new_files = [] #list of files newer than 1 day
for f in os.listdir(path):
 fn = os.path.join(path,f)
 ctime = os.stat(fn).st_ctime
 if ctime > now - 1 * 86400:
 #this is a new file
  new_files.append(fn)
 if new_files(): #checks the list
  sendmail #calls sendmail script that sends email

new_files = [] #list of files newer than 1 day
for f in os.listdir(path):
   fn = os.path.join(path,f)
   ctime = os.stat(fn).st_ctime
   if ctime > now - 1 * 86400:
        countit=new_files.count(fn)  #count previous occurence
        #this is a new file
        new_files.append(fn)
        if new_files.count(fn)>countit:
             sendmail #calls sendmail script that sends email

Yes: if not seq:
     if seq:

No: if len(seq)
    if not len(seq)

if new_files: