/* ── Index-specific extras ── */
    .research-strip {
      display: grid;
      grid-template-columns: repeat(4, 1fr);
      gap: 0;
      border: 1.5px solid var(--border);
      border-radius: var(--r-xl);
      overflow: hidden;
    }

    .rstrip-item {
      padding: 32px 28px;
      border-right: 1px solid var(--border);
      transition: var(--t);
      position: relative;
    }

    .rstrip-item:last-child {
      border-right: none;
    }

    .rstrip-item:hover {
      background: var(--green-ultra);
    }

    .rstrip-item .rstrip-num {
      font-size: 2.8rem;
      font-weight: 900;
      color: var(--green-dark);
      line-height: 1;
      letter-spacing: -0.05em;
      margin-bottom: 8px;
      display: block;
    }

    .rstrip-item .rstrip-label {
      font-size: 0.78rem;
      font-weight: 700;
      color: var(--green-dark);
      text-transform: uppercase;
      letter-spacing: 1px;
      margin-bottom: 10px;
    }

    .rstrip-item p {
      font-size: 0.82rem;
      color: var(--text-muted);
      line-height: 1.6;
    }

    /* Feature cards row */
    .features-row {
      display: grid;
      grid-template-columns: 1fr 1fr 1fr;
      gap: 24px;
    }

    .feature-card {
      border-radius: var(--r-xl);
      padding: 36px 30px;
      transition: var(--t);
      position: relative;
      overflow: hidden;
    }

    .feature-card.fc-green {
      background: linear-gradient(145deg, var(--green-dark) 0%, #4f7050 100%);
      color: var(--white);
    }

    .feature-card.fc-light {
      background: var(--green-ultra);
      border: 1.5px solid var(--border);
    }

    .feature-card.fc-gold {
      background: linear-gradient(145deg, var(--gold-pale) 0%, rgba(228, 205, 161, 0.3) 100%);
      border: 1.5px solid rgba(228, 205, 161, 0.5);
    }

    .feature-card .fc-icon {
      width: 56px;
      height: 56px;
      border-radius: var(--r-lg);
      display: flex;
      align-items: center;
      justify-content: center;
      font-size: 1.5rem;
      margin-bottom: 20px;
    }

    .fc-green .fc-icon {
      background: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.15);
      color: var(--white);
    }

    .fc-light .fc-icon {
      background: var(--green-pale);
      color: var(--green-dark);
    }

    .fc-gold .fc-icon {
      background: rgba(191, 159, 95, 0.15);
      color: var(--gold-deep);
    }

    .feature-card h3 {
      margin-bottom: 10px;
      font-size: 1.1rem;
    }

    .fc-green h3 {
      color: var(--white);
    }

    .fc-light h3,
    .fc-gold h3 {
      color: var(--text-heading);
    }

    .feature-card p {
      font-size: 0.87rem;
      line-height: 1.68;
    }

    .fc-green p {
      color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.78);
    }

    .fc-light p,
    .fc-gold p {
      color: var(--text-muted);
    }

    .feature-card:hover {
      transform: translateY(-6px);
      box-shadow: var(--shadow-lg);
    }

    /* numbered step list in research area section */
    .step-list {
      display: flex;
      flex-direction: column;
      gap: 18px;
    }

    .step-item {
      display: flex;
      align-items: flex-start;
      gap: 18px;
      padding: 20px 22px;
      background: var(--white);
      border: 1.5px solid var(--border);
      border-radius: var(--r-lg);
      transition: var(--t);
    }

    .step-item:hover {
      border-color: var(--green-mid);
      box-shadow: var(--shadow-sm);
      transform: translateX(4px);
    }

    .step-num {
      width: 36px;
      height: 36px;
      flex-shrink: 0;
      background: var(--green-dark);
      color: var(--white);
      border-radius: var(--r-md);
      display: flex;
      align-items: center;
      justify-content: center;
      font-size: 0.82rem;
      font-weight: 800;
    }

    .step-body h4 {
      font-size: 0.96rem;
      margin-bottom: 5px;
      color: var(--text-heading);
    }

    .step-body p {
      font-size: 0.83rem;
      color: var(--text-muted);
      line-height: 1.55;
    }

    @media (max-width: 900px) {
      .research-strip {
        grid-template-columns: repeat(2, 1fr);
      }

      .features-row {
        grid-template-columns: 1fr;
      }
    }

    @media (max-width: 600px) {
      .research-strip {
        grid-template-columns: 1fr 1fr;
      }
    }