Cardinal invariants b_kappa and t_kappa

Not collapsing cardinals <= kappa in (< kappa) --support iterations

We deal with the problem of preserving various versions of completeness in (< kappa) --support iterations of forcing notions, generalizing the case ``S --complete proper is preserved by CS iterations for a stationary co-stationary S subseteq omega_1''. We give applications to Uniformization and the Whitehead problem. In particular, for a strongly inaccessible cardinal kappa and a stationary set S subseteq kappa with fat complement we can have uniformization for < A_delta : delta in S'>, A_delta subseteq delta = sup A_delta, cf(delta)=otp(A_delta) and a stationary non-reflecting set S' subseteq…

Blowing up the power of a singular cardinal

Suppose that kappa is a singular cardinal of cofinality omega and GCH holds. Assume that for every n<omega the set of alphas with o(alpha)>= alpha^{+n} is unbounded in kappa.Then there is a cardinal preserving extension satisfying 2^kappa=kappa^++ and GCH below kappa. By a result of W. Mitchell and the author the assumptions are optimal.

Applications of pcf for mild large cardinals to elementary embeddings

The following pcf results are proved: 1. Assume that kappa > aleph_0 is a weakly compact cardinal. Let mu > 2^kappa be a singular cardinal of cofinality kappa. Then for every regular lambda < pp^+_{Gamma(kappa)} (mu) there is an increasing sequence (lambda_i | i < kappa) of regular cardinals converging to mu such that lambda = tcf(prod_{i < kappa} lambda_i, <_{J^{bd}_kappa}). 2. Let mu be a strong limit cardinal and theta a cardinal above mu. Suppose that at least one of them has an uncountable cofinality. Then there is sigma_* < mu such that for every chi < theta the following holds: theta > …

The Lottery Preparation

The lottery preparation, a new general kind of Laver preparation, works uniformly with supercompact cardinals, strongly compact cardinals, strong cardinals, measurable cardinals, or what have you. And like the Laver preparation, the lottery preparation makes these cardinals indestructible by various kinds of further forcing. A supercompact cardinal kappa, for example, becomes fully indestructible by kappa-directed closed forcing; a strong cardinal kappa becomes indestructible by less-than-or-equal-kappa-strategically closed forcing; and a strongly compact cardinal kappa becomes indestructible …

On equivalence relations Sigma_1^1-definable over H(kappa)

Let kappa be an uncountable regular cardinal. Call an equivalence relation on functions from kappa into 2 Sigma_1^1-definable over H(kappa) if there is a first order sentence F and a parameter R subseteq H(kappa) such that functions f,g:kappa --> 2 are equivalent iff for some h:kappa --> 2, the structure (H(kappa),in,R,f,g,h) satisfies F, where in, R, f, g, and h are interpretations of the symbols appearing in F. All the values mu, 1 leq mu leq kappa^+ or mu=2^kappa, are possible numbers of equivalence classes for such a Sigma_1^1-equivalence relation. Additionally, the possibilities are close…

Unfoldable cardinals and the GCH

Introducing unfoldable cardinals last year, Andres Villaveces ingeniously extended the notion of weak compactness to a larger context, thereby producing a large cardinal notion, unfoldability, with some of the feel and flavor of weak compactness but with a greater consistency strength. Specifically, kappa is theta-unfoldable when for any transitive structure M of size kappa that contains kappa as an element, there is an elementary embedding j:M-->N with critical point kappa for which j(kappa) is at least theta. Define that kappa is fully unfoldable, then, when it is theta-unfoldable for every …

A class of strong diamond principles

In the context of large cardinals, the classical diamond principle Diamond_kappa is easily strengthened in natural ways. When kappa is a measurable cardinal, for example, one might ask that a Diamond_kappa sequence anticipate every subset of kappa not merely on a stationary set, but on a set of normal measure one. This is equivalent to the existence of a function l:kappa-->V_kappa such that for any A in H(kappa+) there is an embedding j:V-->M having critical point kappa with j(l)(kappa)=A. This and similar principles formulated for many other large cardinal notions, including weakly compact, i…

A partition relation using strongly compact cardinals

If kappa is strongly compact, lambda > kappa is regular, then (2^{< lambda})^+ --> (lambda+eta)^2_theta holds for eta,theta<kappa.

