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Background: Pin2/TRF1 interacting protein X1 (PinX1), a telomerase inhibitor, is located at human chromosome 8p23. This region is important for telomere length maintenance and chromosome stability, both of which are essential for regulating human ageing and associated diseases. Methods and Results: We investigated the research progress of PinX1 in human cancers. In cancers, the expression levels of PinX1 mRNA and protein vary according to cancer cell types, and PinX1 plays a critical role in the regulation of cancer development and progression. Additionally, a review of the literature indicates that PinX1 is involved in mitosis and affects the sensitivity of cancer cells to radiation-induced DNA damage. Therefore, PinX1 has therapeutic potential for cancer, and understanding the function of PinX1 in the regulation of cancers is crucial for improving treatment. In this review, we discuss the expression level of PinX1 in a variety of cancers and how it affects the implicated pathways. Additionally, we outline the function of PinX1 in cancer cells and provide a theoretical basis for PinX1-related cancer therapy. Conclusions: PinX1 has promising prospects in future cancer therapeutics. This review may provide theoretical support for researchers in this field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the dynamic evolution of cracks in expansive soil under varying wet-dry cycles, employing a self-developed three-dimensional spatiotemporal crack evolution model testing system. The research includes experiments, spatial moisture migration analysis, resistivity monitoring, and crack distribution inference to elucidate the crack development mechanisms. The findings reveal distinct stages in moisture evaporation at different soil depths, characterized by initiation, stability, deceleration, and residual phases. The influence of wet-dry cycles on evaporation rates is pronounced, particularly in deep soil layers. Resistivity changes in expansive soil during moisture evaporation display specific phases, demonstrating their potential to characterize crack development. The study validates the feasibility of assessing crack development through soil resistivity changes. Crack formation initiates at weak points on the soil surface, with subsequent elongation and secondary crack development, resulting in a crack network. Further moisture evaporation and volume shrinkage widen cracks, while wetting leads to crack healing. Total crack length, average width, and area crack ratio decrease exponentially with soil depth, but increase at different depths with more wet-dry cycles. Volume crack ratio initially rises and then stabilizes, while volume shrinkage capacity diminishes until equilibrium. Wet-dry cycles promote crack development, modifying particle arrangements. This research underscores that soil cracking and crack development result from the evolving balance of moisture-induced stresses in space, stemming from non-uniform moisture distribution. In conclusion, this study sheds light on crack development mechanisms in expansive soil under wet-dry cycles, offering valuable insights for soil engineering and geotechnical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pore-microfracture structure, water-rock interaction and capillary water absorption mechanism of red-layer mudstone were comprehensively studied. The mineral composition was determined using X-ray diffraction, and the pore-microfracture structure was observed using scanning electron microscopy. Mercury intrusion porosimetry and nitrogen physisorption were used to obtain pore throat size distribution information. The effects of mineral composition and pore structure on adsorption and desorption behaviour were investigated using water vapour physisorption. The wettability of the mudstone surface was characterised by contact angle measurement, atomic force microscopy. The capillary water absorption coefficient and capillary water absorption height of mudstone were quantitatively studied using capillary water absorption experiments. The results showed that the clay mineral content of mudstone was 46.8%, and the pores were mainly micropores and transition pores, which were very dense. The water vapour physical adsorption isotherm of mudstone showed that the average water-holding rate of mudstone was 31.47%. In the process of desorption of mudstone, the "ink-bottle" effect limited the desorption of water under medium and high relative humidity. The macroscopic contact angle of the mudstone surface was less than 29.79°, indicating mudstone's strong hydrophilic property. The driving force of capillary water absorption of mudstone should consider the capillary force, osmotic pressure and gravity. The hydration fracture of the mudstone was the dominant channel of its capillary water absorption. Understanding the relationship between the water absorption mechanism of mudstone capillarity and pore-microfractures is necessary for revealing the disaster mechanism of the red-layer mudstone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water has a significant effect on the mechanical properties of rocks, especially those containing expansive clay minerals. The red-layer mudstone contains various clay minerals, which easily collapse in water. To further study the effect of water on the mechanical properties of red-layer mudstone, uniaxial and triaxial tests were first conducted on samples with different moisture contents, prepared using the gaseous moisture absorption method in the laboratory. The effect of water on the fracture mode, mechanical behaviour and strength of the red-layer mudstone was subsequently studied at a heterogeneous particle scale using the three-dimensional numerical simulation program 3DEC. The results demonstrated that the strengths of the mudstone samples (uniaxial compressive and triaxial compressive strengths) decreased with an increase in the moisture content. As the moisture content increased, the elastic modulus and residual strength of mudstone decreased. The Mohr–Coulomb strength envelope under different moisture contents was constructed, and it was found that with an increase in the moisture content, the cohesion of the mudstone decreased significantly and the internal friction angle remained almost unchanged. This numerical model accurately demonstrates the damage evolution (tensile and shear cracks) at a heterogeneous particle scale. Simultaneously, the macroscopic mechanical behaviour, strength and failure patterns observed in the laboratory were reproduced. Finally, this study reveals the weakening mechanism of water on the mechanical properties of red-layer mudstone at macroscopic and Ümesoscopic scales. Highlights: Numerical simulation and laboratory tests were used to study the variation of mechanical properties of red-layer mudstone with moisture contents and the weakening mechanism of moisture on its mechanical properties Mudstone samples with different moisture contents were prepared by gaseous hygroscopic method, which overcame the challenge of mudstone disintegrating in water The discrete element method (3DEC) was used to randomly generate heterogeneous mudstone samples with different clay mineral grains. An empirical formula was established to predict the mechanical properties of red-layer mudstones at different moisture content. The effects of different moisture contents on mesoscopic mechanical parameters and joint displacements of contacts between red-layer mudstone grains were analysed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the influence of pH on the moisture-absorbing swelling cracks of red mudstone in southwest China was studied and its microscopic mechanism was revealed. A self-designed water absorption device combined with digital speckle correlation (DSCM), scanning electron microscope, XRD diffraction experiment, mercury injection experiment and other means were used. The results indicated that compared with an alkaline environment, an acidic environment resulted in the self-absorption and cracking of mudstone. The maximum water absorption rate of mudstone and crack rate in a pH of 3 were determined as 15.77 and 18.91%, respectively; whereas for pH = 11, they were 11.71 and 7.11%, respectively. In the acidic environment, the maximum combined displacement value and maximum principal strain value of mudstone self-priming and swelling evolution were both greater than in an alkaline environment. Simultaneously, in the former, the moisture absorption failure characteristics of mudstone exhibited increased swelling strain zones and swelling cores. The three possible mechanisms by which pH affects the expansion of mudstone hygroscopic cracks were proposed: hydration-expansion softening, adsorption-wedge failure, and humidity stress field. However, it was found that the solutions with different pH values may affect these three microscopic mechanisms through the following four physical or chemical processes: mineral dissolution, ion absorption and exchange, particle association, and pore change. The results of this study are expected to be of significance and aid in roadbed design, tunnel support, slope treatment, and other projects in the southwest region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]