The role of emerging elites in the formation and development of communities after the fall of the Roman Empire.

Elites played a pivotal role in the formation of post-Roman Europe on both macro- and microlevels during the Early Medieval period. History and archaeology have long focused on their description and identification based on written sources or through their archaeological record. We provide a different perspective on this topic by integrating paleogenomic, archaeological, and isotopic data to gain insights into the role of one such elite group in a Langobard period community near Collegno, Italy dated to the 6-8th centuries CE. Our analysis of 28 newly sequenced genomes together with 24 previously published ones combined with isotope (Sr, C, N) measurements revealed that this community was established by and organized around a network of biologically and socially related individuals likely composed of multiple elite families that over time developed into a single extended pedigree. The community also included individuals with diverse genetic ancestries, maintaining its diversity by integrating newcomers and groups in later stages of its existence. This study highlights how shifts in political power and migration impacted the formation and development of a small rural community within a key region of the former Western Roman Empire after its dissolution and the emergence of a new kingdom. Furthermore, it suggests that Early Medieval elites had the capacity to incorporate individuals from varied backgrounds and that these elites were the result of (political) agency rather than belonging to biologically homogeneous groups.

Cosmogenic nuclide dating of Australopithecus at Sterkfontein, South Africa.

Sterkfontein is the most prolific single source of Australopithecus fossils, the vast majority of which were recovered from Member 4, a cave breccia now exposed by erosion and weathering at the landscape surface. A few other Australopithecus fossils, including the StW 573 skeleton, come from subterranean deposits [T. C. Partridge et al., Science 300, 607-612 (2003); R. J. Clarke, K. Kuman, J. Hum. Evol. 134, 102634 (2019)]. Here, we report a cosmogenic nuclide isochron burial date of 3.41 ± 0.11 million years (My) within the lower middle part of Member 4, and simple burial dates of 3.49 ± 0.19 My in the upper middle part of Member 4 and 3.61 ± 0.09 My in Jacovec Cavern. Together with a previously published isochron burial date of 3.67 ± 0.16 My for StW 573 [D. E. Granger et al., Nature 522, 85-88 (2015)], these results place nearly the entire Australopithecus assemblage at Sterkfontein in the mid-Pliocene, contemporaneous with Australopithecus afarensis in East Africa. Our ages for the fossil-bearing breccia in Member 4 are considerably older than the previous ages of ca. 2.1 to 2.6 My interpreted from flowstones associated with the same deposit. We show that these previously dated flowstones are stratigraphically intrusive within Member 4 and that they therefore underestimate the true age of the fossils.

Sequence-dependent and -independent information in a combined random energy model for protein folding and coding.

Random energy models (REMs) provide a simple description of the energy landscapes that guide protein folding and evolution. The requirement of a large energy gap between the native structure and unfolded conformations, considered necessary for cooperative, protein-like, folding behavior, indicates that proteins differ markedly from random heteropolymers. It has been suggested, therefore, that natural selection might have acted to choose nonrandom amino acid sequences satisfying this particular condition, implying that a large fraction of possible, unselected random sequences, would not fold to any structure. From an informational perspective, however, this scenario could indicate that protein structures, regarded as messages to be transmitted through a communication channel, would not be efficiently encoded in amino acid sequences, regarded as the communication channel for this transmission, since a large fraction of possible channel states would not be used. Here, we use a combined REM for conformations and sequences, with previously estimated parameters for natural proteins, to explore an alternative possibility in which the appropriate shape of the landscape results mainly from the deviation from randomness of possible native structures instead of sequences. We observe that this situation emerges naturally if the distribution of conformational energies happens to arise from two independent contributions corresponding to sequence-dependent and -independent terms. This construction is consistent with the hypothesis of a protein burial folding code, with native structures being determined by a modest amount of sequence-dependent atomic burial information with sequence-independent constraints imposed by unspecific hydrogen bond formation. More generally, an appropriate combination of sequence-dependent and -independent information accommodates the possibility of an efficient structural encoding with the main physical requirement for folding, providing possible insight not only on the folding process but also on several aspects sequence evolution such as neutral networks, conformational coverage, and de novo gene emergence.

