def to_dict(self, remove_nones=False):
        """Return the dict representation of the instance.

       Args:
            remove_nones (bool, optional): Optionally remove dictionary
                elements when their value is `None`.

        Returns:
            dict: a dict representation of the `DidlObject`.
        """
        content = {}
        # Get the value of each attribute listed in _translation, and add it
        # to the content dict
        for key in self._translation:
            if hasattr(self, key):
                content[key] = getattr(self, key)
        # also add parent_id, item_id, restricted, title and resources because
        # they are not listed in _translation
        content['parent_id'] = self.parent_id
        content['item_id'] = self.item_id
        content['restricted'] = self.restricted
        content['title'] = self.title
        if self.resources != []:
            content['resources'] = [resource.to_dict(remove_nones=remove_nones)
                                    for resource in self.resources]
        content['desc'] = self.desc
        return content
Return the dict representation of the instance.

       Args:
            remove_nones (bool, optional): Optionally remove dictionary
                elements when their value is `None`.

        Returns:
            dict: a dict representation of the `DidlObject`.