFN2, TLN1, EZR, RDX, MSN, CTGF, PRKCA, and PRKAA1 using quantitative real-time PCR and Western Blot. We found that hypergravity and vibration affected genes and proteins involved in the extracellular matrix, the cytoskeleton, apoptosis, cell growth and signaling. Vibration always led to a down-regulation, whereas hypergravity resulted in a more heterogeneous expression pattern. Overall we conclude that both conditions can influence gene regulation and production of various genes and proteins. As a consequence, it is important to perform control experiments on hypergravity and vibration facilities in parallel to flight experiments.     

The H-T and P-T Phase Diagram of the Superconducting Phase in Pd:Bi<Subscript>2</Subscript>Te<Subscript>3</Subscript>

We study the magnetic field vs. temperature (H – T) and pressure vs. temperature (P – T) phase diagrams of the T _c ≈ 5.5 K superconducting phase in Pd _x Bi₂Te₃ (x ≈ 1) using electrical resistivity versus temperature measurements at various applied magnetic fields (H) and magnetic susceptibility versus temperature measurements at various applied magnetic fields (H) and pressure (P). The H – T phase diagram has an initial upward curvature as observed in some unconventional superconductors. The critical field extrapolated to T = 0 K is H _c (0) ≈ 6–10 kOe. The T _c is suppressed approximately linearly with pressure at a rate d T _c /d P ≈ ?0.28 K/GPa.     

Critical Behavior of La<Subscript>0.67</Subscript>Ba<Subscript>0.33</Subscript>Mn<Subscript>0.95</Subscript>Fe<Subscript>0.05</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript> Manganite

The critical behavior of perovskite manganite La_0.67Ba_0.33Mn_0.95Fe_0.05O₃ at the ferromagnetic–paramagnetic has been analyzed. The results show that the sample exhibited the second-order magnetic phase transition. The estimated critical exponents derived from the magnetic data using various such as modified d’Arrott plot Kouvel–Fisher method and critical magnetization M(T _C, H). The critical exponents values for the La_0.67Ba_0.33Mn_0.95Fe_0.05O₃ are close to those expected from the mean field model β = 0.504 ± 0.01 with T _C = 275661 ± 0.447 (from the temperature dependence of the spontaneous magnetization below T _C ), γ = 1.013 ± 0.017 with T _C = 276132 ± 0.452 (from the temperature dependence of the inverse initial susceptibility above T _C ), and δ = 3.0403 ± 0.0003. Moreover, the critical exponents also obey the single scaling equation of M(H, ε) = |ε| ^β f _±(H/|ε| ^β+γ ).     

Effect of Nuclear Field on Magnetotransport Quantum Oscillations in InSb<Superscript>1</Superscript>

In combining magneto-transport investigations with NMR (nuclear magnetic resonance) we measured the effect of the nuclear hyperfine field B _H F on quantum oscillations in the transverse magneto-resistivity ρ _xx and in the Hall resistivity ρ _xy of metallically doped n-InSb. Quantitative analysis of the B _H F-induced change in ρ _xx demonstrates that this experiment allows to separate spin splitting phenomena in magneto-transport from effects due to the external magnetic field B. This is used to show that an oscillatory structure in R _H =ρ _xy /B is directly related to a redistribution in the occupation of the two spin states in the lowest Landau level.     

Synthesis and high-temperature heat capacity of Gd<Subscript>2</Subscript>Sn<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>7</Subscript>

Gd₂Sn₂O₇ gadolinium stannate with the pyrochlore structure has been prepared by solid-state reaction and its high-temperature heat capacity has been determined by differential scanning calorimetry in the temperature range 350–1020 K. The C_p(T) data are shown to be well represented by the classic Maier–Kelley equation. The experimental C_p(T) data have been used to evaluate the thermodynamic functions of gadolinium stannate: enthalpy increment H°(T)–H°(339 K), entropy change S°(T)–S°(339 K), and reduced Gibbs energy Ф°(Т).     

