\documentclass[reqno]{amsart}
\usepackage{hyperref}

\AtBeginDocument{{\noindent\small
\emph{Electronic Journal of Differential Equations},
Vol. 2018 (2018), No. 91, pp. 1--9.\newline
ISSN: 1072-6691. URL: http://ejde.math.txstate.edu or http://ejde.math.unt.edu}
\thanks{\copyright 2018 Texas State University.}
\vspace{8mm}}

\begin{document}
\title[\hfilneg EJDE-2018/91\hfil Harnack inequality]
{Harnack inequality for quasilinear elliptic equations with $(p,q)$
 growth conditions and absorption lower order term}

\author[K. Buryachenko \hfil EJDE-2018/91\hfilneg]
{Kateryna Buryachenko}

\address{Kateryna Buryachenko \newline
Vasyl' Stus Donetsk National University,
600-richa Str., 21, Vinnytsia, 21021, Ukraine}
\email{katarzyna\_@ukr.net} 

\dedicatory{Communicated by Marco Squassina}

\thanks{Submitted June 14, 2017. Published April 16, 2018.}
\subjclass[2010]{35J15, 35J60, 35J62}
\keywords{Harnack inequality; quasilinear elliptic equation;
\hfill\break\indent   Keller-Osserman type estimate; absorption lower term}

\begin{abstract}
 In this article we study the quasilinear elliptic equation with absorption
 lower term
 $$
 -\operatorname{div} \Big(g(|\nabla u|)\frac{\nabla u}{|\nabla u|}\Big)+f(u)= 0,
 \quad u\geq 0.
 $$
 Despite of the lack of comparison principle, we prove a priori
 estimate of Keller-Osserman type. Particularly, under some natural
 assumptions on the functions $g,f$ for nonnegative solutions we
 prove an estimate of the form
 $$
 \int_0^{u(x)} f(s)\,ds\leq c\frac{u(x)}{r}g\big(\frac{u(x)}{r}\big),\quad
 x\in\Omega, B_{8r}(x)\subset\Omega,
 $$
 with constant $c$, independent on $u(x)$. Using this estimate we
 give a simple proof of the Harnack inequality.
\end{abstract}

\maketitle
\numberwithin{equation}{section}
\newtheorem{theorem}{Theorem}[section]
\newtheorem{lemma}[theorem]{Lemma}
\newtheorem{remark}[theorem]{Remark}
\newtheorem{definition}[theorem]{Definition}
\allowdisplaybreaks


\section{Introduction}

In this article we consider nonnegative solutions of the quasilinear
elliptic equation
\begin{equation}\label{e1.1}
-\operatorname{div} A(x, \nabla u)+a_0(u)= 0, x\in\Omega,
\end{equation}
where $\Omega$ is a bounded domain in $\mathbb{R}^n, n\geq 2$. We
suppose that the functions $A=(a_1, a_2,\dots,a_n)$ and $a_0$
satisfy the Caratheodory conditions and the following structural
conditions
\begin{equation}\label{e1.2}
\begin{gathered}
A(x,\xi)\xi\geq\nu_1g(|\xi|)|\xi|,\quad
|A(x,\xi)|\leq\nu_2g(|\xi|),\\
\nu_1f(u)\leq a_0(u)\leq\nu_2f(u),
\end{gathered}
\end{equation}
where $\nu_1, \nu_2$ are positive constants and $g$ is
positive function satisfying conditions
\begin{equation}\label{e1.3}
g\in C(\mathbb{R}^1_+), \quad
\big(\frac{t}{\tau}\big)^{p-1}\leq\frac{g(t)}{g(\tau)}
\leq\big(\frac{t}{\tau}\big)^{q-1}, \quad t\geq\tau>0,\; 1<p\leq q<n.
\end{equation}