Large cardinals with few measures

We show, assuming the consistency of one measurable cardinal, that it is consistent for there to be exactly kappa+ many normal measures on the least measurable cardinal kappa. This answers a question of Stewart Baldwin. The methods generalize to higher cardinals, showing that the number of lambda strong compactness or lambda supercompactness measures on P_kappa(lambda) can be exactly lambda+, if lambda>kappa is a regular cardinal. We conclude with a list of open questions. Our proofs use a critical observation due to James Cummings.

Identities on cardinals less than aleph_omega

Let kappa be an uncountable cardinal and the edges of a complete graph with kappa vertices be colored with aleph_0 colors. For kappa >2^{aleph_0} the Erdős-Rado theorem implies that there is an infinite monochromatic subgraph. However, if kappa <= 2^{aleph_0}, then it may be impossible to find a monochromatic triangle. This paper is concerned with the latter situation. We consider the types of colorings of finite subgraphs that must occur when kappa <= 2^{aleph_0}. In particular, we are concerned with the case aleph_1 <= kappa <= aleph_omega

Maximal failures of sequence locality in a.e.c

We are interested in examples of a.e.c. with amalgamation having some (extreme) behaviour concerning types. Note we deal with k being sequence-local, i.e. local for increasing chains of length a regular cardinal (for types, equality of all restrictions imply equality). . For any cardinal theta>= aleph_0 we construct an a.e.c. with amalgamation k with L.S.T.(k) = theta, |tau_K| = theta such that {kappa : kappa is a regular cardinal and K is not (2^kappa, kappa)-sequence-local} is maximal. In fact we have a direct characterization of this class of cardinals: the regular kappa such that there is …

On Hanf numbers of the infinitary order property

We study several cardinal, and ordinal--valued functions that are relatives of Hanf numbers. Let kappa be an infinite cardinal, and let T subseteq L_{kappa^+, omega} be a theory of cardinality <= kappa, and let gamma be an ordinal >= kappa^+. For example we look at (1) mu_{T}^*(gamma, kappa):= min {mu^* for all phi in L_{infinity, omega}, with rk(phi)< gamma, if T has the (phi, mu^*)-order property then there exists a formula phi'(x;y) in L_{kappa^+, omega}, such that for every chi >= kappa, T has the (phi', chi)-order property}; and (2) mu^*(gamma, kappa):= sup{mu_T^*(gamma, kappa)| T in L_{k…

Strong Tree Properties for Small Cardinals

An inaccessible cardinal kappa is supercompact when (kappa, lambda)-ITP holds for all lambda greater than or equal to kappa. We prove that if there is a model of ZFC with infinitely many supercompact cardinals, then there is a model of ZFC where for every natural number n greater than 1 and for every ordinal mu greater than or equal to aleph_n, we have (aleph_n, mu)-ITP.

Nowhere precipitousness of the non-stationary ideal over P_kappa(lambda)

We prove that if lambda is a strong limit singular cardinal and kappa a regular uncountable cardinal < lambda, then NS_{kappa lambda}, the non-stationary ideal over P_{kappa} lambda, is nowhere precipitous. We also show that under the same hypothesis every stationary subset of P_{kappa} lambda can be partitioned into lambda^{< kappa} disjoint stationary sets.

Nonreflecting stationary sets in P_kappa(lambda)

Let kappa be a regular uncountable cardinal and lambda >=kappa^+ . The principle of stationary reflection for P_kappa lambda has been successful in settling problems of infinite combinatorics in the case kappa=omega_1. For a greater kappa the principle is known to fail at some lambda. This note shows that it fails at every lambda if kappa is the successor of a regular uncountable cardinal or kappa is countably closed.

Small u(kappa) at singular kappa with compactness at kappa++

We show that the tree property, stationary reflection and the failure of approachability at $κ^{++}$ are consistent with $\mathfrak{u}(κ) = κ^+ < 2^κ$, where $κ$ is a singular strong limit cardinal with the countable or uncountable cofinality. As a by-product, we show that if $λ$ is a regular cardinal, then stationary reflection at $λ^+$ is indestructible under all $λ$-cc forcings (out of general interest, we also state a related result for the preservation of club stationary reflection).

(kappa,theta)-weak normality

We characterize the situation of small cardinality for a product of cardinals divided by an ultrafilter. We develop the notion of weak normality. We include an application to Boolean Algebras.

