I read (the beginning) of a short story about a man who invented nanobots.  He went into a radioactive room (nuclear reactor) where he trapped himself and started reading a book.  It may have been a short story written by Isaac Asimov, but I am not sure.  As far as I can remember, it was in a collection of short stories.  I also remember that during that time, I read Asimov's Science Fiction.  It was supposed to be continued on the next volume, but I did not find that volume.  I read that sometime between 1988 and 1992... but it was a bit older, when I read it.
I remember reading it while in middle school in English in the United States, so the latest it would have come out was 1998. I don't remember if it was all one author, or even the same universe. These are the stories I remember:   A man finds a way to create a medicine that prevents radiation poisoning (or possibly makes someone fireproof... it's a little confused in my head) and learns that part of the problem is finding a market for it. I vividly remember the inventor telling someone to not "let the doorknob ream you" as it slams shut. A bout of graffiti artists leads to the city buying anti-graffiti paint that dissolves any other paint put on top of it. After learning the futility of trying to paint over it, the protagonist consults with a friend and learns that the anti-graffiti paint will eat away at the paint above it at a steady rate, and will even eat successive layers of the anti-graffiti paint. he uses this property to engineer an animation involving a harlequin thumbing this nose at the officials even as they try to wash it away. Some guys (I want to say a gang) go to a clinic for an illegal nanotech transformation. The viewpoint character gets turned into a woman while a friend gets turned into a dog. After roaming about in their new forms, they return to find the clinic being raided, meaning there's no one to turn them back. I think I remember something bad happening to the one transformed into a dog where the transformation continued, erasing his human thought patterns. There was also a scene where the viewpoint character submitted to being sexually assaulted by his former friends as if it was simply to be expected given his form.   I don't remember if the first or the second story was the actual first story of the collection... I want to say that those are the order that they showed up as in the book.
If $\dfrac{4x^2-1}{4x^2-y^2}$ is an integer, then it is $1$ The problem is the following:     If $x$ and $y$ are integers such that $\dfrac{4x^2-1}{4x^2-y^2}=k$ is   also an integer, does it implies that $k=1$?   This equation is equivalent to $ky^2+(1-k)4x^2=1$ or to $(k-1)4x^2-ky^2=-1$. The first equation is a pell equation (if $k$ is a perfect square) and the second is a pell type equation (if $k-1$ is a perfect square). I've tried setting several values of $k$ to get some solutions but i got nothing. I'm starting to think that $k$ must be $1$. PCA on correlation or covariance? What are the main differences between performing principal component analysis (PCA) on the correlation matrix and on the covariance matrix? Do they give the same results? Mavericks unusually high RAM usage I thought Mavericks was suppose to utilize RAM memory better, thus run smoother.  Running ML on Mac mini 2012, with 16GB RAM...always running smoothly even with over a dozen apps running.  Now, after installing Mavericks, my Mac is SLOW, eating up RAM like crazy! Looking over usage, of the 16GB of installed memory...on average it uses 10-14 GB RAM when barely running a few apps!!!   There is this kernel_task that is always running with over 1GB of RAM and most apps are not taking that much RAM, so what is using up all my RAM?! File cache? It shows very high in that new description, with about 1/3 of my total RAM Have you ever tried this before?  static void Main(string[] args) {     int x = 10;     x = x++;     Console.WriteLine(x); }   Output: 10.  but for   static void Main(string[] args) {     int x = 10;     x++;     Console.WriteLine(x); }   Output: 11.  