def xml_to_hash(element, child_with_children = "", unique_children = true)
      properties = {}
      element.each_element_with_text do |e|
        if e.name.eql?(child_with_children)
          if unique_children
            e.each_element_with_text do |t|
              properties[t.name] = to_type(t.text)
            end
          else
            children = []
            e.each_element_with_text do |t|
              properties[t.name] = children.push(to_type(t.text))
            end
          end
        else
          properties[e.name] = to_type(e.text)
        end
      end
      properties
    end
def xml_to_hash(element, child_with_children = "", unique_children = true)
      properties = {}
      element.each_element_with_text do |e|
        if e.name.eql?(child_with_children)
          if unique_children
            e.each_element_with_text do |t|
              properties[t.name] = to_type(t.text)
            end
          else
            children = []
            e.each_element_with_text do |t|
              properties[t.name] = children.push(to_type(t.text))
            end
          end
        else
          properties[e.name] = to_type(e.text)
        end
      end
      properties
    end
Flatten an xml element with at most one child node with children
 into a hash.

 @param [REXML] element
   xml element