Merge Replication Parametrized Row Filter Error

Environment: Merge Replication with 2 subscribers - SQL Server 2008 R2

I have setup merge replication with parameterized row filter as discussed in this post:

https://www.mssqltips.com/sqlservertip/2760/parameterized-row-filters-in-sql-server-merge-replication/

After subscribing to publication, the synchronize agent starts and works fine for the first subscriber but doesn't start on a subscriber that its HOSTNAME() is set to @hostname = N'-8070450532247928832'. The agent shows "Starting Agent" in Replication Monitor and generates error after 10 minutes of inactivity.

I setup verbose logging and received this error: A syntax error occurred near parameter '-8070450532247928832'.

As an experiment, I just removed the minus sign and used @hostname = N'8070450532247928832' and the agent worked fine.

Any idea why minus sign in @hostname generates error?

Thanks