Soil salinity regulates spatial-temporal heterogeneity of seed germination and seedbank persistence of an annual diaspore-trimorphic halophyte in northern China.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Seed heteromorphism is a plant strategy that an individual plant produces two or more distinct types of diaspores, which have diverse morphology, dispersal ability, ecological functions and different effects on plant life history traits. The aim of this study was to test the effects of seasonal soil salinity and burial depth on the dynamics of dormancy/germination and persistence/depletion of buried trimorphic diaspores of a desert annual halophyte Atriplex centralasiatica. METHODS: We investigated the effects of salinity and seasonal fluctuations of temperature on germination, recovery of germination and mortality of types A, B, C diaspores of A. centralasiatica in the laboratory and buried diaspores in situ at four soil salinities and three depths. Diaspores were collected monthly from the seedbank from December 2016 to November 2018, and the number of viable diaspores remaining (not depleted) and their germinability were determined. RESULTS: Non-dormant type A diaspores were depleted in the low salinity "window" in the first year. Dormant diaspore types B and C germinated to high percentages at 0.3 and 0.1 mol L-1 soil salinity, respectively. High salinity and shallow burial delayed depletion of diaspore types B and C. High salinity delayed depletion time of the three diaspore types and delayed dormancy release of types B and C diaspores from autumn to spring. Soil salinity modified the response of diaspores in the seedbank by delaying seed dormancy release in autum and winter and by providing a low-salt concentration window for germination of non-dormant diaspores in spring and early summer. CONCLUSIONS: Buried trimorphic diaspores of annual desert halophyte A. centralasiatica exhibited diverse dormancy/germination behavior in respond to seasonal soil salinity fluctuation. Prolonging persistence of the seedbank and delaying depletion of diaspores under salt stress in situ primarily is due to inhibition of dormancy-break. The differences in dormancy/germination and seed persistence in the soil seedbank may be a bet-hadging strategy adapted to stressful temporal and spatial heterogeneity, and allows A. centralasiatica to persist in the unpredictable cold desert enevironment.

Large and non-spherical seeds are less likely to form a persistent soil seed bank.

There is some evidence that seed traits can affect the long-term persistence of seeds in the soil. However, findings on this topic have differed between systems. Here, we brought together a worldwide database of seed persistence data for 1474 species to test the generality of seed mass-shape-persistence relationships. We found a significant trend for low seed persistence to be associated with larger and less spherical seeds. However, the relationship varied across different clades, growth forms and species ecological preferences. Specifically, relationships of seed mass-shape-persistence were more pronounced in Poales than in other order clades. Herbaceous species that tend to be found in sites with low soil sand content and precipitation have stronger relationships between seed shape and persistence than in sites with higher soil sand content and precipitation. For the woody plants, the relationship between persistence and seed morphology was stronger in sites with high soil sand content and low precipitation than in sites with low soil sand content and higher precipitation. Improving the ability to predict the soil seed bank formation process, including burial and persistence, could benefit the utilization of seed morphology-persistence relationships in management strategies for vegetation restoration and controlling species invasion across diverse vegetation types and environments.

Dung beetles increase plant growth: a meta-analysis.

The ecosystem services provided by dung beetles are well known and valued. Dung beetles bury dung for feeding and breeding, and it is generally thought that the process of burying dung increases nutrient uptake by plant roots, which promotes plant growth. Many studies have tested the effects of dung beetles on plant growth, but there has been no quantitative synthesis of these studies. Here we use a multi-level meta-analysis to estimate the average effect of dung beetles on plant growth and investigate factors that moderate this effect. We identified 28 publications that investigated dung beetle effects on plant growth. Of these, 24 contained the minimum quantitative data necessary to include in a meta-analysis. Overall, we found that dung beetles increased plant growth by 17%; the 95% CI for possible values for the true increase in plant growth that were most compatible with our data, given our statistical model, ranged from 1% to 35%. We found evidence that the dung beetle-plant growth relationship is influenced by the plant measurement type and the number of beetles accessing the dung. However, beetles did not increase plant growth in all quantitative trials, as individual effect sizes ranged from -72% to 806%, suggesting important context-dependence in the provision of ecosystem services.

A preliminary study characterizing temporal changes in soil bacterial communities after dismembered bones were buried.

