Unary enhancements of inherently non-finitely based semigroups. (Q467506)

A finite semigroup is inherently nonfinitely based (INFB, for short) if no locally finite variety of semigroups to which it belongs is finitely based. In particular, such a semigroup is itself nonfinitely based. The analogous definitions apply to finite unary semigroups: semigroups with an additional unary operation. The authors note that if a finite \textit{involutory} semigroup is INFB, then so is its semigroup reduct; they then ask under what conditions the converse is true, \textit{M. V. Sapir} [Int. J. Algebra Comput. 3, No. 1, 115-124 (1993; Zbl 0784.20032)] having demonstrated, by means of the six-element Brandt inverse monoid, that it is not true in general. They provide the following simple sufficient condition. Take the three-element non-chain semilattice and the involution that swaps its maximal elements and fixes the minimum one. Suppose this `twisted' semilattice belongs to the variety generated by a given finite involutory semigroup \(S\). Then if the reduct is INFB, so is \(S\). Using this criterion, they provide quick alternative proofs that several such examples provided by three of the authors [in J. Eur. Math. Soc. (JEMS) 14, No. 3, 937-969 (2012; Zbl 1261.20068)] are INFB, and do likewise for some new examples. They go on to show that, for a finite \textit{regular} semigroup, this sufficient condition is also necessary; and then provide various alternative characterizations.