def get_attributes(element)
      attribute_hash = {}
      attributes = element.attributes
      for i in 0...attributes.length
         attribute_hash[attributes.item(i).name] =  attributes.item(i).value
       end
      attribute_hash
    end
def get_attributes(element)
      attribute_hash = {}
      attributes = element.attributes
      for i in 0...attributes.length
         attribute_hash[attributes.item(i).name] =  attributes.item(i).value
       end
      attribute_hash
    end
Converts the attributes array of an XML element into a hash.
 Returns an empty Hash if node has no attributes.

 element::
   XML element to extract attributes from.