Harnack's inequality for linear elliptic equations established by
 Moser \cite{Moser} is one of the most important results  in the theory of
partial differential equations.
 Serrin\cite{Serrin},  Trudinger \cite{Trudinger,Trudinger2},
Di Benedetto and Trudinger \cite{DiBeneTru},  generalized Moser's result
to the case of quasilinear elliptic equations with lower order terms
from $L_s$ spaces. We also would like to comment on the Harnack type
estimates for elliptic equations with absorption term.
The strong maximum principle for the equation $-\Delta u+f(u)=0$ was proved by
 Benilan,  Brezis and Grandall \cite{BenBreGr} under the  conditions
 $$
\int_0^1\frac{du}{\sqrt{F(u)}}=\infty, \quad
 F(u)=\int_0^uf(s)\,ds.
$$
Further it was extended by  Vazquez \cite{Vaz} for the equation
$-\Delta_p u+f(u)=0$ and for the equation \eqref{e1.1} by  Pucci and  Serrin
\cite{PucciSerrin2}-\cite{PucciSerrin3} and by Felmer,  Montenegro and  Quaas
\cite{Fel}.  Finn and   McQwen \cite{Fin},  Dindos \cite{Din}.
 Mohammed and  Porru \cite{Moh} proved the Harnack inequality for the
non-divergence linear elliptic equations with absorption term.
This was extended by  Julin \cite{Julin,Julin2} to the linear divergence
and non-divergence elliptic equations with absorption term.
 Harnack's inequality for the equations of the type
$-\Delta_p u+f(u)=0$ and $u_t-\Delta_p u+f(u)=0$ was proved in \cite{SkSh}.
It is natural to conjecture that the Harnack inequality holds for the elliptic
 equations with non-standard growth conditions perturbed by absorption term.
Our strategy of the proof of the Harnack inequality is similar to that in
\cite{SkSh}.

  In the paper we prove estimates of Keller-Osserman type for solutions to
 elliptic equation with nonstandard growth conditions and absorption lower term;
after that we give a simple proof of the Harnack inequality.

Before formulating the main result let us remind the reader the
definition of the weak solution to the equation \eqref{e1.1}.

\begin{definition}\label{de1}\rm
 Let $G(t)=tg(t)$. Then note by $W^{1,G}(\Omega)$ the class of functions $u$
that are weakly differentiable in $\Omega$ and satisfy the condition
$$
\int_{\Omega}G(|\nabla u|)\,dx<\infty.
$$
\end{definition}

\begin{definition}\label{de2} \rm
We say that  $u$  is a weak solution to  \eqref{e1.1}, if
$u\in W^{1,G}(\Omega)$ and satisfies the integral equation
\begin{equation}\label{e1.4}
\int_{\Omega}\{A(x, \nabla u)\nabla\varphi+ a_0(u)\varphi\}\,dx=0,
\end{equation}
for any $\varphi \in \mathring{W}^{1,G}(\Omega)$.
\end{definition}

Let $x_0\in\Omega$. For any $\rho>0$ we set
\begin{gather*}
F(u)=\int_0^uf(s)\,ds, \delta(u)=\frac{F(u)}{f(u)}, M(\rho)
=\sup_{B_{\rho}(x_0)} u, \\
\delta(\rho)=\sup_{B_{\rho}(x_0)} \delta(u), \quad
F(\rho)=\sup_{B_{\rho}(x_0)} F(u),
\end{gather*}
where $B_{\rho}(x_0)$ is ball $\{x: |x-x_0|<\rho\}$.

The next theorem is an a priori estimate of Keller-Osserman type,
which is interesting in itself and which can be used in the theory of ``large''
 solutions (see for example \cite{Shish,Veron}, \cite{Kon1}--\cite{Kon3}).

\begin{theorem} \label{thm1}
Let  conditions \eqref{e1.2}, \eqref{e1.3} be fulfilled and $u$ be a
nonnegative weak solution to the equation \eqref{e1.1} in $\Omega$. Let
$x_0\in\Omega$. Fix $\sigma\in(0, 1)$. Then there exist a
positive numbers $c_1, c_2$, depending only on
$n, p, q, \nu_1, \nu_2$ such that
\begin{equation}\label{e1.5}
F(\sigma\rho)\leq c_1(1-\sigma)^{-c_2}\frac{\delta(\rho)}{\rho}
\Big(g\big(\frac{M(\rho)}{\rho}\big)+g\big(\frac{\delta(\rho)}{\rho}\big)\Big),
\end{equation}
for all $B_{8\rho}(x_0)\subset\Omega$.
\end{theorem}

\begin{remark} \label{rmk1.1} \rm
Conditions \eqref{e1.1}, \eqref{e1.3} imply the local boundedness and H\"older
continuity of solutions (see, for example \cite{Lieberman2}).
\end{remark}

\begin{remark} \label{rmk1.2}\rm
For the case $p=q$ inequality \eqref{e1.5} was proved in \cite{SkSh}. In the case
$p=q$, using the comparison theorem an radial type solutions,
inequality of the type \eqref{e1.5} was proved in \cite{Kon1}.
\end{remark}

