Topic: This scoping review investigated research regarding the magnitude of minor sex trafficking (domestic minor sex trafficking and/or commercial sexual exploitation of children) in the United States, summarizing estimates, methodologies, and strengths and weaknesses of the studies. Method: Using Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, peer-reviewed articles and the gray literature were accessed via databases searches, reference harvesting, and expert advice. Articles were included if they provided a count or prevalence proportion estimate of trafficked or at-risk minors across or within a region of the United States. Six empirical studies, published from 1999 to 2017, were included in the review. Results: Included studies produced count estimates ( n = 3) or prevalence proportion estimates ( n = 3) for youth at risk of minor sex trafficking ( n = 2) or reporting victimization ( n = 5). Studies examined sex trafficking risk and victimization in different geographical areas, including across the United States ( n = 2), in New York City ( n = 1), and in Ohio ( n = 1). Further, several studies focused on particular populations, such as street and shelter youths ( n = 1) and adjudicated males ( n = 1). Sampling methodologies of reviewed estimates included traditional random sampling ( n = 1), nationally representative sampling ( n = 2), convenience sampling ( n = 1), respondent-driven sampling ( n = 1), purposive sampling ( n = 1), and use of census data ( n = 2). Conclusion: Little research has estimated the prevalence of minor sex trafficking in the United States. The existing studies examine different areas and populations and use different categories to estimate the problem. The estimates reviewed here should be cited cautiously. Future research is needed on this important topic, including methodologies to produce more representative estimates of this hard-to-reach population.

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Background: A significant proportion of individuals seeking treatment for substance use disorders (SUDs) have experienced sexual victimization, which has been shown to disrupt the efficacy of SUD treatment services. Objective: To evaluate the relationship between lifetime sexual victimization and SUD treatment completion. Methods: Relevant literature was identified through a systematic, computerized search of nine electronic databases (May 2018) and reference harvesting, yielding 15 peer-reviewed articles published between 1992 and 2017. Two authors independently conducted title and abstract screens, full-text reviews, data abstraction, and methodological appraisals. Risk of bias was assessed using a modified mixed-methods appraisal tool. Only nine studies met criteria for the meta-analysis, which used a random-effects model. Results: Included studies yielded mixed results regarding the impact of sexual victimization on treatment completion. The meta-analysis yielded a non-significant trend of survivors of sexual victimization having slightly lower odds of completing treatment. Conclusions: Findings from this systematic review and meta-analysis did not support the impact of sexual victimization on treatment completion. Methodological limitations of the extant literature limit cross-study comparisons. Future studies should document program-related factors to improve the ability to understand relationships affecting treatment completion.

This study examined the capacity of intelligent transportation systems (ITS) to reduce energy consumption in the transportation sector. Research included a literature review focused on the energy-saving capacity of ITS technologies and interviews with ITS stakeholders and transportation experts and practitioners. A case study of an ITS project in Portland, Oregon, was used to illustrate the challenges and the opportunities associated with implementing ITS technologies. The objective of this study was to document the state of knowledge and practice and to create a resource for action and implementation of ITS technologies with energy savings as a goal. There is a lack of empirical evidence to substantiate the capacity of ITS to reduce energy consumption in the transportation sector. However, research indicates that the use of ITS has contributed to reductions in vehicular delay but further benefits may be limited. In contrast, ITS does have the potential to reduce vehicle miles traveled (VMT), with significant benefits, although the benefits are uncertain. The shortage of empirical evidence of ITS benefits may be a function of the limited interest in the energy and environmental benefits of ITS compared with the interest in congestion and safety. In the ITS industry, the focus is on the connected vehicle initiative and, more broadly, the many opportunities to integrate and to leverage multiple ITS applications. There are opportunities to deploy ITS technologies with the purpose of reducing energy consumption in the transportation sector, to document any gains, and to address the lack of evidence supporting the energy-reducing capacity of ITS.