code: @Transactional
      public int findPropertyCount(E entity, SearchParameters sp, Attribute<?, ?>... attributes) {
          return findPropertyCount(entity, sp, newArrayList(attributes));
      }
docs: Count the number of E instances.
  
  @param entity     a sample entity whose non-null properties may be used as search hint
  @param sp         carries additional search information
  @param attributes the list of attributes to the property
  @return the number of entities matching the search.