diff --git a/datavec/datavec-api/src/main/java/org/datavec/api/transform/analysis/counter/StringAnalysisMergeFunction.java b/datavec/datavec-api/src/main/java/org/datavec/api/transform/analysis/counter/StringAnalysisMergeFunction.java
deleted file mode 100644
index b57bf97cd..000000000
--- a/datavec/datavec-api/src/main/java/org/datavec/api/transform/analysis/counter/StringAnalysisMergeFunction.java
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,29 +0,0 @@
-/*******************************************************************************
- * Copyright (c) 2015-2018 Skymind, Inc.
- *
- * This program and the accompanying materials are made available under the
- * terms of the Apache License, Version 2.0 which is available at
- * https://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0.
- *
- * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
- * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS, WITHOUT
- * WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied. See the
- * License for the specific language governing permissions and limitations
- * under the License.
- *
- * SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
- ******************************************************************************/
-
-package org.datavec.api.transform.analysis.counter;
-
-import java.util.function.BiFunction;
-
-/**
- * Created by Alex on 5/03/2016.
- */
-public class StringAnalysisMergeFunction
-                implements BiFunction<StringAnalysisCounter, StringAnalysisCounter, StringAnalysisCounter> {
-    public StringAnalysisCounter apply(StringAnalysisCounter v1, StringAnalysisCounter v2) {
-        return v1.merge(v2);
-    }
-}
diff --git a/datavec/datavec-python/src/main/java/org/datavec/python/NumpyArray.java b/datavec/datavec-python/src/main/java/org/datavec/python/NumpyArray.java
index dd1613d0a..708184de7 100644
--- a/datavec/datavec-python/src/main/java/org/datavec/python/NumpyArray.java
+++ b/datavec/datavec-python/src/main/java/org/datavec/python/NumpyArray.java
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ package org.datavec.python;
 import lombok.Builder;
 import lombok.Getter;
 import lombok.NoArgsConstructor;
+import org.apache.commons.lang3.ArrayUtils;
 import org.bytedeco.javacpp.Pointer;
 import org.nd4j.linalg.api.buffer.DataBuffer;
 import org.nd4j.linalg.api.concurrency.AffinityManager;
@@ -29,6 +30,10 @@ import org.nd4j.nativeblas.NativeOps;
 import org.nd4j.nativeblas.NativeOpsHolder;
 import org.nd4j.linalg.api.buffer.DataType;
 
+import java.util.Arrays;
+import java.util.HashMap;
+import java.util.Map;
+
 import static org.nd4j.linalg.api.buffer.DataType.FLOAT;
 
 
@@ -42,6 +47,7 @@ import static org.nd4j.linalg.api.buffer.DataType.FLOAT;
 public class NumpyArray {
 
     private static NativeOps nativeOps;
+    private static Map<String, INDArray> arrayCache;  // Avoids re-allocation of device buffer
     private long address;
     private long[] shape;
     private long[] strides;
@@ -52,6 +58,7 @@ public class NumpyArray {
         //initialize
         Nd4j.scalar(1.0);
         nativeOps = NativeOpsHolder.getInstance().getDeviceNativeOps();
+        arrayCache = new HashMap<>();
     }
 
     @Builder
@@ -84,24 +91,42 @@ public class NumpyArray {
 
 
     private void setND4JArray() {
+
         long size = 1;
         for (long d : shape) {
             size *= d;
         }
-        Pointer ptr = nativeOps.pointerForAddress(address);
-        ptr = ptr.limit(size);
-        ptr = ptr.capacity(size);
-        DataBuffer buff = Nd4j.createBuffer(ptr, size, dtype);
-        int elemSize = buff.getElementSize();
-        long[] nd4jStrides = new long[strides.length];
-        for (int i = 0; i < strides.length; i++) {
-            nd4jStrides[i] = strides[i] / elemSize;
-        }
 
-        nd4jArray = Nd4j.create(buff, shape, nd4jStrides, 0, Shape.getOrder(shape, nd4jStrides, 1), dtype);
+        String cacheKey = address + "_" + size + "_" + dtype + "_" + ArrayUtils.toString(strides);
+        nd4jArray = arrayCache.get(cacheKey);
+        if (nd4jArray == null) {
+            Pointer ptr = nativeOps.pointerForAddress(address);
+            ptr = ptr.limit(size);
+            ptr = ptr.capacity(size);
+            DataBuffer buff = Nd4j.createBuffer(ptr, size, dtype);
+
+            int elemSize = buff.getElementSize();
+            long[] nd4jStrides = new long[strides.length];
+            for (int i = 0; i < strides.length; i++) {
+                nd4jStrides[i] = strides[i] / elemSize;
+            }
+
+            nd4jArray = Nd4j.create(buff, shape, nd4jStrides, 0, Shape.getOrder(shape, nd4jStrides, 1), dtype);
+            arrayCache.put(cacheKey, nd4jArray);
+        }
+        else{
+            if (!Arrays.equals(nd4jArray.shape(), shape)){
+                nd4jArray = nd4jArray.reshape(shape);
+            }
+        }
         Nd4j.getAffinityManager().ensureLocation(nd4jArray, AffinityManager.Location.HOST);
     }
 
