Monotone method for first order functional differential equations with retardation and anticipation (Q1029461)

Consider the initial value problem for a functional differential equation with delayed and advanced arguments \[ x'(t)=f(t,x(t),x_t,x^t),\;0\leq t\leq T,\quad x_0=\varphi_0,\;x^T=\psi_0,\tag{*} \] where \(x_t (\theta)=x(t+\theta)\) for \(\theta \in[-r_1,0]\), \(x^t(s)=x(t+s)\) for \(s\in [0,r_2]\), \(r_1>\theta\), \(r_2>0\), \(f\in C([0,T]\times\mathbb{R}\times D_1 \times D_2,\mathbb{R})\) with \(D_1=C([-r_1,0],\mathbb{R})\), \(D_2=C([0,r_2], \mathbb{R})\). The authors derive new existence results for (*) using the method of lower and upper solutions coupled with monotone iteration.