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On the Interpretation of $πN \to ππN$ Data near Threshold

Near threshold pion production experiments have been recently carried out and used to extract S--wave $ππ$ scattering lengths. We emphasize here that at present these processes are related only at the tree level (and its first correction) in chiral perturbation theory. Higher order corrections (including loops) must be evaluated before rigorous claims concerning S--wave $ππ$ scattering lengths can be made.