/**
  * <p>
  * </p>
  * @param mixed $xml either a string representing an <tt>XML</tt> data
  *     structure or an <tt>.xml</tt> file.
  * @return XMLElement the <code>XMLElement</code>.
  */
 public static function parse($xml, $section = null)
 {
     $parser = new XMLParser($xml);
     if (is_string($section) && !empty($section)) {
         return $parser->getXml()->get($section, true);
     }
     return $parser->getXml();
 }