diff --git a/.travis.yml b/.travis.yml
index 077923e..15f1aeb 100644
--- a/.travis.yml
+++ b/.travis.yml
@@ -3,8 +3,8 @@ python:
   - "2.7"
   - "3.6"
 install:
-  - "pip install flake8"
+  - pip install flake8
 script:
- - flake8 . --ignore E501,F841,E302
+ - flake8 .
 git:
   submodules: false
diff --git a/ibm_cloud_functions/iot-pub.py b/ibm_cloud_functions/iot-pub.py
index 8831552..ced2a27 100644
--- a/ibm_cloud_functions/iot-pub.py
+++ b/ibm_cloud_functions/iot-pub.py
@@ -1,13 +1,17 @@
-# This function publishes the results from the Watson Assistant service to the Watson IoT platform
 import requests
+
+
 def main(iot_obj):
+    """This function publishes the results from the Watson Assistant service
+       to the Watson IoT platform and subsequently all subscribed devices"""
     # import IOT platform credentials
-    iot_org_id = iot_obj['iot_org_id']
-    device_id = iot_obj['device_id']
-    device_type = iot_obj['device_type']
-    api_token = iot_obj['api_token']
+    auth = ('use-token-auth', iot_obj['api_token'])
+    headers = {'Content-Type': 'application/json'}
     # extract result from Watson Assistant
-    payload = {"d": iot_obj['msg']}
-    # publish Watson Assistant intent/entity pair to Watson IOT platform and subsequently all subscribed devices
-    requests.post('https://' + iot_org_id + '.messaging.internetofthings.ibmcloud.com:8883/api/v0002/device/types/' + device_type + '/devices/' + device_id + '/events/query', headers={'Content-Type': 'application/json'}, json=payload, auth=('use-token-auth', api_token))
-    return {"msg": payload}
+    payload = {'d': iot_obj['msg']}
+    # publish Watson Assistant intent/entity pair to Watson IOT platform
+    url = ('https{iot_org_id}.messaging.internetofthings.ibmcloud.com:8883/'
+           'api/v0002/device/types/{device_type}/devices/{device_id}/events/'
+           'query'.format(**iot_obj))
+    requests.post(url, headers=headers, json=payload, auth=auth)
+    return {'msg': payload}