Novel Solid-State Growth of <Emphasis Type="Italic">p</Emphasis>-Terphenyl: the Parent High-<Emphasis Type="Italic">T</Emphasis><Subscript>c</Subscript> Organic Superconductor (HTOS)

We report an easy and versatile route for the synthesis of the parent phase of the newest superconducting wonder material, i.e., p-terphenyl. Doped p-terphenyl has recently shown superconductivity with transition temperature as high as 120 K. For crystal growth, the commercially available p-terphenyl powder is pelletized, encapsulated in an evacuated (10^?4 Torr) quartz tube and subjected to high-temperature (260 ^°C) melt followed by slow cooling at 5 ^°C/h. A simple temperature-controlled heating furnace is used during the process. The obtained crystal is one piece, shiny, and plate like. Single crystal surface XRD (X-ray diffraction) showed unidirectional (00l) lines, indicating that the crystal is grown along the c-direction. Powder XRD of the specimen showed that as grown p-terphenyl is crystallized in monoclinic structure with space group P2 ₁/a space group, having lattice parameters a = 7.672 (2) Å, b = 5.772 (5) Å, and c = 13.526(3) Å and β = 91.484 (3)^°. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) pictures of the crystal showed clear layered slab-like growth without any visible contamination from oxygen. Characteristic reported Raman active modes related to C–C–C bending, C–H bending, C–C stretching, and C–H stretching vibrations are seen clearly for the studied p-terphenyl crystal. The physical properties of the crystal are yet underway. The short letter reports an easy and versatile crystal growth method for obtaining quality p-terphenyl. The same growth method may probably be applied to doped p-terphenyl and to subsequently achieve superconductivity to the tune of as high 120 K for the newest superconductivity wonder, i.e., high- T _c organic superconductor (HTOS).     

Intracellular Calcium Decreases Upon Hyper Gravity-Treatment of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Arabidopsis Thaliana</Emphasis> Cell Cultures

Cell cultures of Arabidopsis thaliana (A.t.) respond to changes in the gravitational field strength with fluctuations of the amount of cytosolic calcium (Ca²⁺). In parabolic flight experiments, where hyper- and μg phases follow each other, μg clearly increased Ca²⁺, while hyper-g caused a slight reduction. Since the latter observation had not been reported before, we studied this effect in more detail. Using a special centrifuge for heavy items (ZARM, Bremen, Germany), we determined the hyper-g-dependent intracellular Ca²⁺ level with transgenic cell lines expressing the Ca²⁺ sensor, cameleon. This sensor exhibits a shift in fluorescence from 480 to 530 nm in response to Ca²⁺ binding. The data show a drop in the intracellular Ca²⁺ concentration with a threshold gravity of around 3 g. This is above hypergravity levels achieved during parabolic flights (1.8 g). The use of mutants with different sub-cellular targets of cameleon expression (nucleus, tonoplast, plasma membrane) gave the same results, i.e. Ca²⁺ is obviously exported from several intracellular compartments.     

Synthesis and Superconductivity of Layered Compounds with Orthogonal [Zr<Subscript>2</Subscript>N<Subscript>2</Subscript>] Network

Layered α-form ZrNX (X: Cl and Br) compounds with high quality were prepared by chemical vapor transport. The intercalation of alkali metal A (A: Li, Na, K, Rb) was carried out to realize electron doping into the orthogonal [Zr₂N₂] layers. The Rietveld refinement analysis reveals that the [Zr₂N₂] crystalline layers in the intercalation compounds shift mutually in the ab plane when compared with the hosts. Magnetic measurements show that the intercalation compounds A _x ZrNX are changed into superconductors with transition temperature T _c of up to 12 K. Upon the cointercalation of solvent molecules such as THF, T _c decreases to as low as 6.1 K with increasing the interlayer spacing d up to 14 Å, which is similar to the d dependence of T _c recently found in electron-doped α-form TiNX series. We also succeeded in synthesizing another new polymorph of α-Zr₂N₂S by the topochemical reaction between α-form ZrNX and Na₂S. α-Zr₂N₂S (space group: Immm, a = 4.1375(1) Å, b = 3.5422(1) Å, and c = 11.5204(3) Å) has the same α-[Zr₂N₂] layers, whereas the interlayer spacing between two adjacent [Zr₂N₂] layers is effectively decreased by 1/3 when compared with the parent compounds of ZrNX.     