Determining the burial time of skeletal remains is one of the most important issues of forensic medicine. We speculated that the microbiome of gravesoil may be a promising method to infer burial time by virtue of time-dependent. As we know, forensic scientists have established various models to predict the postmortem interval of a decedent based on the changes in body and soil microbiome communities. However, limited data are available on the burial time prediction for bones, especially dismembered bones. In this exploratory study, we initially conducted 16S rRNA amplicon high-throughput sequencing on the burial soil of 10 porcine femurs within a 120-day period and analyzed the changes in soil microbial communities. Compared with the control soil, a higher Shannon index in the microbial diversity of burial soil containing bones was observed. Correlation analysis identified 61 time-related bacterial families and the best subset selection method obtained best subset, containing Thermomonosporaceae, Clostridiaceae, 0319-A21, and Oxalobacteraceae, which were used to construct a simplified multiple linear regression model with a mean absolute error (MAE) of 56.69 accumulated degree day (ADD). An additional random forest model was established based on indicators for the minimum cross-validation error of Thermomonosporaceae, Clostridiaceae, 0319-A21, Oxalobacteraceae, and Syntrophobacteraceae, with an MAE of 55.65 ADD. The produced empirical data in this pilot study provided the evidence of feasibility that the microbial successional changes of burial soil will predict the burial time of dismembered bones and may also expand the current knowledge of the effects of bone burial on soil bacterial communities.

It's time to broaden what we consider a 'blue carbon ecosystem'.

Photoautotrophic marine ecosystems can lock up organic carbon in their biomass and the associated organic sediments they trap over millennia and are thus regarded as blue carbon ecosystems. Because of the ability of marine ecosystems to lock up organic carbon for millennia, blue carbon is receiving much attention within the United Nations' 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development as a nature-based solution (NBS) to climate change, but classically still focuses on seagrass meadows, mangrove forests, and tidal marshes. However, other coastal ecosystems could also be important for blue carbon storage, but remain largely neglected in both carbon cycling budgets and NBS strategic planning. Using a meta-analysis of 253 research publications, we identify other coastal ecosystems-including mud flats, fjords, coralline algal (rhodolith) beds, and some components or coral reef systems-with a strong capacity to act as blue carbon sinks in certain situations. Features that promote blue carbon burial within these 'non-classical' blue carbon ecosystems included: (1) balancing of carbon release by calcification via carbon uptake at the individual and ecosystem levels; (2) high rates of allochthonous organic carbon supply because of high particle trapping capacity; (3) high rates of carbon preservation and low remineralization rates; and (4) location in depositional environments. Some of these features are context-dependent, meaning that these ecosystems were blue carbon sinks in some locations, but not others. Therefore, we provide a universal framework that can evaluate the likelihood of a given ecosystem to behave as a blue carbon sink for a given context. Overall, this paper seeks to encourage consideration of non-classical blue carbon ecosystems within NBS strategies, allowing more complete blue carbon accounting.

Fates of Terrigenous Dissolved Organic Carbon in the Gulf of Maine.

A significant amount of organic carbon is transported in dissolved form from soils to coastal oceans via inland water systems, bridging land and ocean carbon reservoirs. However, it has been discovered that the presence of terrigenous dissolved organic carbon (tDOC) in oceans is relatively limited. Therefore, understanding the fates of tDOC in coastal oceans is essential to account for carbon sequestration through land ecosystems and ensure accurate regional carbon budgeting. In this study, we developed a state-of-the-art modeling approach by coupling a land-to-ocean tDOC flux simulation model and a coastal tDOC tracking model to determine the potential fates of tDOC exported from three primary drainage basins in the Gulf of Maine (GoM). According to our findings, over half a year in the GoM, 56.4% of tDOC was mineralized. Biomineralization was responsible for 90% of that amount, with the remainder attributed to photomineralization. Additionally, 37% of the tDOC remained suspended in the GoM, and 6.6% was buried in the marine sediment.

Changing social inequality from first farmers to early states in Southeast Asia.

When the first rice farmers expanded into Southeast Asia from the north about 4,000 y ago, they interacted with hunter-gatherer communities with an ancestry in the region of at least 50 millennia. Rigorously dated prehistoric sites in the upper Mun Valley of Northeast Thailand have revealed a 12-phase sequence beginning with the first farmers followed by the adoption of bronze and then iron metallurgy leading on to the rise of early states. On the basis of the burial rituals involving interment with a wide range of mortuary offerings and associated practices, we identify, by computing the values of the Gini coefficient, at least two periods of intensified social inequality. The first occurred during the initial Bronze Age that, we suggest, reflected restricted elite ownership of exotic valuables within an exchange choke point. The second occurred during the later Iron Age when increased aridity stimulated an agricultural revolution that rapidly led to the first state societies in mainland Southeast Asia.