Advances in Cardinal Arithmetic

If cf(kappa) = kappa, kappa^+< cf(lambda) = λ, then there is a stationary subset S of {delta<lambda:cf(delta)=kappa} in I[lambda]. Moreover, we can find <C_delta :delta in S>, C_delta a club of lambda, otp(C_delta)=kappa, guessing clubs and for each alpha<lambda we have: {C_delta \cap alpha: alpha \in nacc(C_delta)} has cardinality <lambda. Also, we prove that e.g. there is a stationary subset of S_{<aleph_1}(lambda) of cardinality cf(S_{<aleph_1}(lambda),subseteq) Then we prove the existence of nice filters when instead being normal filters on omega_1 they are normal filters with larger domai…

Diamond (on the regulars) can fail at any strongly unfoldable cardinal

If kappa is any strongly unfoldable cardinal, then this is preserved in a forcing extension in which Diamond_kappa(REG) fails. This result continues the progression of the corresponding results for weakly compact cardinals, due to Woodin, and for indescribable cardinals, due to Hauser.

The number of openly generated Boolean algebras

This article is devoted to two different generalizations of projective Boolean algebras: openly generated Boolean algebras and tightly sigma-filtered Boolean algebras. We show that for every uncountable regular cardinal kappa there are 2^kappa pairwise non-isomorphic openly generated Boolean algebras of size kappa > aleph_1 provided there is an almost free non-free abelian group of size kappa. The openly generated Boolean algebras constructed here are almost free. Moreover, for every infinite regular cardinal kappa we construct 2^kappa pairwise non-isomorphic Boolean algebras of size kappa tha…

Coding and reshaping when there are no sharps

Assuming 0^sharp does not exist, kappa is an uncountable cardinal and for all cardinals lambda with kappa <= lambda < kappa^{+ omega}, 2^lambda = lambda^+, we present a ``mini-coding'' between kappa and kappa^{+ omega}. This allows us to prove that any subset of kappa^{+ omega} can be coded into a subset, W of kappa^+ which, further, ``reshapes'' the interval [kappa, kappa^+), i.e., for all kappa < delta < kappa^+, kappa = (card delta)^{L[W cap delta]}. We sketch two applications of this result, assuming 0^sharp does not exist. First, we point out that this shows that any set can be coded by a…

More on Cardinal Arithmetic

This paper deals with variety of problems in pcf theory and infinitary combinatorics. We look at normal filters and prc, measures of the size of [lambda]^{<kappa}, pcf-inaccessibility, entangled orders (and narrow Boolean Algebras), measuring prod_{i<kappa}f(i) by a family of ideals and a family of sequences <B_i:i<kappa> with |B_i|<mu_i, and finally we deal with the existence of strongly almost disjoint families.

On the strong equality between supercompactness and strong compactness

We show that supercompactness and strong compactness can be equivalent even as properties of pairs of regular cardinals. Specifically, we show that if V models ZFC + GCH is a given model (which in interesting cases contains instances of supercompactness), then there is some cardinal and cofinality preserving generic extension V[G] models ZFC + GCH in which, (a) (preservation) for kappa <= lambda regular, if V models ``kappa is lambda supercompact'', then V[G] models ``kappa is lambda supercompact'' and so that, (b) (equivalence) for kappa <= lambda regular, V[G] models ``kappa is lambda strong…

Linear Orderings and Powers of Characterizable Cardinal

The current paper answers an open question of abs/1007.2426 We say that a countable model M characterizes an infinite cardinal kappa, if the Scott sentence of M has a model in cardinality kappa, but no models in cardinality kappa plus. If M is linearly ordered by <, we will say that the linear ordering (M,<) characterizes kappa. It is known that if kappa is characterizable, then kappa plus is characterizable by a linear ordering. Also, if kappa is characterizable by a dense linear ordering with an increasing sequence of size kappa, then 2^kappa is characterizable. We show that if kappa is homo…

The higher Cichon diagram in the degenerate case

For a regular uncountable cardinal kappa, we discuss the order relationship between the unbounding and dominating numbers on kappa and cardinal invariants of the higher meager ideal M_kappa. In particular, we obtain a complete characterization of add(M_kappa) and cof(M_kappa) in terms of cov(M_kappa) and non(M_kappa) and unbounding and dominating numbers, and we provide models showing that there are no restrictions on the value of non(M_kappa) in the degenerate case 2^{<kappa} > kappa except 2^{<kappa} leq non(M_kappa) leq 2^kappa. The corresponding question for cof(M_kappa) remains open. Our …

Cofinality of the nonstationary ideal

We show that the reduced cofinality of the nonstationary ideal NS_kappa on a regular uncountable cardinal kappa may be less than its cofinality, where the reduced cofinality of NS_kappa is the least cardinality of any family F of nonstationary subsets of kappa such that every nonstationary subset of kappa can be covered by less than $κ$ many members of F.

