<SYSTEM_TASK:>
Solve the following problem using Python, implementing the functions described below, one line at a time
<END_TASK>
<USER_TASK:>
Description:
 def _parse_parameters(val_type, val):
 """ Helper function to convert a Vasprun parameter into the proper type. Boolean, int and float types are converted. Args: val_type: Value type parsed from vasprun.xml. val: Actual string value parsed for vasprun.xml. """

    if val_type == "logical":
        return val == "T"
    elif val_type == "int":
        return int(val)
    elif val_type == "string":
        return val.strip()
    else:
        return float(val)