Global existence of solutions of certain higher order differential equations (Q1362809)

The author establishes global existence results for certain higher order differential equations. He extends a well known theorem of \textit{A. Wintner} [Am. J. Math. 67, 277-284 (1945; Zbl 0063.08284)] on the existence of global solutions of initial value problems for first order differential equations to higher order differential equations. Different extensions of Wintner's theorem have recently been given for example by \textit{L. E. Bobisud} and \textit{D. O'Regan} [J. Math. Anal. Appl. 133, No. 1, 214-230 (1988; Zbl 0646.34003)], \textit{S. K. Ntouyas, Y. G. Sficas} and \textit{P. Ch. Tsamatos} [J. Differ. Equations 114, No. 2, 527-537 (1994; Zbl 0810.34061)]. \textit{T. Kusano} and \textit{W. F. Trench} [J. Lond. Math. Soc., II. Ser. 31, 478-486 (1985; Zbl 0578.34045)] have considered the question of global existence of solutions with a prescribed asymptotic behaviour for a special version of an equation treated in this article. The author uses the Leray-Schauder alternative (or topological transversality theorem of \textit{J. Dugundji} and \textit{A. Granas} [Fixed point theory. Vol. I. Monografie Matematyczne. Warszawa: Polish Scientific Publishers (1982; Zbl 0483.47038)] to get existence of solutions and the maximal interval of existence.