You can use this :
userid=${DATABASE_USER}
par_start_date =${PAR_START_DATE}
for more information :
http://www.cs.princeton.edu/~jlk/kor...doc/man88.html
${parameter }
The shell reads all the characters from ${ to the matching } as part of the same word even if it contains braces or metacharacters. The value, if any, of the parameter is substituted. The braces are required when parameter is followed by a letter, digit, or underscore that is not to be interpreted as part of its name or when a variable is subscripted. If parameter is one or more digits then it is a positional parameter. A positional parameter of more than one digit must be enclosed in braces. If parameter is * or @, then all the positional parameters, starting with $1, are substituted (separated by a field separator character). If an array identifier with subscript * or @ is used, then the value for each of the elements is substituted (separated by a field separator character).
I hope help you
Witt