def _less_or_close(a, value, **kwargs):
    r"""Compare values for less or close to boolean masks.

    Returns a boolean mask for values less than or equal to a target within a specified
    absolute or relative tolerance (as in :func:`numpy.isclose`).

    Parameters
    ----------
    a : array-like
        Array of values to be compared
    value : float
        Comparison value

    Returns
    -------
    array-like
        Boolean array where values are less than or nearly equal to value.

    """
    return (a < value) | np.isclose(a, value, **kwargs)
r"""Compare values for less or close to boolean masks.

    Returns a boolean mask for values less than or equal to a target within a specified
    absolute or relative tolerance (as in :func:`numpy.isclose`).

    Parameters
    ----------
    a : array-like
        Array of values to be compared
    value : float
        Comparison value

    Returns
    -------
    array-like
        Boolean array where values are less than or nearly equal to value.