\'7833\', \'d\'=>\'1297\', \'c\'=>\'341\', \'1\'=>\'67\', \'b\'=>\'225\',
You'll want to use the SORT_STRING flag. SORT_REGULAR would compare items with their current types, in which case the number 1 does come after the string 'a':
php -r "echo 1 > 'a' ? 'yes' : 'no';" // yes