def _count_set_bits(i):
    """
    Counts the number of set bits in a uint (or a numpy array of uints).
    """
    i = i - ((i >> 1) & 0x55555555)
    i = (i & 0x33333333) + ((i >> 2) & 0x33333333)
    return (((i + (i >> 4) & 0xF0F0F0F) * 0x1010101) & 0xffffffff) >> 24