function(string $dir = NULL)
  {
    if (($dir = $this->selectFolder($dir))
      && ($imap = imap_check($this->stream))
    ) {
      if ($imap->Nmsgs > 0) {
        $this->folders[$dir]['last_uid']   = $this->getMsgUid($imap->Nmsgs);
        $this->folders[$dir]['num_msg']    = $imap->Nmsgs;
        $this->folders[$dir]['last_check'] = microtime(true);
      }
      else {
        $this->folders[$dir]['last_uid']   = 0;
        $this->folders[$dir]['num_msg']    = 0;
        $this->folders[$dir]['last_check'] = microtime(true);
      }
      return $imap;
    }
    return false;
  }