Can we get a better time hierarchy theorem?

Question

The time hierarchy theorem states that

$DTIME(f(n)) \neq DTIME(f(n)\log(f(n)))$

(Let me acknowledge that this statement isn't 100 percent accurate because f must be "time constructible" and potentially other things that I'm missing)

If we were to take some function f, we can consider

$DTIME(f(n)) \subset DTIME(f(n)\sqrt{\log(f(n))})\subset DTIME(f(n)\log(f(n)))$

Where we know that at least one of these inclusions is strict. Do we know of examples where one of these inclusions isn't?

In general we might want to prove that $DTIME(f(n)) \neq DTIME(f(n)g(f(n)))$ for a function $g$ which is as small as possible. Do we have better upper bounds on $g$ (like $g(n) = \log\log n$)? do we have non-trivial lower bounds on $g$ in the form of some (time constructible) $f$ for which $DTIME(f(n) = DTIME(f(n)g(f(n)))$?

Answer 1

IMHO, there cannot be better, stricter Time Hierarchy Theorem everywhere.

To improve this theorem, you need faster Universal Turing Machine. The $log(n)$ overhead of the currently fastest simulation technique seems to be unavoidable, especially for large enough time bounds, since with more time resource the simulated TM can do crazy things that the UTM cannot assume some regular property to do the simulation faster.

With small time bounds, there may be some improvements. But, its consequences are negligible.