The following is for Q-turns only, whole cubes (both corners and
edges), and not considering M-conjugates. I think it would be
possible to squeeze out another couple of levels by considering
M-conjugates. The best previous result I have found in the
archives was through level 7 (reported on 7 December 1981, and again
on 3 August 1992).

Distance              Number     Branching
  from                  of         Factor
 Start                Cubes

0                      1
1                     12     12.00
2                    114      9.50
3                  1,068      9.37
4                 10,011      9.37
5                 93,840      9.37
6                878,880      9.37
7              8,221,632      9.35
8             76,843,595      9.35   (new)

 = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
Robert G. Bryan (Jerry Bryan)              (304) 293-5192
Associate Director, WVNET                  (304) 293-5540 fax
837 Chestnut Ridge Road                     BRYAN@WVNVM
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