Could anyone explain why this? Scorched3d worked then stopped. Unistalled and reinstalled did not help. Running Ubuntu 16.04.04LTS. I think it was after installing new release.  I think the problem is the Ubuntu 16.04.4LTS. The newer version has no Scorched3d in the Ubuntu Software Center. I have 3 systems. After updating to new version. Scorched3D will not install and work after updating.  ron@RonsComputer:~$ sudo objdump -p $(type -p scorched3d) | grep NEEDED  NEEDED libwx_gtk2u_adv-3.0.so.0  NEEDED libwx_gtk2u_core-3.0.so.0 NEEDED libwx_baseu-3.0.so.0 NEEDED libfreetype.so.6 NEEDED libz.so.1 NEEDED libSDL-1.2.so.0 NEEDED libSDL_net-1.2.so.0 NEEDED libexpat.so.1  NEEDED libstdc++.so.6 NEEDED libm.so.6 NEEDED libgcc_s.so.1 NEEDED libpthread.so.0 NEEDED libc.so.6   ron@ron-desktop ~ $ objdump -p $(type -p scorched3d) | grep NEEDED | awk '{print $2}' | xargs -n 1 dpkg -S  libwxgtk3.0-0v5:amd64: /usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/libwx_gtk2u_adv-3.0.so.0.2.0 libwxgtk3.0-0v5:amd64: /usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/libwx_gtk2u_adv-3.0.so.0 libwxgtk3.0-0v5:amd64: /usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/libwx_gtk2u_core-3.0.so.0.2.0 libwxgtk3.0-0v5:amd64: /usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/libwx_gtk2u_core-3.0.so.0 libwxbase3.0-0v5:amd64: /usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/libwx_baseu-3.0.so.0.2.0 libwxbase3.0-0v5:amd64: /usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/libwx_baseu-3.0.so.0 libfreetype6:amd64: /usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/libfreetype.so.6.12.1 libfreetype6:i386: /usr/lib/i386-linux-gnu/libfreetype.so.6 libfreetype6:amd64: /usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/libfreetype.so.6 libfreetype6:i386: /usr/lib/i386-linux-gnu/libfreetype.so.6.12.1 zlib1g:i386: /lib/i386-linux-gnu/libz.so.1.2.8 zlib1g:amd64: /lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/libz.so.1 zlib1g:i386: /lib/i386-linux-gnu/libz.so.1 zlib1g:amd64: /lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/libz.so.1.2.8 libsdl1.2debian:amd64: /usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/libSDL-1.2.so.0.11.4 libsdl1.2debian:i386: /usr/lib/i386-linux-gnu/libSDL-1.2.so.0 libsdl1.2debian:i386: /usr/lib/i386-linux-gnu/libSDL-1.2.so.0.11.4 libsdl1.2debian:amd64: /usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/libSDL-1.2.so.0 libsdl-net1.2:amd64: /usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/libSDL_net-1.2.so.0 libsdl-net1.2:i386: /usr/lib/i386-linux-gnu/libSDL_net-1.2.so.0 libsdl-net1.2:amd64: /usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/libSDL_net-1.2.so.0.8.0 libsdl-net1.2:i386: /usr/lib/i386-linux-gnu/libSDL_net-1.2.so.0.8.0 libexpat1:i386: /lib/i386-linux-gnu/libexpat.so.1.6.0 libexpat1:amd64: /lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/libexpat.so.1 libexpat1:amd64: /lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/libexpat.so.1.6.0 libexpat1:i386: /lib/i386-linux-gnu/libexpat.so.1 libstdc++6:amd64: /usr/share/gdb/auto-load/usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/libstdc++.so.6.0.21-gdb.py libstdc++6:i386: /usr/lib/i386-linux-gnu/libstdc++.so.6 libstdc++6:amd64: /usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/libstdc++.so.6 libstdc++6:amd64: /usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/libstdc++.so.6.0.21 libstdc++6:i386: /usr/lib/i386-linux-gnu/libstdc++.so.6.0.21 libstdc++6:i386: /usr/share/gdb/auto-load/usr/lib/i386-linux-gnu/libstdc++.so.6.0.21-gdb.py libc6:amd64: /lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/libm.so.6 libc6:i386: /lib/i386-linux-gnu/libm.so.6 libgcc1:amd64: /lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/libgcc_s.so.1 libgcc1:i386: /lib/i386-linux-gnu/libgcc_s.so.1 libc6:i386: /lib/i386-linux-gnu/libpthread.so.0 libc6:amd64: /lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/libpthread.so.0 libc6:i386: /lib/i386-linux-gnu/libc.so.6 libc6:amd64: /lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/libc.so.6 ron@ron-desktop ~ $ I have a large external with many subfolders that I want to move all videos, pictures, and music to another hard-drive, what would be the best way to do this? Running Windows 7  I'm trying to boost the startup speed of my computer and I'm going through "msconfig" and "services.msc" to disable some applications from starting up automatically when the computer turns on.  