protected function _normalizeAssociations($associations)
    {
        $result = [];
        foreach ((array)$associations as $table => $options) {
            $pointer =& $result;

            if (is_int($table)) {
                $table = $options;
                $options = [];
            }

            if (!strpos($table, '.')) {
                $result[$table] = $options;
                continue;
            }

            $path = explode('.', $table);
            $table = array_pop($path);
            $first = array_shift($path);
            $pointer += [$first => []];
            $pointer =& $pointer[$first];
            $pointer += ['associated' => []];

            foreach ($path as $t) {
                $pointer += ['associated' => []];
                $pointer['associated'] += [$t => []];
                $pointer['associated'][$t] += ['associated' => []];
                $pointer =& $pointer['associated'][$t];
            }

            $pointer['associated'] += [$table => []];
            $pointer['associated'][$table] = $options + $pointer['associated'][$table];
        }

        return isset($result['associated']) ? $result['associated'] : $result;
    }