+    public INDArray getNd4jArray(){
+        Nd4j.getAffinityManager().tagLocation(nd4jArray, AffinityManager.Location.HOST);
+        return nd4jArray;
+    }
+
     public NumpyArray(INDArray nd4jArray) {
         Nd4j.getAffinityManager().ensureLocation(nd4jArray, AffinityManager.Location.HOST);
         DataBuffer buff = nd4jArray.data();
@@ -115,6 +140,8 @@ public class NumpyArray {
         }
         dtype = nd4jArray.dataType();
         this.nd4jArray = nd4jArray;
+        String cacheKey = address + "_" + nd4jArray.length() + "_" + dtype + "_" + ArrayUtils.toString(strides);
+        arrayCache.put(cacheKey, nd4jArray);
     }
 
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/datavec/datavec-python/src/main/java/org/datavec/python/Python.java b/datavec/datavec-python/src/main/java/org/datavec/python/Python.java
index 9dabbef2d..98c9b964c 100644
--- a/datavec/datavec-python/src/main/java/org/datavec/python/Python.java
+++ b/datavec/datavec-python/src/main/java/org/datavec/python/Python.java
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ package org.datavec.python;
 import org.bytedeco.cpython.PyObject;
 
 import static org.bytedeco.cpython.global.python.*;
+import static org.bytedeco.numpy.global.numpy.PyArray_EnsureArray;
 
 /**
  * Swift like python wrapper for Java
@@ -232,6 +233,10 @@ public class Python {
 
     }
 
+    public static PythonObject ndarray(PythonObject pythonObject){
+        return new PythonObject(PyArray_EnsureArray(pythonObject.getNativePythonObject()));
+    }
+
     public static boolean callable(PythonObject pythonObject) {
         return PyCallable_Check(pythonObject.getNativePythonObject()) == 1;
     }
diff --git a/datavec/datavec-python/src/main/java/org/datavec/python/PythonExecutioner.java b/datavec/datavec-python/src/main/java/org/datavec/python/PythonExecutioner.java
index 530dd0e02..3d08d3141 100644
--- a/datavec/datavec-python/src/main/java/org/datavec/python/PythonExecutioner.java
+++ b/datavec/datavec-python/src/main/java/org/datavec/python/PythonExecutioner.java
@@ -21,6 +21,9 @@ package org.datavec.python;
 import lombok.extern.slf4j.Slf4j;
 import org.apache.commons.io.IOUtils;
 import org.bytedeco.numpy.global.numpy;
+import org.nd4j.linalg.api.concurrency.AffinityManager;
+import org.nd4j.linalg.api.ndarray.INDArray;
+import org.nd4j.linalg.factory.Nd4j;
 import org.nd4j.linalg.io.ClassPathResource;
 
 import java.io.File;
diff --git a/datavec/datavec-python/src/main/java/org/datavec/python/PythonObject.java b/datavec/datavec-python/src/main/java/org/datavec/python/PythonObject.java
index 84dd16e73..0408e3a59 100644
--- a/datavec/datavec-python/src/main/java/org/datavec/python/PythonObject.java
+++ b/datavec/datavec-python/src/main/java/org/datavec/python/PythonObject.java
@@ -18,11 +18,15 @@
 package org.datavec.python;
 
 
+import lombok.extern.slf4j.Slf4j;
 import org.bytedeco.cpython.PyObject;
 import org.bytedeco.javacpp.BytePointer;
 import org.bytedeco.javacpp.Pointer;
+import org.bytedeco.javacpp.SizeTPointer;
+import org.bytedeco.numpy.PyArrayObject;
 import org.json.JSONArray;
 import org.json.JSONObject;
+import org.nd4j.linalg.api.buffer.BaseDataBuffer;
 import org.nd4j.linalg.api.buffer.DataType;
 import org.nd4j.linalg.api.ndarray.INDArray;
 import org.nd4j.nativeblas.NativeOpsHolder;
@@ -30,7 +34,7 @@ import org.nd4j.nativeblas.NativeOpsHolder;
 import java.util.*;
 
 import static org.bytedeco.cpython.global.python.*;
-import static org.bytedeco.cpython.global.python.PyObject_SetItem;
+import static org.bytedeco.numpy.global.numpy.*;
 
 /**
  * Swift like python wrapper for J
@@ -38,6 +42,7 @@ import static org.bytedeco.cpython.global.python.PyObject_SetItem;
  * @author Fariz Rahman
  */
 
+@Slf4j
 public class PythonObject {
     private PyObject nativePythonObject;
 
@@ -77,78 +82,69 @@ public class PythonObject {
     }
 
     public PythonObject(NumpyArray npArray) {
-        PyObject ctypes = PyImport_ImportModule("ctypes");
-        PyObject np = PyImport_ImportModule("numpy");
-        PyObject ctype;
-        switch (npArray.getDtype()) {
+        int numpyType;
+        INDArray indArray = npArray.getNd4jArray();
+        DataType dataType = indArray.dataType();
+
+        switch (dataType) {
             case DOUBLE:
-                ctype = PyObject_GetAttrString(ctypes, "c_double");
+                numpyType = NPY_DOUBLE;
                 break;
             case FLOAT:
-                ctype = PyObject_GetAttrString(ctypes, "c_float");
-                break;
-            case LONG:
-                ctype = PyObject_GetAttrString(ctypes, "c_int64");
-                break;
-            case INT:
-                ctype = PyObject_GetAttrString(ctypes, "c_int32");
+            case BFLOAT16:
+                numpyType = NPY_FLOAT;
                 break;
             case SHORT:
-                ctype = PyObject_GetAttrString(ctypes, "c_int16");
+                numpyType = NPY_SHORT;
+                break;
+            case INT:
+                numpyType = NPY_INT;
+                break;
+            case LONG:
+                numpyType = NPY_INT64;
                 break;
             case UINT16:
-                ctype = PyObject_GetAttrString(ctypes, "c_uint16");
+                numpyType = NPY_USHORT;
                 break;
             case UINT32:
-                ctype = PyObject_GetAttrString(ctypes, "c_uint32");
+                numpyType = NPY_UINT;
                 break;
             case UINT64:
-                ctype = PyObject_GetAttrString(ctypes, "c_uint64");
+                numpyType = NPY_UINT64;
                 break;
             case BOOL:
-                ctype = PyObject_GetAttrString(ctypes, "c_bool");
+                numpyType = NPY_BOOL;
                 break;
             case BYTE:
-                ctype = PyObject_GetAttrString(ctypes, "c_byte");
+                numpyType = NPY_BYTE;
                 break;
             case UBYTE:
-                ctype = PyObject_GetAttrString(ctypes, "c_ubyte");
+                numpyType = NPY_UBYTE;
+                break;
+            case HALF:
+                numpyType = NPY_HALF;
                 break;
             default:
                 throw new RuntimeException("Unsupported dtype: " + npArray.getDtype());
         }
 
