diff --git a/datajoint/connection.py b/datajoint/connection.py
index 6ece857e3..23b3db47a 100644
--- a/datajoint/connection.py
+++ b/datajoint/connection.py
@@ -14,6 +14,20 @@
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
 
+# The following is a temporary hack to address issue #
+# START HACK
+hack = False
+if hack:
+    import binascii
+
+    def escape_bytes(bs, mapping=None):
+        assert isinstance(bs, (bytes, bytearray))
+        return '0x' + binascii.b2a_hex(bs).decode('ascii')
+
+    connector.connections.escape_bytes = escape_bytes
+# END HACK
+
+
 def conn(host=None, user=None, passwd=None, init_fun=None, reset=False):
     """
     Returns a persistent connection object to be shared by multiple modules.
@@ -160,8 +174,6 @@ def transaction(self):
         >>> import datajoint as dj
         >>> with dj.conn().transaction as conn:
         >>>     # transaction is open here
-
-
         """
         try:
             self.start_transaction()
diff --git a/datajoint/kill.py b/datajoint/kill.py
index b4c0c526c..48b9cbd54 100644
--- a/datajoint/kill.py
+++ b/datajoint/kill.py
@@ -37,11 +37,11 @@ def kill(restriction=None, connection=None):
             break
         if response:
             try:
-                id = int(response)
+                pid = int(response)
             except ValueError:
                 pass  # ignore non-numeric input
             else:
                 try:
-                    connection.query('kill %d' % id)
+                    connection.query('kill %d' % pid)
                 except pymysql.err.InternalError:
-                    print('Process not found')
\ No newline at end of file
+                    print('Process not found')
diff --git a/datajoint/relation.py b/datajoint/relation.py
index 25f354607..e26b2bac4 100644
--- a/datajoint/relation.py
+++ b/datajoint/relation.py
@@ -32,7 +32,6 @@ def table_name(self):
         """
         :return: the name of the table in the database
         """
-        raise NotImplementedError('Relation subclasses must define property table_name')
 
     @property
     @abc.abstractmethod
@@ -40,7 +39,6 @@ def definition(self):
         """
         :return: a string containing the table definition using the DataJoint DDL
         """
-        pass
 
     # -------------- required by RelationalOperand ----------------- #
     @property
diff --git a/datajoint/schema.py b/datajoint/schema.py
index a96f1678e..002c90f21 100644
--- a/datajoint/schema.py
+++ b/datajoint/schema.py
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ def __init__(self, database, context, connection=None):
                 logger.info('Created database `{database}`.'.format(database=database))
             except pymysql.OperationalError:
                 raise DataJointError("Database named `{database}` was not defined, and"
-                                     "an attempt to create has failed. Check"
+                                     " an attempt to create has failed. Check"
                                      " permissions.".format(database=database))
 
     def __call__(self, cls):
diff --git a/tests/test_nan.py b/tests/test_nan.py
index 8eb0a3d55..298573cca 100644
--- a/tests/test_nan.py
+++ b/tests/test_nan.py
@@ -1,9 +1,8 @@
 import numpy as np
-from nose.tools import assert_true, assert_false, assert_equal, assert_list_equal
+from nose.tools import assert_true
 import datajoint as dj
 from . import PREFIX, CONN_INFO
 
-
 schema = dj.schema(PREFIX + '_nantest', locals(), connection=dj.conn(**CONN_INFO))
 
 
diff --git a/tests/test_relation.py b/tests/test_relation.py
index c7c357e23..5f834f935 100644
--- a/tests/test_relation.py
+++ b/tests/test_relation.py
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 from numpy.testing import assert_array_equal
 import numpy as np
-from nose.tools import assert_raises, assert_equal, \
+from nose.tools import assert_raises, assert_equal, assert_not_equal, \
     assert_false, assert_true, assert_list_equal, \
     assert_tuple_equal, assert_dict_equal, raises
 
@@ -43,6 +43,40 @@ def test_contents(self):
         u = self.subject.fetch(order_by=['subject_id'])
         assert_list_equal(list(u['subject_id']), sorted([s[0] for s in self.subject.contents]))
 
+    @raises(KeyError)
+    def test_misnamed_attribute(self):
+        self.user.insert1(dict(user="Bob"))
+
+    @raises(dj.DataJointError)
+    def test_empty_insert(self):
+        self.user.insert1(())
+
+    @raises(dj.DataJointError)
+    def test_wrong_arguments_insert(self):
+        self.user.insert1(('First', 'Second'))
+
+    @raises(dj.DataJointError)
+    def test_wrong_insert_type(self):
+        self.user.insert1(3)
+
+    def test_replace(self):
+        """
+        Test replacing or ignoring duplicate entries
+        """
+        key = dict(subject_id=7)
+        date = "2015-01-01"
+        self.subject.insert1(
+            dict(key, real_id=7, date_of_birth=date, subject_notes=""))
+        assert_equal(date, str((self.subject & key).fetch1['date_of_birth']), 'incorrect insert')
+        date = "2015-01-02"
+        self.subject.insert1(
+            dict(key, real_id=7, date_of_birth=date, subject_notes=""), skip_duplicates=True)
+        assert_not_equal(date, str((self.subject & key).fetch1['date_of_birth']),
+                         'inappropriate replace')
+        self.subject.insert1(
+            dict(key, real_id=7, date_of_birth=date, subject_notes=""), replace=True)
+        assert_equal(date, str((self.subject & key).fetch1['date_of_birth']), "replace failed")
+
     def test_delete_quick(self):
         """Tests quick deletion"""
         tmp = np.array([