$no_prev, $no_next variables don't work?

<?php
          $no_prev;
    $no_next;
    $PHP_SELF = "/x/article.php";
    $start_from = 0;
    $number = "3";
    include("/www/sites/206/266/test.xboxmad.net/web/team/show_news.php");?>

Trying to disable pagination on an include so I can split my news feed in half and put an advert in between, these variables are listed in usage.txt but they don't seem to do anything?

Am I doing something wrong?