title: Investigating the effect of a topical carnosine gel on 1,500 m rowing performance in experienced club-level rowers

authors: Rountree, James

subjects: rowing performance

abstract: It is well established that beta-alanine supplementation increases muscle carnosine levels and, in many cases, improves high-intensity exercise performance. Recent research has shown that applying a topical carnosine gel to the skin may be an effective alternative method to increase muscle carnosine and improve high-intensity exercise performance. However, there is currently no research on the effect of topical carnosine on rowing performance.  
  
This thesis is separated into three chapters. Chapter One is a review of the literature regarding the physiology of muscular fatigue in high-intensity exercise, the relationship between muscle typology and buffering capacity, supplement-based interventions to elevate buffering capacity, the ergogenic properties of carnosine (with particular relevance to rowing performance), and the novel use of topical carnosine to improve high-intensity exercise performance. The literature shows that an accumulation of hydrogen ions, a by-product of anaerobic glycolysis metabolism, negatively impacts muscle function, causes pain in the muscle, and decreases muscle pH, ultimately reducing exercise performance. Multiple studies found that raising the amount of intramuscular carnosine improved performance because carnosine is a pH buffer and may increase the calcium ion sensitivity within the muscle. Due to the limitations of direct carnosine ingestion, an increase in muscle carnosine is traditionally achieved via beta-alanine supplementation, which can cause small performance improvements in high-intensity exercise, such as rowing. Topical carnosine is a novel, more efficient alternative to elevate muscle carnosine; however, there is limited, conflicting evidence of its effect on high-intensity exercise performance, thus, more research is needed.   
 
Chapter Two investigated the effect of a topical carnosine gel on 1,500 m rowing ergometer time trial (TT) performance. Thirteen club-level rowers (11 male, 2 female) were randomly allocated into Group A or B, from which a crossover design was used to measure the effect of the intervention. In a double-blind fashion, participants applied 15 mL of a topical carnosine gel (CAR) or an ultrasound placebo gel (PLA) to their back and limb muscles 45 minutes before each TT, which were separated by one week. The paired dependent t-test and Cohen’s effect sizes found that topical carnosine had a trivial, non-significant effect on TT performance (CAR 300.5 ± 23.1 s; PLA 300.4 ± 24.2 s, p = 0.945, d = 0.004), 500 m split times 500 m (p = 0.808, d = 0.009; 1000 m p = 0.830, d = 0.011; 1500 m p = 0.849, d = 0.020), and rated perceived exertion (p = 1.000, d = 0.000). These results suggest that topical carnosine does not affect 1,500 m rowing performance. After the intervention was deemed ineffective, the reliability of the 1,500 m TT was calculated using Trial 1 vs Trial 2 (Trial 1: 301 ± 23.8 s, Trial 2: 300.0 ± 24.0 s; p =0.114; d = 0.074; trivial effect size; TE = 2.8 s; ICC = 0.985). The reliability statistics suggest that the 1,500 m TT performed on a Concept 2 rowing ergometer is a reliable measure of rowing performance.  

Chapter Three summarises the findings from Chapter Two, identifies the strengths and weaknesses of our research, and provides recommendations for future research. Overall, this thesis identified gaps in the literature regarding carnosine and high-intensity exercise, and found links between papers on muscle typology, buffer capacity, beta-alanine, and topical carnosine that can be used to develop rationales for future research. It was clear that, under the conditions tested in this experimental protocol, topical carnosine does not affect performance in the 1,500 m rowing ergometer TT in experienced club-level rowers.

text: Investigating the effect of a topical carnosine gel on 1,500 m rowing performance in experienced club-level rowers It is well established that beta-alanine supplementation increases muscle carnosine levels and, in many cases, improves high-intensity exercise performance. Recent research has shown that applying a topical carnosine gel to the skin may be an effective alternative method to increase muscle carnosine and improve high-intensity exercise performance. However, there is currently no research on the effect of topical carnosine on rowing performance.  
  
This thesis is separated into three chapters. Chapter One is a review of the literature regarding the physiology of muscular fatigue in high-intensity exercise, the relationship between muscle typology and buffering capacity, supplement-based interventions to elevate buffering capacity, the ergogenic properties of carnosine (with particular relevance to rowing performance), and the novel use of topical carnosine to improve high-intensity exercise performance. The literature shows that an accumulation of hydrogen ions, a by-product of anaerobic glycolysis metabolism, negatively impacts muscle function, causes pain in the muscle, and decreases muscle pH, ultimately reducing exercise performance. Multiple studies found that raising the amount of intramuscular carnosine improved performance because carnosine is a pH buffer and may increase the calcium ion sensitivity within the muscle. Due to the limitations of direct carnosine ingestion, an increase in muscle carnosine is traditionally achieved via beta-alanine supplementation, which can cause small performance improvements in high-intensity exercise, such as rowing. Topical carnosine is a novel, more efficient alternative to elevate muscle carnosine; however, there is limited, conflicting evidence of its effect on high-intensity exercise performance, thus, more research is needed.   
 
