Applications of another characterization of \(\beta{\mathbb N}\setminus{\mathbb N}\) (Q1612239)

\textit{J. Steprāns} [ibid. 45, No. 2, 85-101 (1992; Zbl 0774.54001)] provided a~characterization of \(\mathbb N^*=\beta\mathbb N\smallsetminus\mathbb N\) in the \(\aleph_2\)-Cohen model that generalizes Parovichenko's characterization under~CH. The authors of the paper under review select two properties of Boolean algebras from the proof of Steprāns that in the Cohen model characterize the algebra \(\mathcal P(\mathbb N)/\mathit{fin}\). They derive some of the known results about \(\mathcal P(\mathbb N)/\mathit{fin}\) and \(\mathbb N^*\) directly from these two properties. The authors also investigate the properties themselves and their behaviour with respect to subalgebras and quotients. Finally, they study the properties of \(\mathbb N^*\) and other remainders under the assumption that the Boolean algebra \(\mathcal P(\mathbb N)/\mathit{fin}\) has these two properties.