Extends package 'nat' (NeuroAnatomy Toolbox) by
    providing objects and functions for handling template brains.

Utility functions that may be of general interest
    but are specifically required by the 'NeuroAnatomy Toolbox' ('nat').
    Includes functions to provide a basic make style system to update
    files based on timestamp information, file locking and 'touch'
    utility. Convenience functions for working with file paths include
    'abs2rel', 'split_path' and 'common_path'. Finally there are utility
    functions for working with 'zip' and 'gzip' files including integrity
    tests.

Fast functions implemented in C++ via 'Rcpp' to support the
    'NeuroAnatomy Toolbox' ('nat') ecosystem. These functions provide large
    speed-ups for basic manipulation of neuronal skeletons over pure R
    functions found in the 'nat' package. The expectation is that end
    users will not use this package directly, but instead the 'nat'
    package will automatically use routines from this package when it is
    available to enable large performance gains.

Provides streamlined installation for packages from the 'natverse',
    a suite of R packages for computational neuroanatomy built on top of the
    'nat' 'NeuroAnatomy Toolbox' package. Installation of the complete
    'natverse' suite requires a 'GitHub' user account and personal access token
    'GITHUB_PAT'. 'natmanager' will help the end user set this up if necessary.

Color palettes for data visualization inspired by National Parks. Currently contains 15 color schemes and checks for colorblind-friendliness of palettes.

Interface to 'NatureServe' (<https://www.natureserve.org/>).
    Includes methods to get data, image metadata, search taxonomic names,
    and make maps.

Natural strata can be used in observational studies to balance
    the distributions of many covariates across any number of treatment
    groups and any number of comparisons. These strata have proportional 
    amounts of units within each stratum across the treatments, allowing 
    for simple interpretation and aggregation across strata. Within each 
    stratum, the units are chosen using randomized rounding of a linear 
    program that balances many covariates.
    To solve the linear program, the 'Gurobi' commercial optimization software 
    is recommended, but not required. The 'gurobi' R package can be installed following the instructions 
    at <https://www.gurobi.com/documentation/9.1/refman/ins_the_r_package.html>.