function get_radio_value(radioElement){

	if(radioElement.length){
	
		for (var i = 0; i < radioElement.length; i++){
			if (radioElement[i].checked)
				return radioElement[i].value;
		}
	}
	else if (radioElement.checked)
		return radioElement.value;

	return '';
}

function prepare(value){

	if(!YAHOO.lang.isValue(value)){

		value = '';
	}
	else if(YAHOO.lang.isString(value)){

		value = YAHOO.lang.trim(value);
		value = encodeURIComponent(value);
	}

	return value;
};