To prove the Harnack inequality for equations with absorption lower terms
we need the following condition.

\begin{definition}\label{de4} \rm
We say that a continuous function $\psi$  satisfies condition (A)
if there exists $\mu>0$ such that
\begin{equation}\label{e1.6}
\frac{\psi(t)}{\psi(\tau)}\leq \big(\frac{t}{\tau}\big)^{\mu},
\end{equation}
 for all $t\geq\tau>0$.
\end{definition}

Condition (A) arises due to presence of absorption lower order terms
in the equation \eqref{e1.1}: this condition was not presented in
\cite{Lieberman2}, but it is closely connected with analogous
conditions in the works \cite{PucciSerrin2}--\cite{PucciSerrin3}.

\begin{theorem}\label{thm2}
Let $G^{-1}$ be the inverse function to the function
$G(t)=tg(t)$, and let conditions \eqref{e1.2}, \eqref{e1.3} be fulfilled. Let
also $u$ be a nonnegative weak solution to the equation \eqref{e1.1},
function $f(u)$ be nondecreasing and $\psi(u)=u^{-1}G^{-1}(F(u))$
satisfies condition {\rm (A)}.Then there exists positive number $c_3$, 
depending only on $n, p, q, \nu_1, \nu_2,$\\$c$ such that
\begin{equation}\label{e1.9}
F(u(x))\leq c_3\frac{u(x)}{\rho}g\left(\frac{u(x)}{\rho}\right),
\end{equation}
for almost all $x\in B_{\rho}(x_0)$ and for any $x_0\in \Omega$, such 
that $B_{8\rho}(x_0)\subset\Omega$.
\end{theorem}
The following theorem is Harnack inequality for the nonnegative
weak solutions to the equation \eqref{e1.1}, which is simple consequence
of the Theorem \ref{thm2}.

\begin{theorem}\label{thm3}
Let $u$ be a nonnegative weak solution to the equation \eqref{e1.1}, let
conditions \eqref{e1.2}, \eqref{e1.3} be fulfilled. Assume that  function $f(u)$
is nondecreasing and $\psi(u)=u^{-1}G^{-1}(F(u))$ satisfies
condition $(A)$.Then there exists positive number $c_4$, depending
only on $n, p, q, \nu_1, \nu_2$, such that
\begin{equation}\label{e1.10}
\sup_{B_{\rho}(x_0)} u(x)\leq c_4\inf_{B_{\rho}(x_0)}  u(x),
\end{equation}
for almost all $x\in B_{\rho}(x_0)$, and for any $x_0\in \Omega$, 
such that $B_{8\rho}(x_0)\subset\Omega$.
\end{theorem}

\begin{remark} \rm
The formulation of the Theorem \ref{thm2} is the same as in \cite{Lieberman2},
however due to presence of absorption lower order term, the results of 
\cite{Lieberman2} cannot be used. The main novelty of our result that the
 constant $c_4$ is independent on $u$.
\end{remark}

\begin{remark} \rm
If $f(u)=g(u)f_1(u)$, where function $f_1(u)$ satisfies condition (A) 
with $\mu_1>q-p$, then the function $u^{-1}G^{-1}(F(u))$ satisfies condition
(A) with $\mu=\frac{\mu_1-q+p}{q}>0$. A simple example of the function 
$f_1(u)$, which satisfies condition (A) for $\mu_1=1$ is a 
function $f_1\in C^1(\mathbb{R}_+^1, f_1$ is
nondecreasing and $f_1(0)=0$.
\end{remark}

\begin{remark} \rm
If $f(u)=g^s(u)f_1(u)$, where $f_1$ is nondecreasing and $s>\frac{q-1}{p-1}$, 
then the function $u^{-1}G^{-1}(F(u))$ satisfies condition
(A) with $\mu=\frac{(p-1)s-q+1}{q}$.
\end{remark}

