Inspiration for a Cave Johnson Quote

TW: Discussion of disturbing World War II human experiments

During one of the Cave Johnson bonus messages, he mentions an experiment in which >!Test subjects will be exposed to jet engine exhaust in an attempt to lower their body water percentage from 60% down to 20%!<

I just learned the only reason we ever discovered that percentage in the first place (initially recorded as 78%) was due to the actions of Japanese General Shirō Ishii during World War II. He conducted a myriad of war crimes and ghastly, horrific experiments on humans, sometimes without any particular goals in mind. A sort of "throwing science at the wall to see what sticks" mentality. One such experiment comprised of >!roasting a live prisoner in what was essentially a large convection oven until he was devoid of any moisture. A human sized piece of jerky weighing 22% his initial weight!<

Is it possible Valve drew inspiration from this real-world experiment for Cave's macabre and cavalier attitude toward science? It's just far too specific to be a coincidence.