$re = '/(?<=[\s])(?=[.,;?])/m';
$str = 'The present invention provides an apparatus and a method for classifying and recognizing image patterns using a second-order neural network , thereby achieving high-rate parallel processing while lowering the complexity . The second-order neural network , which is made of adders and multipliers , corrects positional translations generated in a complex-log mapping unit to output the same result for the same object irrespective of the scale and/or rotation of the object . The present invention enables high-rate image pattern classification and recognition based on parallel processing , which is the advantage obtained in neural network models , because consistent neural networks and consistent network structure computation models are applied to all steps from the image input step to the pattern classifying and recognizing step .';
$subst = "";
$result = preg_replace($re, $subst, $str);
echo "The result of the substitution is ".$result;
Please keep in mind that these code samples are automatically generated and are not guaranteed to work. If you find any syntax errors, feel free to submit a bug report. For a full regex reference for PHP, please visit: http://php.net/manual/en/ref.pcre.php