Mountain Scholar

Mountain Scholar is an open access repository service that collects, preserves, and provides access to digitized library collections and other scholarly and creative works from Colorado State University and the University Press of Colorado. It also serves as a dark archive for the Open Textbook Library.

Communities in Mountain Scholar

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Colorado State University, Fort Collins 27933
Explore the Colorado State University community’s scholarly output as well as items from the University at large and the CSU Libraries.
Open Textbook Library Archive 25
A limited number of titles are available here. To see all OTL titles, please visit the Open Textbook Library at https://open.umn.edu/opentextbooks. Only Open Textbook Library staff have access to all OTL Archive titles held in Mountain Scholar.
University Press of Colorado 1088
Access is limited to University Press of Colorado members. Non-members: to purchase books, please visit https://upcolorado.com/.

Recent Submissions

Access status: Open Access ,
Women in motion: a proposed intervention strategy to prevent sexual harassment of women on public transportation
(2026) de St. Simon, Sophia, author; Holz, Leah, advisor; Goar, Allison, committee member
Sexual harassment on public transportation is a persistent and underreported issue, with existing research documenting behaviors such as unwanted comments, non-consensual photography, staring, and physical contact that disproportionately affect women. These experiences can significantly impact individuals’ sense of safety, alter commuting patterns, and contribute to heightened stress and discomfort in daily life. Despite growing attention to harassment in public spaces, there remains a need for accessible, prevention-focused educational resources. The purpose of this project is to examine and raise awareness of sexual harassment on public transit through an educational intervention. Specifically, this project discusses how increased access to clear, researched information and resources may influence individuals’ awareness, bystander responses, and likelihood of reporting incidents. A review-based methodological approach was used to synthesize existing literature, publicly available statistics, and support resources related to sexual harassment in transit environments. These findings helped develop an educational presentation and an accompanying informational poster designed to present key information in an accessible and engaging format. Findings from the reviewed literature indicate that sexual harassment in public transit settings is widespread yet frequently underreported, with meaningful consequences for women’s mobility, autonomy, and psychological well-being. Educational tools that increase awareness of harassment behaviors and available resources have the potential to improve bystander intervention and empower individuals to respond more effectively. This project contributes to the field by bridging the gap between research and practice, transforming empirical findings into practical, user-friendly materials. By emphasizing awareness, accessibility, and prevention, the project supports broader efforts to promote safer and more inclusive public transit environments.
Access status: Open Access ,
Nourishing in phases: a guide to nutrition throughout the menstrual cycle
(2026) Richardson, Claire, author; Clark, Alena, advisor; Glycenfer, Frances, committee member
The menstrual cycle is a monthly process in which hormonal changes occur across four distinct phases with the purpose of preparing the female body for potential pregnancy. As a result of fluctuating hormone levels, females experience various physiological, psychological, and behavioral changes across each cycle, impacting nutrition needs. However, although some research and education exists on the menstrual cycle, it is still limited, often leading females to feel at a loss for understanding how to support their bodies. This thesis aims to investigate the link between nutrition and menstrual health, helping to provide females with a guideline for utilizing nutrition for enhanced health, performance, and well-being during all phases of the menstrual cycle. In order to do so, this paper reviews existing literature to identify effective nutrition interventions for supporting the female body through the menstrual cycle. The findings reflect that, to support hormonal fluctuations and associated symptoms during each phase, helpful nutrients to focus on include: iron, vitamin C, and magnesium in the menses phase; higher complex carbohydrate intake, fiber, and zinc during the follicular phase; calcium, vitamin D, and selenium during the ovulatory phase; and vitamin B6, omega-3 fatty acids, and vitamin E during the luteal phase. An important consideration to note is that several of the nutrients have crossover between phases, serving important functions throughout the entire menstrual cycle; however, for the purpose of this paper, the nutrients were considered separately and are to be used to accommodate specific hormone fluctuations. The goal of this thesis is to support increased awareness and understanding about how the menstrual cycle impacts health and nutrition, which, although it is a field starting to gain attention, is still under-researched and undereducated on.
Access status: Open Access ,
CSU audio data dictionary: version 1
(2012-12) Oehlerts, Beth, author
Access status: Open Access ,
CSU university historical photographs collection data dictionary: version 1
(2008-02) Hunter, Nancy Chaffin, author
Access status: Open Access ,
MIGHTi: a sustainable mushroom pasteurization system for remote and off-grid communities
(2026) Thomason, Emily, author; Mizia, John, advisor; Sly, Brittney, committee member
Mushroom cultivation requires effective substrate pasteurization to eliminate competing organisms while preserving beneficial microorganisms, yet conventional methods such as autoclaves and large-scale thermal systems are often resource-intensive and impractical for off-grid or rural environments. In regions such as rural Zambia, where access to consistent electricity is limited, there is a need for energy-efficient and accessible pasteurization solutions to support food production and improve diet diversity. Organizations such as MIGHTi are working to address these challenges by developing agricultural systems that can operate in resource-limited settings. The purpose of this project is to design and evaluate a mushroom substrate pasteurization system that can operate using off-grid solar power while maintaining effective temperature control and ease of use. This project investigates how a hybrid pasteurization method can meet the required thermal conditions while reducing water and energy consumption. The system was developed through an integrated engineering design approach combining mechanical, electrical, and control system components. The design includes a stainless steel tank housed within a plastic drum, substrate baskets, and a microcontroller-based user interface. A submerged heating element is used to heat water and generate vapor. There are thermocouples that monitor both substrate and water temperatures to ensure proper operation and provide safety shutdown in the event of overheating or low water conditions. The system is designed to maintain substrate temperatures between 60–70°C for durations ranging from 30 minutes to 2 hours, depending on substrate type. The final design demonstrates that a hybrid thermal approach can effectively achieve pasteurization conditions while reducing water usage and enabling compatibility with solar-powered operation. The integration of automated controls and safety features improves system reliability and usability. This project contributes a practical and scalable solution for mushroom cultivation in off-grid environments, supporting increased food accessibility, improved agricultural practices, and sustainable technology implementation in resource-limited communities.