.article-sec {
            font-family: 'Roboto', sans-serif;
            border-top: 1px solid #303030;
            border-bottom: 1px solid #303030;
            color: #ffffff;
            line-height: 1.45;
            padding: 5%;
            box-sizing: border-box;
            -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;
            -moz-osx-font-smoothing: grayscale;
        }
        .articles-container {
            max-width: 1200px;
            margin: auto;
            display: grid;
            grid-template-columns: repeat(auto-fill, minmax(321px, 1fr));
            gap: 30px;
        }
        .article-card {
            position: relative;
            border-radius: 15px;
            overflow: hidden;
            border: 1.75px solid #303030;
            display: flex;
            flex-direction: column;
            text-decoration: none;
            color: inherit;
            transition: border-color 0.2s ease;
        }
        .article-card-image-wrapper {
            position: relative;
            width: 100%;
            height: 175px;
            overflow: hidden;
        }
        .article-card-image-wrapper::before {
            content: '';
            position: absolute;
            bottom: 0;
            left: 0;
            right: 0;
            height: 55px;
            background: linear-gradient(to top, #000000, rgba(0, 0, 0, 0));
            z-index: 5;
            opacity: 1; 
        }
        .article-card-image {
            width: 100%;
            height: 100%;
            object-fit: cover;
            filter: grayscale(10%) contrast(1.1) brightness(0.9);
        }
        .article-card-content {
            padding: 21px;
            flex-grow: 1;
            display: flex;
            flex-direction: column;
        }
        .article-card-date {
            font-size: 0.9em;
            color: #000000;
            background-color: #ffffff;
            padding: 3px 5.75px;
            margin-bottom: 15px;
            font-weight: 400;
            letter-spacing: 0.5px;
            align-self: flex-start;
            border-bottom: none;
        }
        .article-card-title {
            font-size: clamp(1.5em, 5vw, 1.51em);
            font-weight: 500;
            margin-bottom: 12px;
            margin-bottom: 0;
            margin-top: 5px;
            letter-spacing: 0;
            color: #ffffff;
            text-transform: initial;
            text-align: left;
            line-height: 1.15;
        }
        .article-card-excerpt {
            margin-top: 5.75px;
            font-size: 0.9em;
            color: #ffffff;
            opacity: 0.75;
            margin-bottom: 15px;
            flex-grow: 1;
            font-weight: 300;
        }
        .read-more {
            font-size: 1em;
            font-weight: 500;
            color: #304fee;
            text-decoration: none;
            letter-spacing: 1px;
            margin-top: 5px;
            align-self: flex-start;
            display: inline-flex;
            align-items: center;
            padding: 5px 0;
            border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; 
            transition: color 0.2s ease, transform 0.2s ease, border-bottom-color 0.2s ease;
        }
        .read-more:hover {
            color: #ffffff;
            transform: translateX(5px);
            cursor: pointer;
            border-bottom-color: #304fee; 
        }
        .read-more-arrow {
            margin-left: 9px;
            font-size: 1.15em;
            font-weight: 300;
            line-height: 1;
            color: inherit;
        }
        @media (max-width: 575px) {
            .articles-container {
                grid-template-columns: 1fr;
                gap: 12px;
            }
            .article-card {
                flex-direction: row;
                min-height: 121px;
                border-radius: 12px;
                border: 1px solid rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.5);
            }
            .article-card::after { display: none; } 
            .article-card-image-wrapper {
                width: 30%;
                height: 100%;
                filter: none;
                border-radius: 9px 0 0 9px; 
            }
            .article-card-image-wrapper::before {
                display: none; 
            }
            .article-card-content {
                width: 70%;
                padding: 15px;
                justify-content: flex-start;
            }
            .article-card-date {
                display: block;
                font-size: 0.75em;
                margin-bottom: 3px;
                padding: 2.75px 5px;
                border-radius: 3.75px;
                background-color: #304fee;
                color: #ffffff;
                font-weight: 500;
            }
            .article-card-title {
                display: block;
                font-size: 1.05em;
                line-height: 1.21;
                margin-bottom: 5px;
                margin-top: 1.75px;
                font-weight: 500;
            }
            .article-card-excerpt {
                display: block;
                font-size: 0.9em;
                color: #ffffff;
                opacity: 0.75;
                margin-bottom: 0;
                margin-top: 1px;
                font-weight: 300;
                line-height: 1.45;
                display: -webkit-box;
                -webkit-line-clamp: 2;
                -webkit-box-orient: vertical;
                overflow: hidden;
            }
            .read-more {
                display: none;
            }
        }
        .load-more-wrapper {
            text-align: center;
            padding: 30px 0 45px;
        }
        .load-more-button {
            margin-top: 5%;
            background-color: transparent;
            color: #304ffe;
            border: 1px solid #304fee;
            padding: 15px 45px;
            border-radius: 90px;
            font-size: 1.15em;
            font-weight: 500;
            cursor: pointer;
            transition: background-color 0.3s ease, border-color 0.3s ease;
            letter-spacing: 1.45px;
            box-shadow: none;
        }
        .load-more-button:hover {
            background-color: #000000;
        }

        .load-more-button:active {
            transform: scale(0.9);
        }
        .loading-message {
            text-align: center;
            color: #ffffff;
            grid-column: 1 / -1;
            padding: 45px;
            font-size: 1.21em;
        }