__hasAttribute__ = function(namednodemap, name) {
    var ret = false;
    // test that Named Node exists
    var itemIndex = __findNamedItemIndex__(namednodemap, name);
        if (itemIndex > -1) {
        // found it!
        ret = true;
    }
    // if node is not found, default value false is returned
    return ret;
}
@method __hasAttribute__
     Returns true if specified node exists

@param  name : string - the name of the required node
@return : boolean