The increase in short interest for TIRX suggests that investors are becoming more bearish on the stock, expecting its price to decline. This could lead to short-term negative pressure on the stock price. However, the fact that TIRX's short interest is below the peer group average might mitigate some of the negative sentiment, indicating that while bearish, the sentiment is not as strong as it could be. The dynamics of short selling also introduce the possibility of a short squeeze if the market sentiment shifts, potentially leading to a rapid increase in stock price if short sellers are forced to cover their positions.