Appraisal of sedimentary alkenones for the quantitative reconstruction of phytoplankton biomass.

Marine primary productivity (PP) is the driving factor in the global marine carbon cycle. Its reconstruction in past climates relies on biogeochemical proxies that are not considered to provide an unequivocal signal. These are often based on the water column flux of biogenic components to sediments (organic carbon, biogenic opal, biomarkers), although other factors than productivity are posited to control the sedimentary contents of the components, and their flux is related to the fraction of export production buried in sediments. Moreover, most flux proxies have not been globally appraised. Here, we assess a proxy to quantify past phytoplankton biomass by correlating the concentration of C37 alkenones in a global suite of core-top sediments with sea surface chlorophyll-a (SSchla) estimates over the last 20 y. SSchla is the central metric to calculate phytoplankton biomass and is directly related to PP. We show that the global spatial distribution of sedimentary alkenones is primarily correlated to SSchla rather than diagenetic factors such as the oxygen concentration in bottom waters, which challenges previous assumptions on the role of preservation on driving concentrations of sedimentary organic compounds. Moreover, our results suggest that the rate of global carbon export to sediments is not regionally constrained, and that alkenones producers play a dominant role in the global export of carbon buried in the seafloor. This study shows the potential of using sedimentary alkenones to estimate past phytoplankton biomass, which in turn can be used to infer past PP in the global ocean.

Purification and characterization of extracellular PHB depolymerase enzyme from Aeromonas caviae Kuk1-(34) and their biodegradation studies with polymer films.

PHB depolymerase enzymes are able to breakdown the PHB polymers and thereby get significant economic value in the bioplastics industry and for bioremediation as well. This study shows the purification of novel extracellular PHB depolymerase enzyme from Aeromonas caviae Kuk1-(34) using dialysis followed by gel filtration and HPLC. The purification fold and yield after HPLC were 45.92 and 27.04%, respectively. HPLC data showed a single peak with a retention time of 1.937 min. GC-MS analysis reveals the presence of three compounds, of which 1-Dodecanol was found to be most significant with 54.48% area and 8.623-min retention time (RT). The molecular weight of the purified enzyme was obtained as 35 kDa with Km and apparent Vmax values of 0.769 mg/mL and 1.89 U/mL, respectively. The enzyme was moderately active at an optimum temperature of 35 °C and at pH 8.0. The stability was detected at pH 7.0-9.0 and 35-45 °C. Complete activity loss was observed with EDTA, SDS, Tween-20 at 5 mM and with 0.1% Triton X 100. A biodegradation study of commercially available biodegradable polymer films was carried out in a liquid medium and in soil separately with pure microbial culture and with purified enzyme for 7, 14, 28, and 49 consecutive days. In a liquid medium, with a pure strain of Aeromonas caviae Kuk1-(34), the maximum degradation (89%) was achieved on the PHB film, while no changes were observed with other polymer films. With purified enzyme in the soil, 71% degradation of the PHB film was noticed, and it was only 18% in the liquid medium. All such weight analysis were confirmed by SEM images where several holes, pits, grooves, crest, and surface roughness are clearly observed. Our results demonstrated the potential utility of Aeromonas caviae Kuk1-(34) as a source of extracellular PHB depolymerase capable of degrading PHB under a wide range of natural/ lab conditions.

Research on the Postural Stability of Underwater Bottom Platforms with Different Burial Depths.

The bottom platform is an important underwater sensor that can be used in communications, early warning, monitoring, and other fields. It may be affected by earthquakes, winds, waves, and other loads in the working environment, causing changes in posture and affecting its sensing function. Therefore, it is of practical engineering significance to analyze the force conditions and posture changes in the bottom platform. In order to solve the problem of postural stability of the underwater bottom platform, this paper establishes a fluid and structural simulation model of the underwater bottom platform. First, computational fluid dynamics (CFD) technology is used to solve the velocity distribution and forces in the watershed around the bottom platform under a 3 kn ocean current, where the finite element method (FEM) numerical calculation method is used to solve the initial equilibrium state of the bottom platform after it is buried. On this basis, this paper calculates the forces on the bottom platform and the posture of the bottom platform at different burial depths under the action of ocean currents. Additionally, the effects of different burial depths on the maximum displacement, deflection angle, and postural stability of the bottom platform are studied. The calculation results show that when the burial depth is greater than 0.6 m, and the deflection angle of the bottom platform under the action of the 3 kn sea current is less than 5°, the bottom platform can maintain a stable posture. This paper could be used to characterize the postural stability of underwater bottom platforms at different burial depths for the application of underwater sensors in ocean engineering.

