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As defined by Guralnick and Saxl given a nonabelian simple group $S$ and its nonidentity automorphism $x$, a natural number $\alpha_S(x)$ does not exceed a natural number $m$ if some $m$ conjugates of $x$ in the group $\langle x,S\rangle$ generate a subgroup that includes $S$. The outcome of this paper together with one by Di Martino, Pellegrini, and Zalesski, both of which are based on computer calculations with character tables, is a refinement of the estimates by Guralnick and Saxl on the value of $\alpha_S(x)$ in the case where $S$ is a sporadic group. In particular, we prove that $\alpha_S(x)\leqslant 4$, except when $S$ is one of the Fischer groups and $x$ is a $3$-transposition. In the latter case, $\alpha_S(x)=6$ if $S$ is either $Fi_{22}$ or $Fi_{23}$ and $\alpha_S(x)=5$ if $S={Fi_{24}}'$.

We prove that if $L=\mbox{}^2F_4(2^{2n+1})'$ and $x$ is a nonidentity automorphism of $L$ then $G=\langle L,x\rangle$ has four elements conjugate to $x$ that generate $G$. This result is used to study the following conjecture about the $\pi$-radical of a finite group: Let $\pi$ be a proper subset of the set of all primes and let $r$ be the least prime not belonging to $\pi$. Set $m=r$ if $r=2$ or $3$ and set $m=r-1$ if $r\geqslant 5$. Supposedly, an element $x$ of a finite group $G$ is contained in the $\pi$-radical $\operatorname{O}_\pi(G)$ if and only if every $m$ conjugates of $x$ generate a $\pi$-subgroup. Based on the results of this paper and a few previous ones, the conjecture is confirmed for all finite groups whose every nonabelian composition factor is isomorphic to a sporadic, alternating, linear, or unitary simple group, or to one of the groups of type ${}^2B_2(2^{2n+1})$, ${}^2G_2(3^{2n+1})$, ${}^2F_4(2^{2n+1})'$, $G_2(q)$, or ${}^3D_4(q)$.

We classify the nonsplit extensions of elementary abelian $p$-groups by $PSL_2(q)$, with odd $p$ dividing $q-1$, for an irreducible induced action, calculate the relevant low-dimensional cohomology groups, and describe the automorphism groups of such extensions.

We complete the description of automorphism groups of all nonsplit extensions of elementary abelian $2$-groups by $PSL_2(q)$, with $q$ odd, for an irreducible induced action. An application of this result to the theory of $\pi$-submaximal subgroups is given.

We explore the extent to which constructing the inductive theory of $\mathfrak{X}$-submaximal subgroups is possible. To this end, we study the behavior of $\pi$-submaximal subgroups under homomorphisms with $\pi$-separable kernels and construct examples where such behavior is irregular.

We construct examples that show the difference in behavior or $\pi$-maximal and $\pi$-submaximal subgroups under group homomorphisms.

To follow up on the results of [1], we propose a computationally efficient explicit cyclic decomposition of the maximal tori in the groups $SL_n(q)$ and $SU_n(q)$ and their projective images. We also derive some corollaries to simplify practical calculation of the maximal tori. The result is based on a generic cyclic decomposition of a finite abelian group which might also be of interest.

We construct two infinite series of Moufang loops of exponent $3$ whose commutative center (i.e. the set of elements that commute with all elements of the loop) is not a normal subloop. In particular, we obtain examples of such loops of orders $3^8$ and $3^{11}$ one of which can be defined as the Moufang triplication of the free Burnside group $B(3,3)$.

Using cohomological methods, we prove a criterion for the embedding of a group extension with abelian kernel into the split extension of a co-induced module. This generalises some earlier similar results. We also prove an assertion about the conjugacy of complements in split extensions of co-induced modules. Both results follow from a relation between homomorphisms of certain cohomology groups.

We find a necessary condition for the embedding of a central extension of a group $G$ with elementary abelian kernel into the wreath product that corresponds to a permutation action of $G$. The proof uses purely group-theoretic methods.

We find a criterion for the embedding of a nonsplit central extension of $PSL_n(q)$ with kernel of prime order into the permutation wreath product that corresponds to the action on the projective space.

We construct a Moufang loop $M$ of order $3^{19}$ and a pair $a,b$ of its elements such that the set of all elements of $M$ that associate with $a$ and $b$ does not form a subloop. This is also an example of a nonassociative Moufang loop with a generating set whose every three elements associate.

Using groups with triality we obtain some general multiplication formulas in Moufang loops, construct Moufang extensions of abelian groups, and describe the structure of minimal extensions for finite simple Moufang loops over abelian groups.

We determine the abelian invariants of the maximal tori in the finite spin groups of type $D_l$

Using calculations in computer algebra systems along with some theoretic results, we construct the largest finite group of period 12 generated by an element of order 2 and an element of order 3. In particular, we prove that this group has order $2^{66}.3^7$.

We use groups with triality to construct a series of nonassociative Moufang loops. Certain members of this series contain an abelian normal subloop with the corresponding quotient being a cyclic group. In particular, we give a new series of examples of finite abelian-by-cyclic Moufang loops. The previously known [A. Rajah, J. Alg., 235 (2001), 66-93] loops of this type of odd order 3q^3, with prime q congruent to 1 mod 3, are particular cases of our series. Some of the examples are shown to be embeddable into a Cayley algebra., Comment: Preprint submitted to Comm. Alg

We construct a solvable group G of order 5648590729620 such that the set of element orders of G coincides with that of the simple group S(4,3). This completes the determination of finite simple groups isospectral to solvable groups.

We find the nonabelian finite simple groups with order prime divisors not exceeding 1000. More generally, we determine the sets of nonabelian finite simple groups whose maximal order prime divisor is a fixed prime less than 1000. Our results are based on calculations in the computer algebra system GAP.

We show that if a finite simple group G isomorphic to PSL(n,q) or PSU(n,q), where either $n\ne 4$, or q is prime or even, acts on a vector space over a field of the defining characteristic of G, then the corresponding semidirect product contains an element whose order is distinct from every element order of G. As a consequence, we prove that the group PSL(n,q), where $n\ne 4$ or q prime or even, is recognizable by spectrum from its covers thus giving a partial positive answer to Problem 14.60 from the Kourovka notebook.

For finite Moufang loops, we prove an analog of the first Sylow theorem giving a criterion of the existence of a p-Sylow subloop. We also find the maximal order of p-subloops in the Moufang loops that do not possess p-Sylow subloops., Comment: 21 pages