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A DC-DC converter plays a major role in many applications such as fuel cell, hybrid electric vehicle, renewable energy system, etc. Among these converters, the bidirectional DC-DC fly-back converters are more attractive because of their simple structure and easy control. However, the power devices present in this converter are subjected to high-voltage stresses due to the leakage inductor energy of the transformer. In order to recycle the leakage inductor energy and to minimise the voltage stress on the power devices, the purpose of this paper is to focus on the transformer less bidirectional DC-DC converter with high efficiency.

In order to reduce the switching loss, a few passive elements are added. The auxiliary circuit consists of a resonant inductor and resonant capacitors. This auxiliary circuit affords zero voltage switching function and cancels out the ripple component present in the main inductor current irrespective of the power flow direction.

In this work three topologies of bidirectional converters for BLDC motor are investigated and are compared in terms of mechanical power output and THD.

The paper presents enhanced versions of the converters.

The purpose of this paper is to examine the attitudes towards and knowledge about entrepreneurship and small business among the people of Nebraska, a mid‐western state in the USA.

The paper discusses the importance of understanding attitudes and knowledge about entrepreneurship at the state‐level. It uses a parsimonious framework to present the findings based on data collected by a Gallup Organization survey of Nebraska residents and small business owners.

Data reveals low interest in becoming entrepreneurs among Nebraskans. Interestingly, however, Nebraskans believe their educational experience is significantly more valuable and applicable to business start‐up than does the US general population. They are also less likely than the US population to believe that successful entrepreneurs and small businesses should give back to their communities.

The paper highlights the need to examine attitudes and beliefs about entrepreneurship in individual states and comparing the findings from the state level data to those from the national data. The results have important implications for teachers interested in providing training to potential entrepreneurs, as well as policy‐makers in states such as Nebraska interested in encouraging entrepreneurial activity in their state.

This paper is the first study to focus on attitudes and beliefs about entrepreneurship among the people of Nebraska, a rural state in USA, an otherwise highly industrialized country. It is also the first study to use the data collected at the state‐level to compare it to findings from a national sample.

Examines the learning and reading‐related lifestyles of users and non‐users of libraries in Singapore. Door‐to‐door personal interviews with over 800 respondents in the age group of over 15 were used to collect the data. Factor analysis was used to establish eight types of reading and learning lifestyles. Subsequently cluster analysis was used to segment the respondents into seven types of library visitors. Together with their demographic characteristics and usage patterns of libraries, distinct profiles of these segments of people could be constructed. Finally, implications for library policy planners are discussed.

Publishing has often been regarded as the bedrock of librarianship. The soundness of this belief requires no argument because the publisher and the librarian continually play complementary roles in the provision of materials for the dissemination of information to the public. While the publisher is mainly involved at the earlier stages of the technical professional production of books and other information materials, the librarian has the singular duty of making sure that these materials, in addition to the information contained in them, are made available to readers. In other words, if the publisher does not play his or her part, the librarian may not have the materials necessary for the performance of his or her duties and if the librarian fails in a professional role, the single, major means by which the publishers' output gets to the largest number of population is lost. Thus, the professional roles of the publisher and the librarian are closely related and interdependent.

Reviews the provision of textbooks at all levels of the Nigerian educational system. Suggests that there is a great shortage of books at all levels of education, but the most acute being at the tertiary level due to an overwhelming dependence on imported books. Reveals that libraries promoting scholarship are limited to elite and private schools which are models which cannot be replicated on a national scale. Articulates the implications of the dearth of books for an informed citizenry and for national development and suggests some solutions to improve the availability and accessibility of books in Nigeria.

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine the changes in the way information management is taught at the Department of Applied Social Science (DASS) in the context of a fast‐changing world situation. It looks at the way reflective learning is being incorporated in teaching and provides some details of projects and modules which incorporate reflective learning in teaching and learning programmes. Design/methodology/approach – The paper examines the changing global situation to which a university education needs to respond. It then focuses on the information field and gives details of the way in which some new projects and modules are being developed to meet new challenges. Findings – As this is ongoing work, a final analysis is not possible at this stage. External evaluation of the Quality Leaders Project (QLP) will provide further assessment of this approach and responses from employers and students will further inform the direction of this approach. Practical implications – The paper highlights the need for change in the teaching of information management. Changes in curricula and learning practices at universities and direct intervention through pilot projects can offer one solution. The experience gained has the potential of developing a new teaching model with lifelong learning at its core. Originality/value – This paper brings ideas and practices from teaching, learning and management to the information sector. It will be of interest to a number of professions: teaching, management, lifelong learning and information as well as political activists and organisations whose learning needs are largely ignored in the mainstream education systems.

Just as materials undergo acceptance sampling to improve quality, so should the human resources undergo acceptance sampling to improve the quality they contribute to a product. The importance of high quality human resources in computer‐integrated manufacturing (CIM) production environments is particularly important because of the technology that is at risk to operator control. Suggests that the development of a quality assurance programme for screening human resources that work in CIM environments improves product quality and reduces technology risk. Outlines a quality assurance programme for human resources, along with an illustrative application of how acceptance sample methods can be used in the programme.