docs: def are_equal_xml(a_xml, b_xml):
      """Normalize and compare XML documents for equality. The document may or may not be
      a DataONE type.
  
      Args:
        a_xml: str
        b_xml: str
          XML documents to compare for equality.
  
      Returns:
        bool: ``True`` if the XML documents are semantically equivalent.
  
      """
      a_dom = xml.dom.minidom.parseString(a_xml)
      b_dom = xml.dom.minidom.parseString(b_xml)
      return are_equal_elements(a_dom.documentElement, b_dom.documentElement)