\section{Keller-Osserman a priori sub-estimate. Proof of Theorem \ref{thm1}}

\subsection{Auxiliary statements and local energy estimates}
First of all we prove the following auxiliary statements, which
will be used for further investigations.

\begin{lemma}\label{lem2.1}
Let $\{y_j\}_{j\in N}$ be a sequence of nonnegative numbers such
that the following inequalities
$$
y_{j+1}\leq Cb^jy_j^{1+\varepsilon}
$$
hold for $j=0, 1, 2, \dots$ with positive constants
$\varepsilon, C>0, b>1$. Then 
$$
y_j\leq C^{\frac{(1+\varepsilon)^j-1}{\varepsilon}}
b^{\frac{(1+\varepsilon)^j-1}{\varepsilon^2}-\frac{j}{\varepsilon}}
y_0^{(1+\varepsilon)^j}.
$$
In particular, if $y_0\leq C^{-\frac{1}{\varepsilon}}
b^{-\frac{1}{\varepsilon^2}}$, then $\lim_{j\to\infty} y_j=0$.
\end{lemma}

We  denote by the $\gamma$ some constant depending only on
$n, p, q, \nu_1, \nu_2$ which may vary from line to line. Let
$B_r(\bar x)\subset\Omega$ be a ball in $\Omega$, then we denote
by the $\zeta$ some nonnegative piecewise smooth truncated
function vanishing on the boundary of the ball $B_r(\bar x)$.

\begin{lemma}\label{lem2.2}
Let $u$ be a nonnegative weak solution to the equation \eqref{e1.1} and
let conditions \eqref{e1.2} and \eqref{e1.3} hold. Then for every
$B_r(\bar x)\subset\Omega$ and for every $k>0$
\begin{equation} \label{e2.1}
\begin{aligned}
&\int_{A_{k,r}}f(u)\,G(|\nabla u|)\zeta^q\,dx
 +\int_{A_{k,r}}(F(u)-k)_+f(u)\zeta^q\,dx\\
&\leq\gamma\int_{A_{k,r}}(F(u)-k)_+g(\delta(u)|\nabla
\zeta|)|\nabla\zeta|dx,
\end{aligned}
\end{equation}
where $A_{k,r}=\{x\in B_r(\bar x): F(u)>k\}$.
\end{lemma}

\begin{proof}
Testing integral equality \eqref{e1.4} by the
$\varphi=(F(u)-k)_+\zeta^q$. Using conditions \eqref{e1.2} and \eqref{e1.3} we
obtain
\begin{align*}
&\int_{A_{k,r}}f(u)\,G(|\nabla u|)\zeta^q\,dx+\int_{A_{k,r}}(F(u)-k)_+
f(u)\zeta^q\,dx\\
&\leq\gamma\int_{A_{k,r}}(F(u)-k)_+g(|\nabla u|)|\nabla
\zeta|\zeta^{q-1}dx.
\end{align*}
Let us note that the next  inequality is evident
\begin{equation} \label{e2.2}
g(a)b\leq\varepsilon g(a)a+g\Big(\frac{b}{\varepsilon}\Big)b,\quad
 a, b, \varepsilon>0.
\end{equation}
We use this inequality with
$a=|\nabla u|, b=\gamma(F(u)-k)_+\frac{|\nabla\zeta|}{\zeta}, \varepsilon
=\frac{1}{2}f(u)$
and arrive to the required inequality \eqref{e2.1}
\end{proof}

