A global positive solution of a delay differential equation with indefinite coefficients (Q441917)

Consider the delay-differential equation \[ x'(t)+ a_1(t) x(t)+ a_2(t) x(t- h(t))= 0,\quad t\geq t_0> 0.\tag{\(*\)} \] Let \(h: (t_0,\infty)\to \mathbb{R}^+\) be bounded such that \(h'\) exists and is bounded on \((t_0,\infty)\), \(T_0:= \text{inf}_{t\geq t_0} (t- h(t))\). Associate with \((*)\) the initial condition \[ x(t)= \zeta(t)\quad\text{for }t\in[T_0, t_0]\quad\text{with }\zeta\in C([T_0, t_0],\mathbb{R}).\tag{\(**\)} \] The author proves that the initial value problem \((*)\), \((**)\) has a global positive solution satisfying \[ x(t)\to 0\qquad\text{as }t\to\infty \] under the hypotheses (H1) \(a_1'\) exists and is bounded on \([T_0,\infty)\) with \(a_1(t)\to 0\) as \(t\to\infty\). (H2) \(a_2'\) exists and is bounded on \([T_0,\infty)\), \(a_1\) is continuous on \([T_0,\infty)\) with \(a_2(t)\to 0\) as \(t\to\infty\). The proof is based on Schauder's fixed point theorem.