Lipidomes in Cadaveric Decomposition and Determination of the Postmortem Interval: A Systematic Review.

Lipids are a large group of natural compounds, together with proteins and carbohydrates, and are essential for various processes in the body. After death, the organism's tissues undergo a series of reactions that generate changes in some molecules, including lipids. This means that determining the lipid change profile can be beneficial in estimating the postmortem interval (PMI). These changes can also help determine burial sites and advance the localization of graves. The aim was to explore and analyze the decomposition process of corpses, focusing on the transformation of lipids, especially triglycerides (TGs) and fatty acids (FAs), and the possible application of these compounds as markers to estimate PMI and detect burial sites. A systematic review of 24 scientific articles from the last 23 years (2000-2023) was conducted. The results show that membrane glycerophospholipids (such as phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylglycerol, among others) are the most studied, and the most promising results are obtained, with decreasing patterns as PMI varies. Fatty acids (FAs) are also identified as potential biomarkers owing to the variations in their postmortem concentration. An increase in saturated fatty acids (SFAs), such as stearic acid and palmitic acid, and a decrease in unsaturated fatty acids (UFAs), such as oleic acid and linoleic acid, were observed. The importance of intrinsic and extrinsic factors in decomposition is also observed. Finally, as for the burial sites, the presence of fatty acids and some sterols in burial areas of animal and human remains can be verified. In conclusion, glycerophospholipids and fatty acids are good markers for estimating PMI. It has been observed that there are still no equations for estimating the PMI that can be applied to forensic practice, as intrinsic and extrinsic factors are seen to play a vital role in the decomposition process. As for determining burial sites, the importance of soil and textile samples has been demonstrated, showing a direct relationship between saturated fatty acids, hydroxy fatty acids, and some sterols with decomposing remains.

Natural Burial: An Exploratory Study of Attitudes and Practices Among Funeral Directors in the US.

The market for natural burial has increased for a variety of reasons including positions on environmental and sustainability issues, religious and spiritual considerations, and cost. While there is growing research on popular perceptions from potential consumers, very little is known about the industry actors, institutions, and structures that support natural burial practices. This study examines the knowledge, impressions, attitudes, and practices pertaining to natural burial among funeral directors through a multi-state, anonymous survey (n = 346). This study offers important contributions to the field of death studies, in that it helps to uncover funeral directors' perspectives, contributes to an understanding of the social aspects of natural burial, and sets the stage for additional research on this topic. Further, the project examines natural burial through a sociological lens, with consideration of the implications for professionals.

Exploring Funeral Directors' Experience and Perceived Impact of Providing Funeral Services During COVID-19 Restrictions.

The importance of ritual/ceremony following bereavement is well documented, however restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic impacted the freedom to bury loved ones according to beliefs/traditions. This study explores the experiences of staff providing funeral services during COVID-19 and considers the implications for supporting bereaved families. Fifty-eight staff (male, 72.4%; n = 42) from 17 counties in Ireland, completed a self-report survey assessing perceived impact of COVID-19, confidence providing services, and challenges and supports for practice during this time. Quantitative findings suggest moderate confidence in service provision and low perception of negative impact from COVID-19, while qualitative results highlight a contrast between a feeling of under-recognition at a policy level and a sense of being appreciated by the public. This study highlights the evolving role of the funeral sector in Ireland in supporting the bereaved, and the potential to capitalise on a genuine interest in contributing more to support beyond the funeral.

Performance of Adult's Death and Burial Among Ilaje People of Southwest Nigeria.

The meaning ascribed to death differs from one society to the other. This study adopts the descriptive method in unraveling the ritual of burial practices among the Ilaje people of Nigeria's Niger delta. Based on linguistic similarities, Ilaje people are part of the Yoruba ethnic group of Nigeria's Southwest area. Among the people, burial accorded to the dead is based on how the deceased died. The Ilaje groups death into five distinctive categories - death due to old-age, death caused by witchcraft or evil spirit, death through drowning by accident, death through curse, and death due to suicide. For the people, adult's death has two layers of meaning: sorrow and merriment. We conclude that physical death is viewed as part of the continuum of life's circle; it is the point when the dead pass to the realm of the ancestor who may be reborn into the family in the future.