There are some good sites that document the entries found in the "Processes" tab of the task manager.  You can find out if they are safe to kill, who the manufacturer is, and what the process in question is used  for.  Are there any sites that list startup processes &amp;| services that are safe to kill?  For example, there is an entry in msconfig that just says "Computer Browser" - pretty vague, but seems like something to not kill.  On the other hand, there is an entry in msconfig that says "Extensible Authentication Protocol" - pretty specific and seems like it shouldn't be killed, but how can I know for sure?  Does anyone know if there are any websites documenting the "killable" items listed in both msconfig &amp; services.msc? Proof that $(x-1)^2$ divides a $nx^{n+1} – (n+1)x^{n}+1$ Device that makes metal malleable $x^a - 1$ divides $x^b - 1$ if and only if $a$ divides $b$ Let $x &gt; 1$ and $a$, $b$ be positive integers. I know that $a$ divides $b$ implies that $x^a - 1$ divides $x^b - 1$. If $b = qa$, then  $$x^b - 1 = (x^a)^q - 1^q = (x^a - 1)((x^a)^{q-1} + \ldots + x^a + 1).$$  I'm interested in the converse of the statement. If $x^a - 1$ divides $x^b - 1$, does this imply that $a$ divides $b$? Is there any way to find out what happened to a post card sent from other country? Converting ISO 8601-compliant String to java.util.Date Change edit approval/rejection I accidentally clicked reject on the suggested edit on this question(). I can't find the button to change it to Approve? What spell slot count formula can I use to base my homebrew mechanic on? better Curve/Text to Mesh generation? The triangulation process of Text to Mesh or Curve to Mesh generates some nasty topology.   I get why, but maybe it could be done a bit nicer? Since text is flat, have ngons instead of hundreds of triangles you'll need to modify anyway?  Another issue is when you then want to use the text as a Volume for particles, which for some reason behave weird when you have unusual topology even though they should be using the volume, not vertex or face positions. How to prove that $z\gcd(a,b)=\gcd(za,zb)$ I need to prove that $z\gcd(a,b)=\gcd(za,zb)$.    I tried a lot, for example, looking at set of common divisors of the two sides, but I can't conclude anything from that. Can you please give me some advice how I can handle this problem? And $a,b,z \in \mathbb{Z}$. Labeling Multiple Equations Per Row of a Table I am trying to create a table with two columns of independently labelled equations (1-6). Unfortunately, everything I have found so far either has not worked or would number them as sub-equations (1a, 1b, etc).  My current attempt is:  \documentclass{article} \usepackage{graphicx, verbatim, tabularx} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amsmath, amssymb}  \newcommand{\grad}{\vec{\nabla}}       \newcommand{\prtl}[2]{\frac{\partial #1}{\partial #2}}  \newcommand{\curl}{\grad\times} \begin{document}  \begin{tabular}{p{5cm}p{5cm}}  $\curl\vec{E} = -i\omega\mu\vec{H}$ &amp;   $\curl\vec{H} = i\omega\mu\vec{E}$ \\  \begin{equation}  \label{eq:curlHx}   \prtl{E_z}{y} +\gamma E_y= -i\omega\mu H_x  \end{equation}  &amp;  \begin{equation}  \label{eq:curlEx}    \prtl{H_z}{y} +\gamma H_y= i\omega\mu E_x  \end{equation}\\  \begin{equation}  \label{eq:curlHy}    -\prtl{E_z}{x} -\gamma E_x= -i\omega\mu H_y  \end{equation}  &amp;  \begin{equation}  \label{eq:curlEy}    -\prtl{H_z}{x} -\gamma H_x= -i\omega\mu E_y  \end{equation}  \\  \begin{equation}  \label{eq:curlHz}   \prtl{E_y}{x}-\prtl{E_x}{y} = -i\omega\mu H_z  \end{equation}  &amp;  \begin{equation}  \label{eq:curlEz}    \prtl{H_y}{x}-\prtl{H_x}{y} = -i\omega\mu E_z  \end{equation}  \end{tabular}  \end{document}   Is there an environment other than tabular that would make this work? Tabularx came close (got the numbering correct), but the formatting/spacing was horrific. Should you set all the objects to null (Nothing in VB.NET) once you have finished with them?   