A Comparative Study about Internal Auditing Approach between Germany and China

While internal audit is one of the most important functions and procedures for internal control of the firms＇ normal operations from the perspective of financial terms, different countries, due to their stages of economic developments （developed countries VS. developing countries）, unique governmental regulations, and different societal and cultural traditions, have implemented different internal audit systems and approaches. This paper describes a comparative study exploring some key differences between the internal audit system in China and its counterpart in Germany---from the following five important aspects： the origin and development of internal audit, the structure of internal audit system, the relationship between firms＇ internal audit and the government agency, the responsibility and accountability of internal audit, and the quality of internal auditors. Based on the comparative analysis, four suggestions are made for future improvement on the internal audit system in China, along with managerial discussions.

Hydrocortisone,vitamin C,and thiamine may not improve the outcome of patients with sepsis or septic shock:a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background This study aimed to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis of the efficacy of hydrocortisone,vitamin C,and thiamine(HVT)in patients with sepsis or septic shock.Methods A literature search was performed in PubMed,Embase,Cochrane Library,and Web of Science from their inception to April 2021.Search terms included hydrocortisone,thiamine,vitamin C,sepsis,and septic shock.Only randomized controlled trials on HVT in treating sepsis and septic shock were analyzed.Risk ratio(RR)was generated using Review Manager 5.3 to evaluate binary variants,whereas mean±standard deviation(MD)was generated to assess continuous variants.Results A total of 7 randomized controlled trials,with 1233 patients,were included in this meta-analysis.There was no significant difference in long-term mortality(35.3%vs 33.2%;RR:1.07;95%confidence interval[95%CI]:0.90-1.27;P=0.45;I^(2)=0%),intensive care unit(ICU)mortality(17.4%vs 17.5%;RR:0.99;95%CI:0.75-1.30;P=0.95;I^(2)=0%),in-hospital mortality(27.4%vs 25.8%;RR:1.06;95%CI:0.84-1.34;P=0.63;I^(2)=0%),and acute kidney injury morbidity(RR:1.04;95%CI:0.91-1.18;P=0.60;I^(2)=0%)between HVT and control groups.For continuous variables,there was no significant effect of HVT therapy on delta Sequential Organ Failure Assessment(△SOFA)score(MD:−0.44;95%CI:−1.00 to 0.12;P=0.12;I^(2)=49%),length of ICU stay(MD:0.43;95%CI:−0.27 to 1.14;P=0.23;I^(2)=0%),and length of hospital stay(MD:0.80;95%CI:−0.38 to 1.97;P=0.18;I^(2)=0%).Only vasopressor duration was significantly reduced in the HVT group(MD:−17.75;95%CI:−25.56 to−9.94;P<0.00001;I^(2)=38%).Vasopressor duration refers to the time to shock reversal.Alternatively,it is the amount of time(in hours)required for patients to withdraw all vasoactive medication support.Neither HVT nor control△SOFA reached statistical significance.Conclusion Hydrocortisone,vitamin C,and thiamine use was not associated with improved mortality,lower acute kidney injury incidence,lower△SOFA,and shorter ICU and in-hospital stays among patients with sepsis and septic shock.However,the use of vasopressors decreased significantly.Further direct head-to-head studies are needed.

管理者过度自信与审计师应对——基于关键审计事项披露视角

本文以2016—2021年我国A股上市公司披露的关键审计事项为研究样本,考察管理者过度自信对关键审计事项披露决策的影响。研究发现,当客户公司有过度自信的管理者时,审计师披露的关键审计事项数量更多,特质信息含量更高。机制检验表明,过度自信的管理者对关键审计事项风险的低估与审计师对过度自信管理者增加审计风险的担忧共同促进了关键审计事项充分性和信息含量的提高。进一步研究发现,这一促进作用主要体现在管理者能力欠缺的样本中,能力低且过度自信的管理者强化了审计师通过关键审计事项进行免责的需求,且审计师会为应对管理者过度自信而增加的审计投入要求更高的费用补偿。本文立足于审计师与管理者双方博弈中的不同需求和决策逻辑,从管理者个人特征的角度丰富了关键审计事项的影响因素的研究,并有助于重新认识管理者过度自信这一心理偏差对审计决策的影响。