Oscillations and asymptotic convergence for a delay differential equation modeling platelet production (Q2316406)

This paper considers the scalar differential delay equation \[ x^\prime(t)= -\gamma x(t)+f(x(t)) g(x(t-r) \tag{1} \] as a mathematical model of the megakaryopoiesis (platelet production). The continuous functions \(f\) and \(g\) are assumed to be positive and decreasing on the positive semiaxis \(\mathbb R^+:=\{x\ge0\}\) and \(\gamma>0, r>0\). Equation (1) admits a unique positive equilibrium \(x(t)\equiv x^*>0\). Several well known basic properties of equation (1) are discussed such as local stability of the equilibrium, oscillatory behavior of solutions, existence of monotone solutions, others. The principal mathematical result is a statement about the convergence to the equilibrium of all solutions satisfying the so-called ``low initial slope criterion'' (Theorem 5.3). If the two inequalities \(\gamma r\le1\) and \(r f(x^*)\sup_{x\in\mathbb R^+}|g^\prime(x)|<1\) are satisfied then all such solutions converge to \(x^*\) as \(t\to\infty\). The low initial slope assumption is equivalent to the fact that the corresponding solution is slowly oscillating about \(x^*\) (or eventually monotone and approaching \(x^*\)).