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Background: Forensic anthropological examinations help in identification of unidentified human remains. This study aims to establish population-specific standards for age estimation from the sternal ends of left fourth ribs in the Nepalese population. A quantitative, observational study was conducted on 387 Nepalese deceased (106 females, 281 males) between November 2021 and March 2023. Left fourth ribs were collected, macerated and examined for the study. The variables examined included pit depth, pit shape, rim and wall configurations and rib phase. Results: Pit depth significantly predicted age, β = 0.642, t(385) = 16.42, p < 0.001. Pit depth also explained a significant proportion of variance in age, R2 = 0.41, F(1, 385) = 269.54, p < 0.001. The age estimates from pit depth stage were 7–36 (stage 0), 7–49 (stage 1), 16–51 (stage 2), 10–58 (stage 3), 22–70 (stage 4) and 32–81 (stage 5). Age estimates for pit shape were 17–20 (stage 0), 13–48 (stage 2), 15–55 (stage 3), 24–68 (stage 4) and 39–82 (stage 5). Age estimates for rim and wall configurations were 17–20 (stage 0), 13–47 (stage 2), 17–53 (stage 3), 24–68 (stage 4) and 40–82 (stage 5). Similarly, age estimates for rib phase were 17–20 (phase 0), 18–20 (phase 1), 13–46 (phase 2), 18–50 (phase 3), 23–60 (phase 4), 32–71 (phase 5), 50–76 (phase 6), 44–81 (phase 7) and 62–85 (phase 8). The study also examined the use of transitional analysis to develop posterior probability distributions for estimation of age using rib phases. Conclusion: This study found significant differences in the age estimates from previous studies and shows the importance of developing population-specific models for use in forensic anthropology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To establish the Steiner's cephalometric norms for a Nepalese population, compare the gender and inter-racial variations in dentoskeletal and soft tissue structures, and to test the null hypothesis that there are no racial differences in cephalometric measurements between Nepalese, Caucasians and other populations. Design: Prospective, cross-sectional study. Subjects and methods: One hundred and twenty lateral cephalograms of Nepalese subjects aged 16-21 years with class I normal occlusion and balanced facial aesthetics were selected. The cephalometric variables were measured. An independent one sample t test was used to compare the Steiner's ideal values with Indo-Aryan Nepalese means and independent t test to compare Japanese means with Mongoloid Nepalese means and Mongoloids with Aryans. Entra-investigator error was assessed with Lin's concordance method and the reliability of aesthetic evaluation of the photographs was tested with Cronbach's alpha. Results.' Nepalese Mongoloid males possessed more protrusive lips (Z angle mean difference, 8°; P<0.001) than the Indo- Aryan males. Mongoloid females had more protrusive mandible (SNB angle mean difference, 3.7°; P<0.001), greater class 11 skeletal bases (SND angle mean difference, 3.5°; P<0.001), longer SL length (mean difference, 5.6 mm; P<0.01), more proclined upper incisors (UI-NA mean difference, 6°; P<0.01) and a more protrusive lower lip (lower lip-S line mean difference, 0.9 mm; P=0.003), lower lip-E line (2.0 mm; P<0.001) and Z angle (4,40; P<0.001), than the Endo-Aryan females. Differences between the Nepalese sample and published Caucasian and Japanese norms are also described. Conclusions: Differences in the cephalometric values exist between the two ethnic groups in Nepal, as well as between our Nepalese sample and published Caucasians and Japanese norms. The norms published in this article will be useful when planning orthodontic treatment in Mongoloid and Indo-Aryan individuals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]