The Harvard Fatigue Laboratory: contributions to World War II

2010 ◽  
Vol 34 (3) ◽  
pp. 119-127 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Edgar Folk
Keyword(s):  
World War Ii ◽  
Physical Fitness ◽  
Research And Development ◽  
Research Council ◽  
National Research Council ◽  
Field Tests ◽  
Cold Weather ◽  
Energetic Cost ◽  
World War ◽  
Cold Chamber

The war contributions of the Harvard Fatigue Laboratory in Cambridge, MA, were recorded in 169 Technical Reports, most of which were sent to the Office of the Quartermaster General. Earlier reports were sent to the National Research Council and the Office of Scientific Research and Development. Many of the reports from 1941 and later dealt with either physical fitness of soldiers or the energetic cost of military tasks in extreme heat and cold. New military emergency rations to be manufactured in large quantities were analyzed in the Fatigue Laboratory and then tested in the field. Newly designed cold weather clothing was tested in the cold chamber at −40°F, and desired improvements were made and tested in the field by staff and soldiers in tents and sleeping bags. Electrically heated clothing was designed for high-altitude flight crews and tested both in laboratory chambers and field tests before being issued. This eye witness account of the Harvard Fatigue Laboratory during World War II was recorded by Dr. G. Edgar Folk, who is likely the sole surviving member of that famous laboratory.

Léo Edmond Marion, 22 March 1899 - 16 July 1979

1980 ◽  
Vol 26 ◽  
pp. 357-370
Keyword(s):  
World War Ii ◽  
World War I ◽  
Research Council ◽  
National Research Council ◽  
World War ◽  
The Great Depression ◽  
Biographical Memoir ◽  
Growth Of Science ◽  
Term Objective

Léo Marion’s life coincided with World War I as a youth in a family of seven of very modest means, with the start of the Great Depression on the achievement of his Ph.D. degree, with World War II during his middle age and, thereafter, with the emergence of his country from colonial to independent status. He saw the growth of science in Canada from a bare presence to an important component of world science. The quality of his remarkable career should be measured accordingly. He had no advantages except for a fine mind and ‘an early natural taste for science encouraged by my mother’. To appreciate Léo Marion properly, one should read the biographical memoir he wrote with such loving care for the person with whom he worked hand in hand for over 23 years and which saw the blossoming of the National Research Council of Canada and the flourishing of science in Canada. To an important degree, he spoke as much for himself as for E. W. R. Steacie ( Biographical Memoirs of Fellows of the Royal Society , vol. 10, 1964) since we know that these two truly exceptional individuals worked so harmoniously and closely together toward commonly held objectives for the development of chemistry in Canada that their contributions in this regard cannot be separated. Both were especially distinguished for their deep interest in helping people who did good work. Together they set the best world standards for chemistry in Canada and strove successfully toward this goal with a vigour and dedication that is truly remarkable. The dangers of a bureaucratic planning of science was wisely understood and the foremost objective was to establish a scientific institution for creative work that minimized the evils of uniformity and arbitrary bureaucratic interference. The longer term objective of spilling excellence from within the National Research Council into the Canadian universities was achieved.

scholarly journals The NRC Postdoctorate Fellowships, 1948-1978

2009 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 145-154
Author(s):  
A. W. Tickner
Keyword(s):  
World War Ii ◽  
Research Council ◽  
National Research Council ◽  
Natural Sciences ◽  
World War ◽  
Canadian Universities ◽  
Engineering Research ◽  
Postdoctoral Training

Abstract Following World War II the National Research Council established a programme of Postdoctorate Fellowships to meet the increasing need for postdoctoral training. Initially for tenure in the NRC laboratories and overseas, the fellowships were rapidly extended to Canadian universities, other federal departments and agencies and, eventually, Canadian industries. The development and achievements of the programme are reviewed from its inception in 1948 to its transfer to the new Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council in 1978.

scholarly journals Genetic and Environmental Influences on Blood Pressure and Body Mass Index in the National Academy of Sciences–National Research Council World War II Veteran Twin Registry

Hypertension ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 76 (5) ◽  
pp. 1428-1434
Author(s):  
Bin Wang ◽  
Ting Wu ◽  
Michael C. Neale ◽  
Renske Verweij ◽  
Gaifen Liu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Blood Pressure ◽  
Body Mass Index ◽  
World War Ii ◽  
Research Council ◽  
National Research Council ◽  
World War ◽  
National Academy Of Sciences ◽  
Twin Registry ◽  
World War Ii Veteran ◽  
Academy Of Sciences

Blood pressure (BP) and obesity phenotypes may covary due to shared genetic or environmental factors or both. Furthermore, it is possible that the heritability of BP differs according to obesity status—a form of G×E interaction. This hypothesis has never been tested in White twins. The present study included 15 924 White male twin pairs aged between 15 and 33 years from the National Academy of Sciences–National Research Council World War II Veteran Twin Registry. Systolic and diastolic BPs, as well as height and weight, were measured at the induction physical examination. Body mass index (BMI) was used as the index of general obesity. Quantitative genetic modeling was performed using Mx software. Univariate analysis showed that narrow sense heritabilities (95% CI) for systolic BP, diastolic BP, height, and BMI were 0.401 (0.381–0.420), 0.297 (0.280–0.320), 0.866 (0.836–0.897), and 0.639 (0.614–0.664), respectively. Positive phenotypic correlations of BMI with systolic BP (r=0.13) and diastolic BP (r=0.08) were largely due to genetic factors (70% and 86%, respectively). The gene-BMI interaction analysis did not show any support for a modifying effect of BMI on genetic and environmental influences of systolic BP and diastolic BP. Our results suggest that correlations between BP and BMI are mainly explained by common genes influencing both. Higher BMI levels have no influence on the penetrance of genetic vulnerability to elevated BP. These conclusions may prove valuable for gene-finding studies.

scholarly journals The Associate Committees on Medical Research of the National Research Council and the Second World War

2009 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 71-87
Author(s):  
Terrie M. Romano
Keyword(s):  
World War Ii ◽  
Medical Research ◽  
Research Council ◽  
Research Effort ◽  
National Research Council ◽  
Second World War ◽  
World War ◽  
The Military ◽  
Second World

Abstract During World War II the original Associate Committee on Medical Research and three additional committees (each associated with a branch of the military) of the National Research Council organized wartime medical research. The war provided an opportunity for the NRC to demonstrate the utility of medical research and the ability of Canadians to make significant contributions to the allied research effort.

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