I understand that in .NET it is essential to dispose of any instances of objects that implement the IDisposable interface to release some resources although the object can still be something after it is disposed (hence the isDisposed property in forms), so I assume it can still reside in memory or at least in part?  I also know that when an object goes out of scope it is then marked for collection ready for the next pass of the garbage collector (although this may take time).  So with this in mind will setting it to null speed up the system releasing the memory as it does not have to work out that it is no longer in scope and are they any bad side effects?  MSDN articles never do this in examples and currently I do this as I cannot  see the harm. However I have come across a mixture of opinions so any comments are useful. I had posted a  last week about customizing a ToolValidator class and got some very good answers.  In working with the proposed solutions, I have created a custom module that performs queries on a db, and will be called by both the ToolValidator class (to provide values for the drop-down lists) and later in the geoprocessing script (to get other parameters based on items selected in drop-down lists).  However, I can't seem to actually call the custom module in the ToolValidator class.  I have been trying to append to path with no luck.  When I try to apply these changes to the script, I get a runtime error:  [Errno 9] Bad file descriptor.  If I comment out import line, no errors.  sys.path.append('my_custom_module_directory') import my_custom_module   Many of you may be asking why don't I just implement a custom tool with ArcObjects.  The reason is that my end users don't have the privleges necessary to register ANY dlls on their computer.  UPDATE:  This was happening to me in ArcGIS 10.  Interestingly enough, I was initially appending to the path inside of the initialiazeParameters function of the ToolValidator class.  If I do the append outside (i.e., on top of) of the ToolValidator class, everything works as expected.  sys.path.append('C:/Working/SomeFolder') import somescript --------&gt;THIS WORKS  class ToolValidator:   """Class for validating a tool's parameter values and controlling   the behavior of the tool's dialog."""    def __init__(self):     """Setup arcpy and the list of tool parameters."""     import arcpy     sys.path.append('C:/Working/SomeFolder')     import somescript -------&gt; THIS DOESNT WORK     self.params = arcpy.GetParameterInfo()   UPDATE 2:  I think I found the true cause of my problem.  In the code snippets in this post, I have been appending what appear to be real paths (ex C:/Working/SomeFolder) to the sys.path.  In my actual ToolValidator class, I was constructing a relative path using os.path.dirname(__file__) +"\my_special_folder...".  I was anticipating that os.path.dirname(__file__) would return the path of the toolbox, since that contains the ToolValidator class.  I have come to find this is not the case.  As far as I can tell, the ToolValidator class is never actually written to a .py file, and I speculate the the this code is passed to the python interpreter in memory, so __file__ is useless, or some temp script is persisted and then execfile(path_to_script) is called, again rendering __file__ useless.  I'm sure there are other reasons I am missing as well.    Long story short, if I use a hardcoded path, the sys.append works anywhere, relative paths don't work so well in the ToolValidator class. Where do I find out how a command/environment is defined? Say I want to redefine the itemize environment, or make a modified version of it. I want to know how it is currently defined. Where do I find this information? If it's some particular package command, I can just look at the .sty file for that package, but if it's something more basic, I don't know where to look...  Is there a reference manual of where all this stuff is explained? Or is there a file in the depths of my texmf tree I should poke around in?