A topological partition theorem and open covers (Q1873306)

If \(\kappa\) is a cardinal, then a subset \(A\) of a space \(X\) is said to be \(\kappa\)-closed if for each \(B\subset A\) of cardinality \(< \kappa\), \(\overline{B} \subset A\). A maximal centered family of \(\kappa\)-closed sets which is free and \(\kappa\)-complete is called a \(\kappa\)-hole. The main result of this paper is: Let \(\kappa\) be a regular uncountable cardinal and \(X\) a \(T_1\) space having a \(\kappa\)-hole. If \(\mathcal S\) is a family of finite subsets of \(X\) such that \(M\cup \{x\in X: M\cup \{x\}\in \mathcal S\}\) is \(\kappa\)-closed for each finite \(M\subset X\), then: either (1) there is a set \(Y\subset X\) of cardinality \(\kappa\) such that the set of its finite subsets does not meet \(\mathcal S\), or (2) there are \(n\in \omega\) and a set \(Z\subset X\) of cardinality \(\kappa\) such that the set of \(n\)-element subsets of \(Z\) is contained in \(\mathcal S\). Some corollaries (old and new) concerning countably compact spaces are derived from this result.