unit test and refactor database.py

Updates to ``tests/framework/test_database.py`` and ``framework/database.py``.

- Replaced ``test_database.py`` ``unittest`` references with ``pytest`` references
- Removed test methods that checked the return type of database functions
- Added test methods that checked the return values of database functions
- Modified database functions to handle python strings properly
- Added bound values to the add_presentation and update_presentation database functions.
- Removed dummy record inserted by default.

Related gh484
![xxkva](https://cloud.githubusercontent.com/assets/959968/4689006/8878261a-56a0-11e4-9bb0-aebe9657098b.jpg)

You get the idea...