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Extracting $σ_{πN}$ from pionic atoms

We discuss a recent extraction of the $πN$ $σ$ term $σ_{πN}$ from a large-scale fit of pionic-atom strong-interaction data across the periodic table. The value thus derived, $σ_{πN}^{\rm FG}=57\pm 7$ MeV, is directly connected via the Gell-Mann--Oakes--Renner expression to the medium-renormalized $πN$ isovector scattering amplitude near threshold. It compares well with the value derived recently by the Bern-Bonn-Jülich group, $σ_{πN}^{\rm RS}=58\pm 5$ MeV, using the Roy-Steiner equations to control the extrapolation of the vanishingly small near threshold $πN$ isoscalar scattering amplitude to zero pion mass.