-        PyObject ctypesPointer = PyObject_GetAttrString(ctypes, "POINTER");
-        PyObject argsTuple = PyTuple_New(1);
-        PyTuple_SetItem(argsTuple, 0, ctype);
-        PyObject ptrType = PyObject_Call(ctypesPointer, argsTuple, null);
-
-        PyObject cast = PyObject_GetAttrString(ctypes, "cast");
-        PyObject address = PyLong_FromLong(npArray.getAddress());
-        PyObject argsTuple2 = PyTuple_New(2);
-        PyTuple_SetItem(argsTuple2, 0, address);
-        PyTuple_SetItem(argsTuple2, 1, ptrType);
-        PyObject ptr = PyObject_Call(cast, argsTuple2, null);
-        PyObject shapeTuple = PyTuple_New(npArray.getShape().length);
-        for (int i = 0; i < npArray.getShape().length; i++) {
-            PyObject dim = PyLong_FromLong(npArray.getShape()[i]);
-            PyTuple_SetItem(shapeTuple, i, dim);
-            Py_DecRef(dim);
+        long[] shape = indArray.shape();
+        INDArray inputArray = indArray;
+        if(dataType == DataType.BFLOAT16) {
+            log.warn("\n\nThe given nd4j array \n\n{}\n\n is of BFLOAT16 datatype. " +
+                    "Casting a copy of it to FLOAT and creating the respective numpy array from it.\n", indArray);
+            inputArray = indArray.castTo(DataType.FLOAT);
         }
-        PyObject ctypesLib = PyObject_GetAttrString(np, "ctypeslib");
-        PyObject asArray = PyObject_GetAttrString(ctypesLib, "as_array");
-        PyObject argsTuple3 = PyTuple_New(2);
-        PyTuple_SetItem(argsTuple3, 0, ptr);
-        PyTuple_SetItem(argsTuple3, 1, shapeTuple);
-        nativePythonObject = PyObject_Call(asArray, argsTuple3, null);
 
-        Py_DecRef(ctypesPointer);
-        Py_DecRef(ctypesLib);
-        Py_DecRef(argsTuple);
-        Py_DecRef(argsTuple2);
-        Py_DecRef(argsTuple3);
-        Py_DecRef(cast);
-        Py_DecRef(asArray);
+        //Sync to host memory in the case of CUDA, before passing the host memory pointer to Python
+        if(inputArray.data() instanceof BaseDataBuffer){
+            ((BaseDataBuffer)inputArray.data()).syncToPrimary();
+        }
+
+        nativePythonObject = PyArray_New(PyArray_Type(), shape.length, new SizeTPointer(shape),
+                numpyType, null,
+                inputArray.data().addressPointer(),
+                0, NPY_ARRAY_CARRAY, null);
 
     }
 
@@ -321,57 +317,60 @@ public class PythonObject {
         return toInt() != 0;
     }
 
