\newcommand{\merge}[4]{{\mathcal M}(#1,#2,#3,#4)}
%\newcommand{\merge}[4]{{#2 {{\frac{ #1 }{ #3 } #4}}}}
-\newcommand{\patchof}[1]{{\mathcal P} ( #1 ) }
-\newcommand{\baseof}[1]{{\mathcal B} ( #1 ) }
+\newcommand{\patch}{{\mathcal P}}
+\newcommand{\base}{{\mathcal B}}
+
+\newcommand{\patchof}[1]{\patch ( #1 ) }
+\newcommand{\baseof}[1]{\base ( #1 ) }
\newcommand{\eqn}[2]{ #2 \tag*{\mbox{\bf #1}} }
\newcommand{\corrolary}[1]{ #1 \tag*{\mbox{\it Corrolary.}} }