The first almost free Whitehead group

Assume G.C.H. and kappa is the first uncountable cardinal such that there is a kappa-free abelian group which is not a Whitehead (abelian) group. We prove that kappa is necessarily an inaccessible cardinal

The nonstationary ideal on P_κ(lambda) for lambda singular

Let kappa be a regular uncountable cardinal and lambda > kappa a singular strong limit cardinal. We give a new characterization of the nonstationary subsets of P_kappa (lambda) and use this to prove that the nonstationary ideal on P_kappa (lambda) is nowhere precipitous.

Cardinal preserving ideals

We give some general criteria, when kappa-complete forcing preserves largeness properties -- like kappa-presaturation of normal ideals on lambda (even when they concentrate on small cofinalities). Then we quite accurately obtain the consistency strength ``NS_lambda is aleph_1-preserving'', for lambda > aleph_2 .

The maximality of the core model

If T is an iteration tree on K and F is a countably certified extender that coheres with the final model of T, then F is on the extender sequence of the final model of T. Several applications of maximality are proved, including: o K computes successors of weakly compact cardinals correctly. o K^c is an iterate of K. o (with Mitchell) If alpha is a cardinal > aleph_1, then K-restriction-alpha is universal for mice of height alpha. Other results in this paper, when combined with work of Woodin, imply: o If square-kappa-finite fails and kappa is a singular, strong limit cardinal, then Inductive D…

Full reflection of stationary sets at regular cardinals

A stationary subset S of a regular uncountable cardinal kappa reflects fully at regular cardinals if for every stationary set T subseteq kappa of higher order consisting of regular cardinals there exists an alpha in T such that S cap alpha is a stationary subset of alpha. We prove that the Axiom of Full Reflection which states that every stationary set reflects fully at regular cardinals, together with the existence of n-Mahlo cardinals is equiconsistent with the existence of Pi^1_n-indescribable cardinals. We also state the appropriate generalization for greatly Mahlo cardinals.

Universal Indestructibility

From a suitable large cardinal hypothesis, we provide a model with a supercompact cardinal in which universal indestructibility holds: every supercompact and partially supercompact cardinal kappa is fully indestructible by kappa-directed closed forcing. Such a state of affairs is impossible with two supercompact cardinals or even with a cardinal which is supercompact beyond a measurable cardinal.

在所有不可数基数上平方失败比Woodin极限的Woodin基数更弱

The failure of square at all uncountable cardinals is weaker than a Woodin limit of Woodin cardinals

该研究通过强制选择公理，在满足ZF的最小初始段的Nairian模型中展示所有不可数基数上平方失败，并表明正则基数在HOD中为omega-强可测，从而揭示了HOD假设在ZFC中的不可证性。

The Proper Forcing Axiom, Prikry forcing, and the Singular Cardinals Hypothesis

The purpose of this paper is to present some results which suggest that the Singular Cardinals Hypothesis follows from the Proper Forcing Axiom. What will be proved is that a form of simultaneous reflection follows from the Set Mapping Reflection Principle, a consequence of PFA. While the results fall short of showing that MRP implies SCH, it will be shown that MRP implies that if SCH fails first at kappa then every stationary subset of S_{kappa^+}^omega = {a < kappa^+ : cf(a) = omega} reflects. It will also be demonstrated that MRP always fails in a generic extension by Prikry forcing.

Clones on regular cardinals

We investigate the structure of the lattice of clones on an infinite set X. We first observe that ultrafilters naturally induce clones; this yields a simple proof of Rosenberg's theorem: "there are 2^2^kappa many maximal (=precomplete) clones on a set of size kappa." The clones we construct here do not contain all unary functions. We then investigate clones that do contain all unary functions. Using a strong negative partition theorem we show that for many cardinals kappa there are 2^2^kappa many such clones on a set of size kappa. Finally, we show that on a weakly compact cardinal there are e…

On incomparability and related cardinal functions on ultraproducts of Boolean algebras

Let C denote any of the following cardinal characteristics of Boolean algebras: incomparability, spread, character, pi-character, hereditary Lindelof number, hereditary density. It is shown to be consistent that there exists a sequence <B_i:i<kappa> of Boolean algebras and an ultrafilter D on kappa such that C(prod_{i<kappa}B_i/D)<|prod_{i<kappa}C(B_i)/D|. This answers a number of problems posed by Monk.

