public static function unset_named_reference(&$arr, $name)
  {
    $keys = explode('.', $name);
    $data = & $arr;
    foreach ($keys as $i => $key)
    {
      if (isset($data[$key]))
      {
        if ($i == count($keys) - 1)
        {
          unset($data[$key]);
          return;
        }
        $data = & $data[$key];
      }
      else
      {
        return;
      }
    }
  }