-    public NumpyArray toNumpy() {
-        PyObject arrInterface = PyObject_GetAttrString(nativePythonObject, "__array_interface__"); // borrowed reference; DO NOT Py_DecRef() !
-        PyObject data = PyDict_GetItemString(arrInterface, "data");
-        PyObject pyAddress = PyTuple_GetItem(data, 0);
-        long address = PyLong_AsLong(pyAddress);
-        PyObject pyDtype = PyObject_GetAttrString(nativePythonObject, "dtype");
-        PyObject pyDtypeName = PyObject_GetAttrString(pyDtype, "name");
-        String dtypeName = pyObjectToString(pyDtypeName);
-        Py_DecRef(pyDtype);
-        Py_DecRef(pyDtypeName);
-        PyObject shape = PyObject_GetAttrString(nativePythonObject, "shape");
-        PyObject strides = PyObject_GetAttrString(nativePythonObject, "strides");
-        int ndim = (int) PyObject_Size(shape);
-        long[] jshape = new long[ndim];
-        long[] jstrides = new long[ndim];
-        for (int i = 0; i < ndim; i++) {
-            jshape[i] = PyLong_AsLong(PyTuple_GetItem(shape, i));
-            jstrides[i] = PyLong_AsLong(PyTuple_GetItem(strides, i));
+    public NumpyArray toNumpy() throws PythonException{
+        PyObject np = PyImport_ImportModule("numpy");
+        PyObject ndarray = PyObject_GetAttrString(np, "ndarray");
+        if (PyObject_IsInstance(nativePythonObject, ndarray) == 0){
+            throw new PythonException("Object is not a numpy array! Use Python.ndarray() to convert object to a numpy array.");
         }
-        Py_DecRef(shape);
-        Py_DecRef(strides);
+        Py_DecRef(ndarray);
+        Py_DecRef(np);
+        Pointer objPtr = new Pointer(nativePythonObject);
+        PyArrayObject npArr = new PyArrayObject(objPtr);
+        Pointer ptr = PyArray_DATA(npArr);
+        SizeTPointer shapePtr = PyArray_SHAPE(npArr);
+        long[] shape = new long[PyArray_NDIM(npArr)];
+        shapePtr.get(shape, 0, shape.length);
+        SizeTPointer stridesPtr = PyArray_STRIDES(npArr);
+        long[] strides = new long[shape.length];
+        stridesPtr.get(strides, 0, strides.length);
+        int npdtype = PyArray_TYPE(npArr);
+
         DataType dtype;
-        if (dtypeName.equals("float64")) {
-            dtype = DataType.DOUBLE;
-        } else if (dtypeName.equals("float32")) {
-            dtype = DataType.FLOAT;
-        } else if (dtypeName.equals("int8")){
-            dtype = DataType.INT8;
-        }else if (dtypeName.equals("int16")) {
-            dtype = DataType.SHORT;
-        } else if (dtypeName.equals("int32")) {
-            dtype = DataType.INT;
-        } else if (dtypeName.equals("int64")) {
-            dtype = DataType.LONG;
+        switch (npdtype){
+            case NPY_DOUBLE:
+                dtype = DataType.DOUBLE; break;
+            case NPY_FLOAT:
+                dtype = DataType.FLOAT; break;
+            case NPY_SHORT:
+                dtype = DataType.SHORT; break;
+            case NPY_INT:
+                dtype = DataType.INT; break;
+            case NPY_LONG:
+                dtype = DataType.LONG; break;
+            case NPY_UINT:
+                dtype = DataType.UINT32; break;
+            case NPY_BYTE:
+                dtype = DataType.BYTE; break;
+            case NPY_UBYTE:
+                dtype = DataType.UBYTE; break;
+            case NPY_BOOL:
+                dtype = DataType.BOOL; break;
+            case NPY_HALF:
+                dtype = DataType.HALF; break;
+            case NPY_LONGLONG:
+                dtype = DataType.INT64; break;
+            case NPY_USHORT:
+                dtype = DataType.UINT16; break;
+            case NPY_ULONG:
+                dtype = DataType.UINT64; break;
+            case NPY_ULONGLONG:
+                dtype = DataType.UINT64; break;
+                default:
+                    throw new PythonException("Unsupported array data type: " + npdtype);
         }
-        else if (dtypeName.equals("uint8")){
-            dtype = DataType.UINT8;
-        }
-        else if (dtypeName.equals("uint16")){
-            dtype = DataType.UINT16;
-        }
-        else if (dtypeName.equals("uint32")){
-            dtype = DataType.UINT32;
-        }
-        else if (dtypeName.equals("uint64")){
-            dtype = DataType.UINT64;
-        }
-        else {
-            throw new RuntimeException("Unsupported array type " + dtypeName + ".");
-        }
-        return new NumpyArray(address, jshape, jstrides, dtype);
+
+        return new NumpyArray(ptr.address(), shape, strides, dtype);
 
     }
 
@@ -442,7 +441,6 @@ public class PythonObject {
         return get(key.nativePythonObject);
     }
 
-
     public PythonObject get(int key) {
         return get(PyLong_FromLong((long) key));
     }
@@ -450,14 +448,12 @@ public class PythonObject {
     public PythonObject get(long key) {
         return new PythonObject(
                 PyObject_GetItem(nativePythonObject, PyLong_FromLong(key))
-
         );
     }
 
     public PythonObject get(double key) {
         return new PythonObject(
                 PyObject_GetItem(nativePythonObject, PyFloat_FromDouble(key))
-
         );
     }
 
@@ -479,7 +475,6 @@ public class PythonObject {
         PythonObject serialized = json.attr("dumps").call(this, _getNDArraySerializer());
         String jsonString = serialized.toString();
         return new JSONArray(jsonString);
-
     }
 