\subsection{Proof of Theorem \ref{thm1}}
Consider a ball $B_{\rho}(x_0)$ and for fixed $\sigma\in (0, 1)$
let $\bar x$ be an arbitrary point in ball $B_{\sigma\rho}(x_0)$.
Further we set
\begin{gather*}
\rho_j=\frac{1-\sigma}{4}\rho(1+2^{-j}),\quad
 B_j=B_{\rho_j}(\bar x), A_{k_j,j}=\{x\in B_j: F(u)>k_j\}, \quad
j=0, 1, \dots \\
\zeta_j\in C_0^{\infty}(B_j), \quad 0\leq\zeta_j\leq 1,\quad
 |\nabla\zeta_j|\leq\gamma(1-\sigma)^{-1}2^{-j}\rho^{-1}
\end{gather*}
 and $\zeta_j\equiv 1$ in $B_{j+1}$.
By the embedding theorem and H\"older inequality we obtain
\begin{equation} \label{e2.3}
\begin{aligned}
&\int_{A_{k_{j+1},j+1}}(F(u)-k_{j+1})_+dx \\
&\leq\Big(\int_{A_{k_{j+1},j}}((F(u)-k_{j+1})_+\zeta_j^q)^{\frac{n}{n-1}}dx
 \Big)^{\frac{n-1}{n}}|A_{k_{j+1},j+1}|^{1/n} \\
&\leq \gamma\int_{A_{k_{j+1},j}}|\nabla((F(u)-k_{j+1})_+\zeta_j^q)|
|A_{k_{j+1},j}|^{1/n}\\
&\leq\gamma\Big(\int_{A_{k_{j+1},j}}f(u)|\nabla u|\zeta_j^q dx \\
&\quad +\int_{A_{k_{j+1},j}}(F(u)-k_{j+1})_+|\nabla\zeta_j|\zeta_j^{q-1}dx\Big)
 |A_{k_{j+1},j}|^{1/n}.
\end{aligned}
\end{equation}
Let $\ell=\delta(\rho)/\rho$. Using inequality \eqref{e2.2} with
$a=\ell, b=|\nabla u|, \varepsilon=1$ and the evident inequality
$(F(u)-k_{j+1})_+\geq\frac{k}{2^{j+1}}$ on $A_{k_{j+1},j}$, we
estimate the first term in the right-hand side of \eqref{e2.3} as follows
\begin{equation} \label{e2.4}
\begin{aligned}
&\int_{A_{k_{j+1},j}}f(u)|\nabla u|\zeta_j^qdx \\
&=\frac{1}{g(\ell)}\int_{A_{k_{j+1},j}}f(u)g(\ell)|\nabla u|\zeta_j^qdx \\
&\leq\ell\int_{A_{k_{j+1},j}}f(u)\zeta_j^qdx
 +\frac{1}{g(\ell)}\int_{A_{k_{j+1},j}}f(u)G(|\nabla u|)\zeta_j^qdx \\
&\leq 2^j\frac{\ell}{k}\int_{A_{k_{j+1},j}}(F(u)-k_{j+1})_+f(u)\zeta_j^qdx 
 +\frac{1}{g(\ell)}\int_{A_{k_{j+1},j}}f(u)G(|\nabla  u|)\zeta_j^qdx.
\end{aligned}
 \end{equation}

From the previous inequality and Lemma \ref{lem2.2} it follows that
\begin{equation} \label{e2.5}
\begin{aligned}
&\int_{A_{k_{j+1},j}}f(u)|\nabla u|\zeta_j^qdx \\
&\leq \gamma(1-\sigma)^{-\gamma}2^{j\gamma}
 \big(\frac{\ell}{k}+\frac{1}{g(\ell)}\big)\rho^{-1}
 g\big(\frac{\delta(\rho)}{\rho}\big)\int_{A_{k_{j},j}}(F(u)-k_{j})_+dx.
\end{aligned}
\end{equation}
Choosing $k$ such that
\begin{equation} \label{e2.6}
k\geq G(\ell)=G\left(\frac{\delta(\rho)}{\rho}\right),
\end{equation}
from  inequalities \eqref{e2.3} and \eqref{e2.4} we obtain
\begin{equation} \label{e2.7}
y_{j+1}=\int_{A_{k_{j+1},j+1}}(F(u)-k_{j+1})dx
\leq\gamma(1-\sigma)^{-\gamma}2^{j\gamma}\rho^{-1}
k^{-\frac{1}{n}}y_j^{1+\frac{1}{n}}.
\end{equation}
from Lemma \ref{lem2.1} it follows that $y_j\to 0$ as $j\to\infty$,
provided $k$ is chosen to satisfy
\begin{equation} \label{e2.8}
k\geq \gamma(1-\sigma)^{-\gamma}\rho^{-n}
\int_{B_{\frac{1-\sigma}{2}\rho}(\bar x)}F(u)dx.
\end{equation}
Inequalities \eqref{e2.5} and \eqref{e2.6} imply that
\begin{equation} \label{e2.9}
F(u(\bar x))\leq\gamma(1-\sigma)^{-\gamma}G\left(\frac{\delta(\rho)}{\rho}\right)
+  \gamma(1-\sigma)^{-\gamma}\rho^{-n}\int_{B_{\frac{1-\sigma}{2}\rho}(\bar x)}
F(u)dx.
\end{equation}

