(number of posts in that topic / number of stories in the submission queue)
You can switch these number off (individually) in config.php:
Text Formatted Code
// Show the number of stories in a topic in Topics Block
$_CONF['showstorycount'] = 1;
// Show the number of story submissions for a topic in Topics Block
$_CONF['showsubmissioncount'] = 1;
bye, Dirk