     public JSONObject toJSONObject() throws PythonException {
@@ -547,13 +542,16 @@ public class PythonObject {
             String originalContext = Python.getCurrentContext();
             Python.setContext(tempContext);
             PythonExecutioner.setVariable("memview", this);
-            PythonExecutioner.exec("import numpy as np\narr = np.array(memview)");
-            BytePointer ret = new BytePointer(PythonExecutioner.getVariable("arr").toNumpy().getNd4jArray().data().pointer());
+            PythonExecutioner.exec("import numpy as np\narr = np.frombuffer(memview, dtype='int8')");
+            INDArray arr = PythonExecutioner.getVariable("arr").toNumpy().getNd4jArray();
+            if(arr.data() instanceof BaseDataBuffer){
+                ((BaseDataBuffer)arr.data()).syncToPrimary();
+            }
+            BytePointer ret = new BytePointer(arr.data().pointer());
             Python.setContext(originalContext);
             Python.deleteContext(tempContext);
             return ret;
-        }
-        else{
+        } else {
             PyObject ctypes = PyImport_ImportModule("ctypes");
             PyObject cArrType = PyObject_GetAttrString(ctypes, "Array");
             if (PyObject_IsInstance(nativePythonObject, cArrType) != 0){
@@ -579,13 +577,10 @@ public class PythonObject {
             else{
                 throw new PythonException("Expected bytes, bytearray, memoryview or ctypesArray. Received " + Python.type(this).toString());
             }
-
         }
     }
     public boolean isNone() {
        return (nativePythonObject == null)||
                (toString().equals("None") && Python.type(this).toString().equals("<class 'NoneType'>"));
-
     }
-
 }
diff --git a/datavec/datavec-python/src/main/java/org/datavec/python/PythonVariables.java b/datavec/datavec-python/src/main/java/org/datavec/python/PythonVariables.java
index 9d8b5c2a1..ade9bdfa0 100644
--- a/datavec/datavec-python/src/main/java/org/datavec/python/PythonVariables.java
+++ b/datavec/datavec-python/src/main/java/org/datavec/python/PythonVariables.java
@@ -314,7 +314,7 @@ public class PythonVariables implements java.io.Serializable {
      * @param name  the field to add
      * @param value the value to add
      */
-    public void addNDArray(String name, org.nd4j.linalg.api.ndarray.INDArray value) {
+    public void addNDArray(String name, INDArray value) {
         vars.put(name, PythonType.TypeName.NDARRAY);
         ndVars.put(name, value);
     }
diff --git a/datavec/datavec-python/src/test/java/org/datavec/python/PythonNumpyTest.java b/datavec/datavec-python/src/test/java/org/datavec/python/PythonNumpyTest.java
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..89ea83552
--- /dev/null
+++ b/datavec/datavec-python/src/test/java/org/datavec/python/PythonNumpyTest.java
@@ -0,0 +1,76 @@
+/* ******************************************************************************
+ * Copyright (c) 2020 Konduit K.K.
+ *
+ * This program and the accompanying materials are made available under the
+ * terms of the Apache License, Version 2.0 which is available at
+ * https://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0.
+ *
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS, WITHOUT
+ * WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied. See the
+ * License for the specific language governing permissions and limitations
+ * under the License.
+ *
+ * SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
+ ******************************************************************************/
+
+package org.datavec.python;
+
+import org.junit.Test;
+import org.junit.runner.RunWith;
+import org.junit.runners.Parameterized;
+import org.nd4j.linalg.api.buffer.DataType;
+import org.nd4j.linalg.api.ndarray.INDArray;
+import org.nd4j.linalg.factory.Nd4j;
+
+import static junit.framework.TestCase.assertEquals;
+
+@RunWith(Parameterized.class)
+public class PythonNumpyTest {
+
+    @Parameterized.Parameters(name = "{index}: Testing with DataType={0}")
+    public static DataType[] data() {
+        return new DataType[] {
+                DataType.BOOL,
+                DataType.FLOAT16,
+                DataType.BFLOAT16,
+                DataType.FLOAT,
+                DataType.DOUBLE,
+                DataType.INT8,
+                DataType.INT16,
+                DataType.INT32,
+                DataType.INT64,
+                DataType.UINT8,
+                DataType.UINT16,
+                DataType.UINT32,
+                DataType.UINT64
+        };
+    }
+
+    private DataType dataType;
+
+    public PythonNumpyTest(DataType dataType) {
+        this.dataType = dataType;
+    }
+
+    @Test
+    public void numpyAndNd4jConversions() throws Exception {
+        INDArray input = Nd4j.ones(dataType, 2, 2, 2);
+
+        PythonVariables inputs = new PythonVariables();
+        inputs.addNDArray("x", input);
+
+        PythonVariables outputs = new PythonVariables();
+        outputs.addNDArray("y");
+
+        PythonJob pythonJob = new PythonJob(String.format("job_%s", dataType.name()) + dataType.name(), "y = x", false);
+
+        pythonJob.exec(inputs, outputs);
+
+        INDArray output = outputs.getNDArrayValue("y");
+
+        // As numpy doesn't support BFLOAT16 we'll convert it to FLOAT
+        assertEquals(dataType == DataType.BFLOAT16 ? input.castTo(DataType.FLOAT) : input,
+                output);
+    }
+}
diff --git a/datavec/datavec-python/src/test/java/org/datavec/python/TestPythonExecutioner.java b/datavec/datavec-python/src/test/java/org/datavec/python/TestPythonExecutioner.java
index 52e2aad56..027a534bc 100644
--- a/datavec/datavec-python/src/test/java/org/datavec/python/TestPythonExecutioner.java
+++ b/datavec/datavec-python/src/test/java/org/datavec/python/TestPythonExecutioner.java
@@ -20,10 +20,13 @@ import org.bytedeco.javacpp.BytePointer;
 import org.junit.Assert;
 import org.junit.Ignore;
 import org.junit.Test;
+import org.nd4j.linalg.api.buffer.BaseDataBuffer;
 import org.nd4j.linalg.api.buffer.DataType;
 import org.nd4j.linalg.api.ndarray.INDArray;
 import org.nd4j.linalg.factory.Nd4j;
+import org.nd4j.nativeblas.OpaqueDataBuffer;
 
+import java.lang.reflect.Method;
 
 import static org.junit.Assert.assertEquals;
 import static org.junit.Assert.fail;
@@ -223,6 +226,35 @@ public class TestPythonExecutioner {
 