Chapter Two investigated the effect of a topical carnosine gel on 1,500 m rowing ergometer time trial (TT) performance. Thirteen club-level rowers (11 male, 2 female) were randomly allocated into Group A or B, from which a crossover design was used to measure the effect of the intervention. In a double-blind fashion, participants applied 15 mL of a topical carnosine gel (CAR) or an ultrasound placebo gel (PLA) to their back and limb muscles 45 minutes before each TT, which were separated by one week. The paired dependent t-test and Cohen’s effect sizes found that topical carnosine had a trivial, non-significant effect on TT performance (CAR 300.5 ± 23.1 s; PLA 300.4 ± 24.2 s, p = 0.945, d = 0.004), 500 m split times 500 m (p = 0.808, d = 0.009; 1000 m p = 0.830, d = 0.011; 1500 m p = 0.849, d = 0.020), and rated perceived exertion (p = 1.000, d = 0.000). These results suggest that topical carnosine does not affect 1,500 m rowing performance. After the intervention was deemed ineffective, the reliability of the 1,500 m TT was calculated using Trial 1 vs Trial 2 (Trial 1: 301 ± 23.8 s, Trial 2: 300.0 ± 24.0 s; p =0.114; d = 0.074; trivial effect size; TE = 2.8 s; ICC = 0.985). The reliability statistics suggest that the 1,500 m TT performed on a Concept 2 rowing ergometer is a reliable measure of rowing performance.  

Chapter Three summarises the findings from Chapter Two, identifies the strengths and weaknesses of our research, and provides recommendations for future research. Overall, this thesis identified gaps in the literature regarding carnosine and high-intensity exercise, and found links between papers on muscle typology, buffer capacity, beta-alanine, and topical carnosine that can be used to develop rationales for future research. It was clear that, under the conditions tested in this experimental protocol, topical carnosine does not affect performance in the 1,500 m rowing ergometer TT in experienced club-level rowers.

year: 2025

title: Why unavoidable moral wrongdoing is impossible

authors: Lane, Aaron

subjects: ethics

abstract: We can be faced with situations in which we act in accordance with the all-things-considered morally right course of action, and yet nevertheless experience an emotion of self-directed distress at the fact that we have so acted. Moreover, we have the intuition that this emotion is rational or appropriate. Literature is scattered with such examples, and they crop up not infrequently in life.

The fact that agents experience justified distress in such situations has been taken as evidence that unavoidable moral wrongdoing is possible. However, if this is the case, then the compelling intuition that an all-things-considered morally right action cannot be wrong must be false.

In this thesis, I offer a way of reconciling these two compelling intuitions that denies the possibility of unavoidable moral wrongdoing. I argue that existing attempts to dissolve this contradiction by arguing in favour of the possibility of unavoidable moral wrongdoing are unsatisfactory; and I contend that, by utilising Susan Wolf’s ideas on the “nameless virtue” (2001), developed in order to solve the problem of resultant moral luck, we can arrive at a more compelling method of dissolving the apparent contradiction. This solution is one that allows us to retain the intuition that a right act cannot also be wrong, while simultaneously allowing for the rationality of emotion of self-directed distress agents experience in situations of apparent unavoidable moral wrongdoing.

text: Why unavoidable moral wrongdoing is impossible We can be faced with situations in which we act in accordance with the all-things-considered morally right course of action, and yet nevertheless experience an emotion of self-directed distress at the fact that we have so acted. Moreover, we have the intuition that this emotion is rational or appropriate. Literature is scattered with such examples, and they crop up not infrequently in life.

The fact that agents experience justified distress in such situations has been taken as evidence that unavoidable moral wrongdoing is possible. However, if this is the case, then the compelling intuition that an all-things-considered morally right action cannot be wrong must be false.

In this thesis, I offer a way of reconciling these two compelling intuitions that denies the possibility of unavoidable moral wrongdoing. I argue that existing attempts to dissolve this contradiction by arguing in favour of the possibility of unavoidable moral wrongdoing are unsatisfactory; and I contend that, by utilising Susan Wolf’s ideas on the “nameless virtue” (2001), developed in order to solve the problem of resultant moral luck, we can arrive at a more compelling method of dissolving the apparent contradiction. This solution is one that allows us to retain the intuition that a right act cannot also be wrong, while simultaneously allowing for the rationality of emotion of self-directed distress agents experience in situations of apparent unavoidable moral wrongdoing.

year: 2025-10-17

title: Re-designing the national imaginary: The development of Matariki as a contemporary festival

authors: Hardy, Ann

subjects: Aotearoa/New Zealand

abstract: This article considers the factors shaping the contemporary redevelopment in Aotearoa/ New Zealand of the indigenous commemoration of the rising of the constellation Matariki as a marker of seasonal change.  Through interviews with producers of media materials celebrating Matariki, it examines the ideological, cultural, and economic factors determining the encoding of the materials, investigating in particular the ways in which Matariki can resource a marketplace for spiritual commodities.

text: Re-designing the national imaginary: The development of Matariki as a contemporary festival This article considers the factors shaping the contemporary redevelopment in Aotearoa/ New Zealand of the indigenous commemoration of the rising of the constellation Matariki as a marker of seasonal change.  Through interviews with producers of media materials celebrating Matariki, it examines the ideological, cultural, and economic factors determining the encoding of the materials, investigating in particular the ways in which Matariki can resource a marketplace for spiritual commodities.

year: 2012