DO JURORS HOLD AUDITORS TO A DIFFERENT NEGLIGENCE STANDARD UNDER U.S. GAAP AND IFRS?

In order to fulfill the requirements of East Carolina University’s Honors College, I created the research study described in this paper to examine the effects on auditor liability under United States Generally Accepted Accounting Principles compared to the International Financial Reporting Standards. The Financial Accounting Standards Board and the International Accounting Standards Board have been working towards convergence between U.S. GAAP, a rules-based system, and IFRS, a principles-based system. This research study examines whether potential jurors would hold auditors to a different negligence standard between rules-based and principles-based accounting. This study also explores how juror assessments of auditor responsibility differ when auditor liability is limited, as opposed to, unlimited. An experiment was conducted with students at a large state university representing jurors. I found evidence that auditor liability was held to a higher dollar value under unlimited liability and when relevant accounting standards were rules-based

Regression models to explore independent factors associated with intima-media thickness (pIMT).

a<p>Logistic regression model: pathological intima-media thickness (pIMT) defined as IMT>1 mm analysed as categorical variable.</p>b<p>Linear regression model: mean IMT analysed as a continuous variable –plaque excluded from the analysis.</p><p>NOTE: HAART, highly active antiretroviral therapy; PI, protease inhibitors; HOMA-IR, homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance.</p><p>OR, odds ratio – AOR, adjusted odds ratio.</p>*<p>Adjusted for Framingham risk score and HOMA-IR;</p>**<p>Mutually adjusted for all of the parameters tested in the univariate model.</p

Different peripheral T-cell immune phenotypes according to the degree of carotid intima-media thickness.

<p><b>A–B.</b> Activated CD8+ T-cells were defined by the expression of CD38, whereas memory activated CD8+ T-cells were defined by the co-expression of CD45R0 and CD38. <b>A.</b> nIMT and pIMT HIV+ patients exhibited similar number of CD8+CD38+ T-cells. <b>B.</b> pIMT patients had significantly higher memory activated CD8+CD38+CD45R0+ T-cells in comparison to nIMT patients (p = .038). <b>C–D.</b> Apoptotic T-cells were defined by the expression of CD95 on CD4+ and CD8+ cells. As compared to nIMT, pIMT patients exhibited a significantly higher number of CD4+CD95+ cells (p = .01) (<b>C</b>), and CD8+CD95+ T-cells (p = .003) (<b>D</b>). <b>E.</b> CD127 expression on CD4+ T-cells was similar between the nIMT and pIMT groups. <b>F.</b> A non-significant trend towards greater number of CD8+CD127+ cells was observed among pIMT patients as compared to nIMT patients (p = .08).</p

Probability of immune recovery (time from cART start to CD4+ count gain ≥200 cells/mmc) by Kaplan Meier estimates.

<p>Kaplan Meier estimates of the probability of achieving CD4+ T-cells count ≥200 cells/mmc from cART start according to Recent and non Recent HIV Infection; log rank test. The continuous line represents Less Recent HIV Infections (NRHI), the dot line represents Recent HIV Infections (RHI).</p

Characteristics of the study population according to RHI status.

<p>Characteristics of the study population according to RHI status.</p

Proportion of Recent HIV Infections by calendar period of enrolment.

<p>The graph illustrates the proportion of Recent HIV Infections (RHI), defined as a positive HIV serological test within 12 months since the last negative one, according to calendar period of seroconversion (1996–2000, 2001–2006, 2007–2009, 2010–2014). X-axis: calendar periods, Y-axis: proportion of RHI in percentages.</p

T-cell immunosenescence according to the degree of intima-media thickness.

<p><b>A.</b> A non-significant tendency towards reduced early differentiated memory (CD28+CD57−) CD4+ T-cell numbers was observed for pIMT patients in comparison to nIMT patients (p = .09). <b>B.</b> No differences were observed in early differentiated memory CD8+ CD28+CD57− T-cells between the two study groups. <b>C–D.</b> The number of late-differentiated memory (CD28–CD57+) CD4+ (<b>C</b>) and CD8+ (<b>D</b>) T-cells was comparable between nIMT and pIMT groups. <b>E–F.</b> We observed no difference in CD4+CD28+CD57+ (<b>E</b>) and CD8+CD28+CD57+ (<b>F</b>) T-cells between the nIMT and pIMT groups. <b>G.</b> No major difference in CD4+CD28–CD57− T-cells were observed between nIMT and pIMT patients. <b>H.</b> Compared to nIMT patients, pIMT patients tended to have lower number of CD8+CD28–CD57− cells (p = .06).</p

Markers of Inflammation, endothelial cell activation, microbial translocation and anti-CMV IgG according to the degree of intima-media thickness.

<p><b>A.</b> IL-6 plasma levels were increased in pIMT patients in comparison to nIMT patients, albeit not-reaching significance (p = .08). <b>B–F.</b> When nIMT patients were compared to pIMT patients, no differences in TNF-α (<b>B</b>), s-VCAM-1 (<b>C</b>) hs-C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) (<b>D</b>) plasma levels were detected. <b>E.</b> nIMT and pIMT patients exhibited similar plasma levels of lipopolysaccharide (LPS). <b>F.</b> pIMT patients showed significantly higher circulating levels of sCD14 in comparison to nIMT patients (p = .046). <b>G.</b> nIMT and pIMT patients displayed comparable levels of anti-CMV IgG.</p

Parameters associated with Recent HIV Infections (RHI) by univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis.

<p>Parameters associated with Recent HIV Infections (RHI) by univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis.</p