     }
 
+
+    @Test
+    public void testNDArrayNoCopy() throws Exception{
+        PythonVariables pyInputs = new PythonVariables();
+        PythonVariables pyOutputs = new PythonVariables();
+        INDArray arr = Nd4j.rand(3, 2);
+        ((BaseDataBuffer)arr.data()).syncToPrimary();
+        pyInputs.addNDArray("x", arr);
+        pyOutputs.addNDArray("x");
+        INDArray expected = arr.mul(2.3);
+        String code = "x *= 2.3";
+        Python.exec(code, pyInputs, pyOutputs);
+        Assert.assertEquals(pyInputs.getNDArrayValue("x"), pyOutputs.getNDArrayValue("x"));
+        Assert.assertEquals(expected, pyOutputs.getNDArrayValue("x"));
+        Assert.assertEquals(arr.data().address(), pyOutputs.getNDArrayValue("x").data().address());
+    }
+
+    @Test
+    public void testNDArrayInplace() throws Exception{
+        PythonVariables pyInputs = new PythonVariables();
+        INDArray arr = Nd4j.rand(3, 2);
+        ((BaseDataBuffer)arr.data()).syncToPrimary();
+        pyInputs.addNDArray("x", arr);
+        INDArray expected = arr.mul(2.3);
+        String code = "x *= 2.3";
+        Python.exec(code, pyInputs, null);
+        Assert.assertEquals(expected, arr);
+    }
+
     @Test
     public void testByteBufferInput() throws Exception{
         //ByteBuffer buff = ByteBuffer.allocateDirect(3);
@@ -230,8 +262,7 @@ public class TestPythonExecutioner {
         buff.putScalar(0, 97); // a
         buff.putScalar(1, 98); // b
         buff.putScalar(2, 99); // c
-
-
+        ((BaseDataBuffer)buff.data()).syncToPrimary();
         PythonVariables pyInputs = new PythonVariables();
         pyInputs.addBytes("buff", new BytePointer(buff.data().pointer()));
 
@@ -251,6 +282,7 @@ public class TestPythonExecutioner {
           buff.putScalar(0, 97); // a
           buff.putScalar(1, 98); // b
           buff.putScalar(2, 99); // c
+          ((BaseDataBuffer)buff.data()).syncToPrimary();
 
 
           PythonVariables pyInputs = new PythonVariables();
@@ -262,6 +294,7 @@ public class TestPythonExecutioner {
           String code = "buff[0]=99\nbuff[1]=98\nbuff[2]=97";
           Python.exec(code, pyInputs, pyOutputs);
           Assert.assertEquals("cba", pyOutputs.getBytesValue("buff").getString());
+          Assert.assertEquals(buff.data().address(), pyOutputs.getBytesValue("buff").address());
       }
 
     @Test
@@ -270,6 +303,8 @@ public class TestPythonExecutioner {
         buff.putScalar(0, 97); // a
         buff.putScalar(1, 98); // b
         buff.putScalar(2, 99); // c
+        ((BaseDataBuffer)buff.data()).syncToPrimary();
+
         PythonVariables pyInputs = new PythonVariables();
         pyInputs.addBytes("buff", new BytePointer(buff.data().pointer()));
         String code = "buff[0]+=2\nbuff[2]-=2";
@@ -288,6 +323,7 @@ public class TestPythonExecutioner {
         buff.putScalar(0, 97); // a
         buff.putScalar(1, 98); // b
         buff.putScalar(2, 99); // c
+        ((BaseDataBuffer)buff.data()).syncToPrimary();
 
 
         PythonVariables pyInputs = new PythonVariables();
@@ -300,6 +336,30 @@ public class TestPythonExecutioner {
         Python.exec(code, pyInputs, pyOutputs);
         Assert.assertEquals("cba", pyOutputs.getBytesValue("out").getString());
     }
+
+    @Test
+    public void testDoubleDeviceAllocation() throws Exception{
+        if(!"CUDA".equalsIgnoreCase(Nd4j.getExecutioner().getEnvironmentInformation().getProperty("backend"))){
+            return;
+        }
+        // Test to make sure that multiple device buffers are not allocated
+        // for the same host buffer
+        INDArray arr = Nd4j.rand(3, 2);
+        ((BaseDataBuffer)arr.data()).syncToPrimary();
+        long deviceAddress1 = getDeviceAddress(arr);
+        PythonVariables pyInputs = new PythonVariables();
+        pyInputs.addNDArray("arr", arr);
+        PythonVariables pyOutputs = new PythonVariables();
+        pyOutputs.addNDArray("arr");
+        String code = "arr += 2";
+        Python.exec(code, pyInputs, pyOutputs);
+        INDArray arr2 = pyOutputs.getNDArrayValue("arr");
+        long deviceAddress2 = getDeviceAddress(arr2);
+        Assert.assertEquals(deviceAddress1, deviceAddress2);
+
+
+    }
+
     @Test
     public void testBadCode() throws Exception{
         Python.setContext("badcode");
@@ -333,5 +393,22 @@ public class TestPythonExecutioner {
         Assert.assertEquals("y", notNone.toString());
     }
 
+    private static long getDeviceAddress(INDArray array){
+        if(!"CUDA".equalsIgnoreCase(Nd4j.getExecutioner().getEnvironmentInformation().getProperty("backend"))){
+            throw new IllegalStateException("Cannot ge device pointer for non-CUDA device");
+        }
+
+        //Use reflection here as OpaqueDataBuffer is only available on BaseCudaDataBuffer and BaseCpuDataBuffer - not DataBuffer/BaseDataBuffer
+        // due to it being defined in nd4j-native-api, not nd4j-api
+        try {
+            Class<?> c = Class.forName("org.nd4j.linalg.jcublas.buffer.BaseCudaDataBuffer");
+            Method m = c.getMethod("getOpaqueDataBuffer");
+            OpaqueDataBuffer db = (OpaqueDataBuffer) m.invoke(array.data());
+            long address = db.specialBuffer().address();
+            return address;
+        } catch (Throwable t){
+            throw new RuntimeException("Error getting OpaqueDataBuffer", t);
+        }
+    }
 