Let $\xi\in C_0^{\infty}(B_{(1-\sigma)\rho}(\bar x)), 0\leq\xi\leq 1, \xi\equiv 1$ in
$B_{\frac{1-\sigma}{2}\rho}(\bar x)$ and 
$|\nabla\xi|\leq 2(1-\sigma)^{-1}\rho^{-1}$. To estimate the integral in the
right-hand side of the \eqref{e2.9} we test \eqref{e1.4} by 
$\varphi=\xi^q$.
Using conditions \eqref{e1.2}, \eqref{e1.3} we obtain
\begin{align*}
\int_{B_{\frac{1-\sigma}{2}\rho}(\bar x)}F(u)dx
&\leq\delta(\rho)\int_{B_{(1-\sigma)\rho}(\bar x)}f(u)\xi^qdx \\
&\leq\gamma(1-\sigma)^{-1}\frac{\delta(\rho)}{\rho}
 \int_{B_{(1-\sigma)\rho}(\bar x)}g(|\nabla u|)\xi^{q-1}dx.
\end{align*}
We use inequality \eqref{e2.2} with $a=|\nabla u|, b=\xi^{-1}$ to obtain
\begin{equation} \label{e2.10}
\begin{aligned}
\int_{B_{\frac{1-\sigma}{2}\rho}(\bar x)}F(u)dx
&\leq\gamma(1-\sigma)^{-1}\frac{\delta(\rho)}{M(\rho)}
 \int_{B_{(1-\sigma)\rho}(\bar x)}G(|\nabla u|)\xi^qdx \\
&\quad+ \gamma(1-\sigma)^{-1}\frac{\delta(\rho)}{\rho}
 g\left(\frac{M(\rho)}{\rho}\right)\rho^n.
\end{aligned}
\end{equation}
Test \eqref{e1.4} by the function $\varphi=u\xi^q$. Using \eqref{e1.2}
and \eqref{e1.3} we obtain
\begin{equation} \label{e2.11}
\int_{B_{(1-\sigma)\rho}(\bar x)}G(|\nabla u|)\xi^qdx
\leq \gamma(1-\sigma)^{-\gamma}G\left(\frac{M(\rho)}{\rho}\right)\rho^n.
\end{equation}
Combining \eqref{e2.10} and \eqref{e2.11} we arrive at
\begin{equation} \label{e2.12}
\int_{B_{(1-\sigma)\rho}(\bar x)}F(u)dx
\leq \gamma(1-\sigma)^{-\gamma}\frac{\delta(\rho)}{\rho}
 g\left(\frac{M(\rho)}{\rho}\right)\rho^n.
\end{equation}
Since $\bar x$ is an arbitrary point in $B_{\sigma\rho}(x_0)$,
from \eqref{e2.8} and \eqref{e2.12} we obtain the required inequality \eqref{e1.5}. 
So,  Theorem \ref{thm1} is proved.


