diff --git a/src/database/classes.py b/src/database/classes.py
index 2fcda2a..90ffab9 100644
--- a/src/database/classes.py
+++ b/src/database/classes.py
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ class ModelOutputs(BaseModel):
     def from_random(cls) -> ModelOutputs:
         """Instantiate with random numbers."""
         kwargs = {
-            field: field_info.annotation.from_random()
+            field: field_info.annotation.from_random()  # type: ignore
             for field, field_info
             in cls.model_fields.items()
         }
@@ -124,7 +124,7 @@ class VisualCommunication(BaseModel):
         return VisualCommunication(name=name, image=image)
 
     @field_serializer("image")
-    def serialize_image(image: Image.Image) -> bytes:
+    def serialize_image(image: Image.Image) -> bytes:   # type: ignore
         buffer = BytesIO()
         image.save(buffer, format="JPEG")
         return buffer.getvalue()
diff --git a/src/database/utils.py b/src/database/utils.py
index 22bf085..75420c1 100644
--- a/src/database/utils.py
+++ b/src/database/utils.py
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ def get_visual_communication(
     if with_annotation:
         query["annotation"] = {"$ne": None}
     else:
-        query["annotation"] = None
+        query["annotation"] = {"$eq": None}
     data = collection.aggregate([
         {
             "$match": query     # find using filters
@@ -47,13 +47,12 @@ def get_visual_communication(
             }
         }
     ])
-    data = list(data)   # read data from cursor object
-    if len(data) == 0:
+    data_list = list(data)   # read data from cursor object
+    if len(data_list) == 0:
         logging.error("failed getting visual communication")
         raise NoDocumentFoundException()
-    data = data[0]
     logging.info("finished")
-    return VisualCommunication.model_validate(data)
+    return VisualCommunication.model_validate(data_list[0])
 
 
 def upsert_predictions(
diff --git a/src/web/app.py b/src/web/app.py
index 4e6549c..fe465f6 100644
--- a/src/web/app.py
+++ b/src/web/app.py
@@ -103,13 +103,13 @@ def cycle_visual_communication_data(
                 for elem
                 in annotation_values
             ]
-            annotations = {
+            annotation_map = {
                 key: value
                 for key, value
                 in zip(annotation_keys, annotation_values)
             }
             # instantiate ModelOutputs object
-            annotations = ModelOutputs.from_annotations(**annotations)
+            annotations = ModelOutputs.from_annotations(**annotation_map)
             # save data to database
             upsert_annotations(
                 collection=collection,