Not every transitively \(D\)-space is \(D\) (Q2630443)

If \(\langle X,\tau \rangle\) is a topological space, an \textit{open neighbourhood assignment} on \(X\) (ONA, for short) is a function \(\phi: X \to \tau\) such that \(x \in \phi(x)\) for every \(x \in X\). A \textit{kernel} of a given ONA \(\phi\) is a subset \(Y \subseteq X\) such that \(\bigcup\limits_{y \in Y} \phi(y) = X\). An ONA \(\phi\) is said to be \textit{linear} if \(\{\phi(x): x \in X\}\) is a linearly ordered set with respect to inclusion and it is said to be \textit{transitive} if \(\phi(y) \subseteq \phi(x)\) whenever \(y \in \phi(x)\). A topological space is said to be a \textit{\(D\)-space} if every ONA on \(X\) has a closed discrete kernel, it is said to be \textit{linearly \(D\)} if every linear ONA has a closed discrete kernel and it is said to be \textit{transitively \(D\)} if every transitive ONA has a closed discrete kernel. It is a major open problem (since the 70's) to decide whether Lindelöf regular spaces are necessarily \(D\) or not. Linearly \(D\) and transitively \(D\) spaces were introduced and investigated by \textit{L.-X. Peng} [Topology Appl. 155, No. 16, 1867--1874 (2008; Zbl 1149.54015)] and [ibid. 157, No. 2, 378--384 (2010; Zbl 1179.54035)], and also -- at first, with some different terminology -- by \textit{H. Guo} and \textit{H. Junnila} [ibid. 157, No. 1, 102--107 (2010; Zbl 1180.54009)] as generalizations of \(D\)-spaces, aiming to give at least partial answers to the mentioned major open problem, and, indeed, in the papers referred to in this paragraph several interesting results were established, such as: \((i)\) linearly \(D\)-spaces are transitively \(D\); \((ii)\) any metalindelöf space is both linearly \(D\) and transitively \(D\); and \((iii)\) any linearly Lindelöf space is linearly \(D\) (recall that a topological space \(X\) is said to be \textit{linearly Lindelöf} if every linearly ordered open cover of \(X\) has a countable subcover). Peng has asked in his 2008 paper [loc. cit.] if every transitively \(D\)-space is a \(D\)-space; notice that, in view of the results commented in the previous paragraph, a positive answer for this question would also give a positive answer to the question of whether all Lindelöf regular spaces are \(D\). In the paper under review, the author presents three different examples of linearly Lindelöf, non-Lindelöf spaces which are transitively \(D\) but not \(D\), thus answering Peng's question in the negative.