\subsection{Proof of  Theorem \ref{thm2}}

For $j=1, 2, \dots$, let us define the sequences
$\{\sigma_j\}$, $\{\rho_j\}$, $\{M_j\}$ such that
$$
\sigma_j=\frac{1-2^{-j-1}}{1-2^{-j-2}}, \quad
\rho_j=\rho\big(1+\frac{1}{2}+\dots+\frac{1}{2^j}\big), \quad
M_j=\sup_{B_{\rho_j(x_0)}} u.
$$
Rewrite inequality \eqref{e1.5} for the pair of balls
$B_{\rho_{j+1}}(x_0), B_{\rho_j}(x_0)$:
$$ 
G^{-1}(F(M_j))\leq\gamma 2^{\gamma j}\rho^{-1}M_{j+1}.
$$
If $\varepsilon>0$, we obtain
\begin{align*}
\psi(M_j)&\leq \psi(\varepsilon M_{j+1})
 +\frac{1}{\varepsilon}\frac{\psi(M_j)M_j}{M_{j+1}} \\
&\leq\psi_a(\varepsilon M_{j+1})+\varepsilon^{-1}\gamma 2^{\gamma j}\rho^{-1}.
\end{align*}
 Using condition (A) we arrive at following recursive inequalities
$$
\psi(M_j)\leq\varepsilon^{\mu}\psi(
M_{j+1})+\varepsilon^{-1}\gamma 2^{\gamma j}\rho^{-1},
$$
$j=0, 1, 2, \dots$, or
$$
\psi(M_0)\leq\varepsilon^{j\mu}\psi( M_{j})+\varepsilon^{-1}\gamma
\rho^{-1}\sum_{k=0}^{j-1}\varepsilon^{k\mu}2^{kj}.
$$ 
We chose $\varepsilon^{\mu}=2^{-\gamma-1}$ so that the sum on the
previous inequality can be majorized  by convergent series. Let
$j\to\infty$. Then
$$
\psi(u(x_0))\leq\psi(M_0)\leq\gamma\rho^{-1}.
$$
This proves the Theorem \ref{thm2}.

\section{Harnack inequality. Proof of  Theorem \ref{thm3}}

Let $x_0$ be some inner point in $\Omega$ and
$B_{8\rho}(x_0)\subset\Omega$. 
Fix $\bar x\in B_{\rho}(x_0), \sigma\in (0,1), 0<r\leq\rho$. 
Let  also $\xi\in C_0^{\infty}(B_{r}(\bar x)), 0\leq\xi\leq
1, \xi\equiv 1$ in 
$B_{\sigma\rho}(\bar x)$ and $|\nabla\xi|\leq(1-\sigma)^{-1}r^{-1}$. 
The following lemma is an auxiliary result
for proving Harnack inequality (Theorem \ref{thm3}).

\begin{lemma} \label{lem3.1}
Let the conditions of  Theorem \ref{thm3} be fulfilled. Then for every
$0<k<\sup_{B_{2\rho}(x_0)} u$, the next inequalities hold
\begin{gather} \label{e3.1}
\int_{B_r(\bar x)}G(|\nabla (u-k)_+|)\xi^qdx\leq\gamma
G\Big(\frac{||(u-k)_+||_{L^{\infty}(B_r(\bar x))}}{(1-\sigma)r}\Big)|A_{k,r}^+|,\\
\label{e3.2}
\int_{B_r(\bar x)}G(|\nabla (k-u)_+|)\xi^qdx\leq\gamma
G\Big(\frac{k}{(1-\sigma)r}\Big)|A_{k,r}^-|,
\end{gather}
where $A_{k,r}^{\pm}=B_r(\bar x)\cap\{(u-k)_{\pm}>0\}$.
\end{lemma}

