nodes: 0, module; 1, function_definition; 2, function_name:sort_samples; 3, parameters; 4, block; 5, identifier:self; 6, default_parameter; 7, default_parameter; 8, default_parameter; 9, expression_statement; 10, expression_statement; 11, if_statement; 12, return_statement; 13, identifier:stable; 14, True; 15, identifier:inplace; 16, False; 17, identifier:ascending; 18, True; 19, comment:"""Sort the columns of the matrix alphabetically by sample name.
  
          Parameters
          ----------
          stable: bool, optional
              Whether to use a stable sorting algorithm. [True]
          inplace: bool, optional
              Whether to perform the operation in place.[False]
          ascending: bool, optional
              Whether to sort in ascending order [True]
  
          Returns
          -------
          `ExpMatrix`
              The sorted matrix.
          """; 20, assignment; 21, identifier:stable; 22, block; 23, call; 24, identifier:kind; 25, string; 26, expression_statement; 27, attribute; 28, argument_list; 29, string_content:quicksort; 30, assignment; 31, identifier:self; 32, identifier:sort_index; 33, keyword_argument; 34, keyword_argument; 35, keyword_argument; 36, keyword_argument; 37, identifier:kind; 38, string; 39, identifier:axis; 40, integer:1; 41, identifier:kind; 42, identifier:kind; 43, identifier:inplace; 44, identifier:inplace; 45, identifier:ascending; 46, identifier:ascending; 47, string_content:mergesort
code: def sort_samples(self, stable=True, inplace=False, ascending=True):
          """Sort the columns of the matrix alphabetically by sample name.
  
          Parameters
          ----------
          stable: bool, optional
              Whether to use a stable sorting algorithm. [True]
          inplace: bool, optional
              Whether to perform the operation in place.[False]
          ascending: bool, optional
              Whether to sort in ascending order [True]
  
          Returns
          -------
          `ExpMatrix`
              The sorted matrix.
          """
          kind = 'quicksort'
          if stable:
              kind = 'mergesort'
          return self.sort_index(axis=1, kind=kind, inplace=inplace,
                                 ascending=ascending)