Comparative Experimental and Density Functional Theory (<Emphasis Type="Italic">DFT</Emphasis>) Study of the Physical Properties of MgB<Subscript>2</Subscript> and AlB<Subscript>2</Subscript>

In the present study, we report an intercomparison of various physical and electronic properties of MgB₂ and AlB₂. In particular, the results of phase formation, resistivity ρ(T), thermoelectric power S(T), magnetization M(T), heat capacity (C _P ), and electronic band structure are reported. The original stretched hexagonal lattice with a=3.083 Å, and c=3.524 Å of MgB₂ shrinks in c-direction for AlB₂ with a=3.006 Å, and c=3.254 Å. The resistivity ρ(T), thermoelectric power S(T) and magnetization M(T) measurements exhibited superconductivity at 39 K for MgB₂. Superconductivity is not observed for AlB₂. Interestingly, the sign of S(T) is +ve for MgB₂ the same is ?ve for AlB₂. This is consistent with our band structure plots. We fitted the experimental specific heat of MgB₂ to Debye–Einstein model and estimated the value of Debye temperature (Θ _D) and Sommerfeld constant (γ) for electronic specific heat. Further, from γ, the electronic density of states (DOS) at Fermi level N(E _F) is calculated. From the ratio of experimental N(E _F) and the one being calculated from DFT, we obtained value of λ to be 1.84, thus placing MgB₂ in the strong coupling BCS category. The electronic specific heat of MgB₂ is also fitted below T _c using α-model and found that it is a two gap superconductor. The calculated values of two gaps are in good agreement with earlier reports. Our results clearly demonstrate that the superconductivity of MgB₂ is due to very large phonon contribution from its stretched lattice. The same two effects are obviously missing in AlB₂, and hence it is not superconducting. DFT calculations demonstrated that for MgB₂, the majority of states come from σ and π 2p states of boron on the other hand σ band at Fermi level for AlB₂ is absent. This leads to a weak electron phonon coupling and also to hole deficiency as π bands are known to be of electron type, and hence obviously the AlB₂ is not superconducting. The DFT calculations are consistent with the measured physical properties of the studied borides, i.e., MgB₂ and AlB₂.     

Compounds WAl<Subscript>4</Subscript>, WAl<Subscript>3</Subscript>, W<Subscript>3</Subscript>Al<Subscript>7</Subscript>, and WAl<Subscript>2</Subscript> and Al-W-N combustion products

X-ray diffraction data are presented for combustion products in the Al-W-N system. New, nonequilibrium intermetallic compounds have been identified, their diffraction patterns have been indexed, and their unit-cell parameters have been determined. The phases α-and β-WAl₄ are shown to exist in three isomorphous forms, differing in unit-cell centering. The phases α′-, α″-, and α?-WAl₄ are monoclinic, with a ₀ = 5.272 Å, b ₀ = 17.770 Å, c ₀ = 5.218 Å, β = 100.10°; point groups C12/c1, A12/n1, I12/a1, respectively. The phases β′-, β″-, and β?-WAl₄ are monoclinic, with a ₀ = 5.465 Å, b ₀ = 12.814 Å, c ₀ = 5.428 Å, β = 105.92°; point groups A112/m, B112/m, I112/m, respectively. The compounds WAl₂ and W₃Al₇, identified each in two isomorphous forms, differ in cell metrics (doubling) but possess the same point group: P222. WAl ₂ ^′ : orthorhombic, a ₀ = 5.793 Å, b ₀ = 3.740 Å, c ₀ = 6.852 Å. WAl ₂ ^″ : orthorhombic, a ₀ = 11.586 Å, b ₀ = 3.740 Å, c ₀ = 6.852 Å. W₃Al ₇ ^′ : orthorhombic, Pmm2, a ₀ = 6.225 Å, b ₀ = 4.806 Å, c ₀ = 4.437 Å. W₃Al ₇ ^″ : orthorhombic, Pmm2, a ₀ = 12.500 Å, b ₀ = 4.806 Å, c ₀ = 8.874 Å. The new phase WAl₃: triclinic, P1, a ₀ = 8.642 Å, b ₀ = 10.872 Å, c ₀ = 5.478 Å, α = 104.02°, β = 64.90°, γ = 107.15°.     

High-temperature heat capacity and thermodynamic properties of Tb<Subscript>2</Subscript>Sn<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>7</Subscript>

Tb₂Sn₂O₇ has been prepared by solid-state reaction in air at 1473 K over a period of 200 h and its isobaric heat capacity has been studied experimentally in the range 350–1073 K. The C _p(T) data for this compound have no extrema and are well represented by the classic Maier–Kelley equation. The experimental C _p(T) data have been used to evaluate the thermodynamic properties of terbium stannate (pyrochlore structure): enthalpy increment H°(T)–H°(350 K), entropy change S°(T)–S°(350 K), and reduced Gibbs energy Ф°(Т).     