\begin{proof}
Testing \eqref{e1.4} by $\varphi=(u-k)_+\xi^q$ and using 
\eqref{e1.2}, \eqref{e1.3}, \eqref{e2.2} we arrive at \eqref{e3.1}. 
To prove \eqref{e3.2} we test \eqref{e1.4} by the function $\varphi=(k-u)_+\xi^q$, 
using \eqref{e2.2} we obtain
$$
\int_{B_r(\bar x)}G(|\nabla (k-u)_+|)\xi^qdx
\leq\gamma G\Big(\frac{k}{(1-\sigma)r}\Big)|A_{k,r}^-
|+\gamma\int_{B_r(\bar x)}f(u) (k-u)_+\xi^qdx. 
$$ 
The last term of the previous
inequality can be estimated in the following way 
\begin{align*}
\int_{B_r(\bar x)}f(u) (k-u)_+\xi^qdx
&=\int_{B_r(\bar x)}f(u)\chi(u<k)\int_u^k ds\xi^qdx \\
&\leq\int_{B_r(\bar x)}\chi(u<k)\int_u^k f(s)ds\xi^qdx \\
&\leq\int_0^k f(s)ds|A_{k,r}^-|=F(k)|A_{k,r}^-|.
\end{align*}
By  Theorem \ref{thm2} we obtain
$$
\frac{F(k)}{G(\frac{k}{\rho})}\leq
\frac{F\big(\sup_{B_{2\rho}(x_0)} u\big)}
 {G\big(\frac{1}{\rho}\sup_{B_{2\rho}(x_0)}u\big)}\leq\gamma.
$$ 
The above inequality proves \eqref{e3.2}, and completes the
proof.
\end{proof}

The following lemma is an expansion of positivity result,
analogue in formulation as well as in the proof to
 \cite[Lemmas 6.3, 6.4]{Lieberman2}.

\begin{lemma} \label{lem3.2}
Let the conditions of Theorem \ref{thm3} be fulfilled. 
Assume that for some $\bar x\in\Omega$, some $r>0, N>0$ and some 
$\alpha\in(0,1)$,
$$
|\{x\in B_r(\bar x): u(x)\leq N\}|\leq (1-\alpha)|B_r(\bar x)|.
$$
Then for any $\varepsilon\in (0, 1)$ there exists constant $\delta\in (0, 1/2)$ 
depending only on $n, p, q, \nu_1, \nu_2, \alpha$ and $\varepsilon$ such that
$$
|\{x\in B_{4r}(\bar x): u(x)\leq 2\delta N\}|\leq \varepsilon|B_{4r}(\bar x)|,
$$
and furthermore
$u(x)\geq\delta N$ for almost all  $x\in B_{2r}(\bar x)$.
\end{lemma}

The next lemma is a De Giorgi type lemma, the proof of which is similar 
to that of \cite[Lemma 6.4]{Lieberman2}.

\begin{lemma} \label{lem3.3}
Let the conditions of  Theorem \ref{thm3} be fulfilled, $\bar x\in\Omega$, 
fix $r>0, \xi, a\in (0, 1)$. There exists number $\varepsilon_0\in (0, 1)$ 
depending only on $n, p, q, \nu_1, \nu_2, \xi$ and $a$ such that if
$$
|\{x\in B_r(\bar x): u(x)\leq M(1-\xi)\}|\leq \varepsilon_0|B_r(\bar x)|,
$$
with some $M\geq\underset{B_r(\bar x)} {\rm sup} u$, then
$$ 
u(x)\leq M(1-a\xi)\,  for\, a.a.\, x\in B_{2r}(\bar x).
$$
\end{lemma}

Because of Lemmas \ref{lem3.2} and \ref{lem3.3}, the rest of the arguments do not differ 
from the corresponding result in \cite{Giusti} and \cite{Lieberman2}. 
This completes the proof Theorem \ref{thm3}.

\subsection*{Conclusion}
In the paper there was studied quasilinear double-phase elliptic equations
 with absorption term
 $$
-\operatorname{div} \Big(g(|\nabla u|)\frac{\nabla u}{|\nabla u|}\Big)+f(u)= 0, 
\quad u\geq 0.
$$
Despite the lack of comparison principle, we proved a priori
estimate of Keller-Osserman type. Particularly, under some natural
assumptions on the functions $g, f$ for nonnegative solutions we
proved an estimate of the form
$$
\int_0^{u(x)} f(s)\,ds\leq c\frac{u(x)}{r}g\Big(\frac{u(x)}{r}\Big),\quad
 x\in\Omega,\; B_{8r}(x)\subset\Omega,
$$
with constant $c$, independent on $u(x)$. Using this estimate we
presented a simple proof of the Harnack inequality.

\subsection*{Acknowledgments}
This research was supported by grants of Ministry of Education
and Science of Ukraine (project numbers are 0118U003138, 0116U004691)
and by SFFR of Ukraine (grant No. 116U007160).


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