grammatical number - Should "Scientific research in general(,) and numerical mathematics in particular(,)" take singular or plural agreement?

This question is not a dublicate of "Singular or plural verb form where subject includes a 'parenthetical' element" since the latter discusses only compound subjects with "as well as".

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Is the singular or the plural form correct?

Scientific research in general and numerical mathematics in particular is/are a team effort.

What about a version with commas?

Scientific research in general, and numerical mathematics in particular, is/are a team effort.