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By Lysle E. Shaffer

TEACHING engineering students how to write and speak effectively -is one of the greatest problems facing the technical schools today. No phase of engineering education has received more criticism, and rightly so, for the criticism is justified. Year after year we continue to graduate men that are indifferent to the use of a tool they will need every day of their lives. Our young engineers cannot write a clear, concise report, and their business letters are a disgrace to the profession that takes pride in precision. The problem is not new. The remark ascribed to Sir James Barrie, that "The man of science appears to be the only man who has something to say, just now-and the only man who does not know how to say it" is as uncomfortably true today as it was thirty years ago. The records of meetings of engineering educators and the transactions of the engineering societies show that the inability of the engineer to communicate his ideas has been discussed for years. Engineering educators, prodded by industry, have recognized that the problem exists, but they have not solved it. Instead they continue to expose the student to composition and rhetoric, hustle him through English and American literature, and then blame his high school because he does not know enough English grammar to write a clear sentence. We must face the fact that the graduate is not going to reflect on the high school, but on his college. If the high school has shirked the job, the responsibility for correction rests on the faculty of the professional school.

Jan 1, 1948

By AIME AIME

The Institute Headquarters at Spokane was established at the Spokane Hotel, and included a Bureau of Information for the benefit and comfort of members and guests of the party during the time of the meeting. The first session, held Tuesday afternoon, Sept. 28, 1909, in the beautiful Convention Hall ,of Masonic Temple, was called to order by Mr. E. J. Roberts, Chairman of the Spokane Local Committee, who introduced Mr. J. C. Ralston, City Engineer, representing the Mayor of Spokane and the Spokane Chamber of Commerce. Mr. Ralston extended to the members and guests of the Institute a cordial welcome to the city of Spokane, substantially as follows:

Dec 1, 1909

By J. L. Lytton, J. E. Dorn, L. A. Shepard

Single aluminum crystals were subjected to creep in simple shear on the (111) planes in the slip direction. The activation energies for creep were calculated from the effect of small abrupt changes in temperature on the creep rate just before and immediately following the temperature change. The results definitely establish the fact that creep of single aluminum crystals occurs by-three unique processes, characterized by thethree distinct and isolatable activation energies: The 35,-500-cal-per-mole activation energy obtained at the highest temperatures was ascribed to a dislocativationtion climb process; the 28,000-cal-per-mole activation-energy process, occurring over the intermediate-temperature range was attributed to a cross-slip mechanism; and it was suggested thot the 3400-cal-per-mole process observed below 400°K may be the Peierls energy. THE most pertinent question regarding the phenomenon of creep in crystalline materials is concerned with the identity of the crystallographic mechanisms of deformation that control the creep rate. For many years slight progress was made in uncovering the basic mechanisms for creep. Over the past 10 years, however, two parallel lines of investigations have contributed to a more definitive understanding of the processes involved in creep. The extensive development and maturing of dislocation theories for deformation of crystalline materials' proved to be of paramount importance for this progress. And second in importance was the replacement of the former prosaic methods of creep testing by new techniques'." which were especially

Jan 1, 1959

By W. H. Bassett

ABOUT twenty-five years ago the copper industry had outgrown the Lake Superior production. The electrolytic copper producers had- their process well in hand and the industry was well started in the use of electrolytic copper, both for working into wire and sheet, and for the making of alloys. The trade knew that some brands of copper made good material and that other brands did not. There came together a group of men-a refiner, a rolling-mill man, and a manufacturer of electrical machinery-each of them desiring to know why there was a difference and what .it was. Much investigation was done with wire bars and cakes which involved ' chemical analysis, metallographic examination, physical tests and electrical tests. To find the influence of different kinds of copper in making brass 200 carloads of ingots were made into ,eyelet brass under careful observation; each carload was carefully analyzed and tested before used. The alloy was made and rolled under standard conditions and the results recorded.

Jan 1, 1924

By Larry Dale

An approach for predicting the development of mineral resources on public lands has been developed as an aid to resource agencies. It consists of new techniques for evaluating the economic potential of the resource, the uncertainty about mine cost estimates, and the uncertainty about the occurrance of mineral deposits. New mineral sup- plies from inferred and hypothetical resources can be predicted by using these techniques. A case study illustrates their application in predicting development of copper resources in western Montana.

