Nonlinear comparison theorems on graphs (Q5896607)

Let \(\Gamma\) be a graph in \({\mathbb{R}}^ n\). On the graph \(\Gamma\) the differential equation \((p(x)u')'+f(x,u)u=0,\quad x\in \Gamma,\) is considered. The solution of this equation on an edge is the ordinary one, but on the vertices the solutions have continuous contact, and the condition \(\alpha_ 1(a)u'(a)+...+\alpha_ m(a)u'(a)=0\) holds, where m is the number of vertices of \(\Gamma\). For this equation the analogue of the Sturm's theorems about the alternation of zeros are proved.