Return a ufunc-like step function that is left-continuous. Returns 1 if
    x > transition, 0 otherwise.

def make_step_lcont (transition):
    """Return a ufunc-like step function that is left-continuous. Returns 1 if
    x > transition, 0 otherwise.

    """
    if not np.isfinite (transition):
        raise ValueError ('"transition" argument must be finite number; got %r' % transition)

    def step_lcont (x):
        x = np.asarray (x)
        x1 = np.atleast_1d (x)
        r = (x1 > transition).astype (x.dtype)
        if x.ndim == 0:
            return np.asscalar (r)
        return r

    step_lcont.__doc__ = ('Left-continuous step function. Returns 1 if x > %g, '
                          '0 otherwise.') % (transition,)
    return step_lcont