Let be the class of structures 〈λ, <, A〉, where A ⊆ λ is disjoint from a club, and let be the class of structures 〈λ, <, A), where A ⊆ λ contains a club. We prove that if λ = λ<κ is regular, then no sentence of Lλ + κ separates and On the other hand, we prove that if λ = μ+ , μ = μ<μ, and a forcing axiom holds (and if μ = ℵ0), then there is a sentence of Lλλ which separates and .

Ever since Craig-Beth and Addison-Kleene proved their versions of the Lusin-Suslin theorem, work in model theory and recursion theory has demonstrated the value of classical descriptive set theory as a source of ideas and inspirations. During the sixties in particular, J.W. Addison refined the technique of “conjecture by analogy” and used it to generate a substantial number of results in both model theory and recursion theory (see, e.g., Addison [1], [2], [3]).

During the past 15 years, techniques and results from recursion theory and model theory have played an important role in the development of descriptive set theory. (Moschovakis's book [6] is an excellent reference, particularly for the use of recursion-theoretic tools.) The use of “conjecture by analogy” as a means of transferring ideas from model theory and recursion theory to descriptive set theory has developed more slowly. Some notable recent examples of this phenomenon are in Vaught [9], where some results in invariant descriptive set theory reflecting and extending model-theoretic results are obtained and others are left as conjectures (including a version of the well-known conjecture on the number of countable models) and in Hrbacek and Simpson [4], where a notion analogous to that of Turing reducibility is used to study Borel isomorphism types. Moschovakis [6] describes in detail an effective descriptive set theory based in large part on classical recursion theory.

In this paper, we study the bi-isolation phenomena in the d.c.e. degrees and prove that there are c.e. degrees c1 < c2 and a d.c.e. degree d ∈ (c1, c2) such that (c1, d) and (d, c2) contain no c.e. degrees. Thus, the c.e. degrees between c1 and c2 are all incomparable with d. We also show that there are d.c.e. degrees d1 < d2 such that (d1, d2) contains a unique c.e. degree.

We prove that:

1. • if there is a model of IΔ0 + ¬exp with cofinal Σ1-definable elements and a Σ1 truth definition for Σ1 sentences, then IΔ0 + ¬exp + ¬BΣ1 is consistent,

2. • there is a model of IΔ0 + Ω1 + ¬exp with cofinal Σ1-definable elements, both a Σ2 and a Π2 truth definition for Σ1 sentences, and for each n ≥ 2, a Σn truth definition for Σn sentences.

The latter result is obtained by constructing a model with a recursive truth-preserving translation of Σ1 sentences into boolean combinations of sentences.

We also present an old but previously unpublished proof of the consistency of IΔ0 + ¬exp + ¬BΣ1 under the assumption that the size parameter in Lessan's Δ0 universal formula is optimal. We then discuss a possible reason why proving the consistency of IΔ0 + ¬exp + ¬BΣ1 unconditionally has turned out to be so difficult.

We construct a model with an indecisive precipitous ideal and a model with a precipitous ideal with a non precipitous normal ideal below it. Such kind of examples were previously given by M. Foreman [2] and R. Laver [4] respectively. The present examples differ in two ways: first- they use only a measurable cardinal and second- the ideals are over a cardinal. Also a precipitous ideal without a normal ideal below it is constructed. It is shown in addition that if there is a precipitous ideal over a cardinal κ such that

• after the forcing with its positive sets the cardinality of κ remains above ℵ1

• there is no a normal precipitous ideal then there is 0†.

The concept of model completeness has been very useful in model theory. In this article we obtain a new model theoretic tool by “reversing the arrows.” Specifically, model completeness deals with the relations between a model of a theory and its extensions; in this paper we shall be concerned with the relation between a model of a theory and its homomorphic pre-images.

This work is based on the intuitive principle that metamathematical theorems about universal sentences of the lower predicate calculus and substructures can be translated in a truth-preserving way to theorems about positive sentences and homomorphic images. From model completeness and the completeness theorems which depend on it, this translation gives new criteria for completeness.

Special thanks are due to Professor A. Robinson whose encouragement and suggestions have contributed much to these results.

Downey and Kurtz asked whether every orderable computable group is classically isomorphic to a group with a computable ordering. By an order on a group, one might mean either a left-order or a bi-order. We answer their question for left-orderable groups by showing that there is a computable left-orderable group which is not classically isomorphic to a computable group with a computable left-order. The case of bi-orderable groups is left open.

Using recent results in topos theory, two systems of higher-order logic are shown to be complete with respect to sheaf models over topological spaces—so-called “topological semantics”. The first is classical higher-order logic, with relational quantification of finitely high type; the second system is a predicative fragment thereof with quantification over functions between types, but not over arbitrary relations. The second theorem applies to intuitionistic as well as classical logic.

We prove that any positive elementary (least fixed point) induction expressing the negation of transitive closure on finite nondirected graphs requires at least two recursion variables.

In a previous paper a method was given for representing modal functions in two-valued logic. The purpose of the present note is to indicate how the results of that paper can be improved in certain respects and to point out a simple Boolean representation of Lewis's system of strict implication. The definitions of the previous paper will be presupposed.

A complete list of one dimensional groups definable in the p-adic numbers is given, up to a finite index subgroup and a quotient by a finite subgroup.

It is proved that if 1 < m < 2p ≤ n for some integer p then the elementary theories of posets of m-c.e. and n-c.e. e-degrees are distinct. It is proved also that the structures 〈2n, ≤, 〉 and 〈2n, ≤. P〉 are not elementary equivalent where P is the predicate P(a) = “a is a e-degree”.

We introduce three families of diagonal reflection principles for matrices of stationary sets of ordinals. We analyze both their relationships among themselves and their relationships with other known principles of simultaneous stationary reflection, the strong reflection principle, and the existence of square sequences.

We study generically stable measures in the local, NIP context. We show that in this setting, a measure is generically stable if and only if it admits a natural finite approximation.

An infinite structure is said to be minimal if each of its definable subset is finite or cofinite. Modifying Hrushovski's method we construct minimal, non strongly minimal structures with arbitrary finite dimensions. This answers negatively to a problem posed by B. I Zilber.

We give results exploring the relationship between dominating and unbounded reals in Hechler extensions, as well as the relationships among the extensions themselves. We show that in the standard Hechler extension there is an unbounded real which is dominated by every dominating real, but that this fails to hold in the tree Hechler extension. We prove a representation theorem for dominating reals in the standard Hechler extension: every dominating real eventually dominates a sandwich composition of the Hechler real with two ground model reals that monotonically converge to infinity. We apply our results to negatively settle a conjecture of Brendle and Löwe (Conjecture 15 of [4]). We also answer a question due to Laflamme.

Every ℵ0-categorical partially ordered set of finite width has a finitely axiomatizable theory. Every ℵ0-categorical partially ordered set of finite weak width has a decidable theory. This last statement constitutes a major portion of the complete (with three exceptions) characterization of those finite partially ordered sets for which any ℵ0-categorical partially ordered set not embedding one of them has a decidable theory.