Crystal Growth and Magneto-transport of Bi<Subscript>2</Subscript>Se<Subscript>3</Subscript> Single Crystals

In this letter, we report on the growth and characterization of bulk Bi ₂Se ₃ single crystals. The studied Bi ₂Se ₃ crystals are grown by the self-flux method through the solid-state reaction from high-temperature (950 °C) melt of constituent elements and slow cooling (2 ℃/h). The resultant crystals are shiny and grown in the [00l] direction, as evidenced from surface XRD. Detailed Reitveld analysis of powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) of the crystals showed that these are crystallized in the rhombohedral crystal structure with a space group of R3m (D5), and the lattice parameters are a = 4.14 (2), b = 4.14 (2), and c = 28.7010 (7) Å. Temperature versus resistivity (ρ?T) plots revealed metallic conduction down to 2 K, with typical room temperature resistivity (ρ _{300 K}) of around 0.53 m Ω-cm and residual resistivity (ρ _{0 K}) of 0.12 m Ω-cm. Resistivity under magnetic field [ ρ(T)H] measurements exhibited large + ve magneto-resistance right from 2 to 200 K. Isothermal magneto-resistance [ ρH] measurements at 2, 100, and 200 K exhibited magneto-resistance (MR) of up to 240 %, 130 %, and 60 %, respectively, at 14 T. Further, the MR plots are nonsaturating and linear with the field at all temperatures. At 2 K, the MR plots showed clear quantum oscillations at above say 10 T applied field. Also, the Kohler plots, i.e., Δρ/ ρ _oversus B/ ρ, were seen consolidating on one plot. Interestingly, the studied Bi ₂Se ₃ single crystal exhibited the Shubnikov-de Haas (SdH) oscillations at 2 K under different applied magnetic fields ranging from 4 to 14 T.     

The calorimetry and thermodynamic functions of Nd Mg<Stack><Subscript>3</Subscript><Superscript>I</Superscript></Stack>Mn<Subscript>4</Subscript>O<Subscript>12</Subscript> (Me<Superscript>I</Superscript>-Li,Na, K) manganites in the range from 298.15 to 673 K

The ceramic technology is employed for synthesizing manganites of composition Nd Mg ₃ ^I Mg₃Mn₄O₁₂(Me^I-Li, Na, K). The X-ray technique is used to find that the compounds crystallize in tetragonal syngony. The parameters of their crystal lattices are determined. Their heat capacities are experimentally determined in the range from 298.15 to 673 K, which enables one to reveal second-order phase transitions. In view of these transitions, equations describing the C _p ^° ～ f(T) dependence are derived, and the thermodynamic functions C _p ^° (T), H°(T)-H°(298.15), S°(T), and Φ ^xx (T) are calculated.     

Effects of Ge<Superscript>4+</Superscript> acceptor dopant on sintering and electrical properties of (K<Subscript>0.5</Subscript>Na<Subscript>0.5</Subscript>)NbO<Subscript>3</Subscript> lead-free piezoceramics

Lead-free (K_0.5Na_0.5)(Nb_1-xGe _x )O₃ (KNN-xGe, where x = 0-0.01) piezoelectric ceramics were prepared by conventional ceramic processing. The effects of Ge⁴⁺ cation doping on the phase compositions, microstructure and electrical properties of KNN ceramics were studied. SEM images show that Ge⁴⁺ cation doping improved the sintering and promoted the grain growth of the KNN ceramics. Dielectric and ferroelectric measurements proved that Ge⁴⁺ cations substituted Nb⁵⁺ ions as acceptors, and the Curie temperature (T_C) shows an almost linear decrease with increasing the Ge⁴⁺ content. Combining this result with microstructure observations and electrical measurements, it is concluded that the optimal sintering temperature for KNN-xGe ceramics was 1020°C. Ge⁴⁺ doping less than 0.4 mol.%can improve the compositional homogeneity and piezoelectric properties of KNN ceramics. The KNN-xGe ceramics with x = 0.2% exhibited the best piezoelectric properties: piezoelectric constant d₃₃ = 120 pC/N, planar electromechanical coupling coefficient k_p = 34.7%, mechanical quality factor Q_m = 130, and tanδ = 3.6%.     