 }
diff --git a/datavec/datavec-python/src/test/java/org/datavec/python/TestPythonVariables.java b/datavec/datavec-python/src/test/java/org/datavec/python/TestPythonVariables.java
index 22f8ba230..20adb720f 100644
--- a/datavec/datavec-python/src/test/java/org/datavec/python/TestPythonVariables.java
+++ b/datavec/datavec-python/src/test/java/org/datavec/python/TestPythonVariables.java
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ package org.datavec.python;
 
 import org.bytedeco.javacpp.BytePointer;
 import org.junit.Test;
+import org.nd4j.linalg.api.buffer.BaseDataBuffer;
 import org.nd4j.linalg.api.ndarray.INDArray;
 import org.nd4j.linalg.factory.Nd4j;
 
@@ -55,6 +56,7 @@ public class TestPythonVariables {
         };
 
         INDArray arr = Nd4j.scalar(1.0);
+        ((BaseDataBuffer)arr.data()).syncToPrimary();
         BytePointer bp = new BytePointer(arr.data().pointer());
         Object[] values = {
                 1L,1.0,"1",true, Collections.singletonMap("1",1),
diff --git a/nd4j/nd4j-backends/nd4j-api-parent/nd4j-api/src/main/java/org/nd4j/linalg/api/buffer/BaseDataBuffer.java b/nd4j/nd4j-backends/nd4j-api-parent/nd4j-api/src/main/java/org/nd4j/linalg/api/buffer/BaseDataBuffer.java
index 12e27e1c2..6b226ce20 100644
--- a/nd4j/nd4j-backends/nd4j-api-parent/nd4j-api/src/main/java/org/nd4j/linalg/api/buffer/BaseDataBuffer.java
+++ b/nd4j/nd4j-backends/nd4j-api-parent/nd4j-api/src/main/java/org/nd4j/linalg/api/buffer/BaseDataBuffer.java
@@ -1945,4 +1945,17 @@ public abstract class BaseDataBuffer implements DataBuffer {
     public boolean wasClosed() {
         return released;
     }
+
+
+    /**
+     * This method synchronizes host memory
+     */
+    public abstract void syncToPrimary();
+
+    /**
+     * This method synchronizes device memory
+     */
+    public abstract void syncToSpecial();
+
+
 }
diff --git a/nd4j/nd4j-backends/nd4j-api-parent/nd4j-api/src/main/java/org/nd4j/linalg/api/buffer/DataType.java b/nd4j/nd4j-backends/nd4j-api-parent/nd4j-api/src/main/java/org/nd4j/linalg/api/buffer/DataType.java
index 94cfdca43..c48b7577c 100644
--- a/nd4j/nd4j-backends/nd4j-api-parent/nd4j-api/src/main/java/org/nd4j/linalg/api/buffer/DataType.java
+++ b/nd4j/nd4j-backends/nd4j-api-parent/nd4j-api/src/main/java/org/nd4j/linalg/api/buffer/DataType.java
@@ -230,13 +230,14 @@ public enum DataType {
     public static DataType fromNumpy(String numpyDtypeName){
         switch (numpyDtypeName.toLowerCase()){
             case "bool": return BOOL;
-            case "byte": return BYTE;
-            case "int8": return BYTE;
-            case "int16": return SHORT;
-            case "int32": return INT;
-            case "int64": return LONG;
-            case "uint8": return UBYTE;
-            case "float16": return HALF;
+            case "byte":
+            case "int8":
+                return INT8;
+            case "int16": return INT16;
+            case "int32": return INT32;
+            case "int64": return INT64;
+            case "uint8": return UINT8;
+            case "float16": return FLOAT16;
             case "float32": return FLOAT;
             case "float64": return DOUBLE;
             case "uint16": return UINT16;
diff --git a/nd4j/nd4j-backends/nd4j-api-parent/nd4j-api/src/main/java/org/nd4j/linalg/compression/CompressedDataBuffer.java b/nd4j/nd4j-backends/nd4j-api-parent/nd4j-api/src/main/java/org/nd4j/linalg/compression/CompressedDataBuffer.java
index f1c9ed6d9..7cbfb0d70 100644
--- a/nd4j/nd4j-backends/nd4j-api-parent/nd4j-api/src/main/java/org/nd4j/linalg/compression/CompressedDataBuffer.java
+++ b/nd4j/nd4j-backends/nd4j-api-parent/nd4j-api/src/main/java/org/nd4j/linalg/compression/CompressedDataBuffer.java
@@ -211,6 +211,16 @@ public class CompressedDataBuffer extends BaseDataBuffer {
         throw new UnsupportedOperationException("This method isn't supported by CompressedDataBuffer");
     }
 
