Queries the ``dynac.short`` file for the number of particles used in the
    simulation.

def get_number_of_particles():
    """
    Queries the ``dynac.short`` file for the number of particles used in the
    simulation.
    """
    with open('dynac.short') as f:
        data_str = ''.join(line for line in f.readlines())
        num_of_parts = int(data_str.split('Simulation with')[1].strip().split()[0])
    return num_of_parts