Effect of Al Substitution in Structural and Magnetic Properties of MnCr<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>4</Subscript>

Single-phase samples of Mn(Cr_1?x Al _x )₂O₄ (x = 0 – 0.30) with cubic spinel structure were prepared and the lattice constant is found to decrease from a = 8.4396 Å for x = 0 to a = 8.3801 Å for x = 0.30. The substitution of Al at Cr site is confirmed from the blue shift of Raman modes. Magnetization measurements and analysis show all the prepared samples exhibit ferrimagnetic transition with transition temperature in the range of 46 K for x = 0 to 33 K for x = 0.30. The saturation magnetization (M _s ) and the estimated anisotropy constant (K) show an anomalous behavior up to x = 0.10 and beyond that they decrease monotonously. They are explained by considering different site preferences of Al ³⁺ ions as the doping concentration is increased. The theoretical and experimental effective magnetic moment of the samples is found to be comparable and it decreases with increase in Al concentration.     

The sound velocity in liquid binary mixtures of <Emphasis Type="Italic">n</Emphasis>-alkanes

The method of direct measurement of the time of pulse transmission is used for investigating the sound velocity in liquid binary mixtures of n-alkanes, namely, n-hexane + n-hexadecane, n-octane + n-hexadecane, and n-decane + n-hexadecane in the range of temperatures from 298 to 433 K and pressures from 0.1 to 100.1 MPa. The maximal error of measurements is 0.1%. It is for the first time that experimental data for mixtures of n-octane + n-hexadecane and n-decane + n-hexadecane are obtained.     

Effects of Iron Contents on the Vortex State in Fe<Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>Se<Subscript>0.5</Subscript>Te<Subscript>0.5</Subscript>

We investigate the effects of iron content on the upper critical field (H _c2) and the activation energy U(T) in thermally activated flux flow in Fe _x Se_0.5Te_0.5 near the superconducting transition temperature T _c . The variations in H _c2(T) with temperature are analyzed using Ginzburg-Landau (GL), Werthamer-Helfand-Hohenberg (WHH) models along with the empirical relation (ER). The obtained values of H _c2(0) depend strongly on the model and the criteria used to determine the transition temperature. However, the general trend is that that H _c2(0) increases with the increasing Fe content. The activation energy U(T) is maximum for x =? 1 and rapidly suppressed by excess or deficiency of iron. The low values of U(T) (～10 meV) reflect the low vortex-pinning nature (due to defects, vacancies, etc.) in the Fe _x Se_0.5Te_0.5 superconductor.     

Inducement of Itinerant Electron Transport in Charge-Ordered Pr<Subscript>0.6</Subscript>Ca<Subscript>0.4</Subscript>MnO<Subscript>3</Subscript> by Ba Doping

The effects of Ba ²⁺ doping on the electrical and magnetic properties of charge-ordered Pr_0.6Ca_0.4MnO₃ were investigated through electrical resistivity and AC susceptibility measurements. X-ray diffraction data analysis showed an increase in unit cell volume with increasing Ba ²⁺ content indicating the possibility of substituting Ba ²⁺ for the Ca-site. Electrical resistivity measurements showed insulating behavior and a resistivity anomaly at around 220 K. This anomaly is attributed to the existence of charge ordering transition temperature, \(T^{\mathrm {R}}_{\text {CO}}\) for the x = 0 sample. The Ba-substituted samples exhibited metallic to insulator transition (MI) behavior, with transition temperature, T _MI, increasing from ～98 K (x = 0.1) to ～122 K (x = 0.3). AC susceptibility measurements showed ferromagnetic to paramagnetic (FM-PM) transition for Ba-substituted samples with FM-PM transition temperature, T _c, increasing from ～121 K (x = 0.1) to ～170 K (x = 0.3), while for x = 0, an antiferromagnetic to paramagnetic transition behavior with transition temperature, T _N, ～170 K was observed. In addition, inverse susceptibility versus T plot showed a deviation from the Curie–Weiss behavior above T _c, indicating the existence of the Griffiths phase with deviation temperature, T _G, increasing from 160 K (x = 0.1) to 206 K (x = 0.3). Magnetoresistance, MR, behavior indicates intrinsic MR mechanism for x = 0.1 which changed to extrinsic MR for x > 0.2 as a result of Ba substitution. The weakening of charge ordering and inducement of ferromagnetic metallic (FMM) state as well as increase in both T _c and T _MI are suggested to be related to the increase of tolerance factor, τ, and increase of e _g ?electron bandwidth as average ionic radius at A-site, <r _A> increased with Ba substitution. The substitution may have reduced MnO₆ octahedral distortion and changed the Mn–O–Mn angle which, in turn, promotes itinerancy of charge carrier and enhanced double exchange mechanism. On the other hand, increase in A-site disorder, which is indicated by the increase in σ ² is suggested to be responsible for the widening of the difference between T _c and T _MI.