More on Compactness of Chromatic Numbers

We prove that for any regular kappa and mu > kappa below the first fix point (lambda = aleph_lambda) above kappa, there is a graph with chromatic number > kappa, and mu^kappa nodes but every subgraph of cardinality < mu has chromatic number less than or equal to kappa.

Further cardinal arithmetic

We continue the investigations in the author's book on cardinal arithmetic, assuming some knowledge of it. We deal with the cofinality of (S_{<= aleph_0}(kappa), subseteq) for kappa real valued measurable (Section 3), densities of box products (Section 5,3), prove the equality cov(lambda, lambda, theta^+,2)=pp(lambda) in more cases even when cf(lambda)= aleph_0 (Section 1), deal with bounds of pp(lambda) for lambda limit of inaccessible (Section 4) and give proofs to various claims I was sure I had already written but did not find (Section 6).

On Taylor's problem

We describe some (countably many) classes K^{n,e} of finite graphs and prove that if lambda^{aleph_0}= lambda then every lambda^+-chromatic graph of cardinal lambda^+ contains, for some n, e, all members of K^{n,e} as subgraphs. On the other hand, it is consistent for every regular infinite cardinal kappa that there is a kappa^+-chromatic graph on kappa^+ that contains finite subgraphs only from K^{n,e} .

Generic left-separated spaces and calibers

We use a natural forcing to construct a left-separated topology on an arbitrary cardinal kappa. The resulting left-separated space X_kappa is also 0-dimensional T_2, hereditarily Lindelof, and countably tight. Moreover if kappa is regular then d(X_kappa)= kappa, hence kappa is not a caliber of X_kappa, while all other uncountable regular cardinals are. We also prove it consistent that for every countable set A of uncountable regular cardinals there is a hereditarily Lindelof T_3 space X such that rho=cf(rho)>omega is a caliber of X exactly if rho not in A.

On a problem of Steve Kalikov

The Kalikow problem for a pair (lambda, kappa) of cardinal numbers, lambda > kappa (in particular kappa =2) is whether we can map the family of omega --sequences from lambda to the family of omega --sequences from kappa in a very continuous manner. Namely, we demand that for eta, nu in lambda^omega we have: eta, nu are almost equal if and only if their images are. We show consistency of the negative answer e.g. for aleph_omega but we prove it for smaller cardinals. We indicate a close connection with the free subset property and its variants.

Universality among the graph omitting a complete bipartite graph

For cardinals lambda, kappa, theta we consider the class of graphs of cardinality lambda which has no subgraph which is (kappa, theta)-complete bipartite graph. The question is whether in such a class there is a universal one under (weak) embedding. We solve this problem completely under GCH. Under various assumptions mostly related to cardinal arithmetic we prove nonexistence of universals for this problem and some related ones.

Pcf theory and cardinal invariants of the reals

The additivity spectrum ADD(I) of an ideal I is the set of all regular cardinals kappa such that there is an increasing chain {A_alpha:alpha<kappa\} in the ideal I such that the union of the chain is not in I. We investigate which set A of regular cardinals can be the additivity spectrum of certain ideals. Assume that I=B or I=N, where B denotes the sigma-ideal generated by the compact subsets of the Baire space omega^omega, and N is the ideal of the null sets. For countable sets we give a full characterization of the additivity spectrum of I: a non-empty countable set A of uncountable regular…

Pcf theory and Woodin cardinals

We prove the following two results. Theorem A: Let alpha be a limit ordinal. Suppose that 2^{|alpha|}<aleph_alpha and 2^{|alpha|^+}<aleph_{|alpha|^+}, whereas aleph_alpha^{|alpha|}>aleph_{|alpha|^+}. Then for all n< omega and for all bounded X subset aleph_{|alpha|^+}, M_n^#(X) exists. Theorem B: Let kappa be a singular cardinal of uncountable cofinality. If {alpha<kappa| 2^alpha=alpha^+} is stationary as well as co-stationary then for all n< omega and for all bounded X subset kappa, M_n^#(X) exists. Theorem A answers a question of Gitik and Mitchell, and Theorem B yields a lower bound for an …

$\square_κ^{<ω}$ holds in $L[{\vec E}]$

Square-kappa-finite, the finite family version of weak square, holds at all cardinals kappa in the Mitchell-Steel inner models.