Changes in the Perception of Cemeteries as Public Spaces - Swiss Cemetery Visitors From 2002 to 2021.

Background: A process of "emptying" can be observed in Swiss cemeteries. Urn burials are increasingly preferred to traditional interments, requiring much less space. Consequently, cemeteries are gradually transforming into park-like areas, triggering debates about proactive ways to use them as public spaces, rather than mourning sites. Objectives and Method: The study presented here probes for changes in the public perception of Bern cemeteries during the last two decades. The long-term analysis is based on a secondary analysis of interviews with 383 cemetery visitors in 2002 and a representative survey among 519 inhabitants of the city of Bern. Results: Tolerance for alternative land use increased further: Motivations for cemetery visits have shifted with a decline from 80% who mentioned 'grave visit' to 63% in 2021; 'leisurely walk' increased from 63% to 83%. High satisfaction with what cemeteries have to offer is mirrored in high values for perceived restorativeness in 2021.

Performance of a safe and dignified burial intervention during an Ebola epidemic in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, 2018-2019.

BACKGROUND: A protracted Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) epidemic in the eastern Ituri, North and South Kivu provinces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) caused 3470 confirmed and probable cases between July 2018 and April 2020. During the epidemic, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) supported the DRC Red Cross and other local actors to offer safe and dignified burials (SDB) for suspected and confirmed EVD cases, so as to reduce transmission associated with infectious dead bodies. We conducted a retrospective cohort study of the SDB service's performance in order to inform future applications of this intervention. METHODS: We analysed data on individual SDB responses to quantify performance based on key indicators and against pre-specified service standards. Specifically, we defined SDB timeliness as response within 24 h and success as all components of the service being implemented. Combining the database with other information sources, we also fit generalised linear mixed binomial models to explore factors associated with unsuccessful SDB. RESULTS: Out of 14,624 requests for SDB, 99% were responded to, 89% within 24 h. Overall, 61% of SDBs were successful, somewhat below target (80%), with failures clustered during a high-insecurity period. Factors associated with increased odds of unsuccessful SDB included reported community and/or family nonacceptance, insecurity and suspensions of the EVD response, low health facility coverage and high coverage of radio and telephony. Burials supported by mobile Civil Protection (local authorities) and/or static, community-based 'harm reduction' teams were associated with lower odds of failure. CONCLUSIONS: A large-scale, timely and moderately performant SDB service proved feasible during the challenging eastern DRC EVD response. Burial teams that are managed by community actors and operate locally, and supported rather than owned by the Red Cross or other humanitarian organisations, are a promising modality of delivering this pillar of EVD control.

Prognostic factors of poor surgical outcome after clitoral reconstruction in women with female genital mutilation/cutting.

BACKGROUND: Complications of surgical clitoral reconstruction for female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) are a rare occurrence, but there has been reports of patients experiencing chronic pain or clitoral burial. AIM: This study aims to assess which factors are predictive of the occurrence of surgical complications in women who had surgical reconstruction for FGM/C (type 1, 2, or 3). METHODS: This monocentric retrospective study was conducted among patients who underwent clitoral reconstruction after FGM/C from January 2016 to March 2020. Demographic and clinical data were abstracted from the medical records. OUTCOMES: The primary outcome was the occurrence of chronic pain (defined as occurrence or persistence of any clitoral pain >3 months after surgery), and the secondary outcome was the occurrence of clitoral burial. RESULTS: A total of 87 women were included in the analysis. Univariate analysis indicated significantly higher rates of a history of physical abuse in the group of women who experienced chronic pain after surgery (4 [100%] vs 2 [37.1%], P = .049). Patients with clitoral burial were significantly younger than the rest of the sample in univariate analysis (median [IQR], 29.6 years [24.6-30.2] vs 33.8 [28.2-37.9]; P = .049). CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Surgical treatment of women who underwent FGM/C should include the entire history of the patient and especially a record of experiencing physical abuse. STRENGTHS AND LIMITATIONS: The study stands out for its originality, the extensive sample size gathered over nearly 4 years, the surgical clitoral reconstructions conducted by an experienced surgeon, and the minimal amount of missing data. However, because the occurrence of these complications was rare, the number of patients in the subgroups was extremely low, preventing a valid multivariate analysis to be conducted. CONCLUSION: The study suggests that women with a history of physical abuse could be at greater risk for chronic pain after surgery and that younger women tend to experience more clitoral burial.