+    @Override
+    public void syncToPrimary() {
+        //No-op
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public void syncToSpecial() {
+        //No-op
+    }
+
     @Override
     protected double getDoubleUnsynced(long index) {
         return super.getDouble(index);
diff --git a/nd4j/nd4j-backends/nd4j-api-parent/nd4j-native-api/src/main/java/org/nd4j/nativeblas/OpaqueDataBuffer.java b/nd4j/nd4j-backends/nd4j-api-parent/nd4j-native-api/src/main/java/org/nd4j/nativeblas/OpaqueDataBuffer.java
index 4d5edea0c..d7c2e0ac0 100644
--- a/nd4j/nd4j-backends/nd4j-api-parent/nd4j-native-api/src/main/java/org/nd4j/nativeblas/OpaqueDataBuffer.java
+++ b/nd4j/nd4j-backends/nd4j-api-parent/nd4j-native-api/src/main/java/org/nd4j/nativeblas/OpaqueDataBuffer.java
@@ -51,7 +51,6 @@ public class OpaqueDataBuffer extends Pointer {
             try {
                 // try to allocate data buffer
                 buffer = NativeOpsHolder.getInstance().getDeviceNativeOps().allocateDataBuffer(numElements, dataType.toInt(), allocateBoth);
-
                 // check error code
                 ec = NativeOpsHolder.getInstance().getDeviceNativeOps().lastErrorCode();
                 if (ec != 0) {
diff --git a/nd4j/nd4j-backends/nd4j-backend-impls/nd4j-cuda/src/main/java/org/nd4j/linalg/jcublas/buffer/BaseCudaDataBuffer.java b/nd4j/nd4j-backends/nd4j-backend-impls/nd4j-cuda/src/main/java/org/nd4j/linalg/jcublas/buffer/BaseCudaDataBuffer.java
index f944d20cf..f84f96384 100644
--- a/nd4j/nd4j-backends/nd4j-backend-impls/nd4j-cuda/src/main/java/org/nd4j/linalg/jcublas/buffer/BaseCudaDataBuffer.java
+++ b/nd4j/nd4j-backends/nd4j-backend-impls/nd4j-cuda/src/main/java/org/nd4j/linalg/jcublas/buffer/BaseCudaDataBuffer.java
@@ -1845,4 +1845,14 @@ public abstract class BaseCudaDataBuffer extends BaseDataBuffer implements JCuda
     public int targetDevice() {
         return AtomicAllocator.getInstance().getAllocationPoint(this).getDeviceId();
     }
+
+    @Override
+    public void syncToPrimary(){
+        ptrDataBuffer.syncToPrimary();
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public void syncToSpecial(){
+        ptrDataBuffer.syncToSpecial();
+    }
 }
diff --git a/nd4j/nd4j-backends/nd4j-backend-impls/nd4j-native/src/main/java/org/nd4j/linalg/cpu/nativecpu/buffer/BaseCpuDataBuffer.java b/nd4j/nd4j-backends/nd4j-backend-impls/nd4j-native/src/main/java/org/nd4j/linalg/cpu/nativecpu/buffer/BaseCpuDataBuffer.java
index a5ddc7aef..b3def0f71 100644
--- a/nd4j/nd4j-backends/nd4j-backend-impls/nd4j-native/src/main/java/org/nd4j/linalg/cpu/nativecpu/buffer/BaseCpuDataBuffer.java
+++ b/nd4j/nd4j-backends/nd4j-backend-impls/nd4j-native/src/main/java/org/nd4j/linalg/cpu/nativecpu/buffer/BaseCpuDataBuffer.java
@@ -951,4 +951,13 @@ public abstract class BaseCpuDataBuffer extends BaseDataBuffer implements Deallo
         return this;
     }
 
+    @Override
+    public void syncToPrimary(){
+        ptrDataBuffer.syncToPrimary();
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public void syncToSpecial(){
+        ptrDataBuffer.syncToSpecial();
+    }
 }
diff --git a/nd4j/nd4j-backends/nd4j-tests/src/test/java/org/nd4j/linalg/api/buffer/DataBufferTests.java b/nd4j/nd4j-backends/nd4j-tests/src/test/java/org/nd4j/linalg/api/buffer/DataBufferTests.java
index 00165545b..b271c7bff 100644
--- a/nd4j/nd4j-backends/nd4j-tests/src/test/java/org/nd4j/linalg/api/buffer/DataBufferTests.java
+++ b/nd4j/nd4j-backends/nd4j-tests/src/test/java/org/nd4j/linalg/api/buffer/DataBufferTests.java
@@ -32,6 +32,8 @@ import org.nd4j.linalg.api.memory.enums.LearningPolicy;
 import org.nd4j.linalg.api.ndarray.INDArray;
 import org.nd4j.linalg.factory.Nd4j;
 import org.nd4j.linalg.factory.Nd4jBackend;
+import org.nd4j.nativeblas.NativeOpsHolder;
+import sun.nio.ch.DirectBuffer;
 
 
 import java.nio.ByteBuffer;
@@ -398,6 +400,29 @@ public class DataBufferTests extends BaseNd4jTest {
         }
     }
 
+
+    @Test
+    public void testEnsureLocation(){
+        //https://github.com/eclipse/deeplearning4j/issues/8783
+        Nd4j.create(1);
+
+        DirectBuffer bb = (DirectBuffer) ByteBuffer.allocateDirect(5);
+        System.out.println(bb.getClass());
+        System.out.println(bb.address());
+
+        Pointer ptr = NativeOpsHolder.getInstance().getDeviceNativeOps().pointerForAddress(bb.address());
+        DataBuffer buff = Nd4j.createBuffer(ptr, 20, DataType.BYTE);
+
+
+        INDArray arr2 = Nd4j.create(buff, new long[]{5}, new long[]{1}, 1L, 'c', DataType.BYTE);
+        long before = arr2.data().pointer().address();
+        Nd4j.getAffinityManager().ensureLocation(arr2, AffinityManager.Location.HOST);
+        long after = arr2.data().pointer().address();
+
+        assertEquals(before, after);
+    }
+
+
     @Override
     public char ordering() {
         return 'c';