Simple Complete Boolean Algebras

For every regular cardinal kappa there exists a simple complete Boolean algebra with kappa generators.

Planting Kurepa trees and killing Jech-Kunen trees in a model by using one inaccessible cardinal

By an omega_1--tree we mean a tree of power omega_1 and height omega_1. Under CH and 2^{omega_1}> omega_2 we call an omega_1--tree a Jech--Kunen tree if it has kappa many branches for some kappa strictly between omega_1 and 2^{omega_1}. In this paper we prove that, assuming the existence of one inaccessible cardinal, (1) it is consistent with CH plus 2^{omega_1}> omega_2 that there exist Kurepa trees and there are no Jech--Kunen trees, (2) it is consistent with CH plus 2^{omega_1}= omega_4 that only Kurepa trees with omega_3 many branches exist.

Ultrafilters and partial products of infinite cyclic groups

We consider, for infinite cardinals kappa and alpha <= kappa^+, the group Pi(kappa,< alpha) of sequences of integers, of length kappa, with non-zero entries in fewer than alpha positions. Our main result tells when Pi(kappa,< alpha) can be embedded in Pi(lambda,< beta). The proof involves some set-theoretic results, one about familes of finite sets and one about families of ultrafilters.

Ramsey-like cardinals

One of the numerous characterizations of a Ramsey cardinal kappa involves the existence of certain types of elementary embeddings for transitive sets of size κsatisfying a large fragment of ZFC. We introduce new large cardinal axioms generalizing the Ramsey elementary embeddings characterization and show that they form a natural hierarchy between weakly compact cardinals and measurable cardinals. These new axioms serve to further our knowledge about the elementary embedding properties of smaller large cardinals, in particular those still consistent with V=L.

Saturated filters at successors of singulars, weak reflection and yet another weak club principle

Suppose that lambda is the successor of a singular cardinal mu whose cofinality is an uncountable cardinal kappa. We give a sufficient condition that the club filter of lambda concentrating on the points of cofinality kappa is not lambda^+-saturated. The condition is phrased in terms of a notion that we call weak reflection. We discuss various properties of weak reflection

Weak reflection at the successor of singular

The notion of stationary reflection is one of the most important notions of combinatorial set theory. We investigate weak reflection, which is, as the name suggests, a weak version of stationary reflection. This sort of reflection was introduced in [DjSh:545] (math.LO/9601219), where it was shown that weak reflection has applications to various guessing principles, in the sense that if there is no weak reflection, than a guessing principle holds, and an application dealing with the saturation of normal filters. Further investigations of weak reflection were carried in [CDSh:571] (math.LO/95042…

An inner model theoretic proof of Becker's theorem

We give a new proof of a theorem of Becker that under AD+V=L(R), omega_2 is a kappa-supercompact for every kappa less than or equal to the supremum of all Suslin cardinals. Our proof uses inner model theory. It is still open whether one can prove, say under AD_R, that Suslin cardinals and their successors are <Theta-supercompact. That this is true is a theorem of Steve Jackson, who proved it using generic codes.

Menas' result is best possible

Generalizing some earlier techniques due to the second author, we show that Menas' theorem which states that the least cardinal kappa which is a measurable limit of supercompact or strongly compact cardinals is strongly compact but not 2^kappa supercompact is best possible. Using these same techniques, we also extend and give a new proof of a theorem of Woodin and extend and give a new proof of an unpublished theorem due to the first author.

Strongly almost disjoint families, II

The relations M(kappa,lambda,mu)->B [resp. B(sigma)] meaning that if A subset [kappa]^lambda with |A|=kappa is mu-almost disjoint then A has property B [resp. has a sigma-transversal] had been introduced and studied under GCH by Erdos and Hajnal in 1961. Our two main results here say the following: Assume GCH and rho be any regular cardinal with a supercompact [resp. 2-huge] cardinal above rho. Then there is a rho-closed forcing P such that, in V^P, we have both GCH and M(rho^{(+rho+1)},rho^+,rho) not-> B [resp. M(rho^{(+rho+1)},lambda,rho) not-> B(rho^+) for all lambda =< rho^{(+rho+1)}].