Jan 1, 1982

By Verne D. Johnston

ALTHOUGH the stocks of Lake Superior iron ore on dock or at furnaces at the beginning of the year were about 6,000,000 tons less than at the beginning of 1938, the steel industry was operating at only 52 1/2 per cent of capacity and continued at approximately this rate to about Aug. 1. Consequently the iron mines in the Lake Superior district during the winter and spring period were almost all on a curtailed production basis, governed mostly by the needs of the communities rather than by anticipation of ore demands. Many of these properties gave extra employment by prosecuting heavy strip- ping programs, and the underground mines by shaft sinking and rock development. All underground mines re- turned to full operation in September, mostly two-shift, five days per week. A few operated the sixth day. The ship- ping schedules were increased so that the actual delivery for the year exceeded early expectations by about 20 per cent. Final Lake shipments were slightly in excess of 45,000,000 gross tons.

Jan 1, 1940

By Walter Crooke

Regenerative hot-blast stoves are now in general use in all parts of the world, and are so well understood and appreciated, that I need not take up your time with an account of their history and introduction into the United States. My object in writing this paper is to give you a short description of a stove that is now being very favorably received and adopted here (see drawing). The stove was first introduced into this country in 1887 by M'Clure & Shuler (now M'Clure & Amsler), who have the management of the patent right in the United States. The English design had to be modified to suit the exigencies of American blast-furnace practice, which, in many respects, widely differs from our English experience. In the first place, the fire-bricks used in America expand to an extent unknown in England, and it became necessary to make special provision for this by increasing the number of cross-walls, and by leaving a space at the top of the stove through which the lining could expand. The expansion laterally was, however, more difficult to provide for, as the combustion-chamber in the center, being the hottest part of the stove, must necessarily expand more than the outer walls, and therefore tend to squeeze up the flue-openings. On first introducing these stoves to American ironmasters, a feel ing seemed to prevail that a " four-pass " stove did not utilize the whole of its surface. They also had an idea that the " two-pass " stove let the burning gas go before all the duty had been extracted from it; so that it was found neceseary to design a stove of a special character to suit their wishes. Hence the "three-pass" chimney top stove now before your notice, the advantage claimed for which is that each stove is independent, requiring no underground chimney flue or stack, and can be erected at a very light cost. The working of these stoves has proved to be very successful wherever they have been introduced.

Jan 1, 1891

By L. E. Young

GERMANY'S recent collapse and the occupation by the Allies of the coal fields of the Ruhr, the Saar, Silesia, Poland, and Czechoslovakia have focused attention on the postwar coal problems of Europe. American coal operators are interested deeply in what is happening in Britain, particularly in the discussion of plans to rehabilitate and reorganize the entire British coal mining industry, as such reorganization will probably determine the place Britain will occupy in the European coal markets for the next few decades. The continuing decline of British out-ut per man-shift, particularly during wartime, has resulted in a most serious effort to determine whether this unfortunate trend is due to the physical condition of the coal seams, poor management, poor engineering and planning, inadequate use of power and machinery, or failure of labor to co-operate with management.

Jan 1, 1945

By P. E. Phillips

INTRODUCTION Rocky Mountain Energy is the mining subsidiary of the Union Pacific Corporation, and has been active m uranium exploration since 1966. Since 1970, RME's uranium activities have been funded 50% by Mono Power, the fuels supply division of Southern California Edision. RME and Mono recognized the need for development of new methods for recovering low grade uranium deposits, and contacted Halliburton Services in regard to in situ leaching, because of Halliburton oil industry experience. As a result, a joint venture between the three parties was formed in 1974. BEAR CREEK The first ISL test was at the Bear Creek deposit in the Powder River Basin of Wyoming, about 60 miles north of Douglas. The mineralized sand is the tertiary Wasatch formation, which is an arkosic sandstone. The sand typically contains about 10% clay. The predominant clay being montmorillonite with some kaolin and illite. The roll front type trends occur along the flanks of old stream channels. This deposit was being considered for exploitation as an open pit mine. Routine amenability testing indicated it was quite amenable to a conventional acid leach, consuming about 50 lbs. of sulfuric acid per ton of ore in an agitation leach, while recovering more than 95% of the uranium. Hydrology testing indicated a permeability of about 1 darcy. The groundwater has a pH of about 8. 0 and TDS of about 1200. Test Facility The Bear Creek test was a summer-only operation, with no effort towards weather-proofing. Uranium was removed from the recovered leach solution by fixed bed ion-exchange columns. Loaded resin was eluted with strong sulfuric acid. The recovery plant was designed for simplicity of operation, with little concern for the grade or form of the yellowcake product. The plant was constructed of PVC piping and valves, fiberglass reinforced tanks, and stainless steel pumps. All waste streams were directed toward a lined evaporation pond. Wellfield The test pattern was a 30 foot radius 5 spot, with wells fully penetrating the 30 foot ore sand to a total depth of about 165 feet. The injection wells were three-inch PVC with slotted casing, while the producer was eight-inch I. D. , with a stainless steel screen. The eight-inch well was necessary in order to accommodate a six-inch stainless steel pump. Wells were cemented using cement baskets, at the top of the sand, to contain a latex acid resistant cement. Leach Conditions The lixiviant generally contained from five to seven gpl sulfuric acid, and about 0. 5 gpl hydrogen peroxide. The pH was generally 1.4 and EMF was usually -550 millivolts. Injection rates were rather variable from well to well, with a total injection rate between 12 and 25 GPM. Production rate was set at 25 GPM, since the production pump could not be throttled more than that. Approximately two pore volumes of solution were injected during the three-month test. Leach Results Injectivity was quite variable, but was generally rather poor, because of poor completion techniques. The problem stemmed from injecting before the injection wells had been completely cleaned of drilling mud. Pregnant solutions averaged about 50 ppm U308, with groundwater dilution varying from 10 to 50%, depending on the injection rate. Injectivity did decline with time, probably as a result of contamination of the well faces. A total of 1000 lbs U308 had been recovered when the test was shut down. This probably represented about 10% of the mineral under leach.

Jan 1, 1979

By W. A. Nagel, R. P. Alger, H. Sherman, J. Tittmann

A sidewall epithermal neutron tool has been developed to substantially reduce environmental effects that have previously complicated neutron log interpretation. Designed for operation in uncased wells, the device provides increased accuracy in both liquid-filled and empty holes. A brief discussion of neutron moderation, diffusion and capture shows that logs using epithermal neutron detection depend on a smaller number of formation-characterizing parameters than those using thermal neutron or capture gamma ray detection. Thus, they come closer to providing an unambiguorls determination of hydrogen content. In this new device a directionally sensitive epithertnal neutron detection system has been incorporated in a side-wall source-detector skid to minimize borehole effects. The effects of variations in borehole size and shape, mud type, temperature and salinity are greatly reduced. Small residual borehole effects are then computationally accounted for in the surface control panel to provide a borehole-corrected neutron log. The log presents a direct recording of neutron-derived porosity on a linear scale. With corrections for borehole effects already applied, this direct recording of porosity simplifies log interpretation. Furthermore, comparison with a linear porosity presentation of a formation density log permits sandstones, limestones and dolomites to be readily identified. Thus, in complex or variable lithology, porosity is determined with greater accuracy and reliability than heretofore. Laboratory data and field results demonstrate the improvements in neutron logging afforded by this new side-wall epithermal neutron logging device. INTRODUCTION The new Sidewall Neutron Porosity (SNP) logging system, designed for use in uncased wells, provides reliability and accuracy never before achieved with neutron logs. The effects of variations in borehole diameter and shape, fluid salinity, mud weight and temperature—parameters that have long complicated neutron log interpretation— are suppressed or corrected for by this sidewall epithermal neutron detection system. Furthermore, to simplify interpretation the SNP log presents a direct recording of computed porosity on a linear scale. The performance improvements achieved by this new system arise primarily from the combination of two im- portant design features. First. though not unique to this new tool, an epithermal neutron detection system is used,',' Epithermal neutron detection substantially reduces the perturbing influences of the thermal neutron absorption properties of rock matrices and water salinity. Second, the neutron detection system is mounted in a directionally sensitive sidewall skid to greatly minimize borehole effects. The purpose of this paper is to explain briefy the advantages offered by the detection of epithermal neutrons, to describe the SNP equipment and the log, to present calibration and correction data and to give examples of interpretation methods made especially convenient by this new system. ADVANTAGES OF EPITHERMAL NEUTRON DETECTION Epithermal neutron detection, of all the neutron methods in current commercial use, provides the simplest determination of formation hydrogen content. Advantages of epithermal neutron detectors, as compared with thermal neutron and gamma ray detectors, are probably best explained by a brief review of the life of a source-emitted neutron. A fast neutron from the source will eventually be cap-tured by the nucleus of an atom. However. before capture is likely to occur, the fast neutron (energy of 100,000 electron volts (ev) or more) will be slowed down until it is in thermal equilibrium with its surroundings. The neutron is then considered to be a "thermal" neutron (average energy of 0.025 ev at 25C). The overwhelming majority of the slowing down thus occurs in reaching epithermal energies (energies just above thermal—0.5 to several ev). After reaching thermal energy. the neutron will "diffuse" through the formation with, on the average, no further energy change until capture. Upon the capture of the thermal neutron, relatively high energy gamma rays arc usually emitted. Hydrogen plays a very important role in the process of slowing down fast neutrons. On the other hand, the absorption effects of water salinity and low concentrations of other strong thermal neutron absorbers—relatively unimportant in the moderation process-—are very important in thermal diffusion, capture and the production of gamma rays. Thus, by detecting only epithermal neutrons with the SNP, spurious effects due to these thermal neutron absorbers are greatly minimized as compared to the effects on tools using thermal neutron or gamma ray detectors. The epithermal neutron detection system affords another important advantage. Log response in various litho-

Jan 1, 1967

By L. F. Reinartz

FROM the earliest times when our prehistoric ancestors laboriously fashioned crude tools and weapons from meteoric iron until our day when we manufacture steel in 150-ton open-hearth furnaces, the production of iron and steel has played a dramatic and important role in the development of civilization. Progress in the science of refining iron ore into iron and steel was painfully slow for many centuries. The keen scimitars of Damascus, the broadswords of the English knights, the coats of mail of French knights, and the Iron Pillar of Delhi are well¬known examples of medieval metallurgical technique. Expense and the scarcity of raw materials originally limited the distribution of iron and steel products. It was not until the nineteenth century that a determined effort was made to adapt the use of steel to peaceful pursuits. The spectacular and rapid strides made in the manufacture of steel during the last hundred years were hastened by the invention during the decade 1860 to 1870 of two great steelmaking processes-the Bessemer and the open-hearth process.

Jan 1, 1936

By A. O. Dady

PRODUCERS of both bituminous and anthracite coal have for many years been worrying about the gradually decreasing consumption of their product in the United States. Twenty years ago production had climbed to a peak of 569,000,000 tons of bituminous and around 90,000,000 tons of anthracite. In 1939 it was about 393,000,000 tons of bituminous and 51,000,000 tons of anthracite. This does not mean that the country is using less polver than it did twenty years ago, or that we are living in colder buildings. As a matter of fact, about three times as much electric power is now being consumed as in 1920. In general two factors are responsible for the drop in coal consumption: (1) greater efficiency in the use of coal, and (2) increased competition from hydro power, internal-combustion engines, and substitution of oil and gas for coal in conventional furnaces. As to the first factor, it took 3 Ib. of coal to generate a kilowatt-hour of electricity in central stations in 1920 and it takes 1.4 Ib. now; it took about 175 Ib. of coal in railroad locomotives to haul 1000 long tons a mile in 1920 where it talces about 120 lb. now: and marked economies have also been made in the use of coal in steel plants: in by-product coke ovens, and in other large uses. As to the second factor, three times as much electricity is produced from water power now as was produced in 1920; three times as much oil is being consumed in various ways; and likewise, the consumption of natural gas has tripled- whereas coal consumption in the same period has dropped by 40 per cent

Jan 1, 1941

By J. G. Thompson

IRON, iron everywhere, but hardly a particle of pure unadulterated iron for the metallurgist to use as a base for the protean characteristics that he develops in the alloys of iron-the modern steels. Iron, next to aluminum the most abundant metal in the crust of the earth; one of the oldest metals known to man and serving him as the most indispensable metal in both war and peace; yet man's knowledge of its properties is based on specimens that are not pure and hence probably differ considerably in their properties from the truly pure metal. Purification of iron has brought about startling changes in its electrical and magnetic properties and has modified its behavior in changing its crystal form with temperature, the basis of the heat-treatment of iron. So both the research metallurgist and the metallurgist of the steel plant are intrigued by the possibilities that might unfold were 100 per cent pure iron available in sufficient quantities to determine its properties.

Jan 1, 1940

Jan 1, 1886

By F. Forscher

Pronounced porosity, decreasing with distance from the fracture surface, is found in the necked region of tensile specimens tested at room temperature or liquid nitrogen temperature. A hydrogen solution treatment followed by a quench prevents pore formation in tests at —196°C, but has little effect on tests made at room temperature. Reduction of area values at —196°C are strikingly improved by the same treatment, but show no improvement in room temperature tests. The experimental results support the hypothesis that strain-induced porosity results with hydride initially present or, in material containing less than 50 ppm H, with hydride precipitated by strain aging. ZIRCONIUM'S advent as an engineering material in nuclear reactor construction has brought forth many investigations concerned with the properties of this metal and its alloys. Some attention has been given to the ductility of the metal.1, 2 Particularly, the effect of hydrogen on the impact strength was noted," indicating a pronounced dependence of ductility on the hydrogen content and its distribution in the metal. Micro graphic:' and X-ray diffraction studies' have shown that a precipitated hydride phase causes embrittlement in zirconium,' which implies a distinctly different mechanism from that causing hydrogen embrittlement in steels."-' In the latter case, it is assumed that atomic hydrogen diffuses to rifts, where it forms molecular hydrogen under such internal pressures that it causes the rifts to enlarge, leading to fracture. Thermo-dynamic studies of the Zr-H system8, 9 also indicate that the internal pressure of molecular hydrogen would be too low to cause any damage to the zirconium at room temperature, and the formation of a zirconium hydride (d phase) is favored." It is noteworthy that this phase has a face-centered-cubic structure and nearly 18 pet larger molar volume than close-packed-hexagonal a-zlrconlum' Other features of the ductility of zirconium are the absence of a typical cup-cone failure upon tensile testing, a pronounced strain-induced porosity in the necked region of a tensile bar, Fig 1, and the associated spongy appearance of the fracture surface A tremendous improvement in ductility at liquid nitrogen temperature can be observed following a heat treatment that retains the commonly present quan- tities (10 to 50 ppm) of hydrogen in solution. Such tests show a typical cup-cone failure and the absence of strain-induced porosity, Fig. 2. The present paper reports results of an investigation into the causes of strain-induced porosity in zirconium. Room temperature tensile fractures of mild steel, aluminum, and titanium have also been examined for strain-induced porosity. In each case porosity could be detected, but the amount was orders of magnitude less than was found in zirconium. Of the three metals, titanium showed the strongest effect. Material, Specimens, and Preparation The greater part of this investigation was done on Westinghouse crystal bar zirconium, are-melted, forged, and hot-rolled. Chemical analyses of the hot-rolled plates are given in Table I, along with those of the Foote crystal bar zirconium used in this work. The specimens were machined from the hot-rolled plate (1550°F) of 1/2 in. thickness and subsequently heat-treated according to one of the treatments shown in Table IS. All specimens were machined round, the longitudinal axis in the rolling direction, with a gage

Jan 1, 1957

By Oliver Bowles, Carl A. Gnam

THE construction industry normally contributes extensively to the general economic welfare of all sections of the country. Billions of dollars are spent for materials and labor, and the success or failure of many business enterprises depends upon the volume of construction. The steel, aluminum, copper, cement, brick and tile, lime, gypsum, stone, sand and gravel, and several of the less prominent mineral industries are vitally concerned. Of great interest, therefore, is the accumulation of needed construction following the relative inactivity of the past five years, the recent moderate revival in building, and the prospect of a broader and more definite upturn. One may judge the magnitude of possible expenditure for construction by what has occurred in the past. The peak years were 1925 to 1928, inclusive, when the annual values of con- tracts awarded amounted to over six billion dollars. In marked contrast was the 1933 total of about 1% billion, the lowest level shown in the Federal Reserve Board Index, which goes back to 1919, and the more favorable 1935 figure of about 1.7 billion. An increase of nearly four billion over the 1935 volume would be necessary to equal the peak year 1928.

Jan 1, 1936

By AIME AIME

In the present number of Mining and Metallurgy, issued on the fiftieth anniversary of the founding of the Institute, it appears appropriate to chronicle a few of the interesting incidents respecting its early life. We are fortunate in being able to cull the following notes from unpublished manuscripts of Doctor Raymond and Doctor Drinker, than whom no other members could have written with greater exactness and fidelity. THE seventh decade of the 19th century may be said to have marked an. era in the history of the world. Industrially and .commercially it was marked by the wide application and utilization of discoveries already made, which came to their full effect at this period in steamships, railways, telegraph and cable lines; the standardization of parts in machines, from watches to locomotives; the use of 'dynamite, antiseptic surgery, the open-hearth steel process, the compressed-air rock-drill, the electric generator, and the Gatling gun. Through the opening of the Suez canal in 1870 the maritime trade of the world was revolutionized, sailing vessels were supplanted by steamers, while ocean cables and ocean "tramps" brought about far more rapid movement of commerce than had before been experienced. Politically, this period was marked by the sudden birth of the German empire and the beginning of that intensive internal development of the national resources of that empire in preparation for colonial extension and war, the amazing result of which has been made evident by the recent world conflict. In the United States, the significance of this decade was peculiarly important. The re-admission to the union of Virginia, Mississippi, Texas and Georgia in

Jan 1, 1921

By Joseph Kelly

DEPLETION of anthracite resources in Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania, has forced the recovery of coal tracts formerly considered unminable. Chief among these are the large areas of outcrop coal lying on a heavy pitch on the mountain sides, abandoned thirty or forty years ago as too costly and too hazardous to mine. The old companies, in many instances, stopped their chambers 80 or 100 ft. hack from the actual outcrop, and then dropped back another 100 ft. before starting to rob the pillars, thus leaving large areas of coal. Recovery of this coal naturally leads to mining hazards not encountered years ago. The first step is to sink a slope from the surface with the pitch of the vein, and then drive counters across the pitch as close to the robbed area as proper protection for the lower side of the -counter will permit. Next, the old chambers are advanced or new ones driven in the solid, as the conditions require. As these chambers approach the outcrop the real safety work begins-that of preventing the miner from being buried or locked in by an avalanche of mud.

Jan 1, 1936

This brief resume of the events transpiring in Mexico, culled from the daily New York newspapers since the last Bulletin went to press, does not show any degree of improvement in the situation. MEXICO SEEKS TO AVOID BLAME FOR BANDIT RAIDS All foreign passengers leaving Nogales for Mexico on the Southern Pacific or Mexico Railroad. whose business would take them through territory occupied by the Yaqui Indians or Mexican bandits were requested by Mexican Consul Emilio Tamez to sign a statement that they relieve the Mexican government of responsi-bility for anything which might happen to them while in that part of Mexico. The Mexican consul stated, says the N. Y. Tribune, that this was by order of Mexican Ambassador Ignacio Bon ill as, at Washington. When the State Department was advised of this activity Secretary Phillips, in a message to the consulate at Tampico, according to the N. Y. Tribune, asserted that "compliance with the waiver requirement will not interfere with the relation existing between the United States and its citizens and that Americans so complying will in no way lose the protection of this government."

Jan 11, 1919

Steel Tape The new Lufkin Royal Ni-Clad steel tape, made in 25, 50, 75, and 100-ft sizes, is stated to cost less than any other steel tape on the market. Figures and graduations are an integral part of the steel and the nickel plated surface is rust and corrosion resistant. Circle No. 1 Lift A manually operated and propelled hydraulic lift marketed by Century Products Co. weighs only [ ] 150 lb, but the 23x24 in. platform will raise 1000 lb from floor level to 4 ft height. Circle No. 2 Scintillation Counter The Scintillator from Precision Radiation Instruments, stated to have 100 times the sensitivity of the Geiger counter, is suitable for prospecting and may be operated from plane or moving vehicle. The instrument is contained in a 2-lb probe and the belt mounted battery box weighs less than 4 lb. Circle No. 3 Generators Wincharger Corp. announces development of a Speedy-Shift wheel-barrow base type attachment for model 700, 1800 and 5000 engine-generator sets. Portability of the engine-generator sets themselves has been improved by belted construction for higher operating speed and maximum